Owned and Operated - A Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC Business Growth Podcast

Why We Stopped Buying Service Vans — And You Should Too

16 snips

Feb 12, 2026

A deep dive into fleet decisions for trades businesses and why traditional service vans may be draining cash. They explore using Ford Mavericks as a capital-efficient alternative and how trailers can replace box trucks for installs. Topics include packout strategies, inventory discipline, towing practicalities, and the real economics of fuel and purchase costs.

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ADVICE

Replace Costly Vans With Mavericks

Swap high-roof service vans for Ford Mavericks to cut capital and fuel costs dramatically.
Buy Mavericks new or near-new and outfit them with targeted packouts to keep inventories lean.

ANECDOTE

Mavericks Handled Snowmageddon

Jack reports no Mavericks got stuck during a severe Nashville ice storm while high-top vans did.
He cites real-world reliability and handling as part of the Maverick case.

INSIGHT

Lean Truck Stock Forces Better Inventory Decisions

Moving to Mavericks forces you to meaningfully reduce on-truck inventory and manage parts lists.
That discipline lowers hidden costs from stockpiled, low-turn OEM parts and niche refrigerants.

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Should Home Service Companies Stop Buying Vans?

In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson is joined by Nashville operator Jack Carr to break down one of the most overlooked expenses in home services:

Fleet decisions.

With service vans now costing $60,000+ and fuel and repair costs climbing, John and Jack make the case for a radical shift:

Ford Mavericks for service… and trailers for installs.

They unpack why the Maverick may be the most capital-efficient vehicle for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical businesses, how truck stock changes operational discipline, and whether modular install trailers could replace box trucks altogether.

If you’re scaling a trades business and trying to protect cash flow, this episode offers a practical framework for building a leaner, smarter fleet.

Key Topics Covered:

Why service vans have become a drag on the balance sheet
The real economics of Maverick vs high-roof Transit vans
Fuel savings, lower capital costs, and fleet scalability
Truck stock limits in HVAC compared to plumbing and electrical
The “install trailer” system: modular packouts for equipment installs

💼 Extra Special Thanks to Service Scalers!

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Shout Out to FieldPulse 🚀

FieldPulse is an incredible Field Service Management platform that helps you save hours each week while keeping your operations running smoothly. If you're looking to streamline your processes, stay competitive, and focus on what truly matters, FieldPulse is a game-changer!

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Connect:

John Wilson - https://x.com/WilsonCompanies
Jack Carr - https://x.com/thehvacjack

#HVAC #Plumbing #Electrical #HomeServices #FleetManagement #ServiceBusinessGrowth

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John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

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