How much luggage can your van or SUv hold? New info added.

[princesspumpkin]

Wondering about luggage space for our rentals. How many regular size suitcases can the back hold (with all seats occupied) of a 7 passenger minivan. Also, same questions concerning a standard 5 passenger SUV (trunk space). Thanks

Added - we are a group of 12 - 6 adults and 6 kids 10 and under. I thought that renting a minivan and an SUV would be able to handle all of us and our luggage. I thought that 6 suitcass could fit in the back of the SUV (we would only be seating 5 people in there), and 4-5 suitcases in the minivan. Carryons can go in between the seats (especially under the kids' feet). My travel partners don't think that it will work. I also have two minivans reserved, but I thought that the SUV trunk would fit more than the minivan.

 

[jdm]

Ohhhhh, I don't know the exact amount but I know DH always says we will never fit it and of course, we always do. Let's see, we always get a van and we have 4 large suitcases, a wardrobe,4 carry-ons and on the way home, I usually have a 5th large suitcase with stuff I've aquired on the trip Sometimes the rolling cooler is filled too.

We usually have lots of stuff. Last year one of the suitcases I had was actually a Canadian Hockey bag that I purchased at Costco. The thing was huge, like 2 big suitcases. I could barely wheel it around. If you get desperate, you can always use the floor between the front and back seats.

I'm truly going to try and go lighter this year . Just way too much lugging.

Jenn

 

[tvguy]

On the minivan, there is a big difference in luggage space from brand to brand, and the long wheelbase models always have more luggage room.
It's hard to tell unless you can try it out. My father in law used to have a Chevy Celebrity, my brother in law a Chevy Cavalier. They used to always have to pick us up at the airport in the Cavalier because it had a bigger trunk.
And the opening shape makes a big difference, it's a struggle to get big suitcases in my Sable, but not my Focus.
But we normally use our Suburban, which is probably bigger inside than the normal cabin on DCL!!!!!

 

[hmneal]

We're a family of six.....we have rented both mini van and suv's on vacation. A mini van generally holds our luggage (ok, sometimes, it's beside the sliding door, etc) and that's what we have to rent. But our stuff generally only has to be hauled from the airport to the hotel/house/port, so we can be a little uncomfortable if needed, for a short period of time.


Obviously we won't fit in a 5 passenger SUV but they have very little storage space. It would take a 7 pass. SUV for our family & our luggage (Suburban, Envoy XL, etc)

And I might add that 5 of the 6 are female, mostly teen females! So we tend to have a LOT of stuff! A mini van usually works just fine.

 

[markºoº]

I found that strapping the kids to the roof really allows you to get more luggage in the SUV!

 

[tkd lisa]

On our last trip, we had the full sized SUVs most of the time. The Rendevous had plenty of space for our stuff. We also had a Grand Marquis and a Buick Century, and they all fit there too. We had: 2 garmet bags, 1 large rolling suitcase, 1 medium rolling suitcase, one large soft sided suitcase, one small suitcase, and 2 duffle bags. (this was the 10 day Christmas cruise, and we did 2 days at WDW and a day at Tampa so those clothes were for 14 days and 4 people!)

 

[mmouse37]

We are a family of five and each bring one suitcase plus a few carryons....we found the minivan to have less space in the back for luggage...when the kids were smaller we could move up the back seat to allow for more room but now that they are full sized teens, that scenario does not work anymore!!!

We recently rented an SUV (Trailblazer) and the five of us fit fine (and we are not all tiny) and had plenty of room for luggage in the back.

MJ

 

[myboysmom]

We own an Expedition that seats seven. We are a family of four. With all the seats up, we do not have anyroom behind the last seats (I can get a couple of bags back there, but it would not be room for seven people's luggage. We do have a car top carrier, but have never used it.

When we drive up North or anywhere on vacation the seats in the back are down and that is where our luggage goes. I would not recommend a seven seat SUV if you are going to have 7 people on board.

I use extended minivans from the fleet where I work when I must travel and take people with. Even with the extended I try not to put more than 5 people in a minivan with luggage, and the other things we take with us. It would be just too crowded.

Now, if you are just planning on using a minivan to get someplace in an hour, well then anything is do able. If you are planning on a long drive then it might be a different story.

 

[mackymaddyconnorsmom]

We Rented a Windstar. We had 4 large suitcases, 3 smaller sizes, 2 garment bags and 3 carry ons. We fit everything, but some had to go in between legs. My husband also is good at using every available space. He got so much of it in the back, I would have only probably been able to fit 1/2 of it.

