How much trunk space do you need?

[randomname]

I do a lot of event shooting, web video, and some music video and film work (always as a DP or shooter) and I'm in desperate need of a new car. I've always been in love with mini coopers, but the lack of storage space has always held me back. Does anyone have any experience making such a small car work or should I give up on having a mini until I can afford a second car for hauling equipment?

 

[Alex H.]

How much gear do you tend to haul?

My wife's Saturn Ion can barely hold my gear if I pack everything, and that includes having the seats full as well. My Saturn Vue provides enough space while keeping a couple of extra seats open. Mileage isn't astounding on the Vue (about 24mg highway in the real world).

You might want to look at something like a Subaru Outback... should hold plenty of gear and people, with better mileage and less depreciation.

 

[Cassius]

It depends on what you bring. My Impala seems to be doing well. I think an Outback might be overkill, a larger but still midsized Sedan should be a reasonable compromise. My old Saab 9-5 did great, the trunk opened similar to a hatchback and the seats folded down flat for really convenient storage. If you have so much equipment that a larger sedan doesn't cut it you probably also have someone working with you who can haul as needed.

 

[David W. Jones]

Doesn't matter what you get. I have a Mercedes Sprinter van and it still doesn't hold all my gear.

 

[William_Robinette]

What ever you get you will fill it up. Sedans may be able to hold a lot through trunk/fold down rear seats but are a PITA to work with compared to something that has a rear hatch and a flat floor (like an Outback).

 

[Justin Kuhn]

I have a Volvo station wagon, it generally is great since I can lay down the middle seats and have room for all the longer stuff like C-stands, tripods, the Kessler bag, and 8' dolly track. You will probably mess up your interior a bit using your car as a work vehicle, I have a smashed AC vent and some pretty gnarly scuffs on my glovebox. So it's not ideal but it's great for hauling all kinds of other stuff as well and just driving in general. One day, a cargo van.

 

[adamrahn]

A colleague of mine uses his Honda CRV frequently and with the back seats down you can cram quite a bit of stuff in the back. While I've never used one for hauling gear, I love the space provided by some of the vans out there right now (Chrysler Town and Country and the Toyota Sienna both have amazing amounts of space in the back when the seats are up or down). My 2005 Chevy Malibu does the trick, but it takes way too much thought and time trying to load/unload the trunk. I like the Outbacks as well though and I think they'd double as a great production car.

 

[ZazaCast]

People seem to like the Honda Element....

 

[David W. Jones]

Here are a couple of shots of the Sprinter.
After trying to carry gear in a number of vehicles, I could never go back to a regular car.

 

[David W. Jones]

Sorry about the crappy iPhone photos.

By the way, I get 27mpg in the Sprinter.

 

[wgzn]

depends on what gear you have. my main vehicle is a montero sport. but ive also used my prius. if i use the passenger seat, it will hold everything the montero will except the jib

 

[Alex H.]

Here are a couple of shots of the Sprinter.

That's awesome as a light grip truck! And if you're carrying a rig that thorough, yes, you'll need a vehicle like that.

Thinks like the Vue or the CRV or the Outback are more for folks who run with a camera, sound kit, and compact lighting kit and a few extra stands and tools. I used to have a Grand Caravan, and I absolutely loved it for all the stuff I could pack in there. After someone ran into it in a parking garage (nice to find after retuning from a lovely brunch), it was totaled. I miss the space, as the Vue doesn't hold quite as much.

However, the "crossover" class of vehicles (Vue, Equinox, CRV) are great work vehicles as far as packing a streamlined kit and having elevated access to cases when on location. I've had mine since December, and it really makes me sad that Saturn went away.

 

[David W. Jones]

No really a grip van, more of a personal use shoot van with most everything I need to shoot commercials. Grip, electric, light, support, cameras, lenses, audio. Like I said it doesn't hold everything, but it sure holds more than my old shoot-mobile, an 89 Range Rover.