Chevy & GMC Vans

I do not currently have an astro van. I am looking to get either an astro or an s10 and i'm still researching which will better fit my needs, and this is one of my key questions actually...

How high can I stack 4x8 sheets in the back? Can I basically go up to the ceiling inside or not? I'm aware of weight issues, i'm not planning on doing this with plywood but actually with... styrofoam!

I need a huge amount of 4x8 sheets of styrofoam insulation for several upcoming projects including a large barn in the not far off future, such foam periodically turns up used on craigslist for very cheap (like low as $5 vs $50 new) when they decommission walk in freezers but it's very much on a "you have to show up now" basis and usually on a weekend when I can't rent a mini trailer to move it. So I either have to own a 4x8 trailer (which I might have in addition pulled by the astro) or a pickup or a midsize van (fullsize wont fit in the garage) since if i'm saving say $450 (vs new) from a single load of 10 sheets of foam the vehicle/trailer rapidly pays for itself doing that one specialized job. But since it will be more than just this one use i'd prefer a van for it's other usability like being a people mover which I can't do in the pickup.

I know astros are considered the best non-fullsize van for hauling 4x8 sheet but i can't find any reference of how HIGH I can stack it... for people only needing say 3 sheets of plywood at a time even a grand caravan moves it fine but stack up beyond the seat bottoms and they wont fit anymore. Plywood and sheetrock or dense so this isn't a problem for moving wood, but it is for my specific use.


I'd love to know whether I could stack up a cube to 3 feet or 4 feet tall or what exactly before either seatbacks or the upper walls curving inwards create a problem.

The sides aren't an issue, but I know from hauling drywall that there will be a seatback issue. You have to squeeze the seats all the way forward.

John

If the seats are all the way forward is there a solid 8 foot 1 inch of space even at head height while seated in the van?

Are the sides of the van wide enough for 4x8 sheet even at head height in the van?


I'm assuming the sheets fit between the wheelwells on the floor.

As John said, 4 foot 4 inches between wheel wells.

No issue in sidewall height as you could theoretically go to the ceiling with 4x8 sheets. The problem is that the 2 front seat backs will hinder going that high and closing the door. If I still had an Astro, I would simply go out and measure it. I don't think you can go to the ceiling with 4x8 sheets.

I make dels with my van and the quick answer is no, you can only go 96" long and appx 10" high before the seatbacks interfere ( in a quasi-normal seating position ), in a pinch you can get appx 24" high with the seats fully forward, knees to your chin and the steering wheel against your chest ( man that was a long drive ROFL )

Width of the van should be no prob all the way to the ceiling, and styrofoam isnt weather sensitive...
Couldnt you stack it to the ceiling, and leave the back doors open with a strap or rope to keep the doors and stryo pile from getting wild on ya.
I've hauled lots of loads with open back doors for overlength items...

doyoulikeithere wrote:Width of the van should be no prob all the way to the ceiling, and styrofoam isnt weather sensitive...
Couldnt you stack it to the ceiling, and leave the back doors open with a strap or rope to keep the doors and stryo pile from getting wild on ya.
I've hauled lots of loads with open back doors for overlength items...

This, plus what I can put on my rack. I used that 24" x 96" x 2" blue on a foundation one year awhile back. I loaded the inside and strapped the doors to each other, worked just fine. I had an equal amount on top also, I built a low profile roof rack 11' by 4' 8" which was double stacked, 2' x 4' x 16', I had ladders underneath the insulation.

I haul a lot of plywood for my business, and in my opinion, an astro is not the van to do it in. I can get by throwing a sheet or two in, sneaking it under the front seat bases, but any more than that and I hook up my 4x8 trailer and load up in that.

You should have seen what I strapped to the roof of my 88 Plymouth Reliant though!

Mathil wrote:You should have seen what I strapped to the roof of my 88 Plymouth Reliant though!

If it had antlers, I wanna see PIX !!

That would be one hell of a load on the van.

Solid stacked plywood like that would crush the van. You would be massively over the suspension and braking abilities of the van. I don't know if even a 3/4 ton pickup would handle that in the box. Your basicly talking about a whole lift of wood.

He wants to haul Styrofoam kid.

When i was a GC i hauled a lot of plywood and/or sheetrock in my van when i needed it right away but never more than a dozen sheets at a time. Anything more and i had it loaded by fork lift on a trailer or my 1 ton flat bed. But it seems i remember after a certain number (or height i should say) there was a bit of a problem getting them through the doors. May just be my year of van though.