Van or Truck - Which is Best and Why?

MXEditor
Posts
695
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Danbury, CT US
Edited Date/Time 4/11/2016 9:30pm
Hello All,

I am doing a story on MX trucks vs. vans and wanted to know if you folks can provide some plus and minus points for each?

TIA - Sean
|
plowboy
Posts
14274
Joined
1/3/2010
Location
Norwich, KS US
8/14/2012 10:31am
In my experience trucks are easy for track days and races not to far from home. A plus is that you don't have to smell the gas/oil/dirty gear. If I race some place that requires an overnight stay the van provides a little extra security in the parking lot. I have a truck now and usually put the bike and gear in the room with me...which is a pain.
nc_mx_kid
Posts
1485
Joined
3/6/2007
Location
Team Charlotte Motorsports, NC US
8/14/2012 10:37am
van all the way:
-everything is enclosed from the elements
-security
-you can set up to sleep in the van or just take a tent and camp easy knowing your bike is locked inside your van
-when you get home tired from a race, you don't have to unload.
-a van is on a truck chassis so why not have it enlcosed?

as far as smell, put a wall up and seal it. In addition to that, I insulated my walls to keep heat in the winter and hold the cool better in the summer.
MXEditor
Posts
695
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Danbury, CT US
8/14/2012 10:42am
This is badass!!

MiSledder
Posts
252
Joined
3/7/2011
Location
MI US
8/14/2012 10:47am
I've done both and Van set up right is the best way, For the reasons MX kid listed

The Shop

Zycki11
Posts
7780
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Edwardsville, IL US
8/14/2012 11:32am
Green jacket gold jacket who gives a shit.


In all seriousness, I have a truck and it works fine. Van done up correctly is the way to go. Gives you peace of mind that nobody knows what's in it.
mx757
Posts
2275
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Pueblo, CO US
8/14/2012 1:10pm
The only really bad thing about a van, is that most of them get horrible gas mileage because theyre shaped like a shoebox, heavy, and have big gas guzzling motors. For a day at the races, I would prefer throwing the bike, a toolbox, gearbag, and a cooler in the bed of the truck than a van set up.
8/14/2012 1:22pm Edited Date/Time 8/14/2012 1:22pm
mx757 wrote:
The only really bad thing about a van, is that most of them get horrible gas mileage because theyre shaped like a shoebox, heavy, and have...
The only really bad thing about a van, is that most of them get horrible gas mileage because theyre shaped like a shoebox, heavy, and have big gas guzzling motors. For a day at the races, I would prefer throwing the bike, a toolbox, gearbag, and a cooler in the bed of the truck than a van set up.
Over here in New Zealand vans are popular with the moto crowd.
Also over here every gas station has a diesel pump, so these bad boys run on diesel and get excellent gas mileage.

1
scooter5002
Posts
4748
Joined
6/6/2010
Location
Nanton Alberta CA
8/14/2012 1:43pm
Van. Nothin beats a piece of ass on the way home from the race after you come up empty handed on the trophy quest. The "pity piece". Unless you have MY girlfriend, in which case a pickup is fine. She's not fussy. Matter of fact her Volkswagen Beetle is fine. Just not a lot of room for the bike. Gear goes in the back seat tho.
Barrett57
Posts
2270
Joined
8/31/2010
Location
GB
8/14/2012 1:52pm
Van for me. A battered, rusty, plain old ford transit does a good job.

The biggest plus is you look like a pikey so most won't guess you have a bike in the back.
ML512
Posts
16947
Joined
12/28/2008
Location
Wildomar, CA US
Fantasy
8/14/2012 2:05pm
Van for me, extended E350, turbo diesel. pretty good mileage, lock up all my bikes, tools, gear, has a bed. Insulated wall between bed and bikes ect.
MT MX
Posts
1551
Joined
3/5/2011
Location
Great Falls, MT US
8/14/2012 2:40pm
MXEditor wrote:
This is badass!! [img]https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V6BHnAsrJx8/TX4m8ZzW3yI/AAAAAAAAB8w/CTLB1npJPvo/s1600/VTGMXVANS-2.jpg[/img]
This is badass!!

x2
Everything about this picture is awesome
ocscottie
Posts
69092
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Redding, CA US
8/14/2012 3:04pm
MXEditor wrote:
This is badass!! [img]https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V6BHnAsrJx8/TX4m8ZzW3yI/AAAAAAAAB8w/CTLB1npJPvo/s1600/VTGMXVANS-2.jpg[/img]
This is badass!!

