Minivan or Cargo \van

[tinkerbell20]

Hi everyone....

We are driving from NJ with 4 adults / 3 kids straight through. I was thinking a minivan with 3 rows of seats would be fine for us but my sister doesn't think that we would have any room for luggage. We would have at least 3-5 bags. She wants to rent a cargovan (which i think would be uncomfortable) or a tahoe /suburban (which I think would be really expensive). anyone have any info or ideas on this???? This is our first time driving so everything is new to me. We are going the last week of september anyone get any good deals around that time for those types of vehicles?


Thanks for all your help!!

 

[Minniemouse07]

A Suburban isn't going to have any more room for luggage than a minivan.

We have an 8 passenger Toyota Sienna. With all the seats up, you can probably fit 3-4 large suitcases standing up if they fit depthwise. It would probably depend on what kind of packers you all are if your luggage would fit or not.

As for a cargo van, where would you all sit?

 

[ToddyLu]

How much would it be to get a mini van or SUV and pull a small UHAUL? That is what I would do. Get the car for comfort and the trailer for the bags.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

That depends do you want your family sitting on the floor of a cargo van all the way to Florida or in a comfy seat of a mini van.
Cargo vans only have 2 seats.
Take a look

http://www.avis.com/car-rental/html/landing/cargo-van-rental.html

 

[tinkerbell20]

That depends do you want your family sitting on the floor of a cargo van all the way to Florida or in a comfy seat of a mini van.
Cargo vans only have 2 seats.
Take a look

http://www.avis.com/car-rental/html/landing/cargo-van-rental.html

hahaha....s see how experienced I am in this...I actually meant a full size van.....I am checking out prices now. .... even with all the seats in a full size van....I still think a mini van would be more comfortable. and I am sure we would have at least 4 suitcases/bags.......

 

[njmom47]

I just answered a similar question on another thread. I own a Caravan (an '02) and we drove to Myrtle Beach from NJ. Two adults and 3 teens (might as well be adults!)...1 med/lg bag each, 2 coolers plus baseball equipment. We squished soft-sided bags under the back seat and put the big cooler in between the middle seats (captains chairs) and we all agreed it was an extremely comfy way to travel.

 

[3pletprincesses]

I would do a minivan. full size will cost you an arm and leg to rent and gas LOL

 

[francie57]

Minivan would defintely be more comfortable. We have a new Honda Odessey and you would be able to stand a few suitcases behind the last row of seating. What about one of the soft style bags that can go on the roof rack to hold stuff. That would be a better option than the full size van or Tahoe. Not to mention the awful gas mileage they would get. I would try to rent a Toyota or Honda van since they are the largest of the minivans out there and are much better gas mileage. Our Honda just got 30 miles to the gallon on a trip to NC and our old Ford Windstar would only get about 24.

 

[chartle]

How much would it be to get a mini van or SUV and pull a small UHAUL? That is what I would do. Get the car for comfort and the trailer for the bags.

Pretty sure there is a clause saying no towing with a rental. Even if you "skipped over" that clause, only a few would have hitches. So you would have to make sure you get a vehicle with a hitch and the only way to do that would be to ask and then the cat is out of the bag.

Would it possible to get two cars, it maybe cheaper than a full size van or even a Suburban .

 

[debster812]

2 winters ago (february 2010) we were having bad weather here in the Northeast, and we did just this. 4 adults and 3 twelve year olds. DH, DS & I, my cousin and her DH, and their twins. Flights were being cancelled a full 24-36 hours prior to take off. We rented a Chevy Tahoe. It was tight. The two guys did the driving, so they were in the front seats. My cousin, her DD and I were in the middle row (her DD gets terribly motion sick, and could not go in the way back). My DS and his cousin were in the third row, along with some luggage.

As far as passengers, it would have been fine, it's just when adding in luggage for 7 people when it got tight. Everything would NOT fit behind the 3rd seat, so some of it had to go on the seat next to the boys, which made for some close quarters for them. If we were not going to be flying home, we would have purchased a car-top carrier to put some of the bags in, but we'd have had no way to get it home.

I don't think we would have had much more room in a mini-van, and we actually chose the Tahoe because we knew there was going to be snow for a significant part of the trip.

Good Luck!!!!