Hello,
I work with a national van rental company that focuses on renting vans out to the music industry. We also sell our older vans to the general public and many of the customers are in the Moto Cross community (we actually sponsor a Junior Rider now who has competed in the Loretta Lynn). I have picked their brains and hope to also pick the Vital MX community.
A couple of years ago, we introduced a new rental called the "Flex Van." They are 2023 Mercedes Benz 2500 170" High Roofs RWD. Semi cool concept where you can work and sleep, but ABYSMAL demand. We have several in Nashville, TX, and California that are sitting on our lots with little to no future reservations.
Here are some pics:
A video of it "in action" can be seen here: FLEX VAN
We plan to add a couple of E-Track Rails to the floor, and replace the Cargo Net with a solid partition (no door) behind the bench seat.
If I may ask a few Qs:
1. What is the #1 most important thing (other than space) for your Moto Van?
2. Is there any demand for a Rental Moto Van?
3. Other than a partition wall, E-Tracks, and a ramp, is there anything else you recommend we outfit this with?
4. I reached out to DC Cargo and Bolt It On to see if they would be interested in sponsoring the van. Any other good E Track/Bike securing companies you guys like who you think I should reach out to?
Thank you in advance! Would appreciate any questions, comments, and even smart arse remarks
-John
I see a privateer SX guy needing your rental van for the season, for free, of course. he may or may not qualify but he will destroy your van and max out your company credit card at strip clubs…he will require a sick wrap of his likeness and sic low profile dubs….don’t forget the kickin sound system for when he pulls into the pits, this will also work for the aspiring lorett lynns pro c class champ…
Cost per day from SF?
1. What is the #1 most important thing (other than space) for your Moto Van?
Sleeping arrangements for at track camping
2. Is there any demand for a Rental Moto Van?
I’d probably rent one 2-3 times a year for races I either want to camp out or stay in a nearby hotel
I’ve been trying to find a fun mover or other like enclosed with Garage RV for rent on RVShare but no luck
3. Other than a partition wall, E-Tracks, and a ramp, is there anything else you recommend we outfit this with?
Wheel chocks
I’ve been considering buying a motovan but for 2-3 races a year far from home it’s not worth it. Rent? Yes.
Hey @startbuttonarmpump ....currently in the planning stage and not built out yet. When are you needing it?
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Free shipping: VITALMX
Thank you for the feedback @KurtJ99 . Which part of the country are you in because we may have a location in the area?
Wheel chocks and anchor points for tie down straps.
Hitch rack or roof rack to store fuel on the outside.
Good call @3strokemx . When I asked one of my van buyers who is in the sport for his thoughts, he said the partition wall is ideal because he didn't want his family sniffing gas the whole time. But to your point, probably more ideal to store fuel OUTSIDE of the van. This van does have a hitch so we will consider best options to utilize that.
What’s contact info? I have interest in renting for a mountain bike trip in TN.
Cool concept, and good on you for reaching out here and picking the brains of potential customers. It's refreshing to see decent market research done.
John@bandago.com
https://ccrsport.com/mercedes-sprinter-van-hybrid-moto-kit-x-2/
Thank You
Very Cool. Thanks.
One thing I didn’t see mentioned here is security. Based off of the pictures of the “crew” model sprinter you have, my opinion is that the glass leaves an opportunity for thieves.
I passed on some really good deals on passenger and crew vans when I was searching for mine and went with a cargo for the added security because of this.
Might want to consider adding the metal grating to the insides of the windows in the body and back doors glass as an added layer of protection. I would imagine the commercial upfitter companies would have them available for tradesman type builds.
The bars definitely suck to look through, but we know the reality of today with thefts at an all time high. It’s definitely not foolproof, but may be just enough of a pain in the ass to get through that the thieves move on to the next target.
The partition wall is also for security, along with blacked out windows, if people can't see what's inside, it's less likely to be stolen.
