Before I sold my Honda Pilot a few months before the pandemic started, it had served me well for hauling rough lumber (8 - 9 feet long) and sheet goods. But I never tried any 4x8 sheet, which I always get it broken down smaller (4x4 or 3x8, etc.) at the lumber yard first. These days, most stores do the cuts for free.

Now, I still have another full-size SUV, just a little smaller than the Pilot. It works well for my lumber needs, as I use ply or MDF mostly for jigs or shop builds, which don't require anything close to even half a sheet size.

For 1/8" ply, it's thin and flexible so my SUV can take the whole sheet.

I'm pleasantly surprised that my 2006 Nissan Maxima can haul 10' long 2x4s between the front seats with the trunk closed, just not very many of them.

I drove a Transit Connect as an occasional shop truck at my old job and I think the front passenger seat folded down, which made hauling longer, wider items a lot easier.  No way it would have gotten sheet goods in it very easily.

I miss my parents' old Ford Aerostar Extended.  The seats weighed a ton and were cumbersome to take out, but it held 4x8 sheets between the wheels without any problems.

Easily accommodates several 4x8 sheets with the tailgate up.

I use a '14 Honda Pilot - the older generation "box" style rather than the newer curvy one.  It has >48" between the wheel wells.  Unfortunately, it's not possible to do more than about 76-80" in length of a 48" wide sheet without figuring out a way to tie the tailgate open (which I haven't done).  Still, it's been awesome for plywood (usually have the store cross-cut into rough dimension), foam insulation, drywall (small amounts - obviously full sheets would just have delivered).

I'm also able to fit 10' lumber and pipe with the tailgate closed.

Another nice feature is the window hatch in the tailgate - great for grabbing tools without opening the entire liftgate.

Ah, the station wagon. An El Camino with a built in bed cap and four doors. :-)

Done in by the SUV. Chrysler tried to bring the wagon back with the Dodge Magnum,
didn't really catch on though which I thought was unfortunate.

Quote from: tjbnwi on November 05, 2021, 04:23 PM

2000 Excursion 7.3 PSD w/400K on it.

Pretty much handles whatever I need.

Tom

Seems it's designed for the Southern Hemisphere. 

Very sticky tires.

(Happens when I post from the iPad. I’ll fix it when I get to a computer.)

Tom

I had a 2011 Pilot.  Sheet goods would go on the roof rack, and 2-3 sheets is just around the 200 lb limit.  Lumber stuff would go through the tailgate glass and rest on the seats.  I now have a 2021 pilot and the glass does not open anymore, which makes it strictly worse for utility than the boxier version.

I have an extended cab F-150 with a 6.5' bed.  Very easy to get ~15 sheets of plywood or drywall in it - as a DIYer I haven't needed more.  With the gate down, you have a full 8' supported.  For longer trim and lumber, I have a backrack cab guard and a goal post tailgate extender that will let me get 16'+ easily extended over the cab, bed and a foot out.  The same extender can be put horizontally for longer than 8' sheets of drywall.

The extended cab isn't super comfortable in the back for 2 teenagers and a 100lb dog, but it works in a pinch and I use the medium bed for stuff more than the backseat of cab for people.

I bought my 2018 (2019 model year) Ford Ranger Wildtrak super cab shown in my avatar specifically for hauling lumber, sheet goods, and anything else I don't want in the seat next to or behind me.  It is my daily driver and is as comfortable at Autobahn speeds as any car I've owned.  The new ranger replaced a 2003 Ford Ranger Edge that had a stiff suspension and was brutal to drive.  Although the Wildtrak is larger in every dimension than the Edge, it just fits in my garage after I got rid of my workbenches and storage shelves.  The Edge fit with the workbenches and shelves.

With the rack I built for the bed, I can easily carry 15 full sheets of 18 or 19mm plywood in the Wildtrak with the tailgate down.

