🏁 ROT #13: Stop overthinking, just start

Tony Nava
Aug 11
3 min read

TL;DR: Don’t overthink your setup — just start. I began with a pickup truck tossing junk in the bed. Then a dump trailer. Eventually, an Isuzu. Each step made life easier, but none of them mattered as much as taking action.

If you’re starting out:

A pickup with walls works. Charge $250–$400 a load.
A utility trailer works. Hand unload or use a pull-off.
A dump trailer is ideal — go Big Tex or Lone Star.
An Isuzu or F-350/450/550 is the dream — more cost, less pain.

Buy new if you can. Used if you have to. But don’t wait for perfect gear — momentum beats machinery every time. This business rewards effort, not excuses. 🏁

Alright, boys, Tony here — I get asked this all the time:

“What setup should I start with when getting into the junk removal business?”

“Should I go with a box truck? A pickup and trailer? Or just jump straight into the big leagues with an Isuzu or dump bed truck?”

The first step in everything is simple: just fucking start taking action.

My Start

I started with a GMC Sierra 1500, throwing trash right in the back of my truck. From there, I moved up to a dump trailer — a Big Tex 14LP. I ran that for a couple years before finally committing to an Isuzu.

Box Truck Reality

I’ve never personally run a box truck, but I imagine it’s pretty simple. Used ones can be picked up cheap, slap some decals or a wrap on them, and you’re in business.

The downside: you’ll be hand off-loading everything at the landfill or transfer station. And keep in mind, some transfer stations won’t even let you in unless you have hydraulics — so call ahead and ask in your city.

Starting Small? No Excuses

If all you have is a pickup truck right now, put some damn walls on it and get to work. You could easily charge $250–$400 for filling up the bed — even more if it’s a long bed.

No hydraulic dump trailer?

Get yourself a utility trailer, throw some walls on it, and go make money.

Yeah, it’s going to suck offloading by hand. But there’s a trick called a pull off (or scrape out):

Leave a bulky item (like a pallet) in the front
Run a chain through it and all your trash
Hook that chain to the bulldozer or excavator at the landfill
They drag it all out in one shot

Note: I don’t recommend this with a box truck — things can get stuck and damage your walls. But it works with a utility trailer. Always put your truck in neutral and the e-brake on. Pulling back and forth will wreck your transmission.

Also — some landfills charge extra for pull offs. Down here in Houston, they do.

Dump Trailer Recommendations

If you’re ready for a hydraulic dump trailer, I recommend Big Tex and Lone Star Trailers.

Big Tex especially — my first trailer (14LP, 4-foot walls, 12-foot length, 13.6 cubic yards) is still running strong with no major issues.

Avoid Texas Pride — they’re cheaply made, bro. You need equipment that lasts. These rigs will be running all day, every day — or at least that’s the goal.

Big League Moves

If you’re ready to jump straight in, I recommend an Isuzu NPR or Ford F-350/450/550 with a dump bed.

Just know:

It’s a big commitment
More expensive upfront
Maintenance costs more

But… they make life way tf easier.

The Ford gives you a smoother ride.

The Isuzu? Not so much — you’re sitting above the wheels, so every bump will rattle you.

If you go tall, think about adding a lift gate for heavy loads.

And yes — dump bed trucks present better to customers. They signal professionalism.

Scaling Considerations

I don’t recommend scaling with a driver pulling a trailer — it’s more liability. Anyone can drive an Isuzu, but not everyone can handle a truck and trailer.

Whatever setup you choose will work — it’s just about where you are and how deep you’re ready to go.