I'm not telling you folks anything you don't already know, but it sure is getting expensive to travel to events. Maybe we are heading back to the simpler times, in the book Mr. moto-cross by Torsten Hallman it shows Torsten standing in front of what looks to be a Mercedes with an open trailer in tow, this is what he apparently used for traveling across Europe to MX events.
I was curious to hear if any of you have found a great way to beat the high cost, possibly a vehicle that is great for towing a small trailer that gets super mileage....or something that is a bit unusual that works really well. Might be a great time to get into the three rail trailer business :)
Thanks
Paul
I have always traveled to events with my Honda Element. Used a small trailer or take the front wheel off the OSSA MAR,put the rear seats up and roll it in the back. Small tent or sleep in the back of the Honda. I would rather buy more bikes than fill up a big RV. Now I have better coverage health insurance I will be at more events next year.
Papa Herb used to travel to HS races on his turbocharged BMW sidehack, towing his KTM on an open trailer. I've got a pic of the setup somewhere . . .
At one point my race rig was an '84 Ford Escort and a home built one rail trailer. Of course, the original 1.6L 4sp engine/trans had been swapped out for a 1.9L 5sp, but still, very economical. My motorcycle was worth double what the race rig was worth.
Brian
My truck gets 8 mpg. I picked up a 95 Geo Tracker a while back and put a 2" receiver hitch on it and built my own motorcycle rack. She was sagging a little so I put an air lift system in the springs and she rides great. Plus gets 25 mpg!
Anymore, if I buy a bike or inventory, I usually wait until the seller and I are going to be in the same place or close at the same time to finalize the transaction. No more extra road trips like the old days.:(
I recently bought a 1980 VW Rabbit pickup. I still need to do few things to get it road worth but when I am done, I should have no trouble getting 30-35 MPG I have a friend that has one and thats what he gets, a bit less than that when he adds a small trailer with 3 bikes on it.. It has heavy springs and the 1.9 motor and a 5 speed.. looking forward to going to the races in it, it sure is alot of fun to drive.
Thom Green,Still crazy after all these years!
76' 250 MC5 (orginal owner)
74'250 hare scrambler (project)
74' 1/2 440 maico
78' 440 maico
72' cr125 Husky (project)
93' RMx 250 suzuki
Pick-up truck camping. On dual-sport trips, I'll set up my CP in one of the state park camp grounds that have electricity and showers. I have an inexpensive large tent(I can stand up in it) with cot and take some basic things with me to make things comfortable(like electric fans, etc). I unload the pickup and bike and relax. Its not high-tech backpacking but its cheap accomendations and the state parks are patrolled so its generally safer. Depending on season its not always practical either but when the conditions are ok you can save some money. I grew up loving to camp and then getting away from it when I was in the army. As I've gotten older, I rediscovered it.
I try to offset costs by transporting bikes for others. Helps offset gas prices at the least, and I've met some pretty neet people along the way, a double bonus. [^]
For me a 2006 Scion with a 3 rail bike trailer. Got to love it,towing 3bikes. 29 miles to the gal. Later Gary
I talked to the local FedEx Ground delivery guy a couple of weeks ago when he was by...he was using one of those new Toyota hicube vans (forget the name of it) as a rental while his Sprinter was in the shop for repairs. He loves the Sprinter...5-cyl Mercedes diesel and gets 20-25 mpg. I see used ones on Craigslist here in Kansas City, 2003-2004 or so, in the 10-15K range. Paul Clipper, former Trail Rider editor, had one and loved it, too. Hard to do double duty around town like a Scion, Element, etc., but a nice race rig with plenty of room inside for sleeping while the bike is outside under the EZ-up. If my budget allowed, I'd be looking at one....like I said, if my budget allowed!
Jeff DeBell
I'll ride with Gary!
Mick
And now . . . (as Monty Python used to say) . . . for something completely different.......
