How to Make Money with a Pickup Truck and Trailer

Imagine being able to use your pickup truck and trailer to make some extra money. It’s not only possible, but it’s also a great way to put those vehicles to good use! In this blog post, we’ll share some tips on how to make money with a pickup truck and trailer.

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So, whether you’re looking for a new way to make money or you just want to get more out of your vehicle and trailer, read on for helpful tips.

Disclaimer: This blog post may contain affiliate or referral links that may reward me in the event of a subscription or sale (at no extra cost to you!). I only recommend products or services that I know and trust.

Types of Pickup Trucks and Trailers

Pickup trucks are no longer simple farming vehicles. These machines have transformed from utility vehicles in rural locations to trendsetters in suburban and even urban settings. In recent times, pickup trucks have even been used in the racing circuits.

Before we dive into how to monetize pickups and trailers, let’s explore the common pickup truck selection and trailer types that may be mixed and matched depending on the intended function.

Common Pickup Truck Types

1. Light-Duty Pickup Trucks

This type of truck normally has a smaller engine and payload capability. The U.S. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) classifies light-duty trucks as Class 1, 2a, and 2b. Pickup trucks under this category are generally 2-wheel drives and are not designed to be used off-road. Light-duty pickups are classified alongside SUVs and minivans. Generally, light-duty vehicles can haul boats and small trailers.

2. Medium-Duty or Midsize Pickup Trucks

The GVWR rating for midsized pickup trucks ranges between Class 3 to 6. This means that the weight limit is far superior in medium-duty pickup trucks than in light-duty trucks. These trucks are very versatile, as they can also haul things like lumber or campers.

3. Heavy-Duty Pickup Trucks

Under the Class 7 and 8 GVWR, heavy-duty trucks offer weight limits of 26 tons and above. These pickup trucks are very durable because of the upgraded suspension, axles, and engine, among others. The upgrade means that towing rates are also increased, ranging between 7 to 18 tons.

4. Luxury Pickup Trucks

This truck type refers to the higher-grade pickup truck that many consumers are investing in. Luxury pickup trucks come with high-end interior accents, superior sound systems, heated or cooled seats, and many more bells and whistles. Many of these trucks even offer a sunroof for outdoor enjoyment.

5. Half-Ton Pickup Trucks

A half-ton pickup truck refers to the payload capacity. This means that the truck can carry about 453.5 kg of cargo and passengers. This truck type is comparable to light-duty trucks.

6. Three-Quarter Pickup Trucks

A three-quarter pickup truck can carry about 1500 pounds of payload, including passengers. This type of truck can be considered a medium-duty truck, even if it can carry more than a 1500-pound capacity.

7. One-Ton Pickup Trucks

As with the previous truck types, the one-ton pickup truck can be considered a heavy-duty truck. This type may even carry more than just a ton due to the added feature of dual rear wheels and superior engines. The term “one-ton truck” is a historical naming convention that some still use today.

8. Full-Size Pickup Trucks

Full-size pickup trucks are also often categorized as heavy-duty or one-ton pickup trucks. This truck type is normally designed to be higher off the ground, which makes it ideal for off-road tracks.

9. Compact Pickup Trucks

Compact pickup trucks can be compared with mid-size trucks. Trucks under this category have a smaller stature, like the Ford Maverick. They are normally unibody—the body serves as the ultimate frame to where the wheels and tires are attached. Unlike body-on-frame trucks, unibody trucks are comparatively lightweight and more fuel-efficient.

10. Crew Cab Pickup Trucks

This truck type is one of the most common, and it typically has a 4-door setup. The term “crew” comes from the intention that this pickup truck carries the driver’s crew to work. Since the cab is larger and accommodates more people, the load bay is much shorter.

11. Regular Cab Pickup Trucks

Historically, pickup trucks would only allow 2 to 3 passengers in their cabs. The regular cab pickup truck stays true to the historical standard. However, most, if not all, modern pickup trucks can fit at least 4 to 5 people inside the cab, as the original cab pickup truck has lost its appeal to manufacturers and consumers.

12. Extended Cab Pickup Trucks

The extended cab pickup trucks are the modern take on regular cab pickup trucks. This type has front and rear seats. Still, these trucks have 2 front doors only, and access to the rear seat is through these doors.

