<OT> SUVs - best one to fit bikes inside?

ringmaster

I am looking for a new family rig to haul four people but I really want to be able to carry my road bike inside for long trips. My post isn't searching for opinions on which company builds the best SUV, but I need to know which ones people have found that can swallow a bike (wheels off) plus luggage.

I will make this question one level more difficult by saying that I am not interested in any full-size rigs (i.e. Suburban, Denali, Expedition, Durango, etc).

My list of ideal candidates would be a 4Runner, GX470, Sequoia or RX350. I would consider a mini-van (Odyssey or Sienna) becaue I know they have enough space but we live in a rugged area with lots of snow so a true SUV with 4WD is a better option.

Any advice would be great

kdelong

Get a four seater pickup truck. Put the bike in the back seat and put the kids in the bed.

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Cycler6n

I've got a Dodge Grand Caravan, works fine with the rear seats out (bucket and bench).

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dbackmtg

Any quad cab truck is the best. (with a cap) I can fit my bike with wheels on and still have room for luggage. The two other families we go to the beach with both have big suv's. I'm always the one who has to bring all the extras, along with my bike because we have the room.

Pendejo

Chrysler PT Cruiser. Don't even have to take the front wheel off. Plus the rollover rating is better than with other SUVs.

CAMPYBOB

The quad-cab pickup works great. There's lots of room for bikes, luggage and gear. I'm currently using the Cherokee a bit more though because it rides better. Until I get the truck loaded up, it's pretty stiff.

wineandkeyz

Another vote for the quad-cab pickup approach. I drive a Ford F-150 Supercrew, and it's great for hauling bikes, gear, and 4 (or even 5) people.

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stlblues

I've got a Titan Crew Cab it it works great and I opted for the front bench and it seats 6 adults comfortably, wanna race that Ford? We also have an Odyssey, both work great but the Ody is getting 20city and 27 highway. Beats the 18 of the Titan, but the Titan is quicker and pulls 9500lbs, lets see, my trailer weights 1700lbs so that means about 280 bikes. And the Ody has VDC which works quite well. The only snow we had a problem was a 16" wet snow storm, but the Titan was the only one to make it out in that, not the neighbors Silverado, Excrusion, Exploder, Suburban, Ranger, Ram 3500, Pilot, 4Runner, Trailblazer......I got to play chauffer for a couple of days till the plows got out on the side roads.

wineandkeyz

Your Titan may seat six, but comfortably? I doubt it, unless they're six small people. My SuperCrew has a front bench seat, too, and will seat six. But I wouldn't want to take a trip with that many people.

If the Titan had been available in 2000, I may have considered it. But at the time, the SuperCrew was the only truck available with 4 doors and a bed long enough to accomodate my music gear. In addition to my bikes, my truck also has to haul an 88-key electronic keyboard.

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stlblues

Remember, the Titan cab is larger than your SuperCrew. I've had 6 200lbers in there without elbow fights, and the rear has more leg room than a suburban, and its wider, runs to St Louis (280miles round trip) have been no problem. My truck is a work truck, usually 800+lbs of tools, large saws, compressors, portable work stations, etc.

Bro Deal

None of you guys with your poser SUVs have got shit on my wheels. The ultimate cycling transport:

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wineandkeyz

Front seat hip room for Titan - 61.3 inches, for 2001 SuperCrew 61.0...

I'm sure that extra 0.3 inches makes all the difference.

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tt1106

Actually, Popular Mechanics just did a truck (Quad Cab) roundup and the Titan finished 1st for the second time in a row. Tundra 2nd then Chevy, Ford and Dodge brought up the rear.
Tundra was a rocket according to them. Dodge was a pig. Titan was the best package, including retail price offering the best interior, economy (considering engine size) towing, hauling and everything else.
I have an older Chevy 3/4 ton and it's ran great. Has 120,000 miles on it and still runs like a top. If I had to choose right now, I'd probably go with the Titan.

stlblues

I had a Silverado that fell apart. By 200K it was on its second engine, third tranny, second rear end, was a member of the alternator of the month club, AC was out again, door panels comming loose. I've got 57K miles of shear work horse duty on the Titan and its stronger than the day I drove it off the showroom floor. Even hauling 11,700lbs (yes I know its rated at 9500) it had no problem pulling steep hills. I have two friends that came from F250 Superduty trucks and three from Silverdo 2500HDs and all say the Titan will pull circles around thier old trucks, are much more comfortable, and infinatly more fun to drive than thier former trucks. On electrician in town has one, he's owned Vettes all his life and said this is the closet thing he's found to the driving experience in a truck. My wife refused to drive my Silverado, asided from parking the beast, she loves the Titan. Don't know what to tell ya about the .3 inch difference, except that may be the case at the hips, but upper door panel design and general cab design may have something to do with it. I felt clostrophobic in the Ford, I looked at one before I bought the Titan, but the Titan feels huge compared. Lower window belt line may be part of it. And the Ford was a total slug in comparison. Just for fun, I raced a punk in a Dodge Rumble Bee reg cab 2x4 5.7 Hemi and smoked him in a crew cab 4x4. I had the kids roll the rear windows down to wave at him at the next light.....talk about pissed.