From one of my all-time favorite blogs:
http://bringatrailer.com/2011/02/12/bat-exclusive-1951-royal-spartanette-converted-hauler/
No wonder the dude is trying to unload it before he biffs it off a cliff somewhere. Nice pice of machinery though. I will follow up with a more topical post.
For years I traveled to the races in a mini truck with a bike in the back, one ice chest, one gas can, and a 2 person pup tent. Ate a lot of ham sandwiches. Rode to the races in my jeans, raced in them, and rode home wearing them too (with a fresh T shirt). Used to choke on the motorhome generator fumes at night.
If memory serves our own Leroy Winters went to the races for years with his bike in the back of a full size American Station Wagon. He used to stop along the trail & wash his bike in the nearest creek before the finish line so it would be clean enough to load back into the wagon.
Annnnnd...... (drum roll please) the champion econo mizer of all was John Penton - who used to ride his race bike to the enduros, win the overall, and then ride the bike back home again......
Clark
This is an unusaul custom Pinto Hauler! Im sure with Vintage bikes it would get even better fuel mileage!
(//%5BURL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/694/pintohauler.jpg/%5D%5BIMG%5Dhttp://img694.imageshack.us/img694/2683/pintohauler.jpg)[/URL]
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)[/img]
That is amazing, I have often thought that a guy could buy a used little station wagon, like a Toyota or Datsun, put a tow hitch and pull a little trailer and would do pretty well keeping the cost low.
Thom Green,Still crazy after all these years!
76' 250 MC5 (orginal owner)
74'250 hare scrambler (project)
74' 1/2 440 maico
78' 440 maico
72' cr125 Husky (project)
93' RMx 250 suzuki
Quotequote:Originally posted by OhioTed
Papa Herb used to travel to HS races on his turbocharged BMW sidehack, towing his KTM on an open trailer. I've got a pic of the setup somewhere . . .
Papa Herb's rig was awesome!
We have a motorhome and an enclosed trailer that we take to the races, but just in case it becomes too costly for us to continue to use, I have a mini pickup, and also a three rail trailer that we can pull behind Toni's Jeep.
Here are some interesting ideas that riders have come up with to transport their bikes:
(http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/1908/22959225.jpg)
(http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/2414/65135171.jpg)
(http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/2071/25820314.jpg)
(http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/6909/37760930.jpg)
(http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/6019/28809308.jpg)
(http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/7639/53075761.png)
(http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/5544/23939604.jpg)
(http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/4931/85934637.jpg)
(http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/7706/10465467.jpg)
(http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/1741/15497151.jpg)
(http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/918/20982342.jpg)
(http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/7333/52508589.jpg)
(http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/2885/48110969.jpg)
Built in 1967 by Ed Roth, this bike hauler was called "Captain Pepsi's Motorcycle and Zeppelin Repair". The name was later changed to "Mega Cycle".
(http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/9232/25471513.jpg)
(http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/1306/72629353.jpg)
(http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/9821/42104181.jpg)
(http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/1566/11827328.jpg)
Gary
My brother hauled his first bike, a 1968 BSA Victor 441 to enduros in the trunk of his 1968 Camaro SS. He didn't take anything off the bike and didn't scratch up the car. Wish I had a picture of it!
Mick
The VW bus brought back memories. I forgot that was an early hauler of mine. It was an older model than the one shown. I put twin carbs and a race cam in mine, though. Ran pretty good. My bike would fit in diagonally but just barely.
Lew Mayer
a guy I use to work with, use to haul his dirt bike in his International scout. The front wheel would come off and they would put the bike in so that it fit between the front seats, then all the camping gear went in around him and his girl friend. I think he had a jeep can for the gas but other than that, everything fit inside. Amazing to see the scout with a hard top going down the road cramed to the top with a bike, people and gear.:D
Thom Green,Still crazy after all these years!
