Tell me about your minivan

[riser4]

Hope nobody steals your new KIA

[skaredshtles]

Reliability TBD.

[riser4]

Yo, dawg, pick me up a popcorn too while you're up?

[riser4]

https://www.wcax.com/2025/07/18/rash...plague-region/

[gravitylover]

So now that I have 12k miles and have most of the deferred maintenance done I can say that this Sienna is easily as nice a road trip vehicle as that Range Rover was. It would be nice to have that extra 125hp but it takes care of itself just fine and with the tranny in power/tow mode it is pretty fuckn quick. I have been holding off on replacing suspension parts to figure out if I want to keep the too plush factory dampers or go with something less minivan-like. I am leaning towards the Megan Racing control arms and adjustable coilovers since they are not much more $ than OE. I like how much space is inside but miss the stow and go middle seats, it is nice that these lift out whereas the new ones do not, but the trolley it attaches to is a pita. I think a winter flat-floor project is gonna happen and will incorporate a spot for the spare tire that didn't come with the van. Is the slightly tighter interior but better mpg and next gen driving dynamics of the 4th Gen worth it? I kinda lean towards no when the non-removable middle seats enter the equation. I regularly get 25-27 mpg on the road and can lay down sheets of plywood or comfortably take a half ton of crap with me.

[gravitylover]

Damn site took out the paragraph spacing. Wtf

[riser4]

Flat floor Sienna project for me would entail a custom fit piece(s) of plywood with wooden spacers to make it sit tight and solid above the trolley. I would definitely keep the ability to have the middle row and not rip out the yrolleys. I think my floor would be sectional so i could use the rear row easily for the unexpected passengers. You have other ideas?

If i was setting one up for a lot of road warrior travel like you, I'd definitely want a full size spare. Im thinking I'd want the option to be able to put it on the roof in an enclosure or enclosed inside, with maybe a removable wooden cubby that could easily attach to one of a few spots on the floor in either horizontal or vertical orientation depending on the trips mission. I'd probably set the cubby up to easily wing nut in place on removable stud bolts. Definitely being able to anchor it solidly is a requirement, right? That thing coukd kill you in an accident.

[gravitylover]

Yes, sectional for sure. Probably hinged and easy lift off. I think I'll also remove the driver's side 3rd row and put the spare under there. Right now it's bungeed to the back of the middle seat so probably not the best spot but there are other potential missiles back there too so I kinda hope for the best. The floor project keeps taking on new dimensions which is why I have been putting it off.

[riser4]

When I had my full size Chevy in college, I had all kinds of dreams for a very complicated interior. Faced with a time crunch due to final exams and needing to leave for a cross country trip, I went with KISS. 3/4" plywood cut down to 6' on a 2x4 frame on 4x4 posts so I could shove gear under and put a futon above. Mountain bike fit under without the front wheel or stood up next to it with the wheel. 4' wide meant there was a walkway which was super useful for many reasons. The van came with faux wood paneling and a burnt orange shag carpet. It had a bench seat in the middle which I left because the bed fit perfectly behind it. Three drivers and one passenger meant 60 hours from Montpelier, VT to Eugene, OR with 2 time wasting stops/diversions costing about 6 hors total. Futon was key, like sleeping at home. And all the weight back their helped with traction during two ice storms. So, Keep It Simple Stupid.

[gravitylover]

I had a 74 Ford E100 Custom with a Turtle Top conversion. It had a king bed upstairs and the typical fold flat kitchen benches downstairs, 2 extra batteries inside with inverter to run inside electrics, fridge, gas stove, 10 gallon fresh water, composting toilet and 350 watts of clean sound. Unfortunately it also had a 1974 choked out 302 so it took its time getting up to speed. My aspirations for that were always about bumping it to a 351 but college kid... I did a crazy interior in my 76 FJ55, I pulled the back seat and did a hinged flat floor so it had dry storage underneath. Then it had a 16 inch wide box along the drivers side with cutouts for a pump sink and propane camp stove over the wheel and 12v fridge. Passenger side had a flat raised floor so skis fit underneath and it had a comfy futon bed. It was a total stealth camping rig because everything stayed below the window line and it all slid out in one piece when I needed the full space for whatever.

[mcski]

Sweet ride spotted today. Lifted Sienna with ATs Sadly can't figure out how to load a pic now.