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.
Select to expand quotePhilUK said..
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 used to have one of those. I had a hole cut in the cargo barrier and 2 or 3 boards could poke through stored on their edge.
You couldn't see out the left window. I now have a LWB Transporter with a cargo barrier no hole.
I think the most boards I've managed to carry was 9? A few on the roof , along with 3 booms 6 masts , 8 sails , wetsuits etc.
Much better.
I usually carry 3 or 4 boards including an 80cm wide 130ltre winging board. All stored on their edge.
Good to drive , not too bad to manoeuvre.
I can squeeze in a single bed with some boards taken out or empty it and plenty of space to sleep with a space at the front for a porta loo or cooker.
Hi, as others have pointed out, the length of your gear is determining factor, but cutting through selected sections of the cargo barrier can help fit a slightly longer board (while still offering driver/passenger protection).
I have an older Futura 133 which is 259cm long so I've removed the centre section of my cargo barrier to make it fit. The rest of my gear is under 240cm and fits ok.
It is a Hyundai Iload. The Futura is at floor level and if you look to middle of the photo you can see clear (barrier removed) section
The SWB sizes are different for each brand of vehicle... spinter, hiace, iload, etc...
Buy a tape-measure.
Select to expand quotemathew said..
The SWB sizes are different for each brand of vehicle... spinter, hiace, iload, etc...
Buy a tape-measure.
They are indeed. My LWB VW Caddy is shorter than the VW T5 SWB. I took my longest board to see if it fitted into the van before I bought it. You cant rely on manufacturers specs. The 490cm mast fitting into the van was a guess, but it fitted straight in and not at an angle like I thought it might have to.
Hiace widebody. Import from Japan. 2.8m of length available in the back for a reasonably short overall length of 4.8m. Great for carrying your gear and transcontinental adventures.
Agree with others that if no other constraints (parking, etc.) longer (and generally bigger) is better. mine is a LWB Metris (called Vito everywhere else in the world outside the US) and it's great. also recommend a fixed partition for safety and comfort (noise, heating/cooling, etc.).
Select to expand quoteShifu said..
Hiace widebody. Import from Japan. 2.8m of length available in the back for a reasonably short overall length of 4.8m. Great for carrying your gear and transcontinental adventures.
In the 2nd pic it looks like you are a mobile advertising billboard for the Nullabor. 
Select to expand quotesboardcrazy said..Shifu said..
Hiace widebody. Import from Japan. 2.8m of length available in the back for a reasonably short overall length of 4.8m. Great for carrying your gear and transcontinental adventures.
In the 2nd pic it looks like you are a mobile advertising billboard for the Nullabor.
Yes, I dashed out of the car to take the pic and didn't frame it right. Gotta save time when you're driving Brisbane to Lancelin!
Don't get carried away with the fitout. Versatility is paramount but the full on van life fitouts can be crap. Remember you have to be able fill it up with gear porn when required. I can easily strip this down and get 4 mountain bikes in there or setup for a couple of living in the NW.
Agree on keeping the fitout flexible but I do not approve of your lack of a decent rack
My fitout was perfect when it was finished, now I'm carrying lots of gear on the bed as well. Oh well, I guess that happens with any layout as you just accumulate more stuff.
