Vehicle help please

[silver]

I just now have read all of the posts in this thread, since I, too, am in the market for a new "car". The most important thing for us in this purchase is being able to fit the bikes INSIDE the car - this includes our tandems, which are 8 feet long.

Sadly for me, this means nothing less than a mini-van. On the one hand, I totally understand the purchase as it is completely practical given the amount of car travel we do with bikes. On the other hand, we HAVE NO CHILDREN, and NEVER WILL. I am having a really tough time getting my brain around the "soccer mom" label associated with a mini-van.

Oh, and FWIW, DH is going to the dealer this afternoon with the tandem to be sure it fits - we already told the salesman that this was one of our primary purchasing criteria! And, we are Toyota folks - this will be our 6th car from the same dealer (Sienna).

SheFly

Shefly....that's what I have....a toyota sienna. I love/hate it. I love how it does everything that I need it to do, but hate the image it has. But practicality wins, and my precious Madone goes inside!!!!

I do wish it had the fold down seats like the newer models. I can just barely manage to wrestle them out of the car by myself (but I can). but I have wondered if having the fold down seats would take up some of the vertical space. Right now I need all the vertical space to roll my bike in.

[sbctwin]

I do wish it had the fold down seats like the newer models. I can just barely manage to wrestle them out of the car by myself (but I can). but I have wondered if having the fold down seats would take up some of the vertical space. Right now I need all the vertical space to roll my bike in.

I have a Honda Odysee 2004 model. I hate the "big" car feel, but like it for several reasons. We fold down the third row bench seat and remove one of the mid row bucket seats. My bike is rather small (650cc wheels) and rolls in very nicely. My husbands Trek is a comfort bike and is very tall with high handlebars. His fits in too, but we do have to eek it in because of the high handlbars, but once in, it stands up. We have bungeed cord a freestanding bikestand where the bucket seat was and we can set our front wheels in and the bikes don't fall over each other. We leased this vehicle. When it is time to look at another vehicle, part of me wants a more economical, small car because it is just DH and me, but the convenience of being able to keep my bike inside the car is too great. I don't like dealing with car racks. At 4'10", everything is a challenge to reach. I also like the van because I sit higher....

[SheFly]

Shefly....that's what I have....a toyota sienna. I love/hate it. I love how it does everything that I need it to do, but hate the image it has. But practicality wins, and my precious Madone goes inside!!!!

I do wish it had the fold down seats like the newer models. I can just barely manage to wrestle them out of the car by myself (but I can). but I have wondered if having the fold down seats would take up some of the vertical space. Right now I need all the vertical space to roll my bike in.

The verdict from DH yesterday was positive - the TT tandem (which is longer than our regular road tandem) will go into the back of the van WITHOUT removing the front wheel (although he did have to turn the bars). I am heading to the dealer to write a big check later today.

The rear seats in the new model fold down, which is KEY for us. They do fold flat to the rest of the floor, so you don't take up any vertical room when they are down. Apparently the space that they fit into is where the spare tire used to sit - they have moved the tire UNDER the van to provide the extra space inside...

SheFly

[silver]

The verdict from DH yesterday was positive - the TT tandem (which is longer than our regular road tandem) will go into the back of the van WITHOUT removing the front wheel (although he did have to turn the bars). I am heading to the dealer to write a big check later today.

The rear seats in the new model fold down, which is KEY for us. They do fold flat to the rest of the floor, so you don't take up any vertical room when they are down. Apparently the space that they fit into is where the spare tire used to sit - they have moved the tire UNDER the van to provide the extra space inside...

SheFly

OH! pictures!! with the bike in of course!

[SheFly]

OH! pictures!! with the bike in of course!

No pics with the bike in just yet (we just had a big snowstorm here in New England - bikes are sadly back on the trainers in the basement...). Thought I would share a couple pics of the new bike hauler in the meantime, though.

Oh, and I LOVE the way it rides! Very comfy...

SheFly

[Tuckervill]

Nice color. I can't believe an 8 ft tandem fits back there! wow.

This is what I worked on half the day yesterday. It's for our trip to Oregon. I probably wouldn't use it on a regular day. The bikes fit fine with the wheels on and I don't mind them moving around on short trips. I'm making a canvas bag to hold the front wheels, which I will hang from a hook on the side, but now I've got them velcro-strapped to their bikes. It's surprisingly stable. The attachments are called blockheads, from Yakima, in case someone asks.

Today is a dry run for our trip, while go to Little Rock for a few days. I'm having some concerns about the board sliding around, so I've got rug grippers under the feet. I took the left seat out altogether (simple), although I think they would have fit. The wheels would not be able to hang up, though.

Karen

[chickwhorips]

very nice tucker!

[SheFly]

Nice color. I can't believe an 8 ft tandem fits back there! wow.

Only with the second row seats out, and turning the front wheel to a 90 degree angle with the frame - but it DOES fit. If the snow ever goes away here, I will put the TT tandem (it's longer) in and take a pic to show you...

And I like the color of your car too .

Nice job on the rack for the Element, BTW - we have a VERY similar rack that we use in the bed of the pick up, and will likely use in the Sienna now as well. That was going to be my choice for a new car, but the tandem wouldn't fit .

SheFly