Can anyone recommend a car/wagon that gets decent mileage and can accommodate projects like transporting planks and chairs. I am leaning towards the Subaru Outback and RAV4 type of vehicles. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Best,
g
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Replies
Get one of these
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeBd_F2Bz5Y
put a custom hitch on it and get one of these
http://www.wellscargo.com/roadforce/index.html
Works for me
: )
Edited 12/27/2008 9:18 pm by roc
I can just duct tape planks to the Diablo's roof!!
I've got a '95 Volvo 850 wagon - base model w/ 5 sp. manual - gets 27 mpg regularly, 30 mpg on the highways. Got it for <$6000 w/ 146,000 miles and it is now at 200,500 and still going strong. Body integrety is superb.
I searched around for a while and found a set of factory roof rails which allow you to install cross bars at any spacing you desire. Long stock and sheet goods thus go on top, and the interior w/ rear seats and/or front passenger seat folded down is cavernous. 10' stock will fit in small quantities, 8' stock in considerably larger amounts. I can carry a SCMS, complete w/ folding stand along with all other job site tool boxes OR (not and) a portable tables saw in there, again along with numerous kit/tool boxes, buckets, materials, etc.
Never tried it, but I'll bet I could get 4, maybe 6 DR chairs in it, without beating them up. I have transported a number of "mudroom" suites each consisting of a 6' bench, a 6' coatrack and a 4' x 3.5' x 1' cabinet in it, along w/ installation tools.
Best dam pickup I've ever owned. The only thing missing is ground clearance.
Supposedly even better is an earlier model - the 240 wagon. Famous for going for 300 - 400,000 miles and more. Same cavernous interior, similar performance figures, but only 4 cyl and rear wheel drive. Finding a creampuff 240 is tough, though.
Kinda gloatish here, but it's more than worked for me.
Good luck!
Thanks! That was helpful.
A Toyota Matrix will tow 1500lbs - that and a nice little trailer like the Snowbear with fold downs in front and back would be nice.
http://www.snowbear.com/page/Utility_and_Landscape_Style_Trailers
i use an elderly dodge caravan, long wheelbase, actually its a plymouth but the same, as my work vehicle, i pulled all the seats out and voila, a weather tight lockable pickup
it will easily carry 4x8 sheets and close the rear door, and i recently carried 350 bdft of white oak some up to 10 feet long but mostly 6 and 8ft which weighed i figure a 1000 pounds. i transported that lumber 150 miles, with no affect on the handling
afterall a minivan is designed to carry 6+ passengers, thats the van in the back of the pic, i paid 50 bucks for it
A lot of nice wood!!!
Thank you for your respone. I have been pondering a minivan as well. Got to find one with decent milage as work is far away. Need to study up on buying used vs. new. That should be an intersesting one.....
best,
G
I have a Honda Element, aka "the box" aka "the toaster". Ugly, but very flexible. You can lay the rear seats down, fold them up against the interior sides, or take them out altogether. I can haul a whole sheet or two of plywood, tilted at an angle, in the back with the seats out. The down side; gas mileage isn't that great and the thing is a big sail in a strong wind. Good luck
Dennis
g,
If you are looking for new, take a look at the Chevy HHR panel version. Pretty cool vehicle. A couple of my customers have them for work vehicles, you can get a lot in them.
Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md
I'm sure that my response will not answer your question, but what the heck.
In addition to being a "woodworking" guy I am also a "car" guy. I am unwilling to give up my nice car so that I can transport my furniture. So my solution is as follows:
when ordering stock I have it delivered. When picking up a few boards the back seat in my car goes down and 8 footers fit nicely. When moving or delivering full size pieces, my friends with trucks are always available.
It works for me. Sometimes you can have your cake and eat it too.
"When moving or delivering full size pieces, my friends with trucks are always available."
nothing against you personally but I just hate that attitude. I love it when a M8 borrows my truck ( 3/4 ton utility body ) with 3/4 tank of fuel in it and it comes back near empty, dirty and more often than not with more miles on the clock than I would like to see...
I have taken to the policy of bring it back full, even if it leaves empty and I also say " sure, no problem.. you are insured and are willing to send me a 50$ plus 1$ per mile... right?" That seems to keep down the askers, but in all fairness it is likely below the rate that one could rent a truck for and if you don't have one and need one that is exactly what you should be doing.
