Motovan vs truck/toyhauler

Sleep in the van and tow the bikes helps keeps the costs down. Plus for family trips without the bikes your set with a decent mpg vehicle. We got at least 3 more years till gas prices drop to a reasonable level. Probably won't see 2$ again though.

How tall are you? Sprinters have the narrowest  body’s so sleeping lower across the van won’t work unless you are under 5’8” or so. Transits and pro masters are ok if you are 5’9” or so. I’m 5’9” and have built comfy upper beds in transits and promasters. I’ve built vans with lower bench seats that make a folding bed with an upper bed that slides out above the lower bed. Like a bunk setup. You can sleep three like that no problem.

Best van for that is the high roof long body transit. The extra height makes for lots of room for an upper bed. 11” taller inside than a Promaster 

We literally just did the same thing.   Got tired of towing a big toy hauler everywhere.   

Found a 2500 ram promaster that was basically fit out already.    

It's my wife and I as well as 2 dogs.   We haul 2 full size bikes in it and can sleep in it without unloading the bikes.   We don't have another bed but you can get the airbeds that go across the front seats.    

You would be surprised what you can fit.   I have a toilet, sink, small oven, fridge, heat/ac, TV, instant hot water heater, outdoor shower, and have 60 gallons of onboard water.    30 gal for living and 30 gal for washing bikes.    Its tight but with the gas savings and not having to get places early to find parking It's worth it.  

Definitely not enough room to sleep in two different beds with 3 bikes.  The fuel smells alone from the bikes would be a big problem.  The van can be great for 3, but put the bikes in a trailer as it will be tight moving around regardless.....or get a Class C with a garage......or a truck and pull a toy hauler.  Depends how much "living" room is important to you.

Not my daily driver but

Loaded with toys and towing daily driver

I don’t smell gas in mine. Carbureted bikes can smell more if you don’t drain the float bowl.

Don't smell gas in mine either.   There is a good Divider between the front living space and garage.  My bed is actually right over top the bikes as well.   

Yeah you need a wall for sure. Besides the smell it’s way better to have a garage space for all the stuff, and I think it’s also safer. 

i have an express 3500 ext with the wall and front jack knife couch. then the wife just talked me into a toy hauler to tow behind it. so on practice days or day trips we have the van, then over nights we have both.

It's really a personal preference.  When kids were small and racing we did a truck/flat trailer/tents.  Upgraded to vans then campers.  

Now that it's just me and wife we are back to truck, cots, and an easy up.  

Less is better is what I learned.  Different strokes for different folks.

All depends on what you want and your scenario. We run a 5th wheel majority of the time. Also have an enclosed trailer for 1day races. Most of the time we are gone for the weekend. Practice Saturday's and race Sunday. My boy and I race, also have my wife, 2 daughters and 2 dogs. Everyone loves the atmosphere at races and being there. This is why we have the 5th wheel. I could absolutely be down for downsizing to a van or well set up trailer. But for us it's a family adventure in the 5th wheel. Anything smaller would be a nightmare full of complaints. 

- There are no solutions, only compromises - Thomas Swoll

Built out vans are wildly expensive. 100k+ for a nice, lower mile AWD. (I know you can do for less but not everyone is that crafty or has the time)

A truck, with a slide in camper is another option. Depending on the setup, you can easily tow an enclosed trailer. 

A truck with a smaller toy hauler is most likely the most versatile. 

Good luck. I know the struggle. Currently I have a truck, toyhauler, and small enclosed. Works great for a family of 4. We family ride Mtb's and I do broMoto trips a few times a year too.

Shitter and shower situation something you have to think carefully about. Parking situation at home. Budget limitations. etc.

This is on point. My friends and I have this conversation often. We family camp, play ride on the quads, kayak, and race moto. Our best setup is a bumper pull toy hauler and 8ft truck bed (family of 3) to fit 3 quads. 

There is no perfect set up but you have to be realistic with how you'll use it.

we lucked out and bought our hauler new 3 months before Covid.

I wanted a toy hauler wife wanted a travel trailer(no garage) compromised and got a travel trailer, bike can go in the bed. 

That's not a compromise.  She won.  A compromise would have been looking at other toy haulers that may have had a floor plan she liked or something where your bike could still be secure.

I know lol it’s all good, very open floor plan, half ton towing so had to keep the weight numbers right anyway 

What travel trailer did you go with? Does your half ton tow it well?

I have an older van right now along with a company car to drive around town. I have gone back and forth on what I eventually would like to do. I think due to space in my driveway my long term goal is to get a travel trailer to tow behind the van. Seems like the ultimate setup for me. Can use the van on day trips and hook up the camper and go for overnights. We just got our first house this year so I have some time before I pull the trigger, but one day!

Also, once you have a van I don't think I'll be able to go back. It's a game changer for convenience at the track.