@Last2Stroke Don't most Moto Vans have sponsor stickers on them, which does the opposite of hiding what's inside? But yes, the Mercedes have blacked out windows fomr the manufacturer and we have also installed an inner panel (removable). The partition wall will be installed more for separation of bike and passengers.
@eeazye As i asked previously, aren't there a lot of stickered moto vans (regardless if they are sponsored or not)? I can see this issue if you are parking this in East St. Louis but don't most vans have this type of journey: Parked at home> Race> Hotel (if they don't sleep in van at the track)>home? Do people leave bikes at the race if they do go to a hotel?
We are HQ'd in San Francisco, and I hear you 100% about security, but I want to hope and believe that Middle America is safer and more honest. 🤷♂️. But yes, security is always a concern I suppose.
Bikes stay in the van at the hotel . Some bring there bikes into the hotel room . Local racers sleep in there vans at the track . Ever been to the s. Bend or Goshen, In. Area ? Where they build conversion vans, rv,s, camper trailers . It’s close to red Bud , I heard DC on here say the museum rt off the toll rd is really cool. A old 79 brown Chevy van is always outside & a 70,s rv. . The area has a high number of new vans aprox 1,200-1,800 vans sitting waiting for conversions at each co. Sprinters , chev express with windows i was surprised to see that . I,m sure they talk about there history of how they started on the net. An aluminum lockable storage mounted to the trl hitch is a must. Large enough for 4 -6 vp 5 gal pails & etc. I like the old school g20,s I will probably take a captain chair out to gain room . Not sure if new vans come with a trans cooler but loading up a van or towing . People would want that. I just took a short day off in Joliet . A ton of traffic & I was in a hurry. At a stop light I punched it limited slip locked the possy & I did a burn out threw the intersection. Haha . Next light a charger wanted to race , I beat him off the line. 12 gal of water , supplies, full tank . A few bolt on performance parts.
Pit Row
I would hit up places that rent motorcycles and let them know if any customers ask about rental vans, you're the guy. A lot of people travel from other countries and do ride trips here. Also motorhome rental places. Give incentive money to any of these guys that send you customers. Not to mention the street bike crowd. These guys travel a long ways for track days and I can tell you that a lot of them would rent a van if it made sense. Also, you may want to to hit up the Harley crowd around the time of the Sturgis Rally that happens every year in August. Also, the MTB crowd is always traveling to different places and I would imagine a rental van would come in handy some times....
I have the Bolt-It-On set up in my van and I can tell you, you can make them hold any type of bike pretty much.. and Scott is a great guy to deal with..
I wish you lots of luck and hope it works out 👍
Some seriously good 411 here. I'm already in contact with Scott. Good dude. Good call on the MTB route.
Yeah the Harley crowd is massive people from all ovr the world. A Harley anniversary yr aprox 500k in Milwaukee . Mtb everyone has 1 in the rest of the country but they don’t travel beyond a few hrs to ride. Midwest & northeast Mx riders going to Florida in Feb & especially March is big.
Hmmmm, thanks for the 411 @profeshenal125 but don't want to venture too far off with the Harley crowd. We are currently discussing design and build and the MX rider will need something different then a Harley. But great info on FL and the upcoming races. I need to do some research.
About 25 min from your SF address for Bandago.
@KurtJ99 PM'd
Just a heads up. The company has decided to keep the focus of the conversion to cater to the music industry and these will be added to our "Band Van" fleet. Their major concern was that motorcycles will tear up the van (potentially) and rentals will be too short since races are only 2-3 days long on avg (we prefer a 2 week rentals).
HOWEVER, they reviewed this thread and feel there is something here. We are discussing adding some things to accomodate Mountain Bikes.....so I will be taking this thread (with some editing) to the VitalMTB forum.
THANK YOU for the great comments and smart remarks. We got a lot of 411 and realize a non petrol 2 wheeler is more aligned with our vans. So they will be converted to a "Band Van...that can also 2nd as an ideal way to transport your MTB(s)."
Hope to see some of you guys n gals over at VitalMTB!!!!!
-John
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