Hi Folks,
Im taking a trip to the US this year (I'm from the UK) and part of that includes a multi-day road trip in California.
There are 4 adults going and I've rented a full size SUV, which is a Chevy Tahoe (or similar). I'm now getting a bit concerned about luggage space.
Being a light traveller, I assumed we'd have about 3 large suitcases max. As the trip approaches it's becoming clear that my better half and others might push this up to about 5 suitcases, plus airline carry ons.
Anyone have any idea the cargo capacity of one of these types of things in real terms? Should I be looking to go up a class to something like the Suburban?
I can see some specs online, but finding it difficult to turn cubic feet into an estimate for number of bags. We don't really have equivalent vehicles here that i can use for comparison.
Thanks for any help.
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I've never dealt with a Tahoe, and the SUVs can vary a lot, but either way, five full size suitcases is likely to be tight. Even the biggest ones, like the Suburban, don't have a lot of space in the back. For example, my car (Ford Fusion) has more space left to right and front to back than my wife's smaller SUV (Ford Escape). Hers does have a lot more room top to bottom, but you can only stack things so high safely.
What you may want to do is see if they have one where the back (third) seat folds down into the floor, or else they're able to remove it before you take the vehicle. That way, with only four riders, you would be ok. Its something that we're considering ourselves as we look for a future SUV for my family of four. -
You should be fine.
You'd be able to fit double that even with the back seats up.Unlucky 13 likes this. -
Thanks for the input. As far as I know, the Tahoe rear row goes into the floor so we'd only have two rows of seats up which should help things. Course, I won't know exactly which model I get until I pick it up
Sent from my SM-G930F using TapatalkUnlucky 13 likes this. -
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haha. You want to drive one of them 'Merican gas guzzlers eh? To see what it's like? I'm just messing with you. But they really don't have vehicles like this where you are right? You should be okay with the Tahoe assuming you don't need that back row to sit. Can easily get four large suitcases across (from left to right) standing up, then one behind the other way. Should then be able stack your carry on's over the top or in the remaining gap.
We rented a mini van last year when we went to Hawaii. It was a Chrysler Town and Country. Beautiful car. We had seven people (including two children), plus three large pieces of luggage and I believe four carry ons. I was really worried we wouldn't all fit, with that back seat occupied (and that we'd have to rent a second car). You have two captains chairs (in the middle) and a back row (for three) and then some space behind that for your luggage. Well, we made it work! Some of us had to have our carry ons on our laps or on the floor in front of us. But I was pleasantly surprised by how much space that van had. And I had no reservations driving it. Minivan soccer mom? No way, that thing was nice. I wouldn't hesitate buying one.Oghma likes this. -
I wanted to add, due to Oghma being Scotish, that one of the only two times in my life that I've rented a car was on my honeymoon, which was to Scotland. My wife and I had originally rented a smaller hatchback, which we thought should be fine, but when we got to the rental place, they were out, and offered to upsize us to a Jaguar sedan at no extra cost. At first, we thought it was awesome, since we'd both driven crappy cars most of our lives. But I soon realized that along with driving on the other side of the road, which I knew was coming of course, that the roads, and especially the parking spaces, were SOOOO much smaller than what I was used to, that I quickly wished that we'd had a much, much smaller car. I made it work, and survived through the 11 day trip with no accidents or damage to the car, but it was really tight in a few spots!
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hehe, yeah I bet the rental car place was hoping you'd damage the car. They probably took bets amongst their employees.Unlucky 13 likes this.
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Once you get out of the city though, your roads system is amazing to me. Immaculate, with perfect signs unique to each town and roundabout. Easily better than anywhere in the US that I've ever been. Our trip was wonderful, and we'll remember it forever.Oghma likes this.
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Not sure, but it looks like a Subaru Outback maybe.
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I think that's what it is too.