"Trunkslammer" Or "Man In The Van" - Which Is Better?

I voted trunk slammer. At least the van looks more professional and can carry a ladder. You can't beat pulling a folding ladder out of the trunk of your Civic or lowering your windows so you can undo the tie straps on your Honda Accord...

There is a lot to be taken into consideration here before we make such harsh accusations. 

When the trunk is slammed, does it latch the first time?  Does a fender shake displaying how the vehicle is falling apart?  Is the back seat down and the trunk has now extended all the way to the front seat, and even taken up a portion of the passenger seat?

On the flip side, does the van have windows?  Has it undergone some sort of conversion utilizing 2x4s and bungee cords?  is a paddle lock hasp installed at any of the doors?  

In either case, has paint work  been completed with a $3 can with BBs in it?  

Vote for trunk slammer, only because that is what I have always heard.

I believe “Trunk Slammer” is also a state of mind. 

Man in the Van Trunkslammer

At least the man in the van spent some capital to buy the van

A man in a van is just that,a man in a van. Until he/she gets labeled as a trunk slammer due to bad, unethical work practices then that person maybe a well qualified individual. I owned my own business years ago and had a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a nice magnetic logo and phone number on the side. I had companies calling and requesting my services for subcontracting as they new my quality, workmanship and ethics. Sure it didn't look as nice as the "Big Boys" driving down the road but I could outperform them blind folded. We use a sub that has a plain white van and he does incredible work for us.

I will say this though is that when the man in a van pulls up and a bunch of McDonald's wrappers and cigarette buts falls out when he opens the door then I guarantee that is a trunk slammer and run, run fast.

I even agreed with Sean that at least the man in the van spent some capital to buy the van. :)

Related: You Might Be a Man in the Van If...

"Trunkslammer" makes the point more vividly. "Man in the Van" should be reserved for more sinister behaviors.

When I started my burglar alarm business at age 16, I didn't have a trunk to slam. I took the bus to all of my job sites and borrowed ladders from either the customer or one of their neighbors. 

John, my understanding is that the term trunk slammer is meant to infer a non-committed kind of transient operator and that its origins were from early days of computer systems support. These operators generally had no business structure, registration, licensing or insurances so as soon as the trunk slammed the support ended.

The pictures and the jibes are all a bit of fun I know but if the operator has a registered business, appropriate licensing, insurances, taxation liabilities, wages, investment in tools and equipment and an ongoing training strategy then regardless of where they may be on the 'learning curve' neither term would be applicable.

Of course, most areas of industry include operators that avoid these responsibilities and they should be called out for it.

I have noticed historically in some threads here that the term trunk slammer has been used in a derogatory manner and it made me personally feel a little uncomfortable. Many years ago I had a humbling experience where I realised that an industry may only be as strong as its weakest link. Bullying that guy is generally not helpful for anyone. My vote is for neither, I would think at this level that name calling is not needed or appropriate. Perhaps that is best left for the politicians.