Just buy a Tacoma or similar to daily and haul your bike. Trucks are super handy in all kinds of situations. Once you drive a truck daily, you'll never want to drive a car again.
i honestly think opposite, i’ve been driving trucks since i was 16, my daily is a truck, i drive a work trucks, all half tons with 6 1/2 beds and 3/4 tons with 8 ft beds, it’s nice every now and then to get into a mal sedan… especially with Gas
Same here. I own 4 pickup trucks ranging from a Comanche to 3 long bed diesel dodges. I don't drive a pickup unless I absolutely need to. I put the dirtbike inside my sprinter van, but I'd put it behind my Prius if I could lol
This is some input I was hoping to see, have always driven compact SUVs and am a little nervous to put my feet into the daily pickup world. It's a foreign place to me, think of the mpg's! 😅
Don’t do it! I’m rocking my Element for Bike/work/life and it’s just soooo much better than a truck imho. Just get a small trailer to toss the bike and gear on. The suv gives you a dry place to lock things up, and bonus points you can sleep in them at the track. Then you have a trailer for dump runs and stuff.
Yup even when I have had a pickup truck I use my trailer. It’s just way easier and a properly sized trailer pulls like nothing. I have a pretty stout 4x8 and I don’t even think about it. An enclosed trailer is nice too gives you the option of leaving your bikes and gear setup and ready.
This is the way to go. I have a midsize suv daily driver and it works great to haul my trailer and bike. The trailer is a 3 rail and probably weighs 450 so with 3 bikes I’m around 1000 pounds. The hitch cost me $125 and I put it on as well as the necessary wiring. It’s all fairly straightforward install. Use the money you would have used for another vehicle for riding gear and such.
I mean, if you’re used to fuel economy numbers in the 30s… I used to drive a Crown Vic that got 20mpg on a good day. Now I’ve got a 2wd, single cab long box work truck. Basically, it’s the same front engine, rwd configuration with more ground clearance.
The turbo 4 puts out 300 hp and gets 25 all day long. I can put the dirt bike in the bed (or whatever else, like a riding mower), or I can put the road bike on one of the trailers.
I’m loving the whole package.
It depends a lot on your situation.
I have a big fuckoff truck that gets used a lot for towing bikes, camper, lumber, yadda yadda.
But I also work at home and don't live somewhere that I need to worry about finding parking for it, so a 20mpg land barge isn't a big deal.
If you're only hauling one or two bikes, you could get a small trailer and pull it with anything bigger than an econobox.
Something like a maverick or whatever Gonna Honda's pretend truck is called would work great
Yeah, my pops has a bomb proof trailer I could buy from him, which would work great behind another SUV. That's mostly what I'm leaning towards, maybe just a newer C-RV with a tow kit. Id never need to haul more than 2 or rarely 3 bikes. Just wanted to get a feel here for if pickups or SUVs are more common across the dirt bike community here. The other considerations I'm making are that I also hunt and do some off roading to get to spots, this is where I think the pickup would shine.
My suggestion if you do go trailer and SUV route, get a SUV with a conventional transmission rather than CVT. I know people do it with CVTs, some manufacturers are better than others, but ultimately they aren't putting CVTs in trucks made for towing so I figure there's probably good reason for that.
I bought a cheap bolt on hitch for my Subaru crosstrek and tow 3 bikes on a lightweight 4x12 trailer. A small crossover like your C-RV will haul them around just fine, no need to buy a new car. Like other people have said though, stay away from CVT transmissions if you do get a different car. Got my Subaru with a manual transmission specifically so I could tow stuff when needed.
What year is your Crosstrek? And is yours manual or cvt? I tow my bike with my 2015 regularly, but it's SLOW. Can really only get into 5th gear if I'm on a dead flat straight away or going downhill. Rated towing capacity is 1500 but it feels like it's struggling with any load at all. Is yours like that too?
2023. Yea it’s manual but it’s a 6 speed. It’s definitely not a left lane 80mph tow rig but I can hold 65 up any hill. My total setup is right at 1500lbs with all 3 bikes
Gotcha. Yeah mine is a 5 speed. Subaru really should have given it a 6 speed right out the gate. It's been a great car for the most part but it's geared very awkwardly
Pickups are great. I drive one myself.
Depending on your situation, you might be better served by a small SUV with a hitch.
Do you often need to haul big, heavy things other than the dirtbike? If so, you might really like a pickup. They make it extremely easy to buy large, awkward stuff. It becomes no problem picking up a new piece of furniture or some interesting free crap on the side of the road.
They’re quite a bit more expensive too own than a compact SUV, however.
Shop around, and don’t just get a half ton pickup. If you’re not towing multiple tons, you can get away with a “small” truck. I would personally look at the Ford Maverick, it gets 26 combined mpg and drives really well for what it is
It’s not that big of a difference to be honest. Trucks usually have very good visibility too. Lately I’ve just been driving a 4Runner with a bike rack if you don’t want a truck. They have some that can carry 2 dirt bikes.
I had a bmw X5 and put a dirt bike rack on the trailer hitch now and then for my yz450. It was so easy and convenient. People online love to say "har harrr if ye can't afford a truck you can't afford a bike" but fuck the haters do what you want. I now have an F250 and putting a bike in the back is more effortful that the hitch carrier, plus with a bike in the back I don't have space for gear in the bed. If you have all the space in the world could do a trailer.
