Small Car Diving

[diver_sam_851027]

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking for suggestions/tips on how to make life easier when using a small car to dive. I can put a max of 4 tanks in the trunk before the back end sags more than I'd like. Then its a PITA fitting gear bags in the cab.

I've been considering putting a thule roof box on because it would distribute tank weight more evenly over the front and back suspension than loading the trunk as well as possibly fitting gear bags up there. Has anyone had any success with this?

If I'd known I was going to get addicted to Scuba I would have looked into a small truck instead but too late now!

Thanks!
Sam

 

[www.scubamazing.com]

hey good luck. As a college student, I learned to cram my whole life in my car. I'd be just fine with your setup.

 

[fire_diver]

It's never too late to buy a truck!

Besides, once you have a truck (a REAL truck) you can buy a boat, then tow everything to the water and dive, when and where you want.

FD

 

[JVM4.0]

I'd be VERY careful putting that much weight on the roof of a car. It could seriously effect the stability of the vehicle.

You didn't mention what kind of car it was, but if this is going to be a regualr thing, I would invest in one of those inexpensive 4' x 8' utility trailers you can buy at Harbor Freight, Northern Hydraulics or other places for under $150.00. It would require a little work on your part, but would be a better solution in the long run. You could balance the load, carry even MORE stuff and still have the utility of a car.

Cheers!

 

[RumBum]

Put the tanks in the back on the floorboard in the back seat. 2 tanks should be able to lay down or 4 bungee them behind the front seats. You can also lay tanks across the back seat if you use your gear bag in front to keep them from rolling. Use the trunk for gear bags, wet wetsuits, luggage. I went to south FL from Texas in a Cavalier with all gear and luggage for 2. It can be done.

 

[Doc]

Besides, once you have a truck (a REAL truck) you can buy a boat, then tow everything to the water and dive, when and where you want.

And then you can meet hot chicks, fall in love, marry one, and she'll figure out a way to make it seem that selling your boat, truck and SCUBA gear is a great idea that you came up with all on your own.

It will all work out. Until then, get a very small trailer.

 

[nolatom]

Uh, let's see..do nothing but deep dives with lots of helium in the tanks??

Okay, bad joke. What you're asking is how to carry lots of weight in a small car. You want to keep the weight centered and low. The unsafe way to do this is to carry the tanks on the passenger floor and back seat floor. Just don't get into an accident or a rollover or these moving missiles will kill you. And even without an accident, your passengers won't like you.

One more thing you might look into is changing the shocks on the rear axle. Might find some adjustable ones. Ask your mechanic. If you're talking about 4 tanks (say 140 lbs) it might be practical.

 

[Kevrumbo]

I've got a Tech Diving Buddy who loads everything (i.e. Doubles, Stage/Deco Bottles, Scooters etc.) into a Honda Element; surprising amount of gear that this little Econo-box can haul. . .

 

[Skeeter1097]

I like the one about the trailer. But tanks in the back set instead of the trunk is a better way the Cary tanks.

 

[fire_diver]

That's very true. If your car is sagging by the time you have 120 lbs in the trunk, then you must have a very small car. Placing than same 120 lbs on the roof would likely cause damage to the car, or at the very least make it VERY unstable while driving. As a point of reference, my wife's van has a rated MAX load of 100 lbs on the roof, and that's if it's evenly distributed.