I have been trying to find out if one can carry 4x8 sheet goods in a Kia Telluride. Haven't gone to a dealer yet.
We currently have a Honda Odyssey (2006); you have to take the very heavy middle seats out to carry sheet goods, and I've decided our next large vehicle will NOT be one where the seats need to be removed for that purpose.

Clearly a minivan/SUV or pickup works best for hauling.

But if you are looking for a sedan, make sure the rear seats fold down.   That helps a great deal.   
I can put 10 foot dimensional lumber into my Q50 and close the trunk.
I am limited to 32" boards for width, but in the 5 years I have had this car, that has been enough.

A few times during the pandemic lockdowns, you had to do curb-side pickup and their panel saw was not available.    So brought by circular saw, etc to the store and ripped down 4x8 sheets in the parking lot.

Chevy Avalanche!!  I bought one new in 2002, and traded it for this one in 2005.  I don't think I'll ever get rid of it, as no other trucks have the functionality.  5' of bed with tailgate up, covered or not, and 8' with the seats and midgate (and rear window if you want) down.  I've had 12' stock under cover passing through the front seats and resting on a towel on the dash.  Plus it rides and drives great, even with the Z71 offroad package, has 4wd, Bose, heated leather, DVD in rear, etc etc.  Newer ones have center display.  I love it and they are becoming more valuable as people rediscover what they can do.
(Attachment Link)

Man @fignewton I'm with you on this one...they haul lumber, they haul large dogs, they haul groceries and the wife and all at the same time while keeping everything dry. 

2016 Dodge Caravan with Stow and Go. Last (or possibly next to last) year for the Caravan and mine is one without all the electronic dashboard stuff. Don't know what I'll do when it dies. And, no, the Pacifica is not the same. I don't need a light show on the dash board, nor surroundings quite as plush as the Pacifica.

For those with cars a small 4x8' folding trailer can haul most everything you need. They store taking up a reasonable foot print. The good thing about a trailer is no weight, other than tongue weight is on the vehicle, and there is nothing getting the interior dirty. The small trailers weigh like 160#'s or something so very light. No problem towing with a Honda or Toyota for reasonable sized loads.

Suburban, like Tom's Excursion they have a 10ft bed with the ability to lay 4' wide material flat inside. A 3/4 ton allows one to rent trailers, like a concrete U-cart, wood chipper, rent an HD drop deck trailer for moving old iron, etc.

2014 Suburban.   I've removed the third row of seats, but I wish the second row folded down all the way flush with the level of the rear deck the way it does in my Dad's 2004 Suburban

I recently sold my last pickup, and after having a pickup for almost 35 years, I thought I would not be able to get by without a truck. I finally made a deal with myself that if I can't move whatever it is that I want in the Suburban, then I won't do the project.   That put an end to things like concrete work, landscaping, and demo.

I should have figured this out a long time ago  .

Jeff mentioned the new vehicles and the 747 dashboards.  That's my worry, as well. I looked at my friend's new Tahoe and like the truck but good grief, the electronics are waaay more than what I want in a vehicle.

I have a Telluride.  A sheet of plywood does not fit inside. 

My vote goes to the Pacifica. We have a 2017 and will buy another. Those stow n go seats are fantastic and fitting 4x8 plywood is easy. Recently had to get some 12' trim, just had to secure the liftgate up a bit.

2016 Dodge Caravan with Stow and Go. Last (or possibly next to last) year for the Caravan and mine is one without all the electronic dashboard stuff. Don't know what I'll do when it dies. And, no, the Pacifica is not the same. I don't need a light show on the dash board, nor surroundings quite as plush as the Pacifica.

The Pacifica is quieter and has a far better ride than the earlier models.  It handles better too.  They are now making a "decontented" version for Dodge.  I don't know if it has the stow and go feature though.  And right now is a lousy time to buy a new (or used) car.  No discounts and some models selling above suggested retail pricing.

It is blamed on the supply of components shutting down production lines.

If you grew up in the 1950s and 1960s, when big cars reigned supreme, you would have  learned some tricks about parking the big car. 

The one lost technique (that really works well) helps in head-in parking.