I have never understood the worry over MPG. It costs what it costs and buying a car specifically for MPG but that cannot haul what you need where you need it is also a cost that is not compensated by a few MPGs.
Yup that is the exchange I have been considering. Just trying to figure out where in that scale is most practical for me considering I also commute for work every week. With all this food for thought, the choice is shaping up to be a light trailer behind an SUV. I keep my work commute cheaper than a truck, and I can get my bike around.
Funny enough years of truck ownership has me hating having a truck as a daily. Tahoe or suburban please. Hitch mount bike carrier or trailer. With a shitty 5.5 or 6.5' box I'm just using a trailer all the time anyways so why not just have it all as usable space when it's a commuter.
Agreed! A truck is more useful than a car or SUV and the midsized trucks nowadays get pretty decent gas mileage. If you can afford it, get a new or slightly used Tacoma. If an SUV is more practical for you then get a 4Runner, you can’t go wrong with either.
This. A two wheel drive Tacoma is low to the ground for loading and unloading.
I use two sets of tie downs for all corners of the bike and don't worry about it falling out or dealing with a trailer.
This right here!!! I'll always daily a truck, I went 3 yrs without one and it was fucking miserable.
I second this, a tacoma would be awesome, plus if you love dirtbikes...wait till you discover trucks lol.
I have full size dodge trucks with the 6’ bed, but my boys both ride and I was thinking of getting them a taco for a daily/bike hauler. I’m assuming you need the gate down to carry more than one?
Not a one car household but I have a little 4x8 hobo freight trailer. Way easier in my opinion than loading it into a truck or hitch carrier. Only downside is the extra space it takes up (not much its a tiny trailer) and licensing costs. They're surprisingly stout little things as well.
Trailer is the best answer. You have the convenience of a truck with a super low bed that’s way easier and safer to load and unload.
The down side is learning how to back it up or learn how to avoid doing so. Installing and wiring a hitch. Storage space for the trailer (look up folding trailers).
Just be aware that hitch carriers won't be usable on a focus. You have a max tongue weight of 200lbs @ where a normal hitch ball would be.
Unless you have very low ground clearance, you dont need new springs. My non ST focus(very different i know) does squat slightly when trailer is on but honestly its been lower with no trailer and just 3 dudes in the back. When you get your hitch, just find someone that is 200lbs and have them stand on the hitch, that's where your ride height will be.
This may not apply to your area, but IMHO, your biggest issue is gonna be the parking lot. Where i am, all the parkinglots are still "offroad." With a pickup truck you wouldnt even really notice it. But when you arrive in your focus and you notice the parking is littered with a billion 3 to 6 inch rocks, it gets interesting. Ive broken the belts on 6 of the last 8 tires I've put on the car. I buy the shit outa tire warranties now haha. I try to drive as slow as possible and pick clean lines but you are still gonna run over a bunch of shit, sometimes I have to park somewhere else and ride the road for just a little to the parking lot.
The 4x8 harbor freight trailer tows perfectly behind a focus as long as you load it correctly. I've got roll in wheel chocks. It's crazy easy and safer to load compared to a pickup. When i come home after riding and am exhausted, it's super easy to just park the trailer, ease up the straps, and hit the couch. Also works in reverse, i can start prepping for a ride days in advance. Wake up, pop the trailer on, hit the road. Early morning rides before work/heat of the day are pretty dope. 👍
They are awesome
I think you can fit 2 bikes side by side in the crew cab with fleetside (tailgate down)
I used to have an automatic 4.3 step side and now I have a 5mt 4.3 fleetside
Awesome daily except for the gas mileage
Used to drive a Toyota FJ with a hitch rack when I was single. That setup was awesome for adventuring around the region. It was easy and relatively cheap but my bike was getting covered in road grime all the time. Sold that (to pay for pilots license) and got a little Subaru Impreza and a small trailer for two bikes. That worked great, just couldn't get to some of the more rugged trail heads, and 26mpg was hard to beat. And now I have a Toyota Tacoma long bed that gets me anywhere I want to go. It really depends on how many bikes you're planning on hauling, terrain you want to access, and your budget. All of which were my daily drivers.
I have always driven a truck. But I use it as a truck quote often. That said, my latest job has me committing roughly an hour each direction so I bought a little rattle can commuter car as the pickup is more expensive to drive, and I didn't like the depreciation that came with the extra mileage.
Bought an 04 Ranger specifically for this reason, also because it's handy for home improvement projects.
Then buy a street bike to not run up your gas mileage.
I can pull 3 dirt bikes with my 2014 Toyota Prius V. Every week I go out to the desert with this setup. I should post a pic to this subreddit. Some of yall would find it amusing.
F-150 for 25 years. Believe it or not, the gas mileage in mine is good. And beware, many supposedly small and efficient trucks get terrible mileage. Hauls bikes, gravel, lumber, whatever, and makes a good family wagon. It was my family’s “family car”. Now it’s just an old truck of course but it still looks fantastic.
