DIS Dads The DIS Dad's Club VII - Oh Peanut Butter...

[AJRitz]

Dads...needing help.

We're planning a trip to wdw for 3 adults and 4 children in a Ford Windstar. As far as people sitting there is no problem there. I'm concerned with packing it for seven people. My wife suggested renting a uhal trailer. It's a 12 hr car ride one way to Orlando. I don't think that would be the best solution. On this Windstar, there is no rack on top to store luggage. Does anyone have any suggestions for this small concern?

I think you've got essentially two safe options:
1) Rent a small U-Haul trailer. I know this is what Mike Rahlman, host of the Be Our Guest Podcast, does on his drives down from St. Louis - and there's only four of them (albeit in a smaller car). While the U-Haul rental is probably not too expensive, I'd be concerned about the additional gas expense caused by the extra drag introduced.

2) Ship stuff ahead to yourself (and back). With the way gas prices are increasing, I wouldn't be surprised if USPS priority mail or even UPS were price-competitive with a trailer rental + gas.

I would NOT use a car top carrier. I know many people do it, but they strike me as substantially less safe. I see stories of car top carriers opening en route or coming loose all the time. And they screw with the normal center of gravity for the vehicle, which messes with your handling - particularly at highway speeds.

 

[DisDadDoc]

Dads...needing help.

We're planning a trip to wdw for 3 adults and 4 children in a Ford Windstar. As far as people sitting there is no problem there. I'm concerned with packing it for seven people. My wife suggested renting a uhal trailer. It's a 12 hr car ride one way to Orlando. I don't think that would be the best solution. On this Windstar, there is no rack on top to store luggage. Does anyone have any suggestions for this small concern?

I thought Windstars had roof racks? Did yours come off? If so, maybe you could find one to install up there? That might be cheaper than a uhaul. I just did a quick search and they are only line for <$200. We put all sorts of stuff on our seeming not-sturdy roof rack for our 12 hour drive to NC every year, and it stays put.

Alternatively, how about renting another (bigger) car for the trip? I did another quick search on travelocity and a 10 day unlimited mileage rental is about $500 for a big SUV or van. This could give you more storage space. You could probably find a better deal through AAA or with a more involved search.

Good luck!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Dads...needing help.

We're planning a trip to wdw for 3 adults and 4 children in a Ford Windstar. As far as people sitting there is no problem there. I'm concerned with packing it for seven people. My wife suggested renting a uhal trailer. It's a 12 hr car ride one way to Orlando. I don't think that would be the best solution. On this Windstar, there is no rack on top to store luggage. Does anyone have any suggestions for this small concern?

Since you're considering a trailer, I assume you have a hitch of some sort. Have you considered a hitch carrier?

It slides into your receiver and lets you carry more stuff, but it's tucked behind your vehicle and (mostly) out of the wind. I have a home made one that I use with by my Mazda minivan and my Jeep Grand Cherokee. That one in the picture is at Cabela's on sale for $40. It's certainly not as much cargo area as a trailer, but if you only need a little more room it might be enough.


If you do go this route, be careful what you pack near the tail pipe. We did a 6 hour drive a few years back and had DD's little plastic tricycle on that side. Got our destination and found the heat from the exhaust had melted the back wheel of the trike!

 

[scott2997]

Dads...needing help.

We're planning a trip to wdw for 3 adults and 4 children in a Ford Windstar. As far as people sitting there is no problem there. I'm concerned with packing it for seven people. My wife suggested renting a uhal trailer. It's a 12 hr car ride one way to Orlando. I don't think that would be the best solution. On this Windstar, there is no rack on top to store luggage. Does anyone have any suggestions for this small concern?

We have one of these:



I know it shows that it connects via a roof rack - but you can also run your straps around you back door hatch to secure it as well.

Just a thought.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Praying for all those in Japan, Hawaii and Cali.......

Me too. Man, those are some scary pictures.

 

[prattpak]

Might get an early release day!! COME ON EASTERLY WINDS!!!! Having 50-60 mph gust and you morons start a control burn? BRILLIANT!!!!

 

[GoHerd1028]

Mark that is a cool picture...What in the world do you do??? Looks like tight security there.

 

[afwdwfan]

Dads...needing help.

We're planning a trip to wdw for 3 adults and 4 children in a Ford Windstar. As far as people sitting there is no problem there. I'm concerned with packing it for seven people. My wife suggested renting a uhal trailer. It's a 12 hr car ride one way to Orlando. I don't think that would be the best solution. On this Windstar, there is no rack on top to store luggage. Does anyone have any suggestions for this small concern?

Honestly, I'm not a big fan of the Uhaul trailers. There's a reason they have a big sticker on them saying not to go over 40 mph. If you look at some of them it is obvious they aren't in the greatest shape... not to mention I've seen a lot of them fishtailing behind vehicles that try to run interstate speeds while pulling them. I was almost involved in a wreck a few years ago when a Jeep passed me on the interstate probably running 80 pulling one of those things while it was fishtailing. I got to see it flip a few times right in front of me as it spilled the contents down the interstate.

I'd definitely go with a hitch mounted carrier.

 

[prattpak]

Mark that is a cool picture...What in the world do you do??? Looks like tight security there.

I could tell you but.......but as the old saying goes.... then I would have to get Fed involved.


I work for IBM

 

[DisDadDoc]

Okay, I know its juvenile, and annoys people, but it was too tempting not to try to own a page...

 

[DisDadDoc]

Okay, I know its juvenile, and annoys people, but it was too tempting not to try to own a page...

And yet, I missed!

Got it 2nd try!

 

[scott2997]

Okay, I know its juvenile, and annoys people, but it was too tempting not to try to own a page...

Well...it was a good try!

 

[GoHerd1028]

Okay, I know its juvenile, and annoys people, but it was too tempting not to try to own a page...

yes Tempting indeed

 

[scott2997]

Wow - you got it anyway!!!

I was hoping to steal it from you....

 

[GoHerd1028]

Wow - you got it anyway!!!

I was hoping to steal it from you....

I tried to steal it also...but alas came up short handed...story of my life

 

[DisDadDoc]

Wow - you got it anyway!!!

I was hoping to steal it from you....

You and Steve both tried, and failed! (cue evil laugh)

Maybe you need a page-own-inator!

 

[GoHerd1028]

You and Steve both tried, and failed! (cue evil laugh)

Maybe you need a page-own-inator!

you just have slighlty quicker fingers LOL

 

[GoHerd1028]

Hey...I see this bright light in the sky outside...what is the strange sight?

 

[afwdwfan]

Let's keep this going and we can have a shot at another page to own soon.

 

[scott2997]

Hey...I see this bright light in the sky outside...what is the strange sight?

Could that be the sun? Send it up this way!