Burning1
I'm scareoused!
Sorry if my post is confusing... We don't have a $15K budget. Vehicle would be for occasional use only, so the less spent the better. 
Our last track hauler was $600.
Our last track hauler was $600.
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What do I need to know about hauling with a Minivan?
- Thread starter Burning1
- Start date
Oh I see ; |
Good thing about cheap cars, specially those in the $4000 and below range, is that you can re-sell for exactly the same amount you bought them for if not make money on them. A $600 track hauler is likely to be a POS and cost you in break downs. What you need is a Ninja Hauler.. and replace your daily with it
Good thing about cheap cars, specially those in the $4000 and below range, is that you can re-sell for exactly the same amount you bought them for if not make money on them. A $600 track hauler is likely to be a POS and cost you in break downs. What you need is a Ninja Hauler.. and replace your daily with it
Burning1
I'm scareoused!
Awesome.
Cycle61
What the shit is this...
Chris, I was gonna post the minivan pictures but you got it first.
My current race hauler is a Honda Prelude with a $400 harbor Freight trailer. What do you currently have for a cage and could it reasonably pull a 900# trailer?
P. S. We get 26mpg combined with the trailer and two bikes loaded.
My current race hauler is a Honda Prelude with a $400 harbor Freight trailer. What do you currently have for a cage and could it reasonably pull a 900# trailer?
P. S. We get 26mpg combined with the trailer and two bikes loaded.
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Coyote
Member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2002
- Location
- Redwood Road
- Moto(s)
- 2008 R6, 2021 KTM 450SMR, 2010 KTM 450 EXC, and 2006 KX65 Minimoto
- Name
- Neil
Saw a guy with one of those new Ford Transits and sadly it only fit one R6 diagonally. I think the Odessy is the way to go. It's gotta have better fuel economy than older larger vans. Plus with one of those aftermarket fuel mapping chip modifications you might find a solution for even better fuel economy while hauling to and from track.
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Burning1
I'm scareoused!
Current vehicle is a 4 cyl Mazda 6 automatic, with no tow rating... And My BMW.
Cycle61
What the shit is this...
Your Mazda would probably be okay. The automatic worries me a bit, as somebody else mentioned above.
abhijitz
Radiuz
Chris - How old is your car? If its a 200k+ mile beater like my commuter Civic then i wouldnt take the risk. As i was mentioning, US do not rate the sedans for towing. Check any Europe/Australia/Asia forum/ dealer websites, sedans are very well rated for towing (the site i posted above lists it).
Plus, you are only towing 2 bikes (~ 800lb) and a trailer (~400lb) .. Thats 1200lb with a tongue weight of 100lb maybe ? As long as you dont hammer on to the gas pedal & "coast" like the Prius the auto transmission would still be fine for Infineon/Thill/Laguna. Morever you not climbing mountains or crossing steep grades. This is very well discussed & debated in Honda Civic UK forum.
I still hate doing 60mph and driving at 55mph on the I-5 stretch crossing Colusa county (got a ticket last year for whooping 638$ for driving at 62 trying to pass a trailer
) and would eventually look for a manual tranny pickup.
Plus, you are only towing 2 bikes (~ 800lb) and a trailer (~400lb) .. Thats 1200lb with a tongue weight of 100lb maybe ? As long as you dont hammer on to the gas pedal & "coast" like the Prius the auto transmission would still be fine for Infineon/Thill/Laguna. Morever you not climbing mountains or crossing steep grades. This is very well discussed & debated in Honda Civic UK forum.
I still hate doing 60mph and driving at 55mph on the I-5 stretch crossing Colusa county (got a ticket last year for whooping 638$ for driving at 62 trying to pass a trailer
) and would eventually look for a manual tranny pickup.
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Cycle61
What the shit is this...
230k mile beater Honda.
abhijitz
Radiuz
Burning1
I'm scareoused!