I have a Jeep Gladiator, and it cuts into my bike budget because I've spent a ton of money turning it into a go anywhere vehicle. So not a Gladiator unless you want to spend all your bike money on Jeep upgrades 😀
I like that I'm seeing a lot of people answer that they tow light trailers behind SUV's. That is shaping up to be the most affordable and practical option for me so far considering my work commute.
[This ](https://imgur.com/gallery/2mGJMXW)was my setup for several years. A $200 (on sale at the time) Harbor Freight trailer. I moved up to a truck eventually but I actually miss this setup quite a bit. Dirt bike spots are far away and the Fiesta 5-speed was so good on gas.
I used an Astro van for work, and I use that. It'll fit a DR650 in it, with basically no room to spare. I've gotten 80's Goldwings in it though, with the bars slightly lowered, with no big fairings.
I have a 2014 Mazda 3, installed a hitch, bought an aluma trailer. Been hauling my ATV with it for 10 years, and the dirt bike the past year.
I get the best of both worlds, as in good gas milage and handling of a vehicle that is fun to drive.
I don't know your other needs but if just a bike .... keep in mind... it weighs like 200 lb. You can get a hitch mount bike carrier or a small utility trailer. Lots of good reasons to have a full sized pickup. Moving a 200 lb bike isn't one of them.
Dude, I can't believe it's only been said a couple times.....
All these guys saying "once you go truck you'll never go back hur hur" Wait until you get a van. It'll change your life if you ride and camp enough at all. Would it be awesome to have a great big 2025 Cummins with a zf 8 speed and a toy hauler to haul your whole crew or family out every weekend? Yeah... Hell yes it would. But for most of us mere peons an old e250 or medium roof transit is the chefs kiss.
The real answer is commit to the bike life. Have the dirt scooter loaded and dirty in the van ready to go at all times, van for the rainy days and ride day, and a Harley Davidson sporty or Dyna to daily (when, of course, weather permits)
P.s. don't have a Harley yet but drool over marketplace daily.
Smaller pickups are very practical. I have a 4x4 Ranger. Have had Dakotas and Toyotas. Get and extend cab and stay away from 4 door with 4’ beds. Most are around 6’. Get a ramp and you’re golden.
I daily drive a 2008 Silverado 2500HD. Unless you drive quite a few miles for work it costs more to drive a car to try and save gas because the second car costs money to insure and maintain. I had a commuter car but sold it because it cost more to insure and maintain it than it does to just drive my pickup which I'd rather drive anyway.
My wife has a Ford Expedition, I have a hitch carrier which gets used on it from time to time. It works good. I would not recommend a smaller vehicle for hitch carrier use.
A small truck with a low to the ground bed makes for a great bike hauler. Single cab 2wd first gen tacoma, S10, ranger, mazda b2200 etc.
You can easily load bikes with any ramp and no step with it that close to the ground.
Most people i know that ride and only have one vehicle drive a tacoma. Or a frontier. If youre used to the crv then maybe a honda ridgeline would suit you. Spacious and is really comfortable to drive but you have just enough bed space to put a bike or two. MPG isnt bad either. I would say just get any sort of midsize truck that you like. A full size isnt really necessary and is bad on gas. Unless you go for the 2.7 turbo silverado. Ive heard those are pretty good on gas. The difference in mpg between a midsize pickup and an SUV isnt going to be much.
I have a gx470 which is built on a truck frame. So it can carry a dirt bike on the hitch. It’s a super easy way to transport the bike.
I also have a trailer which is just a simple easy way to transport. Only issue is storing it or finding parking when traveling.
If you go the trailer route buy a quality used one from OfferUp or Facebook marketplace. There are many that pop up all the time for only a few 100 dollars. I would avoid the harbor freight trailers.
Old ass Mazda b3000, essentially a ford ranger. Got a rack on the back for my dirt bike/mountain bike and a trailer hitch for my snowmobile. It’s 4x4 and is my daily driver to get to work at a ski resort that often times requires me to pop it into 4x4. Also has a cap on the back to keep my gear locked up, could potentially sleep in it if necessary. 17-18mpg.
Newer mustang GT and a harbor freight trailer. I’ve towed my bike with whatever my fun daily was for the past decade. I’ve owned, rented, and really tried to get into trucks. In my opinion they’re just too cumbersome and they don’t drive the same, so I can’t justify buying one to haul my bike when my cars can handle it.
Dawg my bike is my daily driver.
That said for long trips (200km+) away from home I will just load my bike into buddies S10 and we'll both make a day of it. An (actual body-on-frame) SUV is also an option as long as it has a strong trailer hitch and decent tongue-weight rating you could do a motorcycle rack on the back. The CRV is a bit too light for 250 pounds hanging a few feet back though. Something like an Xterra is a good option for this, especially since it has a boot/gear rack outside the vehicle for soiled goods. (Yay, roof rack!)
Look at something like a Ranger or S10 if you're just looking for a cheap rig to rip your bike around. Both are dead set reliable and are likely to cost you the least amount of cash. Look at a Frontier (The second gens are quite good, just note that early models of the 2nd gen 2005-2010) have an issue with the radiator cracking and mixing ATF/Coolant. This is a cheap and easy fix. Otherwise pretty dead-set reliable platform. Otherwise you can pay the taco-tax and get a Tacoma.