13. Electric Pickup Trucks

Electric pickup trucks are currently new on the market. These trucks look very sleek and high-end. Since they are battery-run, they have virtually no noise emission. Typically, electric pickup trucks can only go up to 300 miles before they need to be recharged. Charging takes about 30 minutes to reach 80% capacity.

14. Hybrid Pickup Trucks

A hybrid pickup truck combines electric motors with engine combustion, meaning it’s a combination of electric and gasoline. The concept of a hybrid truck is to improve fuel efficiency.

15. Chassis Cab Pickup Trucks

Instead of the usual pickup truck with a load box, the chassis cab pickup truck only has a cab with its chassis exposed. This type is normally used commercially or agriculturally.

Trailer Types

1. Fifth-Wheel Trailers

The “fifth wheel” in the name refers to an unusual type of tow truck mounting. Instead of having a standard square or round pin box on top, this vehicle has what looks like two U-shaped couplings that fit together when attached at their centers, with metal posts sticking up from either end and meeting somewhere in between. This allows them to bear weight evenly across any surface road without breaking apart due to uneven terrain conditions.

The “Fifth Wheel” moniker comes from how it’s set up, having two vertical bars connected by another curve. This setup is primarily designed for pickup trucks connecting with large camper trailers.

2. Gooseneck Trailers

The long, tall trailer tongue of the Gooseneck type is what gives it its name. The extra length allows for smoother turns and easier storage when not in use, but drivers must be aware that they may damage their pickup truck’s bed if turning too quickly or jackknifing (stacking two vehicles on top of each other).

3. Conventional Trailers

With conventional trailers, a ball hitch is a device used to connect the trailer to the rear of the vehicle that’s towing it. The conventional trailer type uses these balls mounted on a step bumper or integrated into vehicles’ chassis, while very light ones can go without any kind of mounting at all.

4. Utility Trailers

Utility trailers are often smaller and lighter than conventional ones. This makes them more difficult to handle, especially for those who have never driven one before or don’t know how it handles differently from other types of vehicles. Since trailers like these are used for equipment hauling, weight distribution should always be a priority.

Ways to Make Money Using Pickup Trucks and Trailers

Buying or owning a pickup truck can be an expensive investment. Some of the best ways on how to make money with a pickup truck and trailer and make extra cash if you already own a pickup truck and trailer are the following:

1. Deliveries

Pickup trucks and trailers can deliver food (such as through food delivery services like Uber Eats), groceries (through services like Instacart), construction supplies, firewood, furniture, etc. There are so many local businesses that also look for delivery services, like pharmacies, florists, movers, and even local restaurants. Even delivering mail can be an income-generating part-time job for pickup truck owners.

2. Towing

Towing services can be for boats, RVs, or other large items that need to be towed. Since RVs are inspected annually, most owners don’t have the time to haul their RVs to a garage. Creating your own towing service using your pick-up truck is a great option for making extra income in your spare time.

3. Snow Plowing

Though there are snow plowing companies, a pickup owner can apply as an independent contractor for these companies or even work independently with their own snow plowing service. For example, you could advertise your services to your neighbors when the winter months come around. Either way, it would be a good idea to use a snow plow attachment on your pickup for this type of side gig.

4. Event Setups or Clean-ups

Oftentimes, weddings and birthday parties require items like tables, chairs, equipment, etc., to be moved to and from the location. Renting your pickup and trailer or providing the moving service yourself is an excellent way to capitalize on this. Plus, pickup trucks can also be used as parade floats during holidays.

5. Rideshare Programs

Another way to earn additional income with your pickup is to join apps that offer rideshare options, such as Uber or Lyft.

6. Hauling

Hauling jobs can be for construction sites that need materials like gravel and mulch, or it can also mean moving furniture, like what movers usually do. Since hiring movers may be expensive, some families might choose to rent from pickup owners instead.

Hauling can also mean transporting horses to horse shows. However, there are specific trailer requirements for this type of gig.

7. Junk

Junk hauling is not like garbage truck hauling. Some shops, especially those that handle restorations, would often buy from salvage haulers. Through junk hauling, you could sell the junk you pick up or even sell scrap metal or other recyclables like tires as an easy way to earn some additional income.

8. Rentals

Pickups can also be rented by RV or boat owners for the weekend or during the holidays.

