For those driving a long distance...what do you drive?

[sleepingbeautymama]

We are driving and we think we are going to take our extended cab truck but the only problem is it's terrible gas mileage and there is hardly any space for our luggage especially with a car seat in the middle. Our other option is our Malibu which is older and smaller of course but there will be plenty of room for luggage in the trunk. I feel better about taking the truck but the lack of luggage space has me worried. Has anyone driven down in a truck? We are driving over 1000 miles each way. We thought about buying a tonneau cover (an inexpensive one) for the truck but I wonder would it be waterproof so we could put our luggage in the bed of the truck? Oh there are three of us by the way. Our dd4 will be in a car seat in the middle of the back seat. Thanks

 

[PortieOwner]

The truck will be a lot more comfortable. I have done a few 700-miles in a day trips lately and they are much more comfortable in a full size truck or SUV than a smaller car. But the Malibu isn't bad for that sort of trip. You should just calculate the difference in fuel costs and see if it is worth it.

Definitely get a cover for the back of the truck. I would not leave luggage under one of those overnight. Back in the old days we tossed our luggage in the back of the truck and covered it with a tarp and prayed if it did rain it wouldn't rain too hard or too long.

Portie

 

[umaangel00]

Just based on the gas factor I would take the Malibu. I have a 2000 Bonneville and I got 30 miles/gallon on our March 2005 trip. We are taking the same car back down to Florida in March 2007. The Malibu isn't that much smaller than my Bonneville (my parents have an 2004 malibu) and there was so much room for us so we didn't feel cramped.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

If you are concerned about the age of your malibu have you considered renting a car? For the most part, you should be able to get something simliar (Intermediate Car) for somewhere in the area of around $160 for the week, with unlimited milleage. Also, some of the vehicles in the rental fleets (especially the Impala) actually have simliar passenger room as an extended cab truck....

 

[kydisneyfans]

Agree with the poster above. We rented a Malabu for a 900 mile trip from KY to Boston in July for just over $130 for the week. There was more than plenty of room for 3 of us, and the wife's $700.00 Macy's shopping spree in downtown New York.

We have driven a Saturn Vue to Florida 3 times, decent gas mileage and plenty of space. We have a car rented this year but may cancel and take the Vue again since gas prices have dropped back to 2.30.

 

[ducklite]

DH makes the round trip almost monthly between NJ and Orlando. He drives a Prius, gets 50 mpg, and was purchased because we knew he'd be making that trip regularly.

Think about it this way--you seem to have some reservations about the dependability of the car. Anything you save on gas is going to get eaten alive by any repair costs along the way--and you will probably ahve to have it serviced, maybe replace tires or such, before you leave.

I'd either get the cover for the truck (more for security than weatherproofing) and wrap the luggage in large contractor bags (from Home Depot) to keep them totally dry, or look into renting a car. With gas savings it might pay for itself. Just be careful, some rental places either charge milage or have restrictions that you can't take the car out of state.

Have a great trip!

Anne

 

[QT Pooh]

We used to have a pick-up with a tonneau cover, and it was a slight PITA to get in and out of. You'll have to have something to keep you luggage secure to where you want it to be (easy access) or else you'll be undoing the tonneau cover all the way and climbing into the truck bed to retrieve your luggage. Our tonneau cover used velcro all the way around the bed, which was a pain because it had to be completely tight or else the wind would blow it away from the bed. Also, if you're staying overnight somewhere, you have to take ALL the bags out since there's no way to lock it (assuming you mean a softsided tonneau).

We've driven down several times in our Malibu, though. There were only three of us and it was perfectly comfortable. We liked it because we could stick the cooler in the back seat along with one of the kids and any time we wanted a drink or a snack, it was right there.

We've also done the rental thing. That is very convenient if you'd like to have a little more interior and trunk space. (A rental may cost just a little more than your tonneau would!)

 

[allisophie]

we drive a truck, everywhere.. even with out the camper. I have used the bags from Home depot,trash bags, even a old car top carrier in the bed (since the new truck does not have a cover or shell) yes it's some what of a pain in the rain but we just learn to deal with it. I always pack our clothes in a space bag so they don't get wet.

For some reason we always end up with the bed loaded with "other stuff".

My mom has a Malibu and she would rather ride in the truck,says more leg room, our truck is a 05 dodge hemi and IF you leave it on cruise about 70 we get about 18 mpg..of course that's not towing the camper but then again we did not buy a truck to get good gas mileage..

good luck... and have a great trip...

 

[allisophie]

we drive a truck, everywhere.. even with out the camper. I have used the bags from Home depot,trash bags, even a old car top carrier in the bed (since the new truck does not have a cover or shell) yes it's some what of a pain in the rain but we just learn to deal with it. I always pack our clothes in a space bag so they don't get wet.

For some reason we always end up with the bed loaded with "other stuff".

My mom has a Malibu and she would rather ride in the truck,says more leg room, our truck is a 06 dodge hemi and IF you leave it on cruise about 70 we get about 18 mpg..of course that's not towing the camper but then again we did not buy a truck to get good gas mileage..

good luck... and have a great trip...

 

[cakesnkids]

We take our truck everywhere we go if DH is with me, leg room, and since we're pulling the camper to disney, it'll certainly be our choice.
Comfort is worth MUCH MUCH money in this house!