hi all, im planning a trip to Cuba Missouri (merramack vally camp resort) its about 120 miles from me, il be going this summer, and i want to take my fiero badly!, but i know il have to pack lightly (my fience and I), i think i can put a few things up front but not sure so....

will fishing pols (standerd length) fit up front if i bent them a lil bit?? (my poles dont come apart), and i was wondering how much stuff i can pack in the rear trunk? i know a full size cooler is out of the question, but il be packing it with normal camping gear, do i have to worry about heat in the back? is the back fully insulated from the motor heat? how hot will it get over a 3 hr stright run?, oh and my kentucky trip comming up soon (5 hr drive), will it be ok if i put a 2 gallon gas can infront, if it was sucured down.

[This message has been edited by 88 forumla (edited 01-27-2005).]

i filled it to the brim, and the front full of crap too. i had a gallon up front. was fine whole trip from phoenix to monterey calif and back.

[This message has been edited by ShaddowGt (edited 01-27-2005).]

The trunk has a minimal heat shield, you shouldn't have a problem unless your muffler or exhaust in that area has a leak that allows hot exhaust gas to impinge the trunk wall. I would recommend that you keep anything that you want to maintain chilled in the front compartment and the rest wherever you want it. You can stuff the trunk as full as you want, but if you have the electric release be sure to keep the latch area clear. I wouldn't recommend more than a hundred or so pounds in the trunk as it might negatively effect car handling.

JazzMan

If you have space in the trunk for a small cooler it will keep things cool. I've got a little 6-pack cooler I use when I'm going places with the Fiero and need to load up with stuff.

I've filled my trunk with stuff on hot summer days and had ZERO problems.

Ed

i routinely fill up my trunk when i buy groceries. never had any sort of problem, except when i accidentally put the bread on the bottom. squish!

I'd keep your aftershave away from the exhaust ....

Just to add to what was said above, don't put any of your fiance's makeup / toiletries in the trunk, wife learn't this the hard way..

You can also put a small suit case on the floor in front of the passanger seat. I've done this cause both the front and back were full. My passanger said it was a nice footrest and made it easier to sleep in the car on the way

Since I drive alone most of the time I pulled the passenger seat and carry a 100qt cooler up front.

JazzMan

I'm moving cross country (Long Island NY, to Las Vegas) tommarrow in a Fiero loaded to the brim. Wish me luck!

Btw, I have packed the trunk so full before, that I had to compress the luggage to get the deck to close. I drove 220 miles, The sleeping bags got quite warm, but nothing worse then that. Have that trusty Fiero extinguisher handy just in case

I had my 88 coupe filled to the brim for a trip to Death Valley and back. Even had a passenger with me. We had a tent, two sleeping bags, two pillows, a portable stove, gas tanks for the stove, a cooler full of meat and other goodies, backpacks full of clothing, gallons of water, numerous bags of chips and other goodies, an air mattress and pump, first aid kits, flashlights, shoes, magazines, books, etc. It was at least a few hundred pounds of extra stuff. Still handled like a dream. I could certainly notice a difference in braking though. That was with the original pads.. I have since replaced them.

-Steven

quote Originally posted by Steven Snyder: gas tanks for the stove -Steven

Folks, this is a guy that likes to live on the edge!

quote Originally posted by Steven Snyder: I had my 88 coupe filled to the brim for a trip to Death Valley and back. Even had a passenger with me. We had a tent, two sleeping bags, two pillows, a portable stove, gas tanks for the stove, a cooler full of meat and other goodies, backpacks full of clothing, gallons of water, numerous bags of chips and other goodies, an air mattress and pump, first aid kits, flashlights, shoes, magazines, books, etc. It was at least a few hundred pounds of extra stuff. Still handled like a dream. I could certainly notice a difference in braking though. That was with the original pads.. I have since replaced them. -Steven

I did this before too. Except I don't usually carry magazines and books when I go campling. But I have carried fishing gear somehow wedged inbetween all the stuff too.

So, yes, I would say it's reasonably safe.

nobody really touched on fishing poles? il probly have to phyisically see for my self, fieros arent really idea vehicles to use to a fishing trip (stink bait...well self explanitory),, so how much stuff will fit upfront?, looks like i loaf od bread will fit on the bottom half of the spair tire, how much clearence does the front hood give 1nce its closed?, sertenly dont want to put anything leaning aginst the radiator., im used to driving a minivan with only 2 front seats so space was never an issue with me., this il be a lil odd.

[This message has been edited by 88 forumla (edited 01-28-2005).]

I misread that at first. Here I was, thinking "How in god's name is he going to drive to Cuba?".