I’d love to downsize from the pickup truck/toy hauler combo, when I was down at the RV dealership buying my new toy hauler for $25k last year, I started looking at Sprinter RV conversions.  I stopped looking when I saw the price tag!  Even if I went the cheaper route and built it myself, by the time I buy the sprinter, install plumbing, cabinets, rooftop AC, a divider, rails in the floor for tie downs and wheel chocks, a fridge, a bed, etc., it will cost me way more and be way less useful than a regular pickup and a cheap toyhauler. I bought a brand new twin axle 25ft toyhauler last year in the height of the pandemic for $28k out the door, and I’ll be a helluva lot more comfortable after I take my warm shower and cook my dinner in a real kitchen before laying down in my queen bed than I would be laying on a cot crammed in the back of a sprinter.  Plus, I’ll still have my pickup for hauling large items and towing my boat to the lake on off weekends.

By the way, I went with a Forest River FSX 190rt.  At 4,500 lbs, it is easily 1/2 ton towable with plenty of room for the wife and kid and two dirt bikes inside while towing.  If I went any bigger than this, I would have wanted a 3/4 ton truck.  Since it is a bumper tow, I still have the truck bed available for storage and to put the gas cans in so I don’t have to smell fumes all weekend.  There are even lighter single axle trailers available, but as someone who has had two tires blow on trailers over the years, I sure like the security of having that second axle with two more tires.

That being said, if I was a practice pro and not racing, I’d just buy a cheap van to get to and from the track and be done with it.  

Forest river 22rbs, yeah it does, an could technically go bigger but if I did I’d want a 3/4 ton 

Between the loaded hitch weight and when I have the bike in the bed with tools, generator, gear etc I’m probably pretty close to max paylaod 

Cant speak for a van but I have had both an enclosed (16" v nose) and toy hauler (Grey Wolf 18RR-BL). Personally I prefer a enclosed. Its just the wife and I (no plans for kids) and it was easy pulling, and easy setup. Was perfect for day trips to races/riding and we used it when camping at the lake for long weekends and a couple week long trips. She eventually wanted a toilet so we gave the toy hauler a try. We loved it but it was more setup and take down. Also about 2-3 times the cost. We have since sold both and looking to convert another enclosed. For the money I dont think you can beat a enclosed trailer set up right.

This is my 16’ lightning trailer. Also check out Moto tech and Intech they can do similar arrangements

Looks like you have some pretty serious squat. I not only used a weight distribution hitch, but I also put air bags in my truck. I was towing a 29-foot Forest River FSX that weighed 4700 lbs. with an electric golf cart and dirt bike in it with a half-ton Hemi Ram and it towed dead flat. If I was to bumper pull again, I'd seriously think about a Pro Pride hitch. Very expensive but it gets a lot cheaper when your crap is upside down in the median. 

For a single guy, your setup is ideal and will last forever.  A bit too spartan for a family, maybe.  What does a trailer like that cost new?

Agree with all of this and have used most these options over the years. At 64 years old, I'm way past roughing it without my own bathroom, fridge, big bed, and cooking area. Just me and the wife, but both have different hobbies: horses for her, moto for me. We have a Class C RV for traveling together and can pull horse trailer, 12' enclosed box for toys, or high side utility trailer for shorter trips. When I go solo moto, I have my small toybox and can pull with any of F-150, Jeep Grand Cherokee, or Maverick. Seems we have the best of all combos right now, and no payments. Toybox pictured, 12x7 box, 2050 pounds dry. Custom build by DuneSport in Mesa, AZ. $16k before tax, reg back home in CO. This was 2018 and they give internet discount if you start process there.

I agree, I’ve seen some with bathrooms built in but the same tip out beds. I’d say new they are in the 25k range. 

 Motorhome and trailer all the way. Not much more than a nice van and way more convenient. Been down the toy hauler route and they are all PITA. Motorhome and trailer keep the clean stuff and dirty stuff separate and more than enough room. 

I can’t even comprehend this question. I can go to the track in my van, go home then go to the Mexican  restaurant get beer and enchiladas, drive home park in my driveway go inside and sleep. Then wake up w  ask outside  and drive back to the track just like I’m in a sports car. No loading unloading booking up parking a trailer, cleaning a trailer etc etc etc. also no buying a big ass truck to tow with, maintenance fuel costs etc etc. it’s a no brainer, unless you just go ride once a month and need to sleep with a family. 

I have a 2018 Hemi Ram 1500 that is paid for and more importantly I freaking love driving it. I would love to pull the trigger and get a motovan and keep both my Turbo Levo in it and my KTM 350 in it at all times and be able to change for mtb riding or moto in my van but I love the day to day driving of my truck. Stupid I know but we love what we love even if a motovan would make everything easier.