Don't want to derail the pickup thread but it got me thinking. I posted my pick up truck experience in that thread.
Looking at pictures of shooting in Australia I see a lot of vans. I have a minivan and I think it works out quite well for shooting activities. Hauls gear, I've camped in it, open gate makes a nice workspace or place to sit (seats flipped over). Plus I can carry 7 people, grand kids etc.
The company I work for had a fleet of 2008 Grand Caravans and were getting very good service with them. When they updated the fleet I bought one of the '08s with 140k miles. With all the seats folded down it's 4 ft. by 8 ft. cargo space. I considered it like a pick up with a cap, if not a very light duty one. IIRC 1,800 lb. cargo cap., 3,600 lb. towing. While I never exceeded those capacities (weighed it several times) I did add air bags(turned out to be not needed) and a class 3 hitch for the versatility, not the extra capacity. I took it to Washington, Florida, and many points in between. 20 to 23 mpg. 18 in the winter if loaded.
When it hit 200k I got a new 2017 to replace it. At the time I found myself renovating a rental property and the new one was too nice for paint buckets and ladders, lawn mowers and weed wackers. So I kept the old one “just until this house is done.” 6 years later I still owned 2 vans! I just recently sold it to a contractor guy who does windows and doors. It's got 280k on it and he uses it daily. The only failures it's ever had are a rusted out and leaking water pipe and a right front axle shaft that broke in two while backing into a parking space, empty van no load!
I met an attractive lady at a shooting event. She offered to help me carry my gear after the event. As we arrived at my minivan she said “Somehow I had you figured for a big four wheel drive pick up kind of guy.” I said well this is it.” She said “So you're secure in your manhood, huh?” I said Yes...yes I am.
edit; to revise stated cargo capacity. I misstated it in the original post.
Looking at pictures of shooting in Australia I see a lot of vans. I have a minivan and I think it works out quite well for shooting activities. Hauls gear, I've camped in it, open gate makes a nice workspace or place to sit (seats flipped over). Plus I can carry 7 people, grand kids etc.
The company I work for had a fleet of 2008 Grand Caravans and were getting very good service with them. When they updated the fleet I bought one of the '08s with 140k miles. With all the seats folded down it's 4 ft. by 8 ft. cargo space. I considered it like a pick up with a cap, if not a very light duty one. IIRC 1,800 lb. cargo cap., 3,600 lb. towing. While I never exceeded those capacities (weighed it several times) I did add air bags(turned out to be not needed) and a class 3 hitch for the versatility, not the extra capacity. I took it to Washington, Florida, and many points in between. 20 to 23 mpg. 18 in the winter if loaded.
When it hit 200k I got a new 2017 to replace it. At the time I found myself renovating a rental property and the new one was too nice for paint buckets and ladders, lawn mowers and weed wackers. So I kept the old one “just until this house is done.” 6 years later I still owned 2 vans! I just recently sold it to a contractor guy who does windows and doors. It's got 280k on it and he uses it daily. The only failures it's ever had are a rusted out and leaking water pipe and a right front axle shaft that broke in two while backing into a parking space, empty van no load!
I met an attractive lady at a shooting event. She offered to help me carry my gear after the event. As we arrived at my minivan she said “Somehow I had you figured for a big four wheel drive pick up kind of guy.” I said well this is it.” She said “So you're secure in your manhood, huh?” I said Yes...yes I am.
edit; to revise stated cargo capacity. I misstated it in the original post.
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