Don't try to turn and head in directly into the space.  Instead, overshoot your target space by 1½ spaces.  Then cut your wheel hard and back up.  It will align you with the space you want to pull into.  So instead of pulling into the space at an angle, you can now pull in parallel to the lines on the ground. 

This is much faster and easier than jockeying back and forth trying to straighten the car. 

My pet beef is those people who park in the access aisle alongside the van accessible handicapped parking space.  So the guy gets back with his wheelchair and cannot get back in his car.

I didnt grow up then but back in the 90's I had 65 chrysler new yorker (Land Barge $600, couldn't pass on it)
I just found easier to park as far away as possible. Always found a spot.
The best is when you're parked all alone to come out and see a couple cars join you.

If you grew up in the 1950s and 1960s, when big cars reigned supreme, you would have  learned some tricks about parking the big car. 

The one lost technique (that really works well) helps in head-in parking.

Don't try to turn and head in directly into the space.  Instead, overshoot your target space by 1½ spaces.  Then cut your wheel hard and back up.  It will align you with the space you want to pull into.  So instead of pulling into the space at an angle, you can now pull in parallel to the lines on the ground. 

This is much faster and easier than jockeying back and forth trying to straighten the car. 

My pet beef is those people who park in the access aisle alongside the van accessible handicapped parking space.  So the guy gets back with his wheelchair and cannot get back in his car.

If you grew up in the 1950s and 1960s, when big cars reigned supreme, you would have  learned some tricks about parking the big car. 

The one lost technique (that really works well) helps in head-in parking.

Don't try to turn and head in directly into the space.  Instead, overshoot your target space by 1½ spaces.  Then cut your wheel hard and back up.  It will align you with the space you want to pull into.  So instead of pulling into the space at an angle, you can now pull in parallel to the lines on the ground. 

This is much faster and easier than jockeying back and forth trying to straighten the car. 

My pet beef is those people who park in the access aisle alongside the van accessible handicapped parking space.  So the guy gets back with his wheelchair and cannot get back in his car.

Not to sideline the thread, but thanks for the reminder about getting into a parking spot with a large vehicle. I read something similar to this about backing into a parking spot, but can't remember it. Perhaps it is basically the same thing. Do you recall that one too.

TIA.

I would warn people who like to leave their parking space by pulling forward into an empty space and driving off.  Do that with care.  Drivers seeing that empty space can pull in as you are moving from one space and then forward.  Head in accidents can occur.

You could also drive up and over a parking block / wheel stop that you didn't realize or remember was there.

If you do that, once the first set of wheels has cleared, you might as well commit to the second set of wheels, unless there's a second barrier for the spot across from you.  Make it look intentional.

I mean, that's maybe what I might do if I found myself in that sort of situation... Not that I've done it... 

We had a fleet of '72/'73 Torinos. Not much maneuverability with those! LOL  No AC and drivers ed in July 

Used to be you didn't pass your driver exam if you couldn't parallel park.
I think our high school Driver Ed class had a 69 Impala. Not the most nimble of cars. 

I have to have sheet goods delivered, but I can pick up 2.4 timber, or 3m if it bends a bit.
Systainers seem to have been designed to fit nicely in the boot.
Plus I can get to the job quicker than most! (2nd photo is me with instructor (RHD car) on the race track)

I have to have sheet goods delivered, but I can pick up 2.4 timber, or 3m if it bends a bit.
Systainers seem to have been designed to fit nicely in the boot.
Plus I can get to the job quicker than most! (2nd photo is me with instructor (RHD car) on the race track)

The Mustang!

In my college days in the 70s, I drove a Mustang (bought secondhand for $500 Cdn) for a few years, then resold it -- for exactly the same amount. But in those days, I was no match to another dream car of mine: the Stingway convertible. Now that I can afford a Stingway, my head says it's no longer a car suitable for me. 

I rented a 2020 Mustang convertible with the ecoboost engine, and it was plenty of fun on back country two-lane roads, especially with the paddle shifter.  I don't think the same could be said of a rental-level Mustang as recently as 10 years ago.  Cars have come a LONG way in that time.