76' 250 MC5 (orginal owner)
74'250 hare scrambler (project)
74' 1/2 440 maico
78' 440 maico
72' cr125 Husky (project)
93' RMx 250 suzuki
I also had a '78 VW "Champagne Edition" bus which I converted to in-line Volvo power in the summer of '83. It had 186,000 miles on it when I traded for a Ford van. 125 water-cooled hp with two 30,000 btu heaters, 4,000 rpm in 4th gear was 80 mph straight up. I used to load my BSA B50 thru the side door with front wheel and fender removed. In no time it was ready to ride at various rallys we attended back in the day. Thanks for reminding me of the old "Volvolkski," it was a unique vehicle, and tons of fun.
WOW, lots of interesting pictures and comments... :)
For my part, I am looking to put a trailer hitch on our Subaru Outback and use it as much as possible, I am curious to see how it handles the little Hi Point....
Some of the pictures and comments reminded me of the guy that Augie and I saw at Daytona about 20 years ago. The guy had a Honda Goldwing with a sidecar type setup that allowed him to haul his absolutely beautiful BSA B33 with him, the rig and the BSA were all top notch.
Paul
There used to be a guy here in Minnesota that raced local district motocross. He had a Honda Goldwing with a hitch on it and he would pull his motocross bike to the races behind it on a little single rail trailer. I always thought that was a great (and economical) way to get to the races. It certainly made me do a double take the first time I saw it!
"Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
I keep thinking about this topic and have been looking around at the various (lack of...) options. I just cry when I average 12 mpg while pulling my enclosed (steel frame) trailer to races with the Mountaineer. Not that I have the money, but "if I had a million dollars...":
The Ford Transit seems interesting (22-24 mpg with an I-4 gasoline engine), other than I just don't get why its not offered with a diesel option.
http://www.ford.com/trucks/transitconnect/
Question - 6 foot bed - will that work with bikes?
I'll bet Europeans have all kinds of options in this segment. With DIESELS.
Other than the Transit and the Mercedes mentioned early in this thread, I guess the next consideration would be an ultralite (aluminum frame)trailer towed behind a smaller vehicle. Or a small pickup. The Toyota Tacoma w/ 4 cylinder at 22 mpg is the highest rated vehicle in this segment.
Sigh...."fill 'er up."
DDon't know if this has been mentioned yet but it can help considerably and that is simply slowing down. When you do the math, you have to drive for a long while at the higher speeds to gain a real time advantage. When you factor in the stress and fear over a speeding ticket from "the man", the lower mileage, etc, its not worth it. Add a bit more time, get your favorite music, drive at the limit or a bit under and check your mileage performance. I'm a patrol officer and the speeds that I measure motorists driving at in residentail access roads, not to mention highways are unbelievable. The drivers are stressed, they accelerate and brake like its a racetrack while they are on that all important cell phone. You can save a lot of money by simply slowing down a bit and arriving just a little later.
I think I read a report on the Transit and it's too small for bikes.
You might get ONE in. I thought about one too until I read about the short dimensions. One bike is just not worth it. Plus it won't even take a 4x8 sheet.
Lew Mayer
I too was interested in the Transit . . . till I actually walked up beside one and peered inside. Carrying one bike would require removing the passenger seat. OR you MIGHT get two bikes in behind the seats by removing front wheels and front fenders.
Still searching for an Astro replacement. My Astro has about 130,000 miles and is still behaving in a civilized manner . . . so I have a little time yet to find a bike hauler.
Ed
Keep the rubber side down!
I can get 3 bikes in my S 10 pick up, doesn't leave room for anything else, but it can be done, and you have to leave the tailgate down.
Not sure who makes a reasonable aluminum bike hauler trailer, or what the cost setback might be. But for economy, checkout an old-school fiberglass on frame Hi Point trailer if you can find one...
http://pentonusa.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12273&SearchTerms=hi,point
Mine at 14' (with tongue) hauls 3 bikes and room for gear with no problem, weighs around 1300 lbs even with dual axles. Best part is the width which fits two bar widths side to side, even will take a bunk across the front that will sleep a six-footer if needed.
My wimpy V6 pulls it loaded in OD, a strong 4cyl should too as long as no mountain passes to tackle.