Re: Moving gear in your van
Anyone want to guess what my Ford stretched cargo van with it's four barrel 351 gets per gallon?
Anyone want to guess what my Ford stretched cargo van with it's four barrel 351 gets per gallon?
Moving gear in your van
- Thread starter Silas Pradetto
- Start date
Re: Moving gear in your van
Because the good totes will last just as long, weigh significantly less, don't randomly collapse when used within their rated capacities (around 50 lbs IIRC), and can be had for less than $20 each. Oh, and they are designed to stack, fit nicely on a pallet, can be moved with ease on a handtruck, can be easily labeled with a permanent marker, and stack nicely when empty.
Because the good totes will last just as long, weigh significantly less, don't randomly collapse when used within their rated capacities (around 50 lbs IIRC), and can be had for less than $20 each. Oh, and they are designed to stack, fit nicely on a pallet, can be moved with ease on a handtruck, can be easily labeled with a permanent marker, and stack nicely when empty.
Re: Moving gear in your van
Just don't tow anything behind it unless you've bought the towing package, otherwise great vans G
Just don't tow anything behind it unless you've bought the towing package, otherwise great vans G
Re: Moving gear in your van
For those that have been living under an outdated transportation rock - let me enlighten you as to why the Sprinter is da bomb for hauling music gear. It has sliding side door(s) that work well and the back doors flop around and stick to the wall via magnets completely out of the way. It gets better milage than anything in it's class - up to 28 mpg with the early turbo diesels. But the most important thing about a Sprinter is YOU CAN STAND UP IN IT!!!
http://youtu.be/EegO_kvasPM
For those that have been living under an outdated transportation rock - let me enlighten you as to why the Sprinter is da bomb for hauling music gear. It has sliding side door(s) that work well and the back doors flop around and stick to the wall via magnets completely out of the way. It gets better milage than anything in it's class - up to 28 mpg with the early turbo diesels. But the most important thing about a Sprinter is YOU CAN STAND UP IN IT!!!
http://youtu.be/EegO_kvasPM
Re: Moving gear in your van
Which is great if you never have to park it in a parking ramp. I work in a downtown area where a 7' ramp is a luxury and most are 6'8". I have to park my Express downtown occasionally, and would have loved to have a Sprinter for the reasons you mention, but even the shortest version is too tall at 8'. It won't fit in my garage at home either.
Re: Moving gear in your van
This is true and then there's the issue of city ordinances regarding parking large vehicles. The wonderful city of St. Petersburg will not allow them to be parked in the driveway or in front of your house. If you can pull it around back or stuff it in a garage with a tall door it's OK. I still want one. I hate parking garages - most are too low even with a normal big Ford van.
This is true and then there's the issue of city ordinances regarding parking large vehicles. The wonderful city of St. Petersburg will not allow them to be parked in the driveway or in front of your house. If you can pull it around back or stuff it in a garage with a tall door it's OK. I still want one. I hate parking garages - most are too low even with a normal big Ford van.
Re: Moving gear in your van
They are also a big jump in insurance rates as compared to a van or truck, for me it would have been almost $1000 per year MORE.......and I have a clean driving record....spotless actually...with never a single claim in almost 30-years.
It is a real *commercial* vehicle and your insurance company knows it, while it's a great vehicle for a full time business, for a weekend warrior like myself I just couldn't justify the extra expense...along with the much higher price tag to purchase one.
We have about 50 of them at my real day job, they all have over 150k on them and they all are in the shop pretty regularly for service.
They are not as comfortable to drive as a pickup or van, they ride rough...you feel every bump in the road and the interior cabin is very noisey.
You also can't stop them from f'n rusting!!!!!
All of ours are 5-years old and the rust on them is pathetic, the door hinges come through rusty from the factory it seems.
But, they do haul supplies with ease, they are easy to turn around and they sure seem like they have plenty of power.
They are also a big jump in insurance rates as compared to a van or truck, for me it would have been almost $1000 per year MORE.......and I have a clean driving record....spotless actually...with never a single claim in almost 30-years.
It is a real *commercial* vehicle and your insurance company knows it, while it's a great vehicle for a full time business, for a weekend warrior like myself I just couldn't justify the extra expense...along with the much higher price tag to purchase one.
We have about 50 of them at my real day job, they all have over 150k on them and they all are in the shop pretty regularly for service.
They are not as comfortable to drive as a pickup or van, they ride rough...you feel every bump in the road and the interior cabin is very noisey.
You also can't stop them from f'n rusting!!!!!
All of ours are 5-years old and the rust on them is pathetic, the door hinges come through rusty from the factory it seems.
But, they do haul supplies with ease, they are easy to turn around and they sure seem like they have plenty of power.
Re: Moving gear in your van
I have been doing the van thing for years, i switched away from a trailer because it is just easier to get around especially in the city (philadelphia). I have gotten it down to a science I have outfitted 5 vans the same way.
First off I line the floor with some 3/4 inch plywood. it takes two sheets to do the job, and I cover up the step on the side door, to add the extra flat cargo space. now wheels roll in the van very easily.
then I add a divider between the cab and the back, as well as window screens to prevent gear from breaking out the windows. you can get both from www.americanvan.com
then I add in the handy wheelchair folding ramp that is very easy for one man to handle.
last I get some e-track from a local supplier to make it easier to strap things in.
yes it can cost a few bucks to do it all, but it makes things a whole lot easier to deal with, when you have the ramp you don't have to get too worried about case size, as long as it fits in the van you can handle it yourself. and you can use the ramp to go to the ground or up to a loading dock.
hope this helps
I have been doing the van thing for years, i switched away from a trailer because it is just easier to get around especially in the city (philadelphia). I have gotten it down to a science I have outfitted 5 vans the same way.
First off I line the floor with some 3/4 inch plywood. it takes two sheets to do the job, and I cover up the step on the side door, to add the extra flat cargo space. now wheels roll in the van very easily.
then I add a divider between the cab and the back, as well as window screens to prevent gear from breaking out the windows. you can get both from www.americanvan.com
then I add in the handy wheelchair folding ramp that is very easy for one man to handle.
last I get some e-track from a local supplier to make it easier to strap things in.
yes it can cost a few bucks to do it all, but it makes things a whole lot easier to deal with, when you have the ramp you don't have to get too worried about case size, as long as it fits in the van you can handle it yourself. and you can use the ramp to go to the ground or up to a loading dock.
hope this helps
Re: Moving gear in your van
My van cost me $950 a year in insurance. In perspective my '11 Impreza (daily driver) cost me $1150 a year.
Added: thats full coverage.
My van cost me $950 a year in insurance. In perspective my '11 Impreza (daily driver) cost me $1150 a year.
Added: thats full coverage.
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Re: Moving gear in your van
I pay just about $1k ea. for my 06 Tundra and my new 11 Ram 1500. The Sprinter would have been close to $2k to insure for a year.
I pay just about $1k ea. for my 06 Tundra and my new 11 Ram 1500. The Sprinter would have been close to $2k to insure for a year.
Re: Moving gear in your van
If you can find one, a used wheelchair van with lift is really the bomb. You do have to learn how to pack around the wheelchair lft in stowed position but it puts ALL ramps to shame. Also they have raised roofs as part of the package.
mike Mcnany
If you can find one, a used wheelchair van with lift is really the bomb. You do have to learn how to pack around the wheelchair lft in stowed position but it puts ALL ramps to shame. Also they have raised roofs as part of the package.
mike Mcnany