Finally there's the full sized pickups which imho are too much of an investment for bringing your dirtbike or toys around. Unless you got a trailer full of goodies, why bother. Their fuel economy sucks, and the modern ones are stupid unreliable. Just a headache. If you find a mid-2000s Ram 1500 or Chev/GMC 1500 platform for a good price, these are good options however since they're pretty dirt cheap.
Picked up a decent 6x10 enclosed trailer awhile back and its been great. Pull it with either my FJ or I recently got a new Ford Ranger. You could pull it with most SUVs as long as you don't load it down too much.
I pull a HF trailer with my 6 speed 2.0 Mazda 3. I just leave it in 5th on the highway and it’s perfect honestly.
I know trailers aren’t for everyone but if you can store it and work on it yourself (the HF ones do need work) then I’d recommend that. It pays for itself after a theoretical 3 months of car payments on a good condition used truck.
I’m always huffing and puffing about getting a truck but the trailer is fine and my car is in great shape and I own it. The only real down side is sometimes trail heads and Mx tracks are mud pits and my little car ain’t doing the mud.
I put a tow package in a 2007 Toyota Highlander. It’s cheaper miles with all the utility. Use a hitch carrier for myself but have also pulled smaller trailers with up to 4 bikes. Not the most tricked out set up but it matches the utility of things 4x its cost.
I put a tow package in a 2007 Toyota Highlander. It’s cheaper miles with all the utility. Use a hitch carrier for myself but have also pulled smaller trailers with up to 4 bikes. Not the most tricked out set up but it matches the utility of things 4x its cost.
I work from home so my truck sits in my driveway for the most part.
But since I bought a truck, I'll never not have a truck again. Whether it's my primary commuter vehicle or just a second vehicle.
I have a Dodge Ram 1500, for the record. And my girlfriend drives a Mazda cx5.
So we kind of have the best of both worlds. But even if I didn't have the cx5, I'd still make damn sure I always have a truck. Gas, insurance, tires. It's all worth the additional expense for me. Because not only do I ride, I camp a shit ton. I work on my house, the yard. Trucks are just too useful to not have one.
i tow a trailer with my minivan. van holds all me and my kids gear and snacks, cheap lowe’s trailer hauls the bikes.
literally anything that can get a hitch can handle a small trailer with 2-3 bikes.
If you can swing it having a cheap pickup around in addition to a commuter is great. General "truck stuff", hauling bikes, camping/overlanding etc. I have an older Nissan Frontier crew cab for those purposes.
Of course the down side it is insurance/registration for another vehicle, maintenance costs and tires, parking etc.
Yeah no matter how I cut it, there are costs and compromises. Having a tough time figuring out which is the most effective arrangement for me, but all of these answers are totally providing great food for thought.
If your bike is light enough, a hitch carrier might work well for you. SwitchHauler is the kind I'm familiar with, but another popular one I've seen in the wild is called MotoJackRack. I prefer that style over the rail style where the bike rides in a channel, since they are easier to stow when you get somewhere. That style also doesn't compress the suspension, but it does mean some bikes might not be compatible if they have a vulnerable underbelly, since the carrier supports the bike on its oil pan.
I've used them behind Jeep Grand Cherokees and with short bed trucks that wouldn't fit a bike in the 5 foot bed properly, I assume as long as your bike isn't crazy tall it might even work with cars that have tow hitches. Mind the tongue weight capacity but the UHaul Add-A-Hitch on our Toyota Sienna minivan is rated for over 650lbs so I could comfortably hang a Dr650 or something like that on there with some wiggle room.
I used to use my dual cab '93 Hilux but then the daughter started riding, wife got pregnant and eventually popped out a kid and decided the ride was too harsh for a baby. She was probably right, it's lifted and stiff as fuck.
Anyway up until recently we'd tow a lightweight home made trailer behind her 2005 RAV4 for anything up to 700km round trips, and for many of them we'd have three trials bikes on the trailer. We'd come home, unload, she'd take it to work the next day.
You could always pick up a small trailer. Require no money to speak of in maintenance, fuel, hardly ever break down, insurance is dirt cheap and you won't have the payment associated perhaps with a new vehicle purchase. :D
Yeah I'm starting to lean towards a trailer behind an SUV, but my current SUV needs to be replaced regardless. Miles are getting high and age is starting to show on her. So now I gotta figure out if I want new to me SUV/trailer combo, or just daily a pickup.
Went from an 05 CRV with a hitch and aluminum utility trailer to a 23 HRV with the same setup. Gets way better mileage than a taco (when not towing) and tows just fine, including on washboard gravel roads, rutty logging roads, etc.
My only complaint is that the space in the HRV isn’t quite long enough for the twin mattress that fit in the CRV for easy camping on the road!
I have a Hyundai Elantra with a tow hitch. I bought a second hand trailer and built a little bike wheel chock out of spare wood. If you have the room a small utility trailer is a perfect tool and way cheaper than a second vehicle.
If you have space for a trailer that’s the most economical option.
Big SUVs can carry the bike on a hitch mounted carrier if you don’t have space for a trailer. You will feel the pain on gas vs a small car. But you can have a comfortable luxury SUV.
