Hi,
I am with a national van rental company and we almost made some moto vans. But after talking to our fleet insurance we scrapped it because the premium would skyrocket since the vans will be carrying fuel cans and motorcycles. But through VitalMX, we realized that mountain bikers like vans too. : ).
We are now considering making available for rent certain items to make MTB renter's lie easier like a rack to be mounted in our cargo hold:
Would like to see your builds and mods to your van.....or if you are a frequent MTB/camper, would would you like to see? When we remove seats, it can accommodate air mattresses/sleeping pads so you wouldn't need to pitch a tent. Plus our vans has an aux battery with power inverter with 120V?USB outlets throughout.
We are also considering sponsoring a pro rider but still learning the ropes about the sport.
Thanks
I got a used cargo van in 2020, and since then I've made a bunch of mods/mistakes, some big and some small. Some must-haves and should-dos:
- solar power on the roof, which will charge a 100 Ah battery, which will also be charged by the van while it's running [you might not even need the 120V inverter]
- roof vent with a fan in it [i.e. a Maxxair or similar], and a screen curtain with magnetic closure to go over the sliding side door for passive venting and easy entry/exit
- fork mount for bike mounts, which allows for a queen-sized bed platform above
- space heater powered by whatever fuel the engine uses
- vented propane box and boiler for hot water heating [can also fuel the space heater, but those combo units can be pricey]
- thinsulate insulation works surprisingly well [please don't use foil or bubble wrap]
I strongly recommend checking out the website faroutride.com - they're a couple of engineers who are absolute nerds for efficient use of space and best bang for the buck.
We have some experience with Moto Vans, but I guess for MTB's...because of their much smaller footprint, there really is no such thing as a Mountain Bike Van because pretty much any 4Runner, Transit, Metris, etc can accommodate a MTB with ease.
Perhaps we can outfit a van with a hitch mounted bike rack for maintenance and repairs. Storage for spare tubes, tires, etc. Basically create a mobile bike service center and our target would be a team which is already being done. But perhaps we target the amateur level (like we have with Motocross).
Just thinking out loud.
Other than Berm Peak....do you guys recommend any MTB "influencers" (gawd I dislike using that term) on Youtube? We are now looking into collaborating/sponsoring a video/series.
Thanks
This is maybe not a common setup but I do a MB Metris with the removable back seats. In the winter I put a two person bench in the back and then I can fit two bikes inside two on a rack if needed (not camping in the winter to ride). Then in the other seasons a futon in the back and can usually fit two bikes inside while driving and keep em outside when camping. I think Jill Kitner/Bryn Atkinson have a dope van for a buildout idea.
Thanks @Jacob_Richard Funny, our company recently sold a Metris last year. We were considering it as part of the fleet, but learned our renters liked to stand up and wanted the cargo. Right now our 2018 and 2019 Sprinters that we are selling are ideal for MTB. Would just need a rack to secure bikes like the one I posted earlier or get the vertical mounts.
So Mountain Bikes in the rear and the dirt stays in the back. Looks like we can load up several bikes, plus there is a hitch to attach a rack for your maintenance needs. Thank you for your comment and I will check Jill and Bryan's build out.
Nice to see another metris owner. I use a classic galvanized rack with 6 slots similar to this. It works well for carrying bikes inside, not so much for shuttling
May we see a few pics...at your earliest convenience of course?
I'll influence the shit out of people if you want to give me a built-out van. Promise.
Putting together a proposal for the powers that be at my company. I would like to try to give a free Mercedes Sprinter Van rental for a few days to some mountain biker(s) and get feedback on how the van served you/what would you liked and disliked/document the venture (including the good with the bad).
If interested, please give us a little 411 about yourself and how long u been biking on this thread. You can also post any questions, comments, and of course my favorite, smart remarks, here as well.
Thank you.
-JC
Ive seen a bunch of the slide out bike trays where you take the front wheel out and I think thats the winner in my opinion, and definitely agree with the stand up, mines just a weekender but if i was renting 100% would want to stand
I guess that raises a great question: are you planning to rent camper vans with bike storage and a bed for a couple to drive and sleep in, or are you renting a passenger van with bike storage for 4-6 bikes in the back? Because those are going to point you towards very different sorts of bike storage. As the above poster pointed out, if you're wanting to have a full-size bed in the back, that means that sliding bike trays are pretty much the only option. But in other posts, it's looked like you're planning to do vertical bike storage in the back, ruling out the possibility of a full-size bed.
What's the use case you're looking at? Seems like most of your vans go along the lines of lots of people + cargo. Most MTB use cases are around a few people + camping + bikes. Scenarios where you have a bunch of people are say for shuttling but then anything over 6 people and you'll need a trailer to haul the bikes.
Agreed that your average MTB van rental customer would be for a two-person/be/bike garage setup, but I think there's a use case for the other kind of bike van too, beyond shuttling. I'm doing the Stone King ride in France and Italy this summer, and there's a group of 6 of us. It would be amazing if we could fly in and rent a passenger van with dialed bike and gear storage for six of us.
Lots of great 411 and some siiiiick van builds. Thank you. Quick history. Bandago Vans was created over 2 decades ago from the CEO's garage and he started with one van. He was in a band and there was a void for rental options for touring musicians. So Bandago was created. The vans can seat up to 10-12 people, plugs throughout to keep electronics charged, a TV/Game system to pass time, and a cargo area to stack their instruments.
We see a similar but not as dire void for the Motocross and MTB community. We are exploring the idea of offering a MTB Package that would include:
1. Rear rack and straps in the cargo area to secure bikes.
2. Hitch mounted bike stand.
3. Remove to rows of seats (which would make the van a six seater) to make room for air mattresses.
4. 2 Air Mattresses (1 King 1 Full).
