Thoughts on buying/building a trackday van

[PrincessFalafal]

I've been motorcycle-only for many years now, but it makes the prospect of trackdays increasingly complicated. Renting a truck or van for a weekend easily runs over $400 with mileage costs.

So I'm thinking of buying a cargo van and kitting it out to be a cheap-ish trackday camper. Doesn't need too much, just room for a cot, gear, tools and my trackbike. I'm trying to keep the initial buy under $5k, which has me looking at mid-2000s vans such as E-150/250s and Chevy Expresses.

Those of you who have built out a trackday van before, what are your thoughts looking back? What would you spend a bit extra on, vs what isn't worth spending money on?

 

[Caddywumpus]

There's a f150 for 6k on sale here. Has a lift

 

[PrincessFalafal]

There's a f150 for 6k on sale here. Has a lift

I did see that, but if I'm going to spend money on a vehicle I think a van offers many more advantages (especially as I won't be driving it every day as a commuter or something, so the downsides of driving a giant gas-guzzling land whale aren't as negative).

 

[cheez]

The current hotness are the high-top Mercedes Sprinter-style vans. Ford Transit, Dodge Ram ProMaster, Nissan NV Cargo, etc. Several friends have them (mostly the Ford Transit) and have added fold-down bunk, M/C chocks, etc. to them with little effort. Seems pretty straightforward- you buy a blank canvas with bare walls and go from there. I've seen them add RV-style roof A/C units, generators, you name it.

 

[PrincessFalafal]

The current hotness are the high-top Mercedes Sprinter-style vans. Ford Transit, Dodge Ram ProMaster, Nissan NV Cargo, etc. Several friends have them (mostly the Ford Transit) and have added fold-down bunk, M/C chocks, etc. to them with little effort. Seems pretty straightforward- you buy a blank canvas with bare walls and go from there. I've seen them add RV-style roof A/C units, generators, you name it.

That's the dream, but unfortunately they're well out of my budget. They haven't been on the market long enough to get properly cheap used, so I'm still looking at well over $15k for one. A friend of mine who does the van-life thing for half the year spent $32k on hers, used.

 

[cheez]

That's the dream, but unfortunately they're well out of my budget. They haven't been on the market long enough to get properly cheap used, so I'm still looking at well over $15k for one. A friend of mine who does the van-life thing for half the year spent $32k on hers, used.

No doubt. If you're looking for cheap and don't care about looks, buy a used U-Haul or Ryder truck.

 

[afm199]

You can find a E150 for $5k in decent shape. I have used one (2000) for years, I bought it for $6.5k with 51k miles on it.

Haul two bikes or one bike and camp gear. Easy peasy.

 

[auntiebling]

the difference in 150 class (half ton chassis) vs 250 (3/4 ton chassis) is substantial and show up in maintenance costs. 3/4 ton parts are more expensive generally.

whatever you get, if the tires on it are nearly done, consider finding a better candidate or lowballing accordingly. truck tires are expensive, but they last longer than track tires at least

 

[GilesD]

With that budget, I would get a cheap minivan for tools and sleeping in, with a cheap trailer behind. Decent commuter with much better gas mileage and comfortable ride than a work van.

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/d/richmond-2003-honda-oddysey/7031691115.html
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/d/san-francisco-dodge-grand-caravan/7026907385.html
and cheap trailer
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/tro/d/port-costa-motorcycle-trailer/7034037448.html
Perfect for $5000 budget.

Bonus points for not sleeping and driving next to your gas can.

 

[Sharky]

You can find a E150 for $5k in decent shape. I have used one (2000) for years, I bought it for $6.5k with 51k miles on it.

Haul two bikes or one bike and camp gear. Easy peasy.

E150 "no window Pedo special" in white are pretty common work vehicles. A good company might even have decent service records.

I call dibs on "FreKndy" license plate.
:laughing

 

[berth]

How many track days do you do every year?

Not saying that $400/event isn't expensive, but if you're going to drop 5K on a vehicle, say, another 1-2K outfitting it + registration + insurance (parking? Is that a problem?) then what's the payback. And it may simply be "I can up and go to a track day whenever I want" makes it all worth it. But if you only go twice a year, then, who knows.

 

[matty]

With that budget, I would get a cheap minivan for tools and sleeping in, with a cheap trailer behind. Decent commuter with much better gas mileage and comfortable ride than a work van.

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/d/richmond-2003-honda-oddysey/7031691115.html

I have this era odyssey, I've had my bike in the van plenty of times. The tallest bike I had in it was a naked sv (2nd gen) with handle bars, I had to use compression straps to compress the front end about an inch to get it to fit. And I've slept in it countless times. Not really enough room to sleep with the bike in it though.

Another alternative would be to get a decent hitch carrier.

 

[Matty D]

I'd like to think you can find a cheap van to fit the bill here. but you realize that with that budget, you're buying what will probably be a project vehicle with additional costs over time, correct? For proof-of-concept you should be fine but eventually you'll probably want to upgrade.

As for the build-out, note also that for motor sports it's super nice to have a compartment for your moto, gas, etc. that is separate from your sleeping area. Otherwise you're basically sleeping in your gear garage. You might not mind - heck, you might even like it - but what a lot of people do is build a secure garage enclosure, accessible from the back, with a raised bed platform on top accessible from inside the van. The budget/DIY route involves plywood, 2x4's, and carpet remnants.