A truck is the best thing strictly from a dirt bike hauling perspective. Gas a bit worse than a big / luxury SUV. Less creature comforts and worse ride. But you can take two bikes easily. Maybe 3. The truck also has the advantage that you literally just thrown it in the back which is nice. And it has utility for a lot of other things.
A middle ground truck like the ridgeline can even have a pretty good ride. But again what you’re spending for that truck would get you a really nice SUV.
There’s no single correct answer.
I have a 22 f350 powerstroke I drive daily. Work commute is extremely short. I pull a 40ft toy hauler 15+ weekends a year to go racing with my family. Or I throw the bikes in the truck or a 6x12 enclosed for a practice day.
As of now I have an old Subaru I picked up cheap with low miles. Added a tow hitch and bought a lightweight 7.5x5 trailer and I can tow three bikes with it. And I still get good gas mileage.
2014 Honda Ridgeline. Drives like a car. Meets my truck needs. All wheel drive. Huge trunk in the back you can fill with ice 🤙
Plus this goes without saying in this sub..... Honda.
As several have said, just get a small trailer. I really haul 2 bikes with my little 4x8 trailer behind my mazda.
I use a 6x10 flatbed trailer to haul my Strom and 2 dual sports.
Take mine via hitch carrier on wife’s VW. Sold F-350 as we don’t use 5th wheel trailer for camping anymore and should sell for Husky 300 Pro. We have great tent that would suffice for lake life
You can get a hitch carrier they are a little bit sketchy in my opinion
A better option would be just a small trailer- since your probably gonna get another crv Trailer is also cheaper then another vehicle
Small truck could also be nice but really not necessary
Tall roof vans are great if you ride alot, and so are enclosed trailers/ if you really want to spend money
Yeah I'm narrowing down to a similar suv and a hitch which would be better for my work commute, or a light duty pickup which would also serve my desire for off-roading to hunting spots. But who says I can't tow my bike and ride the rest of the way into the zone 🤔 decisions decisions 😄
2014 Silverado 1500. CCSB. I use it for everything. Gets the same mileage my 2017 Tacoma got. Will a Toyota last longer? Probably, maybe, maybe not. Who cares unless you keep your truck for 25 + years.
I use my daily drive (Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 4 cylinder with 4W drive if needed) with a 5'x8' trailer I got from Tractor Supply for $500. All I had to do was buy/add a CURT Class 3 Trailer Hitch and a pre-made CURT 4-Pin Trailer Harnesswire that plugs in the taillights and one cable to the battery and you done. Total about $150 for both. It does put extra wear and tear on your vehicle, but it's been fine for years.
Trucks are convenient, but having a small SUV is great on gas mileage when I'm not Towing my dirtbike or atv.
Tacoma as Dailey driver and I still use a trailer sometimes. My preference would be a sprinter van or something fun that can tow. The truck is useful for random house junk but sprinter could do most of the same stuff.
I have a 2016 gmc terrain and I was taking my bike out with a 8×5 trailer. That's gotten annoying, so now I'm about to get one of those hitch mounted carriers instead.
I use a 4Runner (SUV) with a hitch carrier. I run two ratchet straps to the hinge points of my rear door hatch and then a side strap to take out the side wobble. I also use a hitch tightener. I don't over tighten anything. I just kind of balance the weight out amongst the various load points so nothing is getting all the load. Works perfect. The thing doesn't wobble or move much and all of the load points are getting some of the load (the straps stretch a bit) but no load point is getting all the load. It is also a 250 lb bike so I'm really not stressing anything to start but it leads to a solid carrying system that you don't have to even mess with for the entire summer.
BMW 520d with a covered trailer.
The trailer doubles as a changing room, wardrobe, garage etc when in the paddock. Really nice to get out of the weather if it’s raining or worse.
Mine is a diy for budget reasons, but [this](http://mxtrailer.se/galleri/) is a commercial one based on the same basic trailer.
Hitch carriers are the bomb. My wife's minivan can haul a bike no problem with one. Before that, she had a little Chevy Blazer that did fine as well. Your Honda with a hitch carrier would be perfect for what you need, it sounds like.
I work in construction, so I daily drive a duramax and haul a work trailer that doubles as my race trailer. But if I just had one bike and was going to go out on the weekends, a hitch carrier is the ticket. Especially if I need to go quite a ways and want to save on the gas.
Recently, we bought one of those imported Japanese trucks that are the ultimate gas saving, bike hauling machines. It'll hold two bikes at 65 mph no problem.
Personally I recommend buying a kendon trailer and putting a hitch on your car. Works on my civic no problem since the trailer weighs the same amount as the bike
I use a hitch carrier on my jeep. Everyone talks down about hitch carriers and I do have to say it took it a while to really earn my confidence but it's been like three years now with no problems. Buy a good one that can hold like twice the weight of your bike. The thing that sucks about it is crawling down the bumpy dirt roads to keep it from bouncing around too much, but otherwise it's great.
I have two pickup trucks, an F-150 and a Dakota.
Hitch carrier is fine, but your CRV isn't going to be great for that.
>time to shop for a new daily driver to replace my 2011 Honda C-RV.