On to the OP's question.
If you are going to be hauling material and delivering projects ( maybe installing if of the "built in type") you really should consider purchasing a truck. Not some shortbed 1/4 ton job but a real truck. It dose not need to be new or even late model because it will be parked when not in use.... hell if you get a vintage/collectable truck you can even insure it for way cheap with a collectors policy.
just some thoughts.
james
I understand how you feel about people borrowing your truck. My post was meant to be a feeble attempt at humor in the discussion. I do, on occasion borrow a friends truck. But I'm not a jerk about it. It is returned clean and with more gas than it had when I borrowed it. And I do favors in return. That is why my friends remain my friends. If one of your friends mooches your truck, I would suggest they are not really a friend. pmm
pm,
If one of your friends mooches your truck, I would suggest they are not really a friend
Sad but true.
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 12/29/2008 8:19 am ET by KiddervilleAcres
Perhaps an rv converted into a mobile woodshop would work best. I would then have a home, a shop, and tansportation.
Bob ,,, Would you loan me an acorn ?
d
dusty,
You can borrow anything, well almost anything......
Don't have a complete acorn, yet. Will cashews do?
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Thanks Bob ,
I was hoping I could , I'll wait for the real thing .
dusty
not friends. neighbors, employees or acquaintances. glad you make it right with your borrowed vehicles.
james
"nothing against you personally but I just hate that attitude".
I've helped numerous friends out by letting them borrowing my truck. If they are friends never an issue, but then they have always been there for me. I know country music is not everybody's cup-o-tea, but this tune says it well. Again nothing personal, I was just raised differently in the Hills of Va on a farm and you depended on your neighbors and friends and knew both well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysgAbwKub7YGovernment's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
I second the minivan recommendation. We have a 94 grand caravan. Gets mpg in the 20's. 10' material fits up between the driver's and passenger seat, 8' material behind them. About as much fun to drive as a couch, but easily maneuverable. In our house it is the small car, and I choose it for trips to HD and such. The one thing to watch is excess weight is hard on the transmission. I'd say excess is over 1000lbs, so you've got some capacity there. Like it so much, we are thinking of getting another.
woodophile
I had a RAV 4. Note that since the rear door swings to one side, not down like a tailgate, you can't really transport anything that would hang out the back. I would have to poke 2x4s out through the sunroof. No-go for plywood sheets. Great vehicle otherwise, but no sub for a pickup.
You can pick up minivans for not to much $.
Take all the seats out and a lot will go in them.
One thing. My Dodge minivan could handle 48" sheet goods laying flat.
My toyota? Not! Who designed that! What a stupid design!
My Dodge had a transmision cooler installed on it. Heat kills them.
For cargo capacity my Honda Odessy has a huge amount of room if you remove the middle seats and fold rear seats down you can fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood. I think if I am careful I could get 8 dinning chairs in the thing. For gas mileage it is so-so about 16-17 in the city and 24-25 miles per gallon. A good van.
Troy
A friend of mine who has a printing business and is always delivering large boxes of shirts trophies etc, uses a minivan thats all wheel drive. It does well. The only issue I can see with not getting a pickup is the weight will be tough on breaks, shocks, tires, tranny, engine, etc if you hall a lot of weight. Next question, do you live in flat land or in the mountains. If you live where inclines will be driven a lot, go ahead and get a truck. If its just for ocasional use, get an onld junker. I paid 3500 for an old pick up that only got used once in a while. Used lots of oil & gas, but was great when I needed it.
If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
You can find 10 year old pickups for sale all day long, usually no more than $3,500 for one in good condition. I bought a new F150 (rubber floor mat work truck edition) for a steal (really, my minimax combo machine was more $$ than the truck), use it for errands and hauling and as a result my nice car stays clean and low mileage yet still a lot of fun to drive.
Well, naturally a woodworker should drive a "woodie"... (For all the young whippersnappers out there that's a station wagon from the 1930's with wooden sides.)
Further to the discussion of loaning your truck: I had a friend who told me, "If someone asks to borrow your truck, loan him your wife. You know what he'll do with your wife, but you never know what he'll do with your truck..."
7 passenger Chrysler Corp mini van, with a roof rack.
It has a higher cargo weight capacity than a 1/2-ton pickup.
