Hauling with hatchbacks, or why you need a truck.

[Bonanza]

One of the best heated arguments of TCL of yore was the hauling debate between hatchbacks and trucks. Saw this pic on reddit, and knew that TCL would love it.
This is not a pic of me


Also I graduated law school today. Show me pictures of liabilities on wheels.

[Aonarch]

Dumb.

[eunos94]

Oh boy another lawyer. The world will much safer now.... speaking of idiots. Why the F would he slam his tailgate before checking clearance?

[DubNMiatafan]

Good thing it wasn't an anarchy flag, his mom would've been pissed.

[hardcore4life]

A lawyer and can't figure out how to get a tow hook installed by an installer?

[Bonanza]

[RacerrRex]

Why?

[hardcore4life]

Why?

Because Europeans can do it?

[J-Tim]

Why?

What do you mean "Why?" ? "Why" as in "why hire a caravan" ?

[SidVicious]

Why?

Why not? Why pay for a hotel? Why not sleep where-the-frig-ever you want?

[VierSpeed]

No pics of liabilities on wheels, but my hatch has been great for swallowing stupid amounts of stuff.

Nom nom nom

[AnAgentOrange]

Buddy allowed his R to help me get a motor...

[DedRok]

This was on the front page of Reddit.

Upvote!

[bringtheshred]

-A couple times, I've seen ladders and or ten foot two by fours loaded into hatches or wagons that broke right through the windshield after trying to slam the hatch closed. Drivers must have said "FK it! Mights as well get it to where I'm going now!" And proceed to drive on major roads with broken windshields.

[Jan PL S6]

OP Congratulations on finishing law school though

[Bonanza]

OP Congratulations on finishing law school though

Thank you!

[feels_road]

OP Congratulations on finishing law school though

X2. Although, I hear it's not the bonanza it used to be.

[XxCoryDxX]

No pics of liabilities on wheels, but my hatch has been great for swallowing stupid amounts of stuff.

Nom nom nom

you were taking that to a plastic recycling plant I hope

[Chris_V]

A lawyer and can't figure out how to get a tow hook installed by an installer?

Sorry, that doesn't count. Let's see them pull these:

[atomicalex]

Why?

Because Germany.

I have that endorsement on my license, too. Take a ~8 hour course and pass a driving test, and you, too, can haul horses with a Lupo. Class BE is good for towing up to the tow rating of the car, and required for towing more than 750kgs.

Renting a caravanette is totally the way to go. Pick it, vacation, drop it off. No storage fees ro garage to worry about, always clean, etc.

[Turbio!]

Because Germany.

I have that endorsement on my license, too. Take a ~8 hour course and pass a driving test, and you, too, can haul horses with a Lupo. c.

My eyelid just twitched a little.

[YellowDieselGolf]

Hatchbacks are awesome I've collected:

A set of wheels with room to spare


A single seater with room for a few extra things.


A body kit - valences and skirts.
A clothes line.
A set of pool fence panels.
Lumber and sheets of ply-wood and countless bags of top-soil and rocks for landscaping.

But, my best tetris style hauling was . . .


2 x MK5 GTI Front seats.
1 x MK5 GTI rear seats.
4 x MK5 GTI door cards.
1 x MK5 GTI glovebox, arm rest, lower drivers side console and A pillar trim set



all inside a Ford Ka for the 350km trip home after an eBay win.

[Air and water do mix]

Hatches will never be replacements for pickups, but they're not intended to be. They are exceptionally good at what they're supposed to do. I have one vehicle that I can put a bunch of stuff or people in that gets 32mpg. Could I use a truck sometimes? Sure, but if it doesn't go in the wife's now 12 year old minivan (meaning, we don't care about it that much) then I can usually borrow one, pay to have it delivered or rent one.

Do I want a truck? Absolutely, but I'm not driving it to work every day.

[Chris_V]

Hatches will never be replacements for pickups, but they're not intended to be. They are exceptionally good at what they're supposed to do. I have one vehicle that I can put a bunch of stuff or people in that gets 32mpg. Could I use a truck sometimes? Sure, but if it doesn't go in the wife's now 12 year old minivan (meaning, we don't care about it that much) then I can usually borrow one, pay to have it delivered or rent one.

Do I want a truck? Absolutely, but I'm not driving it to work every day.

I don't drive mine to work everyday, either (I did today, but that's becaeu I had to fill it up with fuel after the camping trip so it can get used this weekend to do junk hauling to the dump). It's just sooo useful to have one, even a cheap one like mine.





And yes, friends tend to want to borrow it to do truckish duties. Best part about owning one is you don't have to work on someone else's schedule, either a friend's or a rental company's.

[Aonarch]

So much room for activities!!!

[badb5]

You know there is the option of having a hatchback and renting a truck for the occasional big stuff.



Great option at $19 an hour

[patrickvr6]

He should have bought a BMW.

[2.0T_Convert]

So hauling stuff inside a hatchback vs hauling in the bed of a truck.

If you come to a sudden emergency stop what happens?

[Aonarch]

You know there is the option of having a hatchback and renting a truck for the occasional big stuff.


Great option at $19 an hour
*homedepot.jpg

Yes! Great deal. Stage everything you need before hand, run by Home Depot and race to beat the clock.

[GahannaKid]

And yes, friends tend to want to borrow it to do truckish duties. Best part about owning one is you don't have to work on someone else's schedule, either a friend's or a rental company's.

This is something that can't be over stated. When you have your own truck it doesn't matter when you want to move something, it doesn't matter how far away it is, and it doesn't matter how long it will take you. Renting is a perfectly fine option if that's all you have, but it really sucks when you go to Lowes or Home Depot to rent their trucks only to find out they're all out. It blows chunks to pay $60 to rent a U-Haul for an hour or so and then you're left speeding like Racer X so you make it back before they charge you extra for going 15 minutes over. On top of all that most of the trucks you rent can't seat more than two people (three in a pinch) and there are times when you need more help than that, which leaves you driving two vehicles instead of just one.

I know I'm going against the TCL grain but pickup trucks are, in a word, bad ass.

[Air and water do mix]

I don't drive mine to work everyday, either (I did today, but that's becaeu I had to fill it up with fuel after the camping trip so it can get used this weekend to do junk hauling to the dump). It's just sooo useful to have one, even a cheap one like mine.

And yes, friends tend to want to borrow it to do truckish duties. Best part about owning one is you don't have to work on someone else's schedule, either a friend's or a rental company's.

That's exactly why I want one, it's just tough for me to justify with the 3 vehicles we have now vs. the allotted space, as well as the money. When I do get one, I'll be looking at mostly short trips and light duty, so I'm thinking vintage Ford, ('66 or earlier) Older Chevy (pre '72 unless I get a killer deal on an '87 or older) or a VW Single Cab/Double Cab.

Why not have fun if it's for occasional use?

[Air and water do mix]

So hauling stuff inside a hatchback vs hauling in the bed of a truck.

If you come to a sudden emergency stop what happens?

That's why I like serious structure between me and cargo, unless I'm hauling blankets or pillows or some-such.

I've hauled concrete blocks in the back with the family inside the car and it gives me the screaming heebie-jeebies. I get them out as quickly as possible/practical. Imagine a bad rollover accident with concrete blocks flying through the interior. *shudder*

[badb5]

You can reserve the Home Depot trucks so you know it'll be available when you need it - I do it all the time. You can rent it for more than an hour, you can get a lot done in a couple hours. They're not as sticky about charging you for every second you use it or every drop of gas unlike the U Haul type places.

[daveschi]

Sorry, that doesn't count. Let's see them pull these:

[badb5]

Would love to know the details on this: