Hi Collis, I applaude your intentions, so I'd like to add my thoughts. Firstly, where are you ?? do you live in a town or the countryside ?? How much do you know about pruning ? Could you weed a herbacous border removing only the weeds ?? I'll be honest, in my experience, most jobbing gardeners have very little horticultural knowledge but do a fine job ! All that most of the jobs require is an honest work ethic coupled with common sense. Experience will come with time but be prepared to learn !!
Personally I'd disagree with getting a pick-up, unless you have somewhere secure or are prepared to unload everything every night and put it away !!!
Get a small cheap van, then you can leave everything securely inside overnight.
Initially all you will need is a good petrol rotary mover with grass collection box. I wouldnt get too much machinery at first as you can always go off and hire them, once youve built your round and are settled, then you can think about investing in machinery.
Buy a good strong wheel barrow, shovel, spade (get a blacksmith to weld you a scaffold pole handle for strength) border fork and digging spade, fish tail rake and garden rake and a top quality yard broom. Buy some good quality secateurs, loppers and a bow saw and thats about it, add to it as needed.
best of luck with your venture, Lannerman.

ps. I could write you a book about how to start off but all I'll add is that, as you know, you'll get out of this in the exact same proportion as the effort put in !!!