We were considering towing with the Mazda, and even quoted out a hitch. The automatic was a concern for us. To be honest, right now we have one car and 4 bikes between the two of us. Makes some sense to consider a 2nd vehicle, that's suited for track duty.
aram
New member
Like someone said before, look into an Astro. Probably can buy a decent one for 3k or so. Either that or some older SUV with a trailer should be really cheap or an older chevy truck would work ok too and those are usually pretty reliable.
ajsilver
Nutter
I have a VW Eurovan and it does a great job. Low tailgate so easy to load. Holds 2 bikes with ease. Bikes roll into Baxley Sport Chock. Tie down anchor points at front seats. Plus if I want, I can pop the top and camp at the track. I got an awning attached to mine so no schlepping an EZ-UP. I have a 12v gas pump so I can refuel my bikes from the gas tank of the van - so no need to carry gas cans. Actually, I've owned two Eurovans - the first was a 1993 (with the inline 5 cyl motor) and my current one is a 2001 (V6 motor). Free advice - get the V6 (200-2003) - Pics below...
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EastBayDave
- Kawasaki Fanatic -
I have a "Town & Country" Caravan & it works great for just 1 bike & gear. It's also big enough to sleep in for 2 air mattresses side-by-side. Cost me $6.5K couple years ago & would sell it today for $3.5K (high mileage/a few problems), if I had to. Like it an awful lot.
Back in the day I had a 1-ton GMC delivery van. We put a maximum of 4 bikes & gear in there for a AFM meet, carried all bikes & gear easily. Couple bodies in chase cars. Sold for a song in 88' w/230K on v-8 350 that ran good. I still miss the old van, never had a problem.
I also have a home built moto-x style trailer w/2 rails built on a large boat trailer. Wood deck/no side rails. I'd let it go for $300 firm if anyone wants...
Back in the day I had a 1-ton GMC delivery van. We put a maximum of 4 bikes & gear in there for a AFM meet, carried all bikes & gear easily. Couple bodies in chase cars. Sold for a song in 88' w/230K on v-8 350 that ran good. I still miss the old van, never had a problem.
I also have a home built moto-x style trailer w/2 rails built on a large boat trailer. Wood deck/no side rails. I'd let it go for $300 firm if anyone wants...
scotinexcile
New member
hitman5532
The Anti-Squid
Use the van to tow a HF trailer
I find the added security offered by a trailer and or van to be a significant benefit. As was suggested an Astro van is a good choice. Here is a $1900 7 person van available on CL.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/3096515827.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/3096515827.html
hillaustin
New member
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2011
- Location
- San Mateo, CA
- Moto(s)
- 02 KTM 400 SM(street), 08 Ninja 250r(race)
- Name
- Austin
I'm actually in the same situation as you, except I don't own a car. I've been looking for about six months now so I'll fill everyone in on what I've found. I'm very concerned about mpg as gas is a major cost in racing. One thing I've learned is that America is against high mpg vehicles.
All mpg figures are highway.
Trailer - If you already have a car and you can easily store a trailer, then you should definitely get one. An enclosed trailer will prevent theft as well as damage from the elements. All cars can tow, just look at the european ratings for the limits. If I had a place to store a trailer I would be pulling it with a VW TDI. You'll have to be concious of the weight, there are very few lightweight aluminum trailers. Remember the 55mph speed limit and the extra axle on toll roads. It's also a hassle parking and backing up.
Minivans - I don't think of minivans as an option because their mpg is terrible...low 20s, with very limited cargo space. That's not worth it at all. For such a small van I expect nothing less than 30mpg+, but only the newest models do that. Plus loading/unloading a minivan takes twice as long as any other vehicle. Windscreen has to be removed or fairings taken off. Dirt/supermoto bikes require a small front wheel in order to fit. Anchoring the front down to make the bike fit is bad for your fork seals.
Sprinter 2000-2006 - Upfront cost ~$15k...the high roof only gets ~23mpg and maintenance costs are high. Low roof models can get ~25mpg+. 2007+ are all low 20s. The lwb version is ~23ft+ long and needs two parking spaces, but 14ft cargo length. the mwb version can be parked in most spaces at 19ft with 11ft cargo length.
