Show me your packed truck/car

[mwhities]

Does anyone really want to see a Miata stuffed to the gills with dive gear? Trust me, it's not pretty....

Yes, I actually would.

I just reconfigured my stuffed Mazda Tribute to accommodate two LP121s I'm borrowing. Huge gear bag, two LP121s, two al100s, tote bag for wet suits, an al40 stage bottle, and a cooler for water/gatoraid. I did have everything in the back behind the back seat but, I folded down the 60% seat and sit my big gear bag there. Then, luckily I was able to fit the four tanks in the back. (I know, when you see the pictures...I need to strap them down. I'm currently trying to figure out the best way to do so.).

So now it doesn't look as stuffed, just more laid out. I couldn't build tank holders as I barely have enough room to close the back door now because of the tanks.

Will post the picture tonight.

Michael

 

[gcbryan]

Yes, I actually would.

I just reconfigured my stuffed Mazda Tribute to accommodate two LP121s I'm borrowing. Huge gear bag, two LP121s, two al100s, tote bag for wet suits, an al40 stage bottle, and a cooler for water/gatoraid. I did have everything in the back behind the back seat but, I folded down the 60% seat and sit my big gear bag there. Then, luckily I was able to fit the four tanks in the back. (I know, when you see the pictures...I need to strap them down. I'm currently trying to figure out the best way to do so.).

So now it doesn't look as stuffed, just more laid out. I couldn't build tank holders as I barely have enough room to close the back door now because of the tanks.

Will post the picture tonight.

Michael

A buddy of mine made and gave me a type of tank holder that you would be able to use. You simply get some PVC tubing used for plumbing I'd guess that's probably an inch or so in diameter. You would need 3 sections of tubing for 2 tanks for example. Cut the tubing to lengths a little longer than the tanks are high. Drill holes through the tubes near the top and again near the bottom. Connect all the tubes top and bottom with small diameter rope. Place your tanks on top of this "tank holder". The tubes prevent the tanks from rolling.

 

[gcbryan]

Unless you're an instructor with a lot of backup gear or are diving doubles, have more tech gear, scooters, I think you can easily put 2 divers and all their gear into most any vehicle.

I have a 4 door Toyoto Corolla which isn't exactly an optimal dive vehicle but you can easily put 4 tanks, 2 pony bottles, 2 weight belts in the truck. With wet gear in a large Tupperwear container each diver has the use of half of the back seat. Drygear, clothing etc goes in the footwell area.

To gear up, with the trunk closed I put a towel on the truck to prevent scratches. After my gear is put together I lift it up to the top of the trunk. I can now just back into the gear without bending over at all.

Some type of 4x4 vehicle would be nice but any car will do.

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

When I was in mexico we managed to put 3 divers, 3 sets of gear, 3 sets of double 80's, and video gear into a jeep wrangler (not the new long one either). My dive vehicle now is a 2001 kia optima but its never been fun for diving, I picked up a luggage rack that slides into my hitch for putting the wet gear bags/tubs but I still have to put tanks on the back seat. T

During the cave class we put 3 divers, 2 dogs, 6 sets of doubles, 3 sets of gear, and 3 O2 bottles in a ford ranger extended cab.

 

[bfw]

For years I have struggled with packing my truck for weekend dives. It seems that I'm never quite happy with the space I have. So I bought the very large truck and still am not quite there yet. Please show me what you have done to make your truck/car packing easier and less time consuming. Thanks

No pictures, but I once packed my moorcycle for a weekend of diving and camping (didn't take the doubles, but I have a method worked out for that on the new bike, which has a pillion saddle that removes to reveal a flat load surface with hard attachment points.) Don't try it without a center stand, and DON'T park it on the side stand so loaded.

 

[ScubaSteve2000]

What is the part number or model number of the Stanley Boxes?

My truck.

With two Stanley boxes for gear and a rack I made to secure the tanks, everything fits with room to spare.
Now, If my buddy and I were diving doubles, I’d have to build a different tank rack!

See only the Red X? Right click and select show picture.

 

[ClayJar]

My gear's not all loaded, but I'll try to get around to a full maxdive loading in the next few days, just for photo posting's sake. I guess if do a maxdive loading, I can take a series of photos as I pull gear back out, as you certainly can't get the full picture from just the loaded photo. :biggrin:

 

[violakat03]

I'm buying a trailer to pull behind my little Saturn SL2 - Harbor Freight's got a 4 x 8 trailer for $300, just have to slap a sheet of plywood down and build some small sides for it. I'm getting the hitch installed for a bike rack, but being able to pull a dive trailer will be a nice added bonus.

Here's my Saturn VUE Red Line packed with warm water gear for 4 people. We didn't take any pics of it completely loaded, these were after we went down a 4 mile long dirt road in Tennessee to get out of the backup on the highway from an accident.

The bright yellow behind the rear seats is the 4 rental tanks.

Hard to see, but it's crammed almost to the ceiling. You couldn't open the hatch without an avalanche. This was on the way down, it was worse on the way back up because of all the stuff we bought! That was just the suitcases full of clothes and souvenirs and such.

The HUGE roof box, which held all the gear except for the tanks, along with anything else we could cram into it. It was packed full too and when you opened it stuff fell out.

 

[Teamcasa]

What is the part number or model number of the Stanley Boxes?

Stanley only lists the larger box but I saw one a Home Depot the other day. Home Depot was selling the larger one for $69.00.

037025R - Stanley
Height - 23",584.2mm
Length - 37",939.8mm
Width - 23",584.2mm

 

[Hoosier]

Does anyone really want to see a Miata stuffed to the gills with dive gear? Trust me, it's not pretty....

Yeah, we would like to see.

Based on my experience, small sedan is too vulnerable to carry a scuba gear unless you are a warm water & resort type diver.

Stanley only lists the larger box but I saw one a Home Depot the other day. Home Depot was selling the larger one for $69.00.

037025R - Stanley
Height - 23",584.2mm
Length - 37",939.8mm
Width - 23",584.2mm

Lowes used to carry, but it seems to be discontinued.