With the back seats pulled out, and the fronts slid forward, you can load 12 full 4X8 sheets of 3/4 plywood.
The roof racks can handle 12-foot lumber.
The first weekend I owned it, the younger brother and I started a flooring project at Mom's house. I had him meet me at my place Saturday morning, and we went out to breakfast, then to the lumber yard to get 12-sheets of 3/4 plywood T&G underlayment, and 22 12-ft 2X4s, and 4 16-ft 2X6s. I don't know who was more shocked, him or the guy at the lumber yard. The brother did quit giving me a ration about not buying a truck though.
I hauled a full size washer and drier, and two twin mattresses home in mine. Guys at the appliance store seemed shocked.
With the seats out, I hauled a dining room table, and 8 chairs in it.
Edited 12/31/2008 1:12 am ET by Jigs-n-fixtures
If the adapted sports car doesn't quite fit the bill the more green ( or cheap ) alternative might. :-)
http://www.jlconline.com/cgi-bin/jlconline.storefront/495ba6311295c1ba27170a32100a0680/UserTemplate/82?s=495ba6311295c1ba27170a32100a0680&c=3fda58837b284f3673e4328a1d972740&p=1
Back in the day I used a Lancia spyder for work. I worked on many kitchen installs and once in a while had to collect countertop blanks. I would drop the rear section of roof and lay the top in there, had to be a dry day, worked great!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/albertsbite/3082948084/ this is like the one I had. Most of them rusted away. No rust in Italy, but plenty in the UK!
Just don't go with a Jetta... the load capacity really sucks.
View Image
what about a subaru outback?
wow. nice car!
It was very Italian!
I ended up rebuilding the engine just because it leaked in many places. A real pig to remove, but went back in real easy!
Getting the twin cams lined up was a bear because the timing marks and belt were not dead on. After resetting many times I got it right, went like a rocket! I did enjoy it.
Fixed the brakes. Bleed nipples were rusted in place. Ended up removing and doing a "what the hell", clamped the nipple in a vice and twisted the caliper undone fully expecting the nipple to snap! Only one did, still amazed at at that!
apparently there were 10 sacks of cement in the back seat as well.
Ha! That's a real photo????
I thought it was retouched....crazy!!!
yeah it's real.
No way is it real!
Check out the studs, they should have caved in the roof. The rear windows should be broken. Knowing how slick OSB is, why is it still all lined up.
Sorry no way is it real!
Having at one time or another owned a mini-van, pick up, hatchback, full-sized cargo van, and multiple utility trailers, my recommendation is get a small, covered utility trailer and park it when you are not using it.
I have a Subaru Outback wagon. You can get a handful of 8' boards in there, but it's hardly ideal. You risk busting the windshield when loading your lumber. There is a luggage rack on top, but I never felt great about tied lumber up there (especially plywood, which is like a kite).
I also have a long-bed pickup truck. MUCH better!
TP
RE: Luggage rack on topI bet I've seen 8 mattresses or box springs lying on the side of the expressway in the last month, including one that came flying off about 400 yards ahead of me this morning. Do these idiots just get to their destination and wonder what happened and where or do they just figure it's damaged beyond reuse?
We have an Outback and there are better options. It only has capacity for very small jobs.A beater pickup or minivan with sheet capability would be better.Probably one of the best utility options for a woodworker that I've seen is a mini-pickup with a flatbed conversion. Add a pipe rack and you can carry decent loads of sheet goods and long lumber.Now if you're building large jobs then hopefully you are close enough to have a lumber supplier just bring the material to you. Delivery can't be beat.
Well this is a little extreme on the small side but I've been doing rather well with a Saturn SL-2 4 door. The key with these smaller vehicles is the fold down back seat. With it down I can get as many as eight 8 to 9 foot long planks in the trunk and plywood up to 36" wide. My business is primarily smaller furniture pieces. Most of my customers pick up in their SUV's. Occasionally I rent a truck for larger deliveries. Considering I get 32mpg with the small car it doesn't take much driving to cover a rental truck.
Ony one thing ever went wrong. Driving back for the lumber yard with a full load of 8' cherry I looked over and saw that I had slid one of the boards into my windshield and cracked it; which my insurance covered.
I met a woodworker that drove one of those smart cars... I believe he was firmly in the borrow a friend truck camp. Though he did have an amusing tory about having wood stuck directly out of the moon roof.
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