9. Advertisements

Many companies pay for ads to be placed on vehicles, and pickup trucks are certainly no exception. By placing paid advertisements on the pickup truck in the form of stickers or large magnets, owners can earn passive income without quitting their other job(s). There are websites that connect vehicle owners with companies who are willing to do this, or you could even reach out to local companies to ask if they’d be willing to place an ad on your own pickup truck for easy money.

10. Other Odd Jobs

There are many different ways to make income with your pickup, and in some areas, pickup truck services are in high demand. Oftentimes Craigslist has an abundance of ads from people looking for pickup trucks in your local area. Some ads can also be found on Facebook, Reddit, or other social media platforms. Sometimes simply browsing the internet for opportunities is the easiest way to find a side gig that makes you money with your own vehicle.

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How Much Can You Earn with Your Pickup Truck & Trailer?

These are just some of the common jobs that a pickup truck and trailer can do. Most of these are just side hustles, meaning you shouldn’t expect to replace your full-time income with these gigs. However, there are many solo entrepreneurs now that actually do full-time work with a pickup truck. Plus, it’s rewarding to be able to help people while also being your own boss and creating your own schedule with your side jobs.

So, how much can you earn with your pickup truck?

Honestly, the sky’s the limit. To give you an estimate, normal delivery jobs typically earn about $15 per hour, with larger deliveries earning more.

Of course, it depends on the type of work being done and how much time you’re able to devote, but a lot of people have been able to create a full-time business using their own truck, which means you can, too!

Still, it’s important to consider the costs of maintaining the truck, the vehicle insurance, and even the required materials or tools for your side hustle. For instance, some deliveries might require industrial-grade gloves or steel-toe boots.

Tips for How to Make Money with a Pickup Truck and Trailer

Choose the best pickup truck size.

If you already have a pickup truck or trailer, check the specifics and loading capabilities. You wouldn’t want to overload your truck because it could damage the tires along with the truck’s suspension.

Join online groups or communities.

Some communities post ads for moving or transport jobs. Some would require rentals with or without a driver. Though this may be considered unsafe, it would be best to start with your community first, and through good service and word of mouth, your services will reach a wider audience. Try to market your services through several groups or communities, or even make a simple website for your services.

Always perform simple checks to make sure your pickup truck and trailer are in tip-top shape.

The usual things to look out for are the tires, engine oil and fluids, alternator, battery, and lights. It would be best to go to your local mechanic to do a proper checkup regularly. If you have heavy deliveries or long-distance travel, a regular check would be optimal.

Make sure that you have a contract with the company that you would like to subcontract your pickup truck with or for rentals.

Always make sure you’re legally protected. It would be wise to call your insurance company to see how comprehensive your vehicle insurance is.

Familiarize yourself with the best apps for trucks, such as Burro, TaskRabbit, and GoShare.

Check out the requirements for trucks on these apps to find out whether or not you & your pickup are a good fit.

Market around for prices of the specific service that you would like to offer.

If you plan to move furniture, check for quotes from movers before setting your prices. If you want to rent out your pickup, most rentals online have ready prices that you should check out first. Renting out is a great option on how to make money with a pickup truck and trailer, however, you’ll want to make sure your truck insurance will cover another driver or if the driver’s insurance will cover them and your truck.

Conclusion

If you have a pickup truck and trailer and are looking for ways to make some extra cash in your free time, we’ve got you covered. We’ve outlined the most common methods for how to make money with a pickup truck and trailer, so you can start earning right away.

Whether you want to haul cargo for others or use your setup as a mobile business office, there are plenty of opportunities out there for truck drivers who are willing to think outside the box.

Maybe after reading this post, you decided some of these options are great ways to make some cash. But did you know you could also rent out your bike, electric scooter, tools, or garage equipment you don’t always need on hand? You can rent them out on the website Friend With A. You never know if you have a neighbor that could use your lawnmower or weed whacker every once in a while.

They provide instant property coverage and liability guarantee and verify everyone before they are allowed to borrow your gear, so you are good to go! It’s a fully vetted community, including an Id check and background check. With a $125,000 property coverage for any lost, stolen, or damaged equipment. You can Sign up and check out all they have to offer so you can start making some extra money.

What creative ideas do you have for making money with your pickup truck and trailer?

Let us know in the comments!

By the way, if you’re looking for more ways to make money online, be sure to check out our blog for posts on side hustles, making extra money, job leads, and more.

Thanks for reading!

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