never4gotten Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 do those of you that do craft fairs and home parties find to be the best? I'm going to be looking at a new vehicle purchase this year and I while I have good idea what my needs are for family I haven't done either of the above in the past other than a little Saturday market with my minivan. So what have you found to be the plus or minuses of the type of vehicle you drive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenT Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 wish I could answer that for you...we have a windstar and a full size station wagon and either are large enough for me...by the time i get all my goodies in there...there isnt room for my tables....so we end up with 2 or 3 different car loads....i could NEVER do a weekend show by myself!!!I'm lucky and my DH has a box truck (uhaul size...the smaller one)...he uses it for work...so its perfect ...everything fits in there with alot of room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mizbizzyb Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 That is hard. We had a suburban and trailblazer and didn't have enough room...but these were big shows. Then DH traded the suburban (which I still cry about) in for the Avalanche - he swears it is better for room. I don't see it for candles, but he dj's alot so it may work better for him. not me.I guess it would also depend on the size of show you are interested in doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artcwolf Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 My rodeo was big enough for all of our store stuff plus tables, but only i could fit in, my DH and DD took the DWs car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candlebean Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 I got tired of renting uhauls to do my shows so we bought a Hummer and it works great! (Plus, I've wanted a Hummer for years so it was even better!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adillenal Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 I have an Excursion and it holds everything I need but they don't make them anymore. I use 6 foot tables and they fit just fine along with everything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella1952 Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 My full size Ford E-250 was the absolute best show vehicle I EVER had! Big Trudy... Oh MY, how I loved her!! Even had one of those awnings on the side over the big door... Plenty of room for stuff, kids, pets, FOOD, friends - that thing was a rollin' cruisemobile and partywagon. I felt like a turtle - taking my house with me wherever I went. She came with a 22' camper/trailer that I dearly loved, but exDH wouldn't let me trail it when he was offshore (although I did anyway...heehee). When we took the trailer, we lacked for nothing in terms of space and comfort. It was a hot setup...But she DRANK... And when we pulled the TRAILER... oh GAWD did she DRINK... :rolleyes2Wish I could retro a used van with an electric motor or biodiesel... that'd be the ticket for sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janelle Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 I have a Blazer and my mom has a Volvo station wagon. These two just about hold everything. Sometimes we have to make a second trip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flightoffancy Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 I have a Ford Excursion and let me tell you ... I can fit everything in there INCLUDING the kitchen sink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kymber Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 I have a Tahoe...put the back seats down and pack her to the brim. Even the passanger seat in front along with the floor in front are loaded but it all fits including tables! IF hubby happens to be home we usually pack both my Tahoe and his Chevy truck....but only beause he is going with to help unload and set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bugtussle Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 I'm so glad you asked, Bug now officially owns a 2004 GMC XUV bought in Aug 2004. It holds 5, but the whole back folds down and we haul lots of wax, jars and finished product. Works great for my DH & I, gets great gas mileage, only have 37m miles on it. Bug paid for it!! Carole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceGirl Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 I have a Subaru Forester which is fine for shows if I don't have to bring tables, but if I do we take my friend's Honda Pilot and fold down the back seats -- that works great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcroome2005 Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 I have a Rav 4 and it works just fine. I just remove the seats in the back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommy2xp Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 My Chevy HHR seems to do the trick. The seats, including the passenger seat, lay down flat. I can haul tons and it gets decent gas mileage 23/30. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
never4gotten Posted February 4, 2008 Author Share Posted February 4, 2008 Thanks for all the information guys.I hadn't even considered just getting something that could haul an enclosed trailer until one of you mentioned uhaul. A small SUV could work double duty that way being used for both smaller shows and then when needed hook up the trailer. I just know that my minivan was packed to the gills for just the small stuff I'd already done and really didn't want to go minivan again now that the kids are finally grown. I was starting to think possibly pickup truck or full sized van but the gas mileage would be prohibitive with the current prices. Not to mention not wanting to drive one of those full time for my daily life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macaroni&cheese Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 We have an old 1994 Dodge Caravan long wheel-base, and with the seats pulled, we have 7 foot deep cargo space. We can't take an 8 foot table, but we have our 6-foot tables, plus a special display with removable tabletop boards, trimmed down to 7 foot each. We have 23 fragrances so far, and with tins and two glass container sizes, one case of each fragrance, all the other stuff (calculator and knucklebuster, etc), we still have plenty of room, and that's a good thing. And with a minivan, the mileage isn't too bad, considering it is a brick with wheels. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbuck Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Dodge Durango here. I like how even when it's fully loaded that it handles the same as if it was empty, especially when people try and join me in my lane.Good luck,Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane42 Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 We have been using my husbands Ford F150 for shows. He did have a cap on it (which was nice...everything fit great), but he got tired of trying to manuver with the top on and replaced that with the snap-on cover. It is difficult to carry everything in it (two tables, buckets of votives, melts, jars, etc.) without the cap, but we did manage to do most of our shows without having to take a second vehicle.I ALMOST had a 15 passenger van that I think would have worked well, but it was being auctioned and I missed the deadline. That would have been sweet!! My Santa Fe is just not big enough to get everything in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sudsnwicks Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 I have a Ford F150 too and it works great for craft shows. I can fit everything in it and take it in one trip. I only do indoor shows though, so I don't have to bring any furniture, but there would be room for furniture if I had to bring it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReneeM Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 I'm new here, but I can tell you from personal experience my Durango held ALOT. What was I thinking when I traded it in and bought my Mustang?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 I have a Dodge Caravan with Stow and Go seats and it rocks. Seats go into the floor and leaves the back ready to be loaded with 6'ft tables floral screens and cases of candles. I can get alot in there but there it a knack to packing it without it shifting. Thats for indoor shows. When we do outdoor its the truck F150 also with the two tents and other stands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k&g Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac ... works GREAT - good to drive otherwise also - gas mileage not too bad. We can fit tables, tent and shelving in back bed with lots of extra room and cover w/tarp if needed. Products fit in back of cab. We've trimmed down a lot on what we take to shows and now it takes us about a 1/2 hr to 45 min to load when the first show we did took almost 2 hours!!! Oh how we learn as we grow!! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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