Astro/Safari - An Astro/Safari is a good compromise for a smaller van that's bigger than a minivan. Low 20s mpg and decent cargo space. I had a similar size in Japan and could fit two bikes, but had to place my gear all around the bikes, scratching up the fairings... Plus you have to wait for the exhaust to cool or you'll burn something. There are SWB, normal WB, and extended versions. 1985-1994 get better mpg.
GMC/Chevy 1985-1994 - A longer van with low 20s mpg is a 1985-1994 v6, conversion, Starcraft, Vandura, G1500/G2500, G10,G20. Most are V8 with < 17mpg, but if you can find athe v6, you're in luck. There are also some high roof models, which are awesome, but it's rare to find a v6. The cargo area is a little longer than an Astro, but the increased height is worth it. Certain years get better mpg, late 80s get 1-2mpg better than early 90s.
Toyota Van 1983-1988 - 80s Toyota vans get the highest mpg at 25+, but the rear door opening is only 4ft tall and there's 7ft to the rear door behind the seats. It feels cramped inside and pretty narrow, like a minivan.
Dodge/Ford - All dodge/ford vans get terrible gas mileage, < 17mpg.
GMC/Chevy 1995+ - I've seen some get 20, but mostly < 18mpg.
VW Eurovans - are nice with the poptop someone just showed, but only 20mpg and the poptop versions are way overpriced. Plus it's common for the transmission to need to be rebuilt every so often.
VW Vanagon/Bus < 1992 - Not an option, they have an engine in the rear so there's a huge hump, plus the rear door is maybe 3ft tall.
Vintage van - A really cool option would be a vintage ford/chevy van from the 1960s, they get 20mpg but you'd have to do some custom work to the transmission to be able to cruise easily at 65mph. Normally you're looking at 55mph.
Trucks - Terrible mpg, bike/gear susceptible to theft and the elements. Cargo space is too small. Trucks are are only good at hauling large trailers.
Step/Box van - ~10mpg
I think I covered everything, I hope that's not too much info!
All mpg figures are highway.
Trailer - If you already have a car and you can easily store a trailer, then you should definitely get one. An enclosed trailer will prevent theft as well as damage from the elements. All cars can tow, just look at the european ratings for the limits. If I had a place to store a trailer I would be pulling it with a VW TDI. You'll have to be concious of the weight, there are very few lightweight aluminum trailers. Remember the 55mph speed limit and the extra axle on toll roads. It's also a hassle parking and backing up.
Minivans - I don't think of minivans as an option because their mpg is terrible...low 20s, with very limited cargo space. That's not worth it at all. For such a small van I expect nothing less than 30mpg+, but only the newest models do that. Plus loading/unloading a minivan takes twice as long as any other vehicle. Windscreen has to be removed or fairings taken off. Dirt/supermoto bikes require a small front wheel in order to fit. Anchoring the front down to make the bike fit is bad for your fork seals.
Sprinter 2000-2006 - Upfront cost ~$15k...the high roof only gets ~23mpg and maintenance costs are high. Low roof models can get ~25mpg+. 2007+ are all low 20s. The lwb version is ~23ft+ long and needs two parking spaces, but 14ft cargo length. the mwb version can be parked in most spaces at 19ft with 11ft cargo length.
Astro/Safari - An Astro/Safari is a good compromise for a smaller van that's bigger than a minivan. Low 20s mpg and decent cargo space. I had a similar size in Japan and could fit two bikes, but had to place my gear all around the bikes, scratching up the fairings... Plus you have to wait for the exhaust to cool or you'll burn something. There are SWB, normal WB, and extended versions. 1985-1994 get better mpg.
