Van

[A440A@aol.com]

Susan writes: 
> I traded the extremely faithful but aging ('87, 163k) Toyota Tercel
>5-door hatchback in on a newer ('93, 55k) Corolla wagon!

    I have one of these. For me, it is the perfect car/action carrier.   I
have built a platform in the back compartment that is about 8 inches high. It
is divided into two compartments, one for the back-up tools, and another for
the stringing equipment.  On the front of this compartment, I have a lip that
holds a sliding board. This board stores on the top of the platform, and has
two "legs" on the front of the same height.  When I need to carry an action, I
lower the left back seat and the sliding board moves forward to form an "L"
shaped platform upon which to place the action.  I then clamp the action to
the platform with two wooden cam clamps.  
    I did this because I no longer carry actions around by hand, but rather,
have a lightweight, folding, German-built hand-truck, ( It folds down to about
1 1/2" thick).  I can roll the action up to the back of the car with the
handtruck facing the platform, rest the handle on the bumper, pick up the
bottom end of the action, and slide it in.  This allows me to never have to
lift more than half of the action at a time.  
     I can't believe how long I wrestled actions in and out of an older Datsun
B-210.  (well, actually, I can. That little car went 158K miles!) 
    If you keep fresh oil in that Toyota, and make sure the timing belt is
changed at 65K intervals, it will last many years. 
Regards, 
Ed Foote