transport my family and our equipment safely and been able to lock things away when needed on trips in the van. The stow and go on the van allows us to put stuff in the floor. We can turn around the back seat in seconds for tailgate mode for watching movies at the drive in with the backdoor roof over hanging to shield from rain/elements. It essentially is like a covered truck bed with I fold the seats down. I've hauled all sorts of things that surprised me. A barbecue, plywood, lumber, bikes, kayaks, a full sized couch, lawn mower its amazing how much you can fit in there. And i've been able to cart a family of 5 with lots of equipment by folding only some of the seats down. The sliding doors are great for kids because when they open the door they don't hit the people you are parked next to. Easy for pick up and drop off at school. Great for camping. If a young one needed an air mattress in the van to warm up or calm down its a nice space.

Nobody asks me to use my van as a truck for service. If i had a truck i'd feel guilty about not using it when the ward asks for people with trucks. But I haven't come across anything that ive needed that I couldn't fit in the bed of my van. Other than hauling mulch or dirt (i suppose i could put a tarp down but i wouldn't...but you can have that delivered anyways or can order it in bags if its a small job)

I got our minivan for my wife...but i've been impressed by what i've been able to do with it and how much i've enjoyed having it. Just watch a mom who becomes an empty nester and gets rid of the minivan and goes to costco and realizes they have to put groceries in a sedan...its sad. They come out with a load of stuff and somehow have to play tetris in the sedan and cram and shove. When you are used to the convenience of a minivan you struggle going back to the sedan.