 

[spsneman]

I would like some suggestions for our upcoming trip. We are travelling with another family for a total of 8, 4 kids and 4 adults. We arrive 2 days before our cruise leaves for 7 days and then are planning on staying another 10 days to take in the parks. I have concerns about fitting all of us in an 8 passenger van with luggage going from Orlando to Port Canaveral and then back to the rental house after the cruise, and then to the airport. However I don't think its necessary for us to have 2 vehicles when we are touring the parks. Have checked prices on the Club Vans and they are quite pricey. Was thinking of taking a limo from Orlando to the Port Canaveral. Any other suggestions would be appreciated...

 

[goofyforlife]

We rented a Chevy Trailblazer from National.

We fit three large 29" rolling cases, a pilot case, four carryon duffles, and a full size stoller behind the seat.

We originally had just an intermediate rented but all they had were Malibus and we knew the luggage and stroller would not fit in. National was very accomodating in getting us a larger vehicle at a great price for last minute.

 

[Enna]

Is there any hope of fitting 7 people (4 adults 3 kids) and ALL of the luggage in an 8-passenger Toyota Sienna? I know we could fit the people, and the stuff for my own family (2 adults, 2 kids) but I don't know how conservatively the others will pack...and I don't want to make any promises I can't keep!


Enna

 

[jrabbit]

I found that strapping the kids to the roof really allows you to get more luggage in the SUV!

Another use for the Duct Tape!

 

[jrabbit]

I don't think that 7 people going on a seven night cruise would be able to fit themselves and their luggage in a Mini van - especially if it's two families.

At most 4 big rollerbags and two smaller ones will fit in the "trunck". That leaves a couple of small roller bags and everyones carryons to deal with.

 

[princesspumpkin]

Anyone else?

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I would rent two minivans. One with 7 people and as much luggage as possible and the other with 5 people and the "way back" seats folded down for extra luggage space. Since the 5 passenger SUV doesn't have much luggage space, the 2nd minivan would be cheaper than a fullsize SUV.

Also, it really depends on the type of minivan, even between a Caravan and a Grand Caravan. When you get to the counter you can request larger minivans. We were upgraded to a Grand Caravan this last trip. It was really overkill since there were only 2 of us, but I drive a minivan at home and was most comfortable driving around Orlando in one, too.

T&B

 

[princesspumpkin]

I would rent two minivans. One with 7 people and as much luggage as possible and the other with 5 people and the "way back" seats folded down for extra luggage space. Since the 5 passenger SUV doesn't have much luggage space, the 2nd minivan would be cheaper than a fullsize SUV.

Also, it really depends on the type of minivan, even between a Caravan and a Grand Caravan. When you get to the counter you can request larger minivans. We were upgraded to a Grand Caravan this last trip. It was really overkill since there were only 2 of us, but I drive a minivan at home and was most comfortable driving around Orlando in one, too.

T&B

I understand what you're saying, but I was thinking that the minivans seat 7, so the middle row only has two seats. Therefore, if the third row is folded down, it only would have 4 available seats.

 

[pdarrah]

It really varies from minivan to minivan. I have a chrysler that has 2 bucket seats in the middle and a split bench in back. To seat 5, I would need to use 1/2 of the back bench and could fold down the other 1/2. I have a friend with the same basic van, but a bench seat in the middle position - so in that configuration, you could fit 5 without using the back and could fold it down and have a lot of room for luggage. Other brands/model years probably have their variations also.

If you are trying to keep it to 2 vehicles, I would probably go with 2 minivans - most "standard" SUV's seem to have very little cargo room. (But since I haven't owned an SUV since the very first chevy S10 Blazer, that is just an opinion, not fact!) With 2 vans, even if they have the configuration of only 2 seats in the middle, you could probably stick kids in the back of both and put 1/2 of the split seat down in both....

pdarrah

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I understand what you're saying, but I was thinking that the minivans seat 7, so the middle row only has two seats. Therefore, if the third row is folded down, it only would have 4 available seats.

Good point...we have an 8 seater van, so I'm used to folding down the way back seats and still being able to seat 5 ppl. You could either fold down the middle seat and put luggage there or leave the seats upright and stuff luggage wherever you are able, whether it be in 2/3 of the way back seat or in the middle seat.

Or you can try for an 8 passenger can. The Astros have a lot of space.

Luggage is a pain, isn't it?

T&B