I'm going to be moving to Virginia this summer where I plan to take all of the necessary steps of becoming a legitimate home business. I'm also going to purchase a vehicle that I intend to use for cake deliveries. My question to those of you who deliver is, what kind of vehicle do you use? What would you suggest I look for in a vehicle that you wouldn't do without? (hatchback, seats that fold down, size, etc.) Thanks!!

To trave with a cake... the best spot is as low to the ground as possible, flat space of course, and at the center most point of the vehicle. Just make sure ifi t has fold down seats, then do lay flat. There are a lot of vehicles that dont.

Also, you want something with a smooth ride... so stay away from anything with a "sports car suspension" or any SUV that has 4 wheel drive (unless it can be switched to a softer suspension. Most trucks/ sporty cars, are just very stiff.

Hope this helps!!

I bought the vehicle I wanted, not needed... a Toyota FJ Cruiser. It does have a cargo door, as it is an SUV. The back is completely flat.

oh yeah and a vehicle that you can slide things in and out of is handy... you dont want something that you would have to put cakes "into" like the motion of putting something into a car trunk. Sliding in and out just makes things a lot easier on you, as well as just being able to get a good grip under a cake.

i have a subaru outback wagon and i love it.

I have a Ford Edge and I love it, smooth ride and plenty of flat cargo room!

I have a Mini Cooper Clubman - the seats fold down completely flat and it's massive inside really. I can fit a 5 tier cake in if the topper is not too tall (I've only done this with a dummy cake, I couldn't lift a 5 tier on my own).

We just got a Toyota Rav4, haven't made any deliveries in it yet but it looks to be much more convenient than a sedan, and tons of flat space in the back with fold-down seats.

I have a Tahoe....the back is completely flat.....I put down the rubber shelf liner. to keep things from sliding and keep the cake as close to the middle of the car as possible.

I'm glad this thread started up as I'm in the process of trading in my truck on a cake delivery vehicle and I could use some ideas too.

I've been looking at the Hyundai Sante Fe, Toyota Rav4 and the Suzuki Grand Vitara. They all seem to have plenty of cargo space along with enough vertical space for a 4 or 5 tiered cake. Plus I'm looking for something with good gas mileage! After driving a Dodge Ram 1500 that gets 12 miles to the gallon (plus the rising fuel costs), I need something that doesn't suck down gas like crazy.

@ Aprilismaius - a friend of mine suggested the Suburu Outback since he had one and loved it but does it have a lot of vertical space?? I know it's fairly wide in the back but the vertical clearance concerns me as I have to deliver a fair number of tiered cakes. I haven't gone to look at one yet, but if it has the vertical clearance, it would definitely be something I would be interested in.

Anyone else want to chime in on this?

We have a Toyota Rav 4 and a Honda CRV. Both excellent for cake deliveries.

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-706040-leather.html

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-676311-leather.html

I have a Toyota matrix, has plenty of room in the back and the seats fold down flat as-well,

I wanted a van and had a deposit on one when it got sold out from under us. The only other vehicle that I looked at is what we purchased a Chrysler PT Cruiser. It is perfect for everything. It is great height in the back hatch and everything is flat.. the seats either move up down or flat. Even the passenger seat fold flat. It has a shelf that fits in the back also you can put cakes under and above. I can fit everything and the supply's.
I am also currently in a wheelchair and on oxygen. It fits the wheelchair or my mini little scooter in the back and the cake in the middle with no problems at all It has been the most perfect vehicle without being too high to put things in and out.
We purchased liners that go under rugs (between throw rugs & carpet) they are 2x4 and I have enough to go under everything nothing moves..
So besides being totaly perfect for everything.. its just Cute!

I have a Honda Pilot and love it, i put shelf liner down in the back, never had any problems, it drives smooth and i have had a six tier cake in it before.

I have a ford expedition, LOVE how easy it is to deliver cakes in this! It's roof is high enough for those cakes that are assembled then delivered (usually I keep those a short a distance as possible!) I alway try and have a driver so I can sit in the back and keep a close eye on the cake, and it never hurts to have something to keep butted up or as close as possible to the base of the cake board, for those times you have to stop quickly...lets face it sometimes they are unavoidable! And I would never go for a vehicle that didn't have ac in the back that is mounted from the roof, so you can position where you want the air to go! Good luck!

You have all given me lots to think about!!! I had my eye on a GMC Terrain, but the seats don't fold flat. I also like the Toyota FJ, but at this point that's strictly an asthetic thing. I guess I'll have to start a list and physically check the vehicles out before I make a final decision. Thanks to all!

We just got a Mazda 5. The seats fold flat and it's lower to the ground then the SUV's (rides smoother) and has better gas mileage than the smaller suvs. We were shopping for a small suv with a 3rd row seats and my must have was fold flat seats/cargo area. When we went to the Mazda dealership to see the CX9 and mentioned that we were a little worried about the gas mileage, we were shown the 5. When test driving it, it really rode smoother than the suvs we had had tested. The cost and the savings in gas sold us. I don't love the look, but all the other pros outweighed that. And I've found the sliding doors to be handy - don't have to worry about then flying open or trying to squeeze a cake box in the smaller door opening. It starts in the low $20's and we got the fully loaded one for about $25K.

I'm an old fuddy-duddy. We have a Chrysler Town and Country with stow and go seats and automatic doors and back lift. Fits my cakesafes perfectly and we have dual temp controls so we can keep the back nice and chilly and
not need parkas

I love my little Mazda 5 and it is great on gas! It's like a "mini", mini van!

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/sem.action?term=mazda5&vehicleCode=MZ5&providertag=MazdaSEM&servicetag=T1MZ50312012&sem=1&s_kwcid=TC|21354|mazda%205||S|e|8291140672

I use shelf liner in the back too. At Home Depot, they have this heavy duty shelf liner that is double or more thickness. I think it only comes in black. I stacked plastic under bed containers with this liner in between and on the bottom. Nothing moves during the ride.

You just have to check out jillmakescakes blog for her bakery's delivery van! Be sure to scroll down to see the back!

http://indycakes.blogspot.com/2010/10/our-new-delivery-vehicle.html

I did the back window of my SUV like that. I hired a graphic artist and it looks incredible. It is solid form the outside and I can see through it from the inside. It is a huge attention-getter.

I have Toyota Rav 4....... Love it.

I live in Virginia and use my Toyota Matrix and Toyota Rav-4 and haven't had any problems with either. I have a huge box my hubby converted and lined with foil to transport my tiered cakes and it fits pefectly in both.

I have a Volvo wagon which is great for deliveries. It's the larger of the two wagon styles, though, they make a small one that I wouldn't get because there's not as much space in the back.

I have a Honda Pilot and love it. The back is perfectly flat and they have an cargo accessory that is like a heavy duty bed liner. Set a cake on there and it's not going anywhere

I like that the vehicle is higher so it's the perfect height - no bending over to get cakes in and out which really saves your back. It also has nice height so you can get some really tall cakes back there

i have a dodge grand caravan is a store and go seats, has lots of space plus in the middle has some more storage under the seats (is like a secret compartment) that you can use for your tools, that is what i use it for, and i am an suv person and just to say i am not a soccer mom i do not want a van , but now i am eating my words i fell in love with this one!