Reverting Back to Haul Mode

May 7, 2019

Throughout our vehicle-owning history, I have always tested the capability of our vehicles.  This is oftentimes against the rational nature of my better half.  I found myself testing the fuel tank capacity of our past conventional gasoline engine, the weight limit of our small pickup truck bed, and the internal cargo carrying capacity of our sedan.  I'm always trying to stretch the envelope.  Regrettably,  the envelope sometimes breaks.

We saw our first Tesla Model S in the Costco parking lot.  The owner was packing every nook and cranny of the inside with groceries he had just purchased.  It was amazing how much he could store.

We always had station wagons, mini-vans, or hatchbacks, which permitted ample hauling capacity.  When we bought the Tesla Model S, our expectations were that the haul habit would be behind us.  Or at least we could borrow the hatchback in a pinch.  But old habits tend to creep back upon you.

On Sunday we "had" to trek down to Leider's Nursery to insure that we have the correct flower colors for the front step pots and the rear patio planters.  I didn't think that we would be returning with as much plant material as we did.  With our understanding of the Model S's capability, it was the right vehicle to take.  But I also needed to get several bags of mulch.  Would there be enough room?

Well, no.  See the picture of the filled Model S just prior to the return trip.

Both of the rear seat were folded down to extend the haul space.  Ferns occupied the rear seat space behind the passenger while Geraniums occupied the rear space behind the driver.

Glad to report that the plants, the driver and passenger, and the vehicle made the return trip safely and with no degradation.

But I was not quite done yet.  I did not get the mulch.

So, today I proceeded to visit the local Big-Box Home Goods store to buy mulch and a few pieces of wood.  The wood was to repair the Cedar deck stairs.  It seems that 15 years is pretty much the limit of untreated cedar in Northern Illinois.  I knew that I would need to use the front passenger seat, so I took this trip solo.

The shopping trip included:

     5 bags of Red Cedar mulch (2 Cu. Feet bag), 

     2 - 2" by 4"s, 10 feet long cedar dimension lumber, and

     9 - 2" by 6"s, 8 feet long cedar dimension lumber 

Purchased and ready to be hauled home.  Loading the mulch was first, creating a padded base for the wood.  Next came the long 10 foot planks.  But the 10 foot cedar lumber is the maximum limit of the Model S's interior.  Padding was a necessity.  The Nine 2" by 6" by 8 foot cedar planks were judiciously placed so as to not chafe the interior and to distribute the weight.  Our roads after Winter are still in bad shape, so the ride is rough and tends to bounce. Flying cedar planks was not desired.

And here is the haul picture from today.

Made it.  Didn't even have to use the frunk.  The Model S is both a performance vehicle and a hauler.

And the aroma of Cedar is wonderful!