[jeff1950]

One of the features of the Metris, that MB is pushing on the TV adds, is the ability to load 4'x8' material.
The only other small van that makes similar claims is the Dodge.
Looking at the Metris brochure I see that it lists 50" between the wheelhouse for the cargo van. But only 47.4" for the passenger van.
For me, the ability to pull out the seats and load up with 4'x8' sheet goods is a major selling point.
Can someone who owns a passenger version check to see if a 48" wide board will fit in the thing side to side between the wheel wells?
This could be a deal killer for someone looking to haul sheet goods once and a while.
Thanks for your help,
Jeff

 

[Greenmanedlion]

It won't fit between the wheelhouses perfectly, but will do so at the slightest of slants, or slightly off the floor (the cargo wall tapers upward). While you won't be able to hold as many 4X8s as in the cargo model, if you put them in at slight slant you can sure hold a lot of them. Thank the metric measurements and the last minute (relatively) to sell them here for that pathetic .6" shortcoming.

 

[jeff1950]

Thank you Greenmanedlion, you are a great help to us prospective buyers. Sure wish the passenger version had that extra .6 inches. No so important for plywood, but I wouldn't want to have sheet rock suspended just by the edges.
All the best,
Jeff

 

[Greenmanedlion]

Certainly not. I'd suggest placing a pair of 36x48" pallets and resting the sheet rock there. Most retail stores have a pile of them in the loading area and lots of them pay to have them removed and will be overjoyed to give you a few.

 

[Rightguard]

Is it possible to take out some of the trim so that plywood will fit?

 

[Greenmanedlion]

Nothing is impossible except skiing through a revolving door.

It is, however, inadvisable.

 

[FloridaNative]

One of the features of the Metris, that MB is pushing on the TV adds, is the ability to load 4'x8' material.
The only other small van that makes similar claims is the Dodge.

Not to pick nits (and I don't actually know who is claiming what), but at least a few sheets of 4x8 will fit flat in either the Honda Odyssey or Toyota Sienna with the middle row seats removed and the rears folded flat.

I can vouch that a 2007 Sienna will definitely hold a few 4x8 sheets flat. The issue is after a few sheets, they will start to hit the bottom of the front seats.

-Mike

 

[Greenmanedlion]

He's talking cargo vans, which the Odyssey and Sienna are not. Run one as a cargo van and it will end in tears, trust me.

 

[MetrisMan]

Oh so close!

This is one of many product suggestions that I have given to the MBUSA commercial van folks in the feedback they asked me to give recently. I would imagine they could find a 1/4 inch on each side to make this happen, in the future products coming out of Vitoria.


Dave the MetrisMan

One of the features of the Metris, that MB is pushing on the TV adds, is the ability to load 4'x8' material.
The only other small van that makes similar claims is the Dodge.
Looking at the Metris brochure I see that it lists 50" between the wheelhouse for the cargo van. But only 47.4" for the passenger van.
For me, the ability to pull out the seats and load up with 4'x8' sheet goods is a major selling point.
Can someone who owns a passenger version check to see if a 48" wide board will fit in the thing side to side between the wheel wells?
This could be a deal killer for someone looking to haul sheet goods once and a while.
Thanks for your help,
Jeff

 

[hank]

MetrisMan thanks for contacting Mercedes about this. It's so far the only feature of the Metris I've been disappointed with since purchase. Sure, there are work arounds, but they could have molded the trim panels a tiny bit different and sheet good would lie flat. I have a few friends with minivans that load 4x8's flat, and it sure is convenient to just slide 3 sheets of drywall in and go when you need to do a little remodeling work on the weekend.

 

[nuketopia]

I'm new here - was looking at the Metris. I sold my old Astro van, which I held for a long time due to its fantastic utility value. It was a passenger model, but with the seats out, it could hold sheet goods pretty easily. But it was getting long in the tooth and was ready to go on to a new owner.

I kind of goofed and got a Transit Connect Wagon (Long wheel base). I thought I'd be happy with it, but it is just too small. I haven't carried sheet goods all that often, but of course, I've needed to a few times in the last few months since picking it up.

I need a van for about 50/50 carrying stuff and occasionally, people. The Metris looks like the astro replacement. But it sounds like the sheet goods are not going to fit in the passenger model, at least not without some rigging. that's better than "never gonna fit" which is my current situation.

Is that the case?

 

[Greenmanedlion]

The way the back is outfitted, plywood sheets will fit if you elevate them an inch or so off the ground- fine for thick plywood, can be a problem with fiberboard, thin plywood, drywall, and so on. But honestly if you are doing 50/50, either buy a minivan (e.g. Dodge Caravan with Stow & Go) or buy a passenger something or other and a Ford E-Series beater.

The Metris can do that, but removing the seats gets old fast. I have my seats reversed (front buckets, 3place bench, 2 place bench) to make it easier to open up a lot of hauling room (also because I nap in the middle row) but for plywood hauling... I wouldn't.

I mean if I needed to go do a run for it because I am doing a house project, it will do it just fine. But I'd hate to do that switch regularly.

The most popular vehicle among flea marketeers who only own one vehicle and have a family is the Dodge Caravan/Chrysler T&C- because when unloaded it takes two minutes to convert from cargo to 7-passenger wagon. Despite the fact that they are mechanically crap and wear out fast.

 

[nuketopia]

Yeah, this would be a second car for me. I normally driver a two-seater roadster. So I need something for hauling stuff and once in a while, extra people.

The Astro was a great all around utility vehicle. I mostly ran around with the seats out of it for the same reasons. It was just getting to the point where it needed to go to someone with a toolbox and the time to work on it. Had a lot of good miles left in it.