u/cellojoe

Current setup: Toyota Sienna AWD. Works fine but I’m outgrowing it. Ready to upgrade.

I service the Bay Area (SF, Oakland), Napa, Sonoma, Sacramento, and Lake Tahoe — so I’m dealing with everything from dense city parking to mountain passes.

Two options I keep going back and forth on:
Option A: Pickup truck + enclosed trailer
Option B: Ford Transit (or similar cargo van)
For those running the van route — high roof or low roof? I love the idea of being able to stand up and load/unload without contorting myself, but I’m genuinely worried about parking. SF and Oakland have a lot of garages with low clearance. Finding street parking that fits a high roof van in dense neighborhoods sounds like a recurring headache I don’t want.
Questions:
1. Truck + trailer people — do you regret it? Backing into venues, parking in tight lots, disconnecting just to park somewhere… is it worth the flexibility?
2. Van people — high roof owners specifically, how often does clearance actually bite you? Is it manageable or is it a constant thing?
3. Any van models besides Transit worth looking at for this use case? (Sprinter, ProMaster, NV2500, etc.)
4. AWD/4WD matters to me for Tahoe runs in winter — how are you handling that?
Appreciate any input from people actually gigging in metro areas.

Appreciate any insights y’all have!

What’s up, everyone!

I’m considering moving from a packed Toyota Sienna to a Zevo 600 or 400 for my Wedding DJ biz. Am I crazy or is this the ultimate branding play?

I’m a professional musician and wedding DJ/MC based in Northern California. For years, I’ve been cramming a full reception rig, ceremony sound, lighting, and my cello into a 2015 Toyota Sienna AWD. It’s at 176k miles, leaking oil, and I’m definitely pushing the 1,200lb payload limit every weekend.
I’m looking at picking up a Zevo 600 to replace it, and I’d love some feedback from owners on the "work-life" reality of these vans—specifically for the Bay Area market in California.

The Strategy:
• The "Sustainable DJ" Brand: I want to do a full vinyl wrap on the Zevo. In the SF/Oakland market, showing up as a zero-emission entertainer feels like a massive selling point for eco-conscious couples.
• The Space: Going from ~150 cu. ft. in the Sienna to 600+ cu. ft. in the Zevo means I can finally stop playing "Gear Tetris" and move everything into road cases with a ramp.
• The Math: I travel +/~ 300 miles for most gigs. At $0.05/mile (home charging) vs $0.25/mile (gas), are the savings real? Is this estimate accurate? I realize charging at fast chargers would be more and comparable to gas prices.
The Reality Checks I need from you all:

1. Garage Clearance is the big one. Most SF garages are 7'0" (84"). The Zevo 600 is 9'2" (110"). For those who use this for work in dense cities: Do you find loading docks and surface lots are enough, or do you regret losing the ability to park in hotel garages for security?
2. Range in the real world. My round trips can hit 200-400 miles. With a full load of heavy speakers and subwoofers, are you seeing a significant range drop? Also going from the foothills of the sierras to the Bay Area and back again there’s a lot of downhill and uphill on the way back. Will I regret getting an electric van because I’ll be stuck charging for an hour just to get home after a 12 hour day at a wedding?
3. Speed Limiter. I’ve heard rumors these are capped at 65mph. If I'm hauling gear from Nevada City down to San Jose, is that 65mph cap a dealbreaker for long highway stretches?
4. The "Orphan" Concern. With rumors about GM’s production shifts for BrightDrop, are you worried about parts availability or long-term service support?
5. Could I build out a bed and kitchen and sleep in the van with my gear and not have to pay for hotels?

Is this the ultimate "rolling billboard and habitation on the road for a gigging musician/DJ” for a niche biz, or should I stick to a low-roof ICE van that actually fits in a garage and can refuel in five minutes at a gas station?

Would love to hear all your thoughts!
-Joey