I'm not sure what is safe as far as weight. I know I just stuffed my driver full of parts for the longitudinal swap on the GT. I'm not really sure what I got in there, but it's a lot. I can feel a big difference in the car's handling. I stuffed the passenger side of the car all the way up to the bottom edge of the window. (Cops don't like it when you go to the roof.) The trunk is packed like a UPS truck. All I have left to move down there after this trip will be the headers, block, heads, Trans, and the car itself. Easy trailer load. I guessing the load bias to the passenger side of the car to be about 300 pounds. I left space for a bag in the trunk. I might unload it and move the heaviest items to the left to ballance a bit.

The swap will be done in St. Louis by my brother mostly. I'm not afraid to admit when some things may be just a bit above my ability, so he's getting $500 down, $500 build money for misc. nickle and dime things, and another $1000 when I can drive it. I will be down there on the weekends doings some body and interior work. It's gonna be an interesting car to say the least.

I'm hijacking, aren't I....

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If you haven't already done so, flip the spare tire over so the back side of the rim is up. This allows you to set things down inside the rim. It's not a lot more space, but it's useful. Thats where I carry my spare parts and a small tool kit.

Dave

I pack mine with every space filled tight. In the back just dont put anything really heat sensitive like chocolate or ice cream, lol.

Last Oct, when we had the CFOG-I region 6 get together out here, I saw the rear storage areas of some of the Houston area cars stuffed to the brim for the 400+ -mile trip. I didn't hear of any mishaps, and I know for a fact that Cheever's car carried a big string of plastic pennants, like you see flyinf around a car dealership.

Dunno about your fishing rods. Figured that's why they made removable sunroofs and 2 piece rods for. On my longer one piece rod, I just open the sunroof, angle it in, and let it stick out the top, with the handle down in the left passenger floor next to the center console. Doesn't take up much room if you remove the reel, and it's not much of a discomfort to the passenger either. Kinda suks if you run into a rain storm tho.
You want to remove the reel anyway. Don't want your passenger to accidently hit the spool release and be driving down the road with a triple hooked hula popper lure strung out behind you on 300 feet of 20 lb test spiderwire. Good stuff, but I don't think it will hold that 80,000lb 18 wheeler that just came around you..

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 01-28-2005).]

I've been camping with me & the wife in the Fiero. and yes, the car was STUFFED. the trunk was packed to the top, the spare tire area was loaded with stuff, and the luggage rack on the back was loaded down too. for one extra long camping trip to Shanandoah, I even had a cargo bubble of the roof - fun trip from Detroit to Virginia.

A few years ago, my fiancee and I went on a week's vacation to Cedar Point. Let me tell you, stuffing a week's worth of supplies in a Fiero will use every storage compartment you can find in that car. LOL
We had both trunks stuffed. There was no way that you were fitting anything else in the trunks. We also had the space behind both seats full, and a small dufflebag at the passenger's feet.

Was it cramped? Oh ya.
Would we do it again? In a heartbeat!

i am a computer graphics major ( unfortunatley i have to tak lots of regular art classes) so my trunk is full of about 6 pads of 18x24 paper 3 20x25 boards and 3 tackleboxes full of supplies and so far nothing has burned in fact they dont even get that hot.

Ditto on all the comments above regarding caution with any heat-sensitive items in the trunk.

My wife & I did a road trip out to my family's place last summer, each in our own Fiero. Loaded up the trunks with camping gear, clothing, and other essentials, front compartments loaded with common fix-it-on-the-side-of-the-road tools & parts, one dog in each passenger seat, and a couple of FRS radios.

We averaged about 600km each day at 25-30°C temps, and didn't have any problems with respect to unusual handling with the trunks loaded to the base of the weather seal. The gear in about the top 1/3 of the trunk was good and warm by the end of the day, but we simply made sure not to put anything which was heat sensitive up there.

quote Originally posted by Azriel: I misread that at first. Here I was, thinking "How in god's name is he going to drive to Cuba?".

Only 90 Miles from Key west, should be able to get there with only 1 tank right!

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4.9 Caddy ON CRADLE in Garage! Car in Driveway! ACK!

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that is a really great idea about the spare tire thing!! lol, hey it will help handeling also, not very much, but about as much as the space it provides lol. good idea!!! wish i could rate people.

quote Originally posted by Azriel: I misread that at first. Here I was, thinking "How in god's name is he going to drive to Cuba?".

These guys almost did it.

[This message has been edited by Steve Normington (edited 01-28-2005).]

I would guess that your fishing poles will not fit in either trunk. The
usual size fishing pole is minimum 6 feet long (and as long as 7.5ft).
Remember he said single piece poles. I've found the only way to carry
fishing poles is to have them sticking out the window.

I can't help you on the fishing poles much... Shorter ones may fit inside the cabin if you out them in thru the drivers side. Put them in butt first letting the bottom sit in the passenger foot well and let the pole bend a bit behind the driver's head. I know it isn't ideal to keep a pole bent but for a day or three it shouldn't hurt it as long as it doesn't get really hot and take a set. (Some poles are probably more sensitive to this than others.)

Heat vs. Fumes...