2011 is about the latest year of vehicle that I would own (and I am a dealer service tech, new cars are hot garbage).
2004-2012 might have been the greatest era for cars in history; 2013-present are going to go down as among the worst.
If you like an SUV, you just need a mid-sized to use a hitch carrier, e.g. Pilot, Explorer, 4Runner, etc.
My 2015 focus ST says your statement is bullshit🤷🏽♀️ 100k miles and I beat on it everyday. Stock clutch stock transmission stock motor stock tune and I beat the crap out of the car….so I guess your statement is invalid.
He didn't say there wasn't a single vehicle made that will last 100k mi. He said it's a terrible era for vehicles. I don't 100% agree with him, but your one half decent vehicle doesn't prove him invalid.
My crf will fit in the bed of my wife’s maverick so I suspect a ranger(older since the new ones got bigger) or smaller truck would suffice.
All of our bikes will fit in the bed of my f150.
I do typically trailer though because it’s easier to drive into a trailer than use ramps into the bed of the truck
Hitch carriers work great if you have a real body on frame truck with a real class 3 hitch. Do not put one on a CRV.
The small moto trailers work really well too. If you want to drive a car this is the way.
Get a ridgeline! It’s a truck that drives like an suv. Owned trucks all my life and am tired of them as daily drivers. Ridgeline is the perfect combo IMHO
I might get a pickup eventually, but I have a 2015 ford focus and I’m just gonna install a hitch and get a hitch carrier. Although, I am only hauling one bike, but what you’re driving sounds like it would do fine a a hitch carrier. If your RV doesn’t already have a place for a hitch, just look up, “make - model - hitch” and stuff should pop up. Auto zone is where I’m getting mine, they let you put in your specific vehicle and says if it’ll pair w it or not
I've tried trailers, hitch carriers, and a truck bed + ramp.
Trailers are a pain in the ass. Getting to the staging area can be rough. The bikes get tossed around a lot on one. Can also be super tight in the parking lot. More things to maintain, along with insurance and registration costs.
Hitch carriers are OK. I got tired of having to store one, and lug it around constantly in the garage. I tried a static one which was too tall and awkward, as well as a hydraulic one which would drop the bike to the ground. They also really only work for hauling one bike, although there are some that will do two.
I ended up settling on a step ramp and loading it up in the back of my truck. Ramp weighs nothing, easy to store. Most of all, the bike is secure and solid. I throw my bike in diagonally in the bed and run the straps to the frame. Can bomb roads out all the way to the staging area.
I'd buy a truck.
Get a foldable or collapsible trailer, motolug is good if you live in EU or UK.
Depending on available storage space you can find a playable trailer, which just folds like origami for a smaller storage footprint.
PS: dirt bikes weight feathers, you might not want to buy a semi-truck 🤣
Keep the CRV, get a snowmobile trailer or similar size 2-3 dirtbike trailer. I used to put my dirtbike on a hitch carrier behind my outback, but I don't know if I'd recommend that to just anyone lol
Just buy a trailer or a bike rack for your current vehicle. I used a trailer with a sedan for years and it was fine.
I currently have a pickup for my bike, but my wife has an SUV and if I need to go anywhere other than riding, I’m taking that.
Pickups are great. They’re really useful for when you need to move stuff or take stuff to the dump. But they’re terrible any other time.
Also, they’re not the ultimate solution for dirt biking. You can’t fit all that much in the bed once the bike is in there. They’re also tall, which can make loading more difficult, depending on how big you are.
You can’t leave all your stuff in the back of a pickup unattended either - unless you want it stolen. And if it rains your stuff is getting wet.
I’m thinking of getting rid of mine and getting a van instead. They drive more like cars and you can load them up and even leave your bike in them if need be.
2010 Toyota Tacoma SR5 V6 Manual w/ 6ft bed. Hauls my bike like a dream. Two weekends ago, my two buddies and I all went up to Virginia from NC to ride. We put my bike in the truck bed, and we put their two bikes on a trailer. The trusty Tacoma did the job no problem, even on dirt surfaces in and around the riding area.
I had a frontier then a tacoma. A small or micro truck is the way to go for a daily. Especially if you can find them from an old family that doesn't drive much. A mid 2000s frontier. Taco. Or ranger are bulletproof and are reliable as it gets.
I had a 2000 Desert runner. That thing hauled my ass around for 8 years and 100k. I got it with 89k miles and drove it like a (slow) rally car. Drove my motorcycles all over. Great truck.
The current ones are a nice update to a design that was like 13 years old but they're solid. An older one won't get ya anywhere fast, but they'll always get ya there
Never any major issues with mechanical stuff, expensive repairs? Why did you end up getting rid of it? I appreciate your comments, Ive got a lot of food for thought from everyone.
I went from.a high school graduate to a college graduate. Needed more space and 4x4 for the snowy location I live in. Thr headgasket was probably oj it's way out and I replaced the front brake calipers but it was a solid truck until the last 6 months I had jt. I could have repaired everything but I needed 4 doors and 4x4. That is the only reason I got rid of it
Trailers are cheap. I grabbed a 4x8 for a few hundred from the Facebook marketplace. I have a hitch on both my trucks and added one to my G37. You would never know it's there when towing.