We figured most of you are campers too and will have your own little stoves/lanterns/ aux lighting. The concept has to be modular because we need these vans for the bands when you guys are renting.
When you are doing your camping/MTB excursions, our vans will be secure and protect your bikes while providing a facility to work on them. It was also save you the time and energy from pitching a tent and I imagine the van will be a little more comfy.
Would want to do a pilot program in LA (or would SF or Portland be better)?
Thanks so much for the replies. This is invaluable info.
Not to be a buzzkill but based on your suggested pilot locations, I don’t think the potential customer pool will be big enough for this.
I would think the markets for these types of van rentals would be British Columbia, Colorado/Utah, and maybe the Tennessee/North Carolina/West Virginia corner of Appalachia.
Very few people are going to be in LA or SF and looking to start a van based bike trip. Even Portland is probably too far from the epicenter of PNW riding. Maybe Seattle?
Who is the user in your vision? Someone flying into one of your rental locations and picking up a van for roadtrip? Locals to that area who want to drive but don’t have adequate vehicles themselves?
In the former, you better be in the perfect spot (e.g. Vancouver B.C., Bellingham WA, etc). In the latter, I’m not sure. Most people probably have some system for traveling with their own cars so your offering better add something substantial.
I think in reality your competition is something like Cruise America RVs.
So I'll bite for a chance at a free van trip. My name is Charlie, I'm one of the tech editors here, based in LA. I'm a former pro MTB racer, have done a lot of bike travel, and I've owned my very own bike van in the past. I think vans can be awesome for road trips but are a real drag as a primary vehicle, which is part of the reason why rental vans for bikes/motos seems like an interesting business idea. Would love to do a one week rental and go to school remotely. That would actually help me balance my need to get test rides in for Vital with my need to get school work done. If timing worked out, I could go also get out of out of town with friends for a weeklong roadtrip when school's out of session. Let me know! And maybe we could do an article about the experience, your business plan, availablity, cities served, etc. This is a pretty niche business plan, which means finding and communicating to your customer is important, and I imagine we have readers who would be looking for a service just like this.
It's really cool what you're looking to do, but as others have said, getting the formula right will be key. Seems like you're asking all the right questions, and cool that the Vital forums have been helpful.
-Charlie
No Buzzkilling at all. Appreciate the honesty. Yes Men are never helpful. Interesting that you say SF and LA aren't MTB cities. I ride a hardtail Jamis in the Marin Headlands often (but just throw it in the back of my Taco, no van needed).
Target market: Locals who want to go 1-8 hours away with a their BF/GF or a couple of buddies for a weekend/weeklong camping a MTB trip. I see them renting the van, then picking it up from our location, then driving it home to load up. I never have done air travel with a MTB, but it seems overly cumbersome.
"I would think the markets for these types of van rentals would be British Columbia, Colorado/Utah, and maybe the Tennessee/North Carolina/West Virginia corner of Appalachia."
"you better be in the perfect spot (e.g. Vancouver B.C., Bellingham WA, etc). In the latter, I’m not sure."
Very legit point. We are not in BC or WA. We do have a locations in Denver, Charlotte, and Nashville. I need to educate myself better on the best of the US MTB trails.
Thank you so much for your insight @Buckets Up !! I really want this to work and it's pretty much a 1 shot deal (if they even move fwd with this). So I need to geo target this to the right city at the right cost to the right people.
Charlie!
Sounds like you got some experience. Let's take this to DM and thank you for your submission!
-John
you really need to look at getting a location in seattle. this is a prime service for any kind of cyclist, and seattle has a really solid gravel/atb scene, and the road trips from seattle into the cascades or the olympic peninsula are incredible. Bend is i think 6 hours away, Mt Hood is 4.
We do have a location in Portland @seanfisseli I don't think SEA will be a new hub. But GTK on the bike trails. If we were to try something the Portland location would be the most probable test.
Cool to see you diversify your offerings. I rented with Bandago 5-6 years ago to take a handful of my friends to Yosemite. The crew was great to work with.
Fun read about MTB Vans. My wife and I live on the road full time and travel with 6 bikes(2 DH,2 Trail, 2 DJ) and 2 motos. We ride just about every day (try to). When we first started, we looked at Vans for the longest time and just couldn't come up with a reasonable way to build things out and fit all while allowing some comfort room. We ultimately decided to build out a trailer to fit everything and its been a blast. Has its own restrictions for sure but its fun! We have thought about a Van as a second vehicle with us for shorter goes in spots but still pondering that. Trailer life for now..
Anyways, I think the business plan is rad! Definitely location dependent... Layout is definitely important and finding that balance between everything set up for bike travel and maintenance etc but also the comfort room for the folks joining. Thankfully for the plan proposed, the inside build doesn't need to be anything crazy as its more about an escape from a tent versus setting up to live in.
Are these vans tall enough for bikes to have both wheels on and a bed over? Id assume so as so many do that with motos. Ive never been a fan of the thought of front wheels off. Especially with DH bikes. Just that extra bit of pain I would rather not deal with. I have always pondered a tray with 1UP rack style on it so bikes can be staggered in direction and kept close all while allowing for more than 2 bikes like most fans are set up for..
Its fun to think about. I like the idea an area to work on bikes as well. Would definitely make for a fun rig to do shorter trips with people!
Thank you!
Yes, it should be able to accommodate wheels on. You sound like our target market. As mentioned, the van (for how we will set it up) is probably best for parties of 2-4....where they all will travel comfortably and sleep in a better insulated, wind & waterproof shelter that keeps you and your gear safe from the bugs, critters, and the random vagabond.
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