For safety alone avoid putting anything flamable in the back or in front. If it leaks it could become a rolling bomb. You don't need heat directly in the trunk. The fumes leaking into the engine bay or poofing out when you open the trunk can set it off depending on what chemicals are involved. Remember that power deck release grounds thru the latch hardware, which could make a spark when you hit the latch. The switch for the trunk light, either on the latch or pin type, isn't sealed and can make sparks as well. In the right mix many vapors can be set off really easy and with disasterous results.

The front compartment has relays and other things that can be ignition sources for trapped vapor. This compartment isn't all that well sealed off from the passenger compartment and fumes of any sort can easily find their way into the cabin with you. Even if fumes aren't in flamable consentraion they could be toxic enough to knock you out if they don't poison you outright.

Assuming there are no leaks and all the heat shields are in place... I haven't seen my trunk get things very hot. If you have heat sensitive items put them on the rear side of the trunk just in case.

Mass vs. Volume...

You can stuff the trunk solid. The car won't care bout how full it is. The problem is weight. Trunk wheight is behind the axle and very much of it will start to squat the rear. This can affect handling and your headlights. Assuming the lights start off aimed right... If you are driving at night for very long with allot of weight in the back the headlights will aim high. That could blind oncoming drivers and make it hard for you to see the road properly.

If you really have to travel that way you may want to read thru the headlight article in my cave. You only need a couple simple items to aim the lights. You may want to do that even if the car sits normal. Most people have lights that are aimed all over the place. You wouldn't believe how bad small aim errors can affect the lighting.

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The only thing George Orwell got wrong was the year...

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top of every forum page...)

my fiero doesnt have any lights on either the hood or the "hood", no electric poper buttons on my fiero either., i was also wondering, in the front hood where the A/C componets are, do thoes stay cold? if so how cold? and will it hurt if i got things touching them, (or could it be good to kep live fish bait fresh?????)

some of the a/c components are cool to cold (near freezing) and others like the condensor lines can be very hot. the accumulator (aluminum can with hoses going to it) near the passenger side of the car should be cool to cold if your using the a/c. the line coming from the condensor to the orifice valve may be warm to hot. after the orifice valve, the line to the evaperator should be cool to cold. somebody help me here if i screwed that one up... thx

Stuffed full trunk (including my shaving kit) on a 12 hour hard drive to the west coast. Only break the car had was the 2 hour ferry ride across to the island, AFTER the 12 hours, then another 1.5 north on Vancouver Island.

Done it a few times Never had a problem with heat.

I did lose an exhaust tip on my last trip out though So much for my factory original tips, I'll be more careful next time I'm driving it off the ramps after changing the oil.

quote Originally posted by JazzMan: The trunk has a minimal heat shield, you shouldn't have a problem unless your muffler or exhaust in that area has a leak that allows hot exhaust gas to impinge the trunk wall.

JazzMan has a good point. Ask Racingman24 about this...he had a hole in his muffler on the trip home from Wheatstock last year. The hot exhaust gases were blowing back on the trunk...right where his suitcase was. It actually burned his suitcase, and the contents inside. It was funny at the time, but he was extremely lucky. If you had a similar leak, and something flammable in the trunk...it could get ugly, VERY fast...

ive gone reenacting with the fiero, and it's a little crowded. it's ok if it's just me, but when we take it on short day trips, lady lurker's hoop skirt really fills up the passenger side. with 2 uniforms, cartridge belt, haversacks, canteens, groundcloth and tent, sleeping bag (ok, i cheat a little) for cold weather, frying pan and food and some firewood and a folding camp stool. the only real problem is that my 56" springfield rifle is just a bit too long to go in either the front or back. i usually carry that on the passenger side, which lady lurker doesnt care for AT ALL.

you know what taste good, take raw hamburger and flaten out a 3/4lb chunk (like a hambrger) and wrap it in alluminm foil with potatoes and carrots, stick it right in the coals of the fire, turn it ever5mins, 3 times, take it out and eat!! ahhh good!!

This is how much you can fit into the trunk of a Fiero...

How did you get the trellises and bushes to fit? Did you have to cut them up into smaller pieces?

JazzMan

well hell that'ed last me all night!

one thing not to overlook....
the trunk is designed to carry one of the 4 tires off the car, if you get a flat
the full size tire will not fit up front (99% sure on that) a 14" might but i dont think a 15" with 215-60-15 will

i couldnt get a 16x7 RIM (no tire ) up front under the hood

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Rich AIM: ONE FAST 2M8:
98 Black GTP 2 Dr
86se V6
Gold 86se 355 SBC,
92 BMW 325i

hmmm getting a flat would kinda suck, i over looked that lol, thanks man, good looking out.

The spare wheel 2 sizes too small is a real pain in the ass. Easy to put on, hell to get the car jacked up again after it's on. I wouldn't worry about it too much. You have a cell phone right? I avoid driving on those spares. I cringe when I think about what that thing is doing to my car's chassis, hanging one corner down like that.