Most vehicles today can accept some kind of receiver hitch, and Uhaul installs a lot of them. I tend to build them myself, unless a factory hitch is available used and strong enough, sticking with a 2" receiver. Most smaller car hitches are 1 1/4", which is kinda whimpy, but for me all my hitch needs are 2".

The Harbor Freight trailer works well enough for sheet goods etc. It folds up for a small foot print, making storage in a side yard possible. Did a full remodel on a house before renting it out using a HF trailer. It hauled everything from refrigerators and stoves, all kinds of wood, bags of concrete, to debris. Who wants to haul firewood or dirt inside their vehicle? The best improvement I made to my trailer was to put E-track around the perimeter for straps (I prefer L-track but already had the E-track). The reason is because if a regular hook strap comes loose at all, it can/will unhook, leaving the load to fall off. Locked into a E or L track that is pretty much impossible. Yes straps can come loose with a load shift, it happens.

I rented a 2020 Mustang convertible with the ecoboost engine, and it was plenty of fun on back country two-lane roads, especially with the paddle shifter.  I don't think the same could be said of a rental-level Mustang as recently as 10 years ago.  Cars have come a LONG way in that time.

Our non-truck vehicle was until recently the V8 Mustang convertible which I cannot recommend as a woodworking tool. Can recommend it as a waking up the neighbours tool.   

Now swapped for a BMW M2. Also not a practical workshop accessory. Also a good auditory experience.

For 6 weeks while selling the Mustang we were a 3 car family.

Here’s the 850hp garage.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Derek, 

That will definitely work for a run to the Home Center to buy bags of mulch and potting soil. And only $200 of diesel for the 5 mile round trip. 

I can get bugger all in my Boxster. But I don't care  ... I just use my wife's run-about ...



Regards from Perth

Derek

I'm afraid you are out of luck if you want that vehicle.  Only one was built and it is out of production.  What you want is the Caterpillar 797, a big brother to the Terex.  And this one went into production.  I wonder if I can order one with an elevator built in.

Time for your wife to trade in the Terex and upgrade.   

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terex_33-19_%22Titan%22

I thought I add my two cents.

Another option....

 

Have you seen the back side of that scene? There is a Cat D8 pushing on that stack of logs. 

Quote from: ChuckS on November 16, 2021, 09:56 PM

Another option....

 

Have you seen the back side of that scene? There is a Cat D8 pushing on that stack of logs. 

Here's another variation of the same theme...38,000 Bd ft of lumber in 1890, about 7-8 tons.



I'm actually very interested in logging railroads and all the weird stuff that supported that effort. Those large logging sleds operated on what was called a rut road.

After the first snowfall, when the ground was firm but not yet frozen, they used a plow like apparatus that would dig 2 ruts spaced for the width of the sled runners. They'd follow that up with several waterings of the ruts, trying not to spill much water between the ruts because that was were the horses traveled.

The devastation of past logging methods was criminal, but so was gold mining, one of the main causes of deforestation in order to power the stampers etc., with environmental damage on a scale incomparable to anything else from the mountains to the SF Bay.

Out in the woods we often find old "Donkey's" the steam engines used for skidding logs or pulling mining equipment. I get excited! Then again I enjoy modern logging equipment too, like a big kid

Well now that you mention it, the industry really didn't last that long considering the incredible amount of resources available. In Minnesota alone there were over 32 million acres of harvestable trees, mostly white & red pine. Within 30 years only 1% of that number remained. The consensus in 1890 was that the supply of Minnesota forests was so vast that they'd never run out of lumber.

I'm really curious how that became such a common thought as the lumber barrons had already cut down most of the forests from Maine to Wisconsin and Minnesota was just the next stopping-off point along a path that would eventually extend all the way to the West coast.

Interestingly enough, 2 years ago I came across a slab of white oak that was estimated to be 150-200 years old. The tree had fallen down in a storm outside of Stillwater. I turned the slab into a kitchen countertop....the oldest item in the house.