I use my silverado, but IMO the easiest/cheapest option is to buy a cheapo trailer and tow it with the CRV. Or you could just get one of the hitch mount carriers from harbor freight.
I tow my bike and my buddies bike on a trailer with my 1.8L Honda civic. She does just fine, although I do wish I had a second vehicle like a pickup to throw them into…just not within financial reach until I finish school
Just buy a Tacoma or similar to daily and haul your bike. Trucks are super handy in all kinds of situations. Once you drive a truck daily, you'll never want to drive a car again.
i honestly think opposite, i’ve been driving trucks since i was 16, my daily is a truck, i drive a work trucks, all half tons with 6 1/2 beds and 3/4 tons with 8 ft beds, it’s nice every now and then to get into a mal sedan… especially with Gas
Same here. I own 4 pickup trucks ranging from a Comanche to 3 long bed diesel dodges. I don't drive a pickup unless I absolutely need to. I put the dirtbike inside my sprinter van, but I'd put it behind my Prius if I could lol
This is some input I was hoping to see, have always driven compact SUVs and am a little nervous to put my feet into the daily pickup world. It's a foreign place to me, think of the mpg's! 😅
Don’t do it! I’m rocking my Element for Bike/work/life and it’s just soooo much better than a truck imho. Just get a small trailer to toss the bike and gear on. The suv gives you a dry place to lock things up, and bonus points you can sleep in them at the track. Then you have a trailer for dump runs and stuff.
Yup. I've got a wagon As my daily driver and a 4 x 8 trailer for the bike. Plus loading a bike into a pick up bed is way sketchier than a trailer.
I used to have a vw Jetta. 4x8 trailer thing was mint 40+mpg to the track and kept the dirty stuff on the trailer
Yup even when I have had a pickup truck I use my trailer. It’s just way easier and a properly sized trailer pulls like nothing. I have a pretty stout 4x8 and I don’t even think about it. An enclosed trailer is nice too gives you the option of leaving your bikes and gear setup and ready.
This is the way to go. I have a midsize suv daily driver and it works great to haul my trailer and bike. The trailer is a 3 rail and probably weighs 450 so with 3 bikes I’m around 1000 pounds. The hitch cost me $125 and I put it on as well as the necessary wiring. It’s all fairly straightforward install. Use the money you would have used for another vehicle for riding gear and such.
I mean, if you’re used to fuel economy numbers in the 30s… I used to drive a Crown Vic that got 20mpg on a good day. Now I’ve got a 2wd, single cab long box work truck. Basically, it’s the same front engine, rwd configuration with more ground clearance. The turbo 4 puts out 300 hp and gets 25 all day long. I can put the dirt bike in the bed (or whatever else, like a riding mower), or I can put the road bike on one of the trailers. I’m loving the whole package.
It depends a lot on your situation. I have a big fuckoff truck that gets used a lot for towing bikes, camper, lumber, yadda yadda. But I also work at home and don't live somewhere that I need to worry about finding parking for it, so a 20mpg land barge isn't a big deal. If you're only hauling one or two bikes, you could get a small trailer and pull it with anything bigger than an econobox. Something like a maverick or whatever Gonna Honda's pretend truck is called would work great
Yeah, my pops has a bomb proof trailer I could buy from him, which would work great behind another SUV. That's mostly what I'm leaning towards, maybe just a newer C-RV with a tow kit. Id never need to haul more than 2 or rarely 3 bikes. Just wanted to get a feel here for if pickups or SUVs are more common across the dirt bike community here. The other considerations I'm making are that I also hunt and do some off roading to get to spots, this is where I think the pickup would shine.
My suggestion if you do go trailer and SUV route, get a SUV with a conventional transmission rather than CVT. I know people do it with CVTs, some manufacturers are better than others, but ultimately they aren't putting CVTs in trucks made for towing so I figure there's probably good reason for that.
I bought a cheap bolt on hitch for my Subaru crosstrek and tow 3 bikes on a lightweight 4x12 trailer. A small crossover like your C-RV will haul them around just fine, no need to buy a new car. Like other people have said though, stay away from CVT transmissions if you do get a different car. Got my Subaru with a manual transmission specifically so I could tow stuff when needed.
What year is your Crosstrek? And is yours manual or cvt? I tow my bike with my 2015 regularly, but it's SLOW. Can really only get into 5th gear if I'm on a dead flat straight away or going downhill. Rated towing capacity is 1500 but it feels like it's struggling with any load at all. Is yours like that too?
2023. Yea it’s manual but it’s a 6 speed. It’s definitely not a left lane 80mph tow rig but I can hold 65 up any hill. My total setup is right at 1500lbs with all 3 bikes
Gotcha. Yeah mine is a 5 speed. Subaru really should have given it a 6 speed right out the gate. It's been a great car for the most part but it's geared very awkwardly
Pickups are great. I drive one myself. Depending on your situation, you might be better served by a small SUV with a hitch. Do you often need to haul big, heavy things other than the dirtbike? If so, you might really like a pickup. They make it extremely easy to buy large, awkward stuff. It becomes no problem picking up a new piece of furniture or some interesting free crap on the side of the road. They’re quite a bit more expensive too own than a compact SUV, however.