 

[monstermonster]

I was exactly in your boat (moto only but needed track/race hauling. I went with an E150 passenger van -- 6 cylinder. I did almost zero kitting it out, other than tie down points. I just had my stuff in bins that I moved in and out of the van as needed (do NOT keep your stuff in your van when you're not at the track unless it's inside your garage). It's easy to see all the cool set-ups at the track and start thinking that you need more. You don't. I wouldn't build out a bed and Aerobed or some sort of cot works fine, and leaves you with the option to haul multiple bikes, which you will end up doing. The downside to sleeping in a van is heat in the evening. It gets hot and stuffy, particularly when you're pitted over asphalt that's been baking in the sun all day. Trailers are a PITA, and minivans are more expensive than cargo vans (though that may not longer be the case with the popularity of van life).

Looking back, I ended up crashing in a friends' hotel room or in someone's RV fairly often. Cuz you make friends at the track or because you go with friends. But it was awesome to have a dedicated set-up for when I wanted to go.

 

[Matty D]

^^^Excellent point on heat. Add a couple of ceiling vents to the budget if you can, will make a huge difference. Ideally at least one if not both of those vents will have a fan, but then you start going down the wormhole of auxillary power requirements...

 

[PrincessFalafal]

You can find a E150 for $5k in decent shape. I have used one (2000) for years, I bought it for $6.5k with 51k miles on it.

Haul two bikes or one bike and camp gear. Easy peasy.

That's the goal. In my price range I'm seeing lots of early to mid 00s with varying amounts of miles, and various interior features.

the difference in 150 class (half ton chassis) vs 250 (3/4 ton chassis) is substantial and show up in maintenance costs. 3/4 ton parts are more expensive generally.

It seems that the 250/350 is a lot more plentiful unfortunately. I'm told that in the light-duty segment the Chevy/GMC Express vans are superior in terms of mileage and front suspension, but it seems like they have a price premium. And the 350s seem to be available in the extended chassis which would be nice to have (Fully well knowing that I'll be lucky to see double-digits for fuel economy)

With that budget, I would get a cheap minivan for tools and sleeping in, with a cheap trailer behind. Decent commuter with much better gas mileage and comfortable ride than a work van.

I actually did that for years when I was living in a house in the midwest, but now I live in an apartment and only have a single parking space. So I'd still be renting trailers for going to the track, although if I'm honest $15/day isn't nearly as bad given that there's no mileage cost on them.

It's not the worst option ever. But I won't be using the van for anything else besides the track, I've got a Multistrada for daily commuting and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/d/richmond-2003-honda-oddysey/7031691115.html
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/d/san-francisco-dodge-grand-caravan/7026907385.html
and cheap trailer
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/tro/d/port-costa-motorcycle-trailer/7034037448.html
Perfect for $5000 budget.

Bonus points for not sleeping and driving next to your gas can.

That generation of Odyssey has well documented chronic engine and transmission issues. And my family owned too many garbage chrysler mini-vans when I was younger for me to ever consider owning one.

The bigger problem is that I only have a single parking space at my apartment complex, so no place to store a trailer.

How many track days do you do every year?

Not saying that $400/event isn't expensive, but if you're going to drop 5K on a vehicle, say, another 1-2K outfitting it + registration + insurance (parking? Is that a problem?) then what's the payback. And it may simply be "I can up and go to a track day whenever I want" makes it all worth it. But if you only go twice a year, then, who knows.

At least 10. I'll probably do a PTT season pass once they announce the 2020 schedule, plus a few other providers as schedule permits.

Also, random hobo camping adventures with a dirt bike.

 

[thePUNISHER]

Can't you rent a cargo van from enterprise for like 40 bux a day with unlimited miles? Pick it up Friday morning, return Monday morning for around $120?

 

[295566]

If you don't have another vehicle, don't buy a truck/van unless you're doing at least one track day a month. The costs (both upfront and maintenance) just won't be worth it. You'd be much better off getting a $5k Toyota or Honda sedan and either a hitch carrier or small moto trailer (can be rented from Uhaul for like $20/day).

 

[PrincessFalafal]

Can't you rent a cargo van from enterprise for like 40 bux a day with unlimited miles? Pick it up Friday morning, return Monday morning for around $120?

Not with unlimited miles.

Mileage is usually $1/mile for a cargo van, sometimes more. If they do have "Unlimited" miles it's sort of like your "Unlimited" data plan, it's actually prepaying for like 200/miles a day and then a slightly discounted rate for any miles over that.

And this really fucks you for the 550-mile round trip ride to Buttonwillow for me. Or even worse Willow Springs.

*Edit again* I just checked and it looks like Enterprise does have some unlimited mileage options for compact cargo vans like the tiny little Nissan and Ford Transit Connects for $60/day. Previously I'd been scoping uHaul, Penkse and Budget which are all around $1/mile. Enterprise is $20/day plus $0.60/mile for the larger vans, which is better but still stacks up really quick for the longer trips.

Not quite as bad as prior options, but still expensive. Plus hassle of loading/unloading/pickup/returning.

 

[PrincessFalafal]

If you don't have another vehicle, don't buy a truck/van unless you're doing at least one track day a month. The costs (both upfront and maintenance) just won't be worth it. You'd be much better off getting a $5k Toyota or Honda sedan and either a hitch carrier or small moto trailer (can be rented from Uhaul for like $20/day).

My other vehicle is my Multistrada. I've been doing the bike-only life for years now and don't anticipate changing my daily transport to a car anytime soon.

But it's a valid point about getting a smaller tow vehicle and doing the uHaul trailer rental.