badsign
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I thought heated seats were a joke ...until we got a car with them, like Tony the Tiger says...Therrrrrrrr Great
Ideal Dive Vehicle
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aquamann
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Just have to weigh in on this question. My wife and I were in the same situation last year in that we were looking for a rig just for diving. I already had a full size ford p-up but wanted something that combined certain criteria( a back seat to take dive buddies along with us, a tail gate just the right height for gearing up, acceptable gas mileage and comfortable. We spent a couple of weeks going around to dealers trying out everything we could find, with the emphasis on the afore mentioned criteria. We ended up purchasing a Toyota Tacoma Crew Cab and couldn't be happier. The cab is basically the same inside as the late 90 model camarys with plenty of leg room in the back seat for your buddies, it's very quiet and smooth riding for a truck. I put a canopy on it and have plenty of room for eight tanks, four dry suit bags, four dive bags with equip., and suit cases. We take it all over the PNW and BC and at 70 mph I still get 20-22 mpg. It was mentioned earlier that the Toyota and Nissan trucks don't hold up, well I don't know about the Nissan's but having many friends who drive Toyota trucks I have never heard one mention that they don't hold up and having owned Toyota cars in the past I know from experience that they are extremely reliable. Just my two cents.
PhotoTJ
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A Ford Ranger Pick-up.
With a bed liner, I can just chuck everything in the back. I have a SnugTop Expo camper on order, when that is installed, I am putting tank rails fore and aft of the fender wells in the bed, I have tested it already, eight tanks will ride perfectly. So, gear totes for two, backpacks, tents, (or luggage for the non roughing it crowd), a cooler, and a grill. Gets 20-25mpg, is a smooth ride, and can tow a 13-20' boat.
And it's Aqua-Lung yellow.
Having said all that, I think a full size van would actually be the most versatile/adaptable of all. Someone who has a good sense of design, and is handy with tools, could build a great dive ride for four, or even six.
With a bed liner, I can just chuck everything in the back. I have a SnugTop Expo camper on order, when that is installed, I am putting tank rails fore and aft of the fender wells in the bed, I have tested it already, eight tanks will ride perfectly. So, gear totes for two, backpacks, tents, (or luggage for the non roughing it crowd), a cooler, and a grill. Gets 20-25mpg, is a smooth ride, and can tow a 13-20' boat.
And it's Aqua-Lung yellow.
Having said all that, I think a full size van would actually be the most versatile/adaptable of all. Someone who has a good sense of design, and is handy with tools, could build a great dive ride for four, or even six.
Twenty five years ago I was diving the Monterey California area and had a VW superbeetle. I remember hauling all my gear plus six tanks in that thing. Not the ideal scuba mobile, but it did the job.
I've never had the luxury of having a vehicle just for scuba. However, for my business I bought a 3/4 ton GMC Cargo van. The bins you could get for free merely get in the way. I like having the space. When I use it for diving, I put a chair in it and change inside. Changing in a heated van after an ice dive is the only way to fly.
I also ride a road bike and use my van to transport my bike to club rides. Thats a road bike as in Lance Armstrong, not Wille G by the way.
Pure versitility, comfortable,A/C for summer, Kick ass heat in winter, real live ground clearence and one heck of a payload capacity. You can't haul ten students(only one really cute one), but you can haul all thier gear and still have room for a 150 qt drink cooler. Who could ask for anything more.
Jim
I've never had the luxury of having a vehicle just for scuba. However, for my business I bought a 3/4 ton GMC Cargo van. The bins you could get for free merely get in the way. I like having the space. When I use it for diving, I put a chair in it and change inside. Changing in a heated van after an ice dive is the only way to fly.
I also ride a road bike and use my van to transport my bike to club rides. Thats a road bike as in Lance Armstrong, not Wille G by the way.
Pure versitility, comfortable,A/C for summer, Kick ass heat in winter, real live ground clearence and one heck of a payload capacity. You can't haul ten students(only one really cute one), but you can haul all thier gear and still have room for a 150 qt drink cooler. Who could ask for anything more.
Jim
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