Preferred Vehicle for busy Freelance DPs

nedcam

nedcam

Well-known member
Ugh !!!! I have a Suburban for shooting and a Jeep for a personal run around vehicle and for talking head shoots. Lately the Sub needed: $3800 trans repairs, $200 shocks, $1200 crapped out AC, $300 brakes and (the reason I'm posting) now the blower won't blow and they want $450 (I'll keep the windows down thanks). The front windshield detergent squirter and rear wiper won't work and I am afraid to ask the cost of repairs.

It's a 2003 with 160,000 and being based in Chicago I need something strong to blast through snowdrifts, hold a big size Soundman in back and a big male client up front. I have been shooting 33 years and come from 2 full size Chevy vans, then an Astro (which I loved) for 6 years, now the Sub which seemed to be preferred by news shooters. I specialize in non-fiction TV shows, docs and lots of corporate and tend to bring more than necessary although I have no HMIs.

I fantasize about being able to squeeze into a Honda Pilot (if I have a pro carpenter make some shelves and flip down the rear seats). I do not want to be seen in a minivan (I know, I know). So my question is: have any snow country DPs who do what I do successfully configured a Pilot, Explorer or similar in size vehicle? If you've built custom shelving can you share a photo? Perhaps I can tell the client he or she must take their own car? And no, I can't pick up the make up lady...

I'm interested in finding out what other shooters like me in snow country are using. The Element and other boxy vehicles look interesting but may not carry the weight nor clear midwest snow drifts. I have always gotten at least 200,000 from my biz vehicles. I had NO IDEA Suburbans were this expensive to repair and have learned that the engine will last forever, it's just everything else will crap out and cost a fortune. I feel unpatriotic but am thinking that Japanese vehicles have designs that won't crap out as much. The price of gas is not much of a factor since I bill the clients for travel. SO what are you using that I should consider and I'll bring my measuring tape to the dealer?

Thanks,

Ned (www.nedmiller.com)
 
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BTW: You're getting hosed on those repair prices. You can buy a new AC and transmission for those prices. Did you try an independent garage? A dealer or garage outside of the city?
 
I just bought a Subaru Outback, though it may be a bit small for your needs. The AWD apparently blasts through the snow and the car handles beautifully on all terrain. The hatchback will fit camera/lights/stands no problem, but it sounds like you carry two of everything :D

Perhaps look at a Forester or the Subaru SUV (Tribeca, methinks). Anyway, just a thought...
 
try a honda element... shocking amount of room.

If you dont need to cart people... the rear seats come out altogether and it becomes cavernous. great production vehicle. good on gas comparitively, and i think its even available 4WD....
 
Mark Harris has one, and my friend and director Kevin Custer has one too...

we pack ungodly amounts of gear in tothem... 10 foot tall boys to a full Red package, a few 1.2's and still has room for the two of us.
 
TimurCivan said:
try a honda element... shocking amount of room.

If you dont need to cart people... the rear seats come out altogether and it becomes cavernous. great production vehicle. good on gas comparitively, and i think its even available 4WD....
Click to expand...

I also have a Element, would recommend it. I have 4WD, works well.

Since the vehicle has no carpets, you can literally mop the floors.

Ps: Ofcourse if you can afford it the oddessy might also be a great option.
 
ORIGINAL POSTER HERE: Yeah I shopped around for repairs, from dealers to hole-in-the-walls. It was usually a series of problems. It was more than a trans, it included the differential and gear box.

So I'll take my tape measure over to Honda and look at an Element. At first glance they look low to the ground for a Chicago winter. I think the key is to start telling clients and crew members that they can't drive with me, take their own car, that way I can remove the rear seats. I forgot to mention that I also bring the lights and audio, some guys just bring their DP gear but I am the whole enchilada, sometimes with a fold up dolly. Seems to me rates are going down so much and clients are getting cheaper, why should I throw in such a beautiful beast like my Suburban for free? The maintenance is eating up my profits!

If anyone has built any shelving, especially PULL OUT SLIDING shelving I'd love to see a photo. Shelves have always been the key to my efficiency. I like to be able to find things in total darkness with gloves on. I'm a big fan of www.americanvan.com

By the way, are you freelance DPs like myself writing off 100% of your vehicle and gas, is your CPA allowing it?

Thanks for your input!
 
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Some of the best dp's I work with have the smallest cars.
Just enough room for their lightmeters I think.

Production should be taking care of the gear.

That being said, I have an element and love it.
 
Element is awesome for hauling gear. But if you are thinking of hauling people too, be aware that the back seats take up a lot of room in an Element. Adding the back seats takes up an enormous amount of your available cargo room.
 
Toyota Sienna has AWD version. Ford Flex looks is quite an ugly box on wheels, but has lots of space and has AWD version. New Toyota Highlander is quite large, and fuel economy is not bad too.

Or just get a Dodge Sprinter and feel like a German.
 
ORIGINAL POSTER HERE: So I went to Honda and measured the Element, it's perfect! 4 cylinder too! I'm bringing in the two vehicles for a trade in estimate. It does seem lightly built in that it may get noisy at it gets older? AWD would be a necessity as would be a roof rack and trailer hitch.
 
Test drive one first and really check the driver visibility. It made me feel like I was driving a tank. 4bangers are not built for towing.
I decided on a Escape.
 
I miss my vanagon. With the middle seat removed it was like driving a living room around.

Now I've got a Land Rover Discovery, I love the height, but the repairs make my stomach hurt...

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No one, I repeat no one plays Tetris better than me...

I have test driven the Toyota Sienna, and I've got to say it would make a *great* production vehicle. It's big, good on gas, has both sliding doors and big-big side windows that can roll down - great for driving shots.
 
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