MT MX wrote:
x2
Everything about this picture is awesome
Hell ya, that IS (or was?) pure moto.

We had a silver Dodge van w/ wall to wall burgandy shag carpet, and my dad converted it to run on propane!

Good times in that van. Listening to Led Zep, Pink Floyd, Rod Stewart, Poco and The Best of Bread on family moto trips every weekend. Best times of my life! Even mom rode, she had a Hodaka Dirt Squirt Cool
Mr Regis
Posts
108
Joined
12/13/2011
Location
CA US
8/14/2012 3:51pm
Van all the way!
Me and my brother bought a old Mercedes Sprinter some while ago and we are having a blast!
Great moments going to the races...
We are remaking all the inner part now and when is ready i will post some pictures....
1
dizzy8085
Posts
106
Joined
8/7/2012
Location
San Marcos, TX US
8/14/2012 3:53pm
If my daily driver has to be my moto transportation I choose truck. I wouldn't want to drive a Van every day.
Now to add a second vehicle just to ride motocross. A van is the way to go.
sam111
Posts
417
Joined
2/1/2009
Location
NZ
8/14/2012 3:55pm Edited Date/Time 8/14/2012 4:19pm
Although I have never owned one, a van probably would be better for motocross. As others have said, your equipment is more secure from thieves when it is locked away in a van. This also means there is no chance of losing stuff while travelling. Van's can be used for shelter at the track and to store your stuff, too.

Utes (small "pickup trucks") are probably a more versatile vehicle for use in everyday life, though. They handle better, due to having a more aerodynamic body shape and a lower COG, too. I am a farmer, so a ute is the practical choice for me. I don't use it on the farm, but I am always using the deck while running work related errands. It is also more than adequate for MX.

Over here, the big car manufacturers pretty much all supply vans and utes with turbo diesel engines (normally around 3000cc). You wouldn't win any drag races in them, but they have enough grunt to cruise at 100-120km/h comfortably. They also get great gas mileage.


Here are examples of the utes and vans we get over here, that are popular for MX:

Toyota Hiace Van


Ford Ranger Ute
dcg141
Posts
2310
Joined
11/30/2009
Location
MS US
8/14/2012 4:02pm
I bought a used E450 Box Van about 5 years ago and built a sleeper behind the cab and a shop off the back. I love the box van.
FGR01
Posts
6069
Joined
10/1/2006
Location
AZ US
Fantasy
8/14/2012 4:02pm
nc_mx_kid wrote:
van all the way: -everything is enclosed from the elements -security -you can set up to sleep in the van or just take a tent and...
van all the way:
-everything is enclosed from the elements
-security
-you can set up to sleep in the van or just take a tent and camp easy knowing your bike is locked inside your van
-when you get home tired from a race, you don't have to unload.
-a van is on a truck chassis so why not have it enlcosed?

as far as smell, put a wall up and seal it. In addition to that, I insulated my walls to keep heat in the winter and hold the cool better in the summer.
A van rules for all these reasons. Also:

- you can keep a lot of your stuff in there all the time. No need to unload your tools, gear, spares, etc. every week.
- you have a place to change and to get out of the rain at the races.
- loading and unloading is easier than a truck. You can hang your tie-downs from the ceiling and they are pre-staged, waiting right where you need them. You also won't get off balance and tumble over the bed wall like what sometimes happens in a truck. Ducking for the low ceiling might kinda suck for tall guys though.

The one major downside to having a moto van is if you aren't rich enough to have 2 vehicles and have to use it as your daily driver. They handle horribly and just aren't fun to drive. They get crappy mileage but not really worse than a comparable truck. But the worst is the constant teasing and harassment from all your non-moto friends and coworkers because you drive a chester the molester van, pedo-wagon, kidnapper-mobile, candy-wagon, fuck-truck, shaggin-wagon, etc.
SLAPAHO
Posts
1918
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Newport Beach, CA US
Fantasy
8/14/2012 4:37pm
cargo van for me. v-6 gets decent mileage, you can load your crap the night before and not worry about it, leave it loaded when you get home...awning, cooler, chairs etc. all stay in there all the time usually...... and for all the other reasons already stated.

