How's the Toyota Sienna for #vanlife and rough roads?

I put  timbren  load boosters  in my  mini vans and on my  Astro.  

Mark Paulson wrote:

The new 2021 Sienna is an AWD Hybrid, with 33mpg combined... I thought my dream car was the Pacifica Hybrid, but I think it may have just gotten one-upped. 

Before anyone gets too excited about the 2021 Sienna, a sad note - none of the rear seats are removable...

From Car and Driver: "Those who use their vans for maximum cargo space should note that the second-row chairs are no longer removable due to the addition of side airbags mounted in the seats. "

@Nick and John- what's the advantage of the Timbrens? Any disadvantages?

Would air shocks (which I think is what John is suggesting) be a better choice?

We load up the back with camping gear and pads, but I don't think the overall weight is really that high.

FWIW, we have all our gear in the back, including an exped duo and sheets and blankets (bulky, but way more comfortable than sleeping bags!), and 5 bouldering pads.

Can't see out the back window, but it all fits somehow.

Timbrens super  easy to install.  Nothing to wear out  or break.  

But what do they do? 

Google them.  Keeps your rig from  bottoming out  on the rear axle  when  over loaded or when  hitting huge potholes and frost heaves  etc.. 

Mark E Dixon wrote:

@Nick and John- what's the advantage of the Timbrens? Any disadvantages?

Would air shocks (which I think is what John is suggesting) be a better choice?

We load up the back with camping gear and pads, but I don't think the overall weight is really that high.

FWIW, we have all our gear in the back, including an exped duo and sheets and blankets (bulky, but way more comfortable than sleeping bags!), and 5 bouldering pads.

Can't see out the back window, but it all fits somehow.

I don't have any specific recommendations for type or brand, just that you will likely want to level the vehicle.   My friends have all their stuff in the back too, and not much travel remains in the rear suspension.  It's already compressed over half-way, so if you hit even a moderate bump, it's gonna bottom-out.  Same problem with cornering.   

I had my Sienna loaded to the gills once. A 6x10 trailer with 2 dirt bikes and 2 quads and all the gear. And 8 people in the van. We were driving up the beach in Pismo after riding in the dunes and everyone was staring at us as we drove out, and we couldn't figure out why. Thankfully before we drove off the sand and onto the asphalt 4 people that we were giving a ride off the beach got out of the van. And I saw a trench in the sand from the trailer hitch that had been dragging all the way back as far as the eye could see.

Gregory H wrote:

Before anyone gets too excited about the 2021 Sienna, a sad note - none of the rear seats are removable...

From Car and Driver: "Those who use their vans for maximum cargo space should note that the second-row chairs are no longer removable due to the addition of side airbags mounted in the seats. "

So the second row is removable in the sense that you use a socket wrench and disconnect the wiring harness for the seat belt and for the airbag as well. Now, without too much research, it seems that results in a flashing light on the dash indicating the 2nd row airbag "malfunction" since it's disconnected. Would be interested to hear if anyone has first hand experience with this.

Nick Goldsmith wrote:

have done absolute shit tonns of off roading in minivans. 

its all about how you approach it!  My best off-road car was my 1976 VW Squareback.  That thing went everywhere from off roading in anza borrego, to some tight driving into Kooteny Lake.

@ Sean- you should check the Toyota Sienna AWD Facebook forum, somebody there is likely to be able to answer your questions.

As a f/u, we bought a 2020 Sienna and had it lifted 3.5 inches. Made a big difference for approach and departure angles. 

Have not pushed the limits at all, but did drive some bumpy roads near the Canadian River at Roys and I was really happy with the improvement from the Odyssey. Once we have decent tires, and a spare, I'm sure it'll be even better.

We still sleep in a tent, so find it convenient to leave the second row seats in place. If we move to sleeping inside, I believe they are easily removable and that'll provide enough room for us. 

Might need to figure out a way to put the bouldering pads on top though. Maybe under a platform...

Glowering. we called this girl Rosie... 

She was on the front of the Astro van. She was Hideous and smelled bad.  we got a lot of stares with her up there. We would forget she was there and be wondering why we were getting the hairy eyeball.  Sometimes  she would even scare us when you looked at her unexpectedly. It was like Oh Shit! I forgot we had  that thing...  ;) 

That’s awesome Nick. Probably a great theft deterrent too. 

I have been car camping in my 2005 sienna for a while, it have space for a full sized mattress, 5” thick, 10” of storage space underneath, and a full pullout kitchen, with so much headroom to spare by the front seats. Maybe will install some cabinets! And it’s still tall enough for my 6’2” climbing partner to sit up straight on the bed. Amazing cars for road tripping, and they drive sooooo smooth. Definitely would recommend 

bump - a hybrid AWD Sienna is now in the running vs an Outback for the next ride

Looking for further insights - we happily tent camp; sleeping inside would be reserved for crappy (windy!) weather and trailhead/walmart bivys, only on occasions. Although we bring a lot of campsite amenities, we currently stuff it all inside a VW sportwagen and prefer not putting stuff on the roof for aero/mpg. Not sure we need the extra ground clearance of an Outback, after-all...

I was really supprised that adding an attic did not hinder fuel economy noticeably?  perhaps that was because the astro is such a bread box to start with? The attic was key! that was all of our climbing and hiking gear. 

If it means anything to you, my buddy comfortably sent it down the rd to black velvet canyon in his sienna last yr

I may have already said it but the Toyota Hybrid system is awesome. Simple. Efficient. Reliable. I watched some youtube videos on how it works and it's ingenious. The tranny/power split device has few moving parts (bomber planetary gears, and a metal band for the CVT). No standard ICE starter to go bad. The engine runs near peak efficiency RPM. 

We are still really happy with our 2020 Sienna with the JOR lift.

It holds an amazing number of pads plus camping/climbing gear

Need to look at the dimensions of a Sienna with the back seats out but I’ve been thinking of getting one and putting in a combo fold down bed platform (folds to around half size to a couch) with a pull-out galley, and hopefully room to carry two gravel bikes when the bed platform is in the folded down position. Have to figure out if it’ll all fit. Any body know?