Hi
Are the Short Wheel Base (SWB) vans generally suitable carrying windsurfing gear?
They have a range from around 2450 to 2600 payload length.
My longest board and mast is 2400.
Are people finding the SWB load length suitable?
Cheers
Paul
Great question Paul ,when I built my trailer I had to go 3 metres ,my big 9,5 and the 250 mast plus bags fit in well doors close snug.
also a 9 foot SUP .my friend has the SWB .everything will fit in ,a slight angle on the long ones is required but no big deal
when we go up North west we always hire the long wheel base hiace ,it is a bigger van by a lot and parking does require some skills
but it was nicer to lay down in .it depends on how big the cab is as hi ace has put noses on their Vans now so rear space is smaller .
If its for everyday use I probably would buy the SWB.because it's easier to drive in traffic and everything fits .If camping in it too I would go the LWB.
I have the long wheel base hiace , parking and traffic are easy they have a excelent turn circle ,easyer than the wives cx8 to park and less blind spot . the extra room allows me to have a raised fridge and camp kitcen and sleeping. I can slide a sup inside if i fold down front seat
I have seven sails two booms 3 boards and four masts plus accessories in it now, still room for two german shepards and a blow up sup
Mine is only 2200 and I manage with two wave boards and all the rest so yeah you'll be fine
Select to expand quoteTardy said..
Great question Paul ,when I built my trailer I had to go 3 metres ,my big 9,5 and the 250 mast plus bags fit in well doors close snug.
also a 9 foot SUP .my friend has the SWB .everything will fit in ,a slight angle on the long ones is required but no big deal
when we go up North west we always hire the long wheel base hiace ,it is a bigger van by a lot and parking does require some skills
but it was nicer to lay down in .it depends on how big the cab is as hi ace has put noses on their Vans now so rear space is smaller .
If its for everyday use I probably would buy the SWB.because it's easier to drive in traffic and everything fits .If camping in it too I would go the LWB.
Thanks Tardy
Select to expand quoteMark _australia said..
Mine is only 2200 and I manage with two wave boards and all the rest so yeah you'll be fine
Thanks Mark
Select to expand quotegrich62 said..
I have the long wheel base hiace , parking and traffic are easy they have a excelent turn circle ,easyer than the wives cx8 to park and less blind spot . the extra room allows me to have a raised fridge and camp kitcen and sleeping. I can slide a sup inside if i fold down front seat
I have seven sails two booms 3 boards and four masts plus accessories in it now, still room for two german shepards and a blow up sup
Thanks Grich
It all depends on the length of your gear and how much space you want between the end of your boards/rigs and your seat/cargo barrier. I have a LWB Vito and use the extra space for boxes, bags, foils etc. The cargo space is 2.9m. The van is long, 5.3m, but I've got used to it. A cargo barrier is really worthwhile.
As per John340 re gear, but suggest you have a rear camera marked with green, yellow and red lines. My first try with just parking sensors didn't work, as they were too slow to react, even at low speed.
My van is a MWB, 2012 Transit.
Hope this helps.
You will always run out of space so go with the biggest one that you can afford and/or park and willing to drive around with.
Even when it'll fit your gear today, you might decide to go foiling or just expand your quiver tomorrow.
I've got an SWB van and my longest board is 2380, so it just fits. It's fine if you're careful loading, but anything longer and you'll probably want the longer wheelbase.
I've got a VW Caddy. Its the LWB version of the Caddy, but still shorter than a T5 SWB van. Its got a cargo bulkhead protecting the front from flying bits and pieces. The longest board I put in it was a 242cm long, but that had to go on the floor as the space gets smaller higher up you go. All the boards go in at an angle. A 2 piece 490cm mast goes in just about, but I had to cut a hole in the cargo bulkhead, the end of the mast sits in the shelf at the front.
I've moved from a large trailer which carried everything including camping gear and sleeping accommodation to a LWB Sprinter. Parking isn't a big issue due to where I sail and live and the extra space will be used for kitchen and living stuff when I get around to it in winter. Go big
Depends on what you want to do. I fit 3 boards, 6 sails, 3 masts and booms into a 2007 Citroen Berlingo SWB with the passenger seat folded flat. The only problem is that leaves no space for a fan club to accompany me and watch admiringly from the beach.
If I was doing more than local sailing, I'd spring for the price of a motel rather than go camping.