You were right @Packard I just got some 12' trim into the Pacifica. It was MDF so that helped.

I’m glad that helped.

A couple of months back my auto start/stop feature stopped working.  I was not upset.  I generally toggle to the off position anyway.

What I did not know was that it is an early indicator that the battery is dying.  There are two batteries in the 2019 Pacifica.  One for the headlights and ignition, and the second for all the accessories. 

When the first one died, it drained the second.  I had to replace both.  $615.00 (includes $140.00 diagnostics charge).

The diagnostics charge is BS.  If I came to the dealer with a tire that needed air, it would not surprise me if they hit me up with a diagnostics charge. 

The batteries are the only issue I’ve had in 89,000 miles.  So not too bad.  But $615.00 for batteries?  Really?

 I live 90 miles north of Manhattan.  Not the snow belt, but we get more snow than Westchester as we average 7 degrees colder. 

I learned years ago that a good set of winter tires and front wheel drive will get me up the steepest hills in town (and I live on the steepest hill in town).  Depending upon where you live, 4 wheel drive has been oversold.  It adds expense and repairs are more expensive.  Fuel economy is worse than the FWD counterparts. 

I would not want to drive a rear wheel drive up the hill to my house, but FWD is all anyone in our area needs.  And yet 4-WD outsells front wheel drive in our area. 

It used to be that BMWs, Camaros, Mustangs and Corvettes were the cars that got stuck in the snow around here.  Nowadays most of the BMWs are 4-WD and it is just the Camaros and Mustangs that seem to be getting stuck.

Just for the record, all season tires are not nearly as effective as winter tires or the new generation of all weather tires (all weather tires are winter tire rated, speed rated and mileage rated and can be used where ordinance requires winter tires).

The never be able to reach over into the bed design! Brilliant. 

Surprised nobody has mentioned:

Vaporware.

People don't like to talk about figments of their imagination. :-)

Yes, I think you're right, the Escape is the smallest of the Ford SUV Line which all start with a E for some reason.

Excursion (do they still make this beast built on the F-250 frame?)
Expedition
Explorer
Edge
Escape

When I started in the mason trade, my boss had big Cadilac with the capacity in the trunk of pickup truck. That was the year before the rear fenders had the light houses. He used to have a gravel bank that i would shovel about yard  of the course gravel in the morning. On top the gravel, he would stop off at a supply yard and load enough bags of cement to last for the day. I think he had truck tires on the car. He never blew a tire with that load.

He used that Caddy for everything, including when he went visiting, he packed his wife and four kids into the seats and packed all of the food, supplies and firewood for grilling into the cavernous trunk.

Tinker

Yeah, those old boats were something. One of my first cars was a 66 Olds 98 LS which was built on the same frame as the Caddy. When I bought it was 8 years old.

Mine looked like this but was a light blue with black and dark blue interior. It had a huge truck and the rear legroom was crazy. I think it got around 10 MPG. I bought it for next to nothing because the guy thought the brakes were shot and the AC needed work. One new hose and a recharge fixed the AC, the brakes were fine. Whoever did the last brake job put the self-adjusters on the wrong side so they weren't compensating for wear on the shoes. Hence the low brake pedal and assumption that the brakes were shot. Could easily seat 6 or 7 people with room to spare.

Came back from Britain in 62-63 with parents after three years of Air Force.  Sailed into New York on USS United States.  Dad picked up new Mercury Monterey, true boat of a car.  Had the  slant back rear slide down window.  Could lay across hood or trunk and head and feet not dropping.  3 barrel 390 beast.  Took that car to back from Germany tour, really got looks from locals blasting down the Autobahn.  Became my first car in 1970.   

the plural form of pole had us wondering

Honda Ridgeline is my solution:

• All-wheel drive for bad weather
• Handles like an SUV rather than a body-on-frame pickup (I don't tow or off-road)
• 4x8 sheets lay flat when the tailgate is down
• Reasonable tailgate height
• Locking trunk
• Fits in the garage 

Downsides?  Handles like an SUV and not a car, it's not very cool, and the gas mileage isn't great.