GMC/Chevy 1985-1994 - A longer van with low 20s mpg is a 1985-1994 v6, conversion, Starcraft, Vandura, G1500/G2500, G10,G20. Most are V8 with < 17mpg, but if you can find athe v6, you're in luck. There are also some high roof models, which are awesome, but it's rare to find a v6. The cargo area is a little longer than an Astro, but the increased height is worth it. Certain years get better mpg, late 80s get 1-2mpg better than early 90s.
Toyota Van 1983-1988 - 80s Toyota vans get the highest mpg at 25+, but the rear door opening is only 4ft tall and there's 7ft to the rear door behind the seats. It feels cramped inside and pretty narrow, like a minivan.
Dodge/Ford - All dodge/ford vans get terrible gas mileage, < 17mpg.
GMC/Chevy 1995+ - I've seen some get 20, but mostly < 18mpg.
VW Eurovans - are nice with the poptop someone just showed, but only 20mpg and the poptop versions are way overpriced. Plus it's common for the transmission to need to be rebuilt every so often.
VW Vanagon/Bus < 1992 - Not an option, they have an engine in the rear so there's a huge hump, plus the rear door is maybe 3ft tall.
Vintage van - A really cool option would be a vintage ford/chevy van from the 1960s, they get 20mpg but you'd have to do some custom work to the transmission to be able to cruise easily at 65mph. Normally you're looking at 55mph.
Trucks - Terrible mpg, bike/gear susceptible to theft and the elements. Cargo space is too small. Trucks are are only good at hauling large trailers.
Step/Box van - ~10mpg
I think I covered everything, I hope that's not too much info!
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So I've been using a 1999 toyota sienna v6 as an all around track-hauler for the past couple years, and its done really well for me so far. MPG is somewhere around 22-25mpg freeway going 75-80. It is nice to have everything inside and not worry about people messing with the bikes/gear, plus it serves as a tent for camping as well. Here are a couple quirks that must be considered though:
-windscreen must come off on any bike I've hauled (cbr, gsxr, r1, sv650, ninja 650)
-race plastics may need lower removed because it sometimes interferes with coming up over the rear bumper (I think a wedge shaped piece of would inside could easily remedy this)
-tie-downs with canyon dancers is quite easy to where the van seats are anchored, and for ease of loading baxley chocks work great
-some bikes are a bit longer than others and if you're tall, you may be slightly cramped in the front seat if you have to move it forward (this is with two bikes, otherwise passenger seat can go forward as needed and driver's seat can remain the same)
-standard bikes will be a bit of a hassle to get in due to clearance of the handlebars, somebody must either sit on the bike to get it past the top clearance, or tilt the bike about 30 degrees to enter the rear
Overall I'm happy for what it is, I can still fit a couple stands, tires, gear, fuel cans etc with two bikes in the van. Canopy and cooler may have to be tied down on top, but I've fit them before with two bikes as well, just takes a little finesse. The sienna btw has over 300k miles, passed smog a few months ago, and still no major issues FWIW. Any other questions feel free to ask.
-windscreen must come off on any bike I've hauled (cbr, gsxr, r1, sv650, ninja 650)
-race plastics may need lower removed because it sometimes interferes with coming up over the rear bumper (I think a wedge shaped piece of would inside could easily remedy this)
-tie-downs with canyon dancers is quite easy to where the van seats are anchored, and for ease of loading baxley chocks work great
-some bikes are a bit longer than others and if you're tall, you may be slightly cramped in the front seat if you have to move it forward (this is with two bikes, otherwise passenger seat can go forward as needed and driver's seat can remain the same)
-standard bikes will be a bit of a hassle to get in due to clearance of the handlebars, somebody must either sit on the bike to get it past the top clearance, or tilt the bike about 30 degrees to enter the rear
Overall I'm happy for what it is, I can still fit a couple stands, tires, gear, fuel cans etc with two bikes in the van. Canopy and cooler may have to be tied down on top, but I've fit them before with two bikes as well, just takes a little finesse. The sienna btw has over 300k miles, passed smog a few months ago, and still no major issues FWIW. Any other questions feel free to ask.