G-man
Posts
9060
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Mesa, AZ US
8/14/2012 4:58pm
Van all the way.

My first vehicle at 17 was a van and 37 yrs later I’m on #5. Still have 2 but that’s another story.

To me they are the most practical do all vehicle around. You can sleep/bone/store a bike and all your supplies or if you go camping EVERYTHING is secure and out of the elements.

Also being a dog lover it gives them plenty of room to be comfortable and in AZ out of the BRUTAL HEAT.

To me SUV’s are nothing more than a modern station wagon and could never imagine spending 30+K on one to look cool.

On my recent Streetbike Roadtrip I snapped a pic of this 4x4 van:



Probably crappy mpg but the places you could go and hangout with your “room on wheels” would be endless.

Btw I never had an issue with fuel smell from bikes.
Truckdriver
Posts
789
Joined
2/21/2009
Location
Fort Dodge, IA US
8/14/2012 5:03pm
The Sprinter van with the Mercedes diesel will get 20mpg all day long. Get the big wheel base and. Put in a wall to keep the smells out. Heck make a sleeper in there.
MiSledder
Posts
252
Joined
3/7/2011
Location
MI US
8/14/2012 6:36pm
My 3500 express gets 17 nog on hw, 13-14 in town, have a water tank built in, all my tools and gear are always in van, I like driving a van, had a truck for 25 years, I do get the same old creepers van jokes, luckily I DGAF
MXEditor
Posts
695
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Danbury, CT US
8/14/2012 7:06pm
Has anyone gotten bikes into a minivan POS?
MXEditor
Posts
695
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Danbury, CT US
8/14/2012 7:08pm
activeMX
Posts
325
Joined
7/19/2011
Location
Long Beach, CA US
8/14/2012 7:38pm
Van....more difficult to get your shit ripped off.
activeMX
Posts
325
Joined
7/19/2011
Location
Long Beach, CA US
8/14/2012 7:42pm
FYI, Outside Vans makes the sickest Sprinter vans ever.



sam111
Posts
417
Joined
2/1/2009
Location
NZ
8/14/2012 7:48pm Edited Date/Time 8/14/2012 7:49pm
MXEditor wrote:
Has anyone gotten bikes into a minivan POS?
I once knew a guy who used a ratcheted tie-down from the handlebars to the front axle to compress the forks so his bike would fit through the back door. I wouldn't say it was a minivan though - just a small van. It was probably a similar size to the one in that picture you posted above.
FGR01
Posts
6069
Joined
10/1/2006
Location
AZ US
Fantasy
8/14/2012 8:00pm
I've seen people fold down the bars, compress the forks with a tie down, and even remove the front wheel and put a little dolly wheel or something in there.

Get a new CRF450 or KX450F. You can release the air from the forks and they will collapse.
skid mark
Posts
128
Joined
11/2/2010
Location
Fraser, CO US
8/14/2012 8:10pm
MXEditor wrote:
Has anyone gotten bikes into a minivan POS?
sam111 wrote:
I once knew a guy who used a ratcheted tie-down from the handlebars to the front axle to compress the forks so his bike would fit...
I once knew a guy who used a ratcheted tie-down from the handlebars to the front axle to compress the forks so his bike would fit through the back door. I wouldn't say it was a minivan though - just a small van. It was probably a similar size to the one in that picture you posted above.
A few guys I have known used Astro vans and had to compress the forks to get in the back door. a small extra step.

I agree with the rest that vans are the way to go.
G-man
Posts
9060
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Mesa, AZ US
8/14/2012 8:35pm
Yep I've done it a few times.

Got this 99 off e-bay for 6 K with 64,000 miles 7 yrs ago. It's my ROAD TRIPPER.



My 1990 has 200,000 on it.
bents
Posts
3397
Joined
12/31/2009
Location
CA
Fantasy
8/14/2012 8:44pm
Van all the way for all the reasons listed.

Post a reply to: Van or Truck - Which is Best and Why?

The Latest