I am getting up in years and not as sharp as I once was.

So I bought a Ford Focus.

It didn't help.

Jimbo, I've been eating Smartfood popcorn...not helping according to my wife

I saw it a few days earlier.  Wasn't as big as I was expecting, looked pretty cool to me.

Bob

Well that's cool...an actual FOG sighting.   

Was it the camo version Bob?

It would be neat if it swallowed up 4 x 8 sheets of ply under the hard tonneau cover.

I drive (and like) a Honda Ridgeline. It gets 16-17 miles per gallon around town and 25 on the highway. It’s comfortable and surprisingly quiet inside the cabin.

I hope this isn’t a repeat of other posts: When I want real hauling capacity and versatility, I borrow my wife’s Pacifica. Lots of people dislike minivans, but I think the Pacifica is a wonderful vehicle. The middle and back seats fold flat(ish) into the floor and I can put in fairly large cargo (such as the Hammer HS950 sander) via the hatch. It can carry full sheets of MDF and plywood. All with climate control and protection from the elements. On a recent road trip it topped out at 37mpg.

Well that's cool...an actual FOG sighting.   

Was it the camo version Bob?

It would be neat if it swallowed up 4 x 8 sheets of ply under the hard tonneau cover.

Yes, the camo version!   I tried to take a picture, but didn't act fast enough.

Bob

I'll just leave this here ...... 

(Attachment Link)

That's a cool looking van, what is it?

The Tesla defines ugly for me.

I think that's a UK spec Ford transit Custom, with an after market body kit and alloy wheels.  2L diesel about 170HP from the factory.  Pretty good to drive, just like a car.

Normally seen doing about 85mph in the middle lane of motorways (Mercedes Sprinters go faster).

Regards
bob

Close @bobtskutter - It's a factory-spec Transit Custom Sport, no aftermarket stuff. They only produce 500 a month for the whole of Europe, so they're exceptionally hard to find - the current delivery time on new orders is around 18 months. I got lucky and found this one brand-new on the forecourt of a Transit dealer down in Oxford, so I took the train down to fetch it.

It's got the factory-remapped 220PS engine, leather and all the gizmos. It also now has Hykee security deadlocks all over it, a Ghost immobiliser system, an additional Thatcham Cat 1 alarm, and a hidden engine killswitch - if you've seen any of my photos of what's in the back, you'll understand why. I also had my local dealer retrofit the Ford flip-up roof rack which is borderline genius.

Downside - no tyre manufacturer produces a proper multi-ply van tyre in a 235/50R18 profile with a 101 load rating (which the factory wheels take). So it's fitted with standard soft-compounds like you'd find on a 4x4. Even wearing a fluffy pink slipper on my right foot, I'm lucky if I get 10,000 miles out of a front set. Plus - Goodyear Eagle F1's are £175 a corner. Ouch. I absolutely love it, though - even after 5 years, I still get that little glow every morning when I jump into it.

@woodbutcherbower  A hard working craftsman deserves the best.

Regards
Bob

@Cheese from reading that article, it seems that with continuous use of the fancy lock to open and lock with the special key all the time, the actual lock mechanism wears to the point that the key won’t work the lock anymore.

The solution is to use de the key fob and the solenoids to lock and unlock the van. Eliminating the wear on the keyed lock mechanism. If your key fob doesn’t operate the solenoids or there is a problem with them folks will use the special lock and key. The caution is get the locking system fixed.

Kind of like what I did a while back, had to get a new lock for the shop and had them key it to my house key. Unfortunately the house key I had with me was worn and now the copies of the house key that aren’t worn down won’t open the door. 

Ron

I use the key fob and nothing else - plus I have a spare in case the fob battery goes bad. The mechanical wear problem happens because owners don't follow the lock manufacturer's instructions to lubricate them once every coupla months if they plan to actually lock and unlock the vehicle with the key. The locksmith who fitted mine was very, very specific about this, and actually gave me a huge can of aerosol PTFE lock lubricant.

