Quoted from too-many-pins:

That is what they make open trailers for! I'll take the protection of my stuff safely inside a van over a good looking pick up any day of the week. Guys that think pick up trucks are the best way to haul stuff have never owned a van. In my "young & dumb days" I would have never even considered a van but after owning both I would never own another pick up especially at today's inflated prices on them.
This Spring I bought a NEW Chevy Express 2500 for under $30k with a 6.0L Vortec V-8 --- complete with towing package & trailer hitch already installed from the factory. I can tow up to 7800 pounds haul up to 2 ton in the back of the van. A week after buying that van I brought 14 machines and over a ton of parts home from Texas with that and my 6x12 trailer staying in motels several nights without worrying about have thousands of dollars worth of machines in the back of an open truck or trailer. But better yet I didn't have to unload right away when I got home since everything was tucked safely inside my van & enclosed trailer.
Legal load capacity on a 2500 series van is 3000 pounds but they will handle a lot more. (That is only a few hundred pounds less than a 3/4 ton pick up about 300 pounds to be exact). I hate to admit it but I have had in excess of 5000 pounds in the back of my vans more than once with no issues. Towing capacity is 7,800 pound compared to a pick up at 13,000 but how many people tow trailers bigger than a 8x24 car trailer weighing 7,000 pounds anyway?
For style & luxury a decked out pick up is great but if you are truly looking for the best way to move machines around you can't beat a van. Another nice thing about moving machines in a van is deck height is about a foot lower so one guy can load a machine with no issue into the back of a van. I am 64 years old and do it by myself all the time. Try doing that in your 3/4 ton 4x4!
And a few more things great about vans:
First - I can move 12' lumber without having rear doors open as long as it fits between two front seats. That is great when picking up materials for a project ahead of time and not wanting them hanging out of my truck on the way home.
Second - regardless of my load I don't ever have to worry about wind damage, stuff falling out of the van etc - unlike guys with a pick up trucks that always seem to leave part of their loads on the highway.
Third - side door and never having to climb up into the back of a semi loaded vehicle and having to climb over stuff to get to what is in the front of the bed.
And lastly I can check my load without having to pull over - just look over my shoulder and everything is tucked safely inside my vehicle.
Looking for a cool ride buy a pick up but if you are looking for the best way to move machines and other valuable cargo around buy a van you will not be sorry. But if you do buy a van buy a Chevy or GMC because they are the only two vans with progressive rear springs so they ride as nice empty as full.