Ideal Dive Vehicle

[MantaRey]

I don't know about the rest of you guys. but a boat is best for taking me out diving. lol

I have an ol caddy eldorado '89 and the trunk is great for hauling bodies and/or dive gear, I can fit three tanks on the bottom, and the rest of my gear on top of the tanks.

 

[CBulla]

I'll be honest, I like my truck for most dive stuff, but my wifes jeep cherokee works out great as well. The back opens up on her jeep and makes for a good platform for donning gear. My truck, flip the tailgate open and set up on that.

The difference is that with my truck its completely open to the elements - conversely, I can hose out my gear and the truck in one fell swoop (considering I live in FL, we have the sugar sand issue) and I'm done. I advise against using the car wash to clean up...

New vehicles I would consider myself... Ford Ranger or F150 or the Dodge Dakota if you like a pickup. I really am impressed with some of the newer trucks features and options. If your a fun person, the Jeep Wrangler is cool for stuff to. Toyota and Nissan also make good inexpensive vehicles that could fill the order.

The Ford Escape and Explorer sport track are good options to. The new Durango is a beast but roomy to.

Vans? stay low. I've driven the Toyota Privia and dodge caravans.. both are great for low easy to access vehicles.

I dont make many suggestions for gm products since I have had many bad experiences with poor warranty work.

Personally, I want to buy an old ambulance and convert it over. Put a place for tank refills and storage, field gear wash and storage, etc.. that would just be to fun!

 

[Fly N Dive]

Envoy XUV

 

[Ga Diver]

I like all the comments on a good dive vehicle. I am looking around now. Currently I drive a 98 Volvo, but when you put camping gear and dive gear in, it is really cramped and I always have a wet trunk. I really like the idea of a Dodge Dakota wtih a shell on the back, does anyone have a bad experience with the Dakota?

Thanks,
Keith

 

[FreeFloat]

My 'scubamobile' is a Ford Ranger - when I was looking at vehicles I wanted a) something that I could lightly 'abuse', b) something I could haul my small sailboat around with, c) cargo capacity, and d) not awful gas-wise. I had sorta been thinking Suzuki Sidekick type of thing but read a few rotten reviews. I would have taken a Mazda B series truck or a Dodge Dakota but the used market for these trucks is kind of slim.

I'm happy with my Ranger - it's small, turns on a dime, gets great mileage (I can go 500-600 kms/300-400 mi between tank fills, and to fill the tank costs me ~$40 Cdn) and I can tow all sorts of things with it.

For the record the most gear I've had in it was 4 divers' gear complete with 2 tanks each. It took a little creative shuffling but it all fit in the box bed. Ironically, it's only a two-seater cab (although there's a third seatbelt for the masochistic)

And it's COVERED in Dive Stickers. The gear does not leave my sight when in the truck (in part because there is no key lock for the tailgate, an oversight on Ford's part).

Picture of truck (SB link)

 

[vlada]

is Subaru Outback - fits 4 sets of doubles, 8 stages, 4 sets of cameras and all the things two people need for a week long dive trip

and it handles the road really well

and it is AWD - important when you've got to do a lot of driving in less than ideal conditions

Vlada

 

[simbrooks]

The next car/wagon i am going to get is either a subaru forester or outback - i might get beaten to it by my girlfriend though as her saturn is nearing death's door and my sentra (neither of which is a particalarly great scuba gear carrier - or at least more than a couple of tanks are tough) is a good deal newer.

Both the subarus have great mileage (like 21/22 auto trans on highway, they are classed as SUV's, manual is more, but they dont have figures on that i could find) and a load of storage, not to mention a good size rack at a reasonable height if you want to do other things - like we take our kayaks sometimes.

You should see my poor little sentra with kayaks on top, scuba gear in the trunk, bikes on the rack at the back and a weekend or more clothes etc in the backseat, taking on rougher terrain than the highway!!

 

[Warren_L]

FreeFloat once bubbled...

For the record the most gear I've had in it was 4 divers' gear complete with 2 tanks each. It took a little creative shuffling but it all fit in the box bed. Ironically, it's only a two-seater cab (although there's a third seatbelt for the masochistic)

Remember the 5 tank rule too.... don't want to get caught.

 

[Doc Intrepid]

but I've found what is an ideal scuba vehicle (in most respects) for me.

Head to your local Ford dealer (who deals in a lot of commercial vehicles). Check out the new Ford 250 Commercial Cargo Van. The bin package is a free add-in. There are three lockers and about 6 locking drawers, as well as six 16" x 37" shelves in the rear on the drivers side. The rear unit on the passenger's side has 12 small cubbys and three larger units. These shelving units are made of steel. Rubber mat throughout. A cage behind the drivers/passengers crew seats ensures that in some sort of accident your gear won't assist you out through the windshield. I recommend glass in the rear doors (there is no glass anywhere on the sides), but you'll need to have it tinted unless you want your gear ripped off. It will also hold four of the large rubbermaid bins, plus coolers, several sets of doubles, etc. Single tanks will travel in the shelving unit. All in all, its an impressive way to carry beaucoup gear and still be able to get at what you need without digging through mounds o' crap.

Good luck with your search,

Doc

 

[voop]

warren_l once bubbled...


Remember the 5 tank rule too.... don't want to get caught.

Please do enlighten me....