The deadlocks on the rear and side cargo doors are purely mechanical, and combat the most common form of break-in - something known as 'peel and steal'. The metal on modern vehicles is wafer-thin. Criminals discovered that if you put a crowbar into the gap between the top of the door and the van roof, you can just bend the door in half. These deadlocks are therefore mounted right at the top of each door, and they get the PTFE treatment once a month. 5 years in, locked and unlocked multiple times a day, no problems at all.

The Ghost immobilizer requires a PIN code to be entered by pressing a sequence of buttons on the radio, heater, steering wheel etc. in the right order, otherwise the engine won't start. And even if they get past the deadlocks and the Ghost, they still have to find the hidden killswitch which cuts power to the fuel pump. Nothing's infallible obviously - but my son (a police officer) has repeatedly told me that these people just want to be in & out as quickly as possible. If they see something which looks difficult or has visible security, they'll walk on by and choose an alternative, easier target.

It all probably sounds totally excessive - the extra locks & stuff added almost £2k to the cost of the van. But tool theft is an epidemic in the UK with dozens of vans being broken into every month, and I carry well over £20k in the back. You can no longer get insurance against this - companies just won't take the risk any more. I'd add that this is full-scale organised crime, not some lowlife looking to make a few bucks. Just three months ago, Border Control at the port of Felixstowe seized three 60-foot shipping containers packed with stolen power tools, all on their way out to Eastern Europe. 

It's sad that guys like me have to go to such lengths to protect our livelihoods - but that's the world we live in.

Reading stories of theft as outlined above I am glad I live in an area where I never take the keys out of my car.

@Cheese from reading that article, it seems that with continuous use of the fancy lock to open and lock with the special key all the time, the actual lock mechanism wears to the point that the key won’t work the lock anymore.

The solution is to use de the key fob and the solenoids to lock and unlock the van. Eliminating the wear on the keyed lock mechanism. If your key fob doesn’t operate the solenoids or there is a problem with them folks will use the special lock and key. The caution is get the locking system fixed.

Kind of like what I did a while back, had to get a new lock for the shop and had them key it to my house key. Unfortunately the house key I had with me was worn and now the copies of the house key that aren’t worn down won’t open the door. 

Ron

Thanks Ron @rvieceli ...that makes sense now. It's such a strange concept for me, to replace all of the locks with industrial strength items and then not use them and use the standard electric system instead. 

.... Ford are really missing a trick there IMO.

Particularly since Dodge has abandoned the Grand Caravan. That's what I have now. A 2015 with 170,000 miles on it. I keep putting money into because I can't find an alternative I like. The Pacificas are so loaded up the price gets ridiculous and I'd feel guilty throwing tools and plywood in the back. There's no such thing as a multi-purpose van in the U.S. these days. They're either box trucks or mom-mobiles.

Just thought I'd add that I just got back home from a heritage job up on the West Coast of Scotland. A 750-mile round trip with almost a ton and a half onboard for the 'up' journey.

I averaged 37mpg ..........

I averaged 37mpg ..........

That's 37 Miles Per UKGallon, or 30.8 Miles Per USGallon

Ford UK are selling cars for petrol heads!  You can get a 5L Mustang and the new Ranger Raptor has a TwinTurbo 3.7L V6.  Who said petrol was expensive in the UK?

I used to love my 2L Diesel Ford Mondeo, with factory "Transient Over Boost".  You could drive round town at 25mph with some chavy boy racer following you then go through a national speed limit sign, down shift and blow out so much soot you could blot out the sun!  Particulate filters and NOx converters have put a stop to that sort of fun poor behaviour

One more thing to make you chuckle, Fords line of fast looking cars in the UK is called the "ST line".  At one point in recent history they offered a Mondeo STDiesel - bright blue, huge wheels, body kit and 220hp.

Bob