I'm travelling up the coast of NSW in June and most of the big hire car firms don't appear to offer roof bars. I don't get on with soft racks and therefore have started looking at vans/SUVs. Must have enough space to accommodate two people and a 9'1 to 9'6 longboard. I don't need a camper as we have accommodation sorted out at all stops. Would a Toyota Hiace or Kia Carnival meet the requirements? Anyone on this board own one of these? Thanks in advance and Happy New Year.

mjj

No problems I use to fit a 906 in a mazda3 hatchback

We have a couple of Hiaces for work and yes you would fit those boards in no problems. They also have an insane turning radius as a side note

Hyundai Iload?...

While up in Exmouth we hired a Kia Sportage and I could fit a 10ft board in with the seats down and Mrs in the back seat. Otherwise I used soft-racks.

Hey there...I'd revisit the soft racks. I bought some top quality's ones when I went to Hawaii....they worked a treat. Just practice putting them in before you go.
means you don't have to stress about car types and availability.
ill go get a pic of the ones i used

Try using another single strap on top of the soft racks in front, this will reduce the lifting. Long term soft racks will soften the roof but in a hire car, they're indestructible

Many thanks for all of your replies. One other option I was thinking about is to avoid all the hassle and simply hire a board at my different stops. However, I've yet to find any surf shop in Crescent Head (my first port of call) that hire out boards over 8'4

Just hire a van, they are seriously awesome. Can fit so much stuff in them!