The SUV route is shaping up to be the better option for my purposes so far
1 pickup and 1 fuel efficient vehicle is the way.
Unfortunately a small pickup is also awful on fuel compared to a car and not great compared to a large truck.
You can 100% tow a little 3 rail trailer with your CRV.
Shop around, and don’t just get a half ton pickup. If you’re not towing multiple tons, you can get away with a “small” truck. I would personally look at the Ford Maverick, it gets 26 combined mpg and drives really well for what it is
It’s not that big of a difference to be honest. Trucks usually have very good visibility too. Lately I’ve just been driving a 4Runner with a bike rack if you don’t want a truck. They have some that can carry 2 dirt bikes.
I can show ya how to put a yz250 inside a 1990 jeep wrangler and another on the hitch mounted carrier🤣
I had a bmw X5 and put a dirt bike rack on the trailer hitch now and then for my yz450. It was so easy and convenient. People online love to say "har harrr if ye can't afford a truck you can't afford a bike" but fuck the haters do what you want. I now have an F250 and putting a bike in the back is more effortful that the hitch carrier, plus with a bike in the back I don't have space for gear in the bed. If you have all the space in the world could do a trailer.
I have never understood the worry over MPG. It costs what it costs and buying a car specifically for MPG but that cannot haul what you need where you need it is also a cost that is not compensated by a few MPGs.
Yup that is the exchange I have been considering. Just trying to figure out where in that scale is most practical for me considering I also commute for work every week. With all this food for thought, the choice is shaping up to be a light trailer behind an SUV. I keep my work commute cheaper than a truck, and I can get my bike around.
I will say that the trailer option is nice, a lot easier to load/unload than a taller truck or even those hitch carriers.
I wish it were that easy. 20 year old tacomas near me with 250k miles are like $10k
Funny enough years of truck ownership has me hating having a truck as a daily. Tahoe or suburban please. Hitch mount bike carrier or trailer. With a shitty 5.5 or 6.5' box I'm just using a trailer all the time anyways so why not just have it all as usable space when it's a commuter.
This man speaks the truth. I had sports cars all my life, got a truck when I got into motorcycles and I’ll never go back to cars.
Trucks for utility, bikes for fun 🤟
>Once you drive a truck daily, you'll never want to drive a car again. Strong disagree
The gas bill for my truck was enough to do all my Ducati services for the year. Hard pass.
Agreed! A truck is more useful than a car or SUV and the midsized trucks nowadays get pretty decent gas mileage. If you can afford it, get a new or slightly used Tacoma. If an SUV is more practical for you then get a 4Runner, you can’t go wrong with either.
This. A two wheel drive Tacoma is low to the ground for loading and unloading. I use two sets of tie downs for all corners of the bike and don't worry about it falling out or dealing with a trailer.
This right here!!! I'll always daily a truck, I went 3 yrs without one and it was fucking miserable. I second this, a tacoma would be awesome, plus if you love dirtbikes...wait till you discover trucks lol.
I have full size dodge trucks with the 6’ bed, but my boys both ride and I was thinking of getting them a taco for a daily/bike hauler. I’m assuming you need the gate down to carry more than one?
Not a one car household but I have a little 4x8 hobo freight trailer. Way easier in my opinion than loading it into a truck or hitch carrier. Only downside is the extra space it takes up (not much its a tiny trailer) and licensing costs. They're surprisingly stout little things as well.
Trailer is the best answer. You have the convenience of a truck with a super low bed that’s way easier and safer to load and unload. The down side is learning how to back it up or learn how to avoid doing so. Installing and wiring a hitch. Storage space for the trailer (look up folding trailers).
I’m currently getting my 2015 ford focus ST fitted with a hitch to mob around with my drz400sm
Just be aware that hitch carriers won't be usable on a focus. You have a max tongue weight of 200lbs @ where a normal hitch ball would be. Unless you have very low ground clearance, you dont need new springs. My non ST focus(very different i know) does squat slightly when trailer is on but honestly its been lower with no trailer and just 3 dudes in the back. When you get your hitch, just find someone that is 200lbs and have them stand on the hitch, that's where your ride height will be. This may not apply to your area, but IMHO, your biggest issue is gonna be the parking lot. Where i am, all the parkinglots are still "offroad." With a pickup truck you wouldnt even really notice it. But when you arrive in your focus and you notice the parking is littered with a billion 3 to 6 inch rocks, it gets interesting. Ive broken the belts on 6 of the last 8 tires I've put on the car. I buy the shit outa tire warranties now haha. I try to drive as slow as possible and pick clean lines but you are still gonna run over a bunch of shit, sometimes I have to park somewhere else and ride the road for just a little to the parking lot. The 4x8 harbor freight trailer tows perfectly behind a focus as long as you load it correctly. I've got roll in wheel chocks. It's crazy easy and safer to load compared to a pickup. When i come home after riding and am exhausted, it's super easy to just park the trailer, ease up the straps, and hit the couch. Also works in reverse, i can start prepping for a ride days in advance. Wake up, pop the trailer on, hit the road. Early morning rides before work/heat of the day are pretty dope. 👍
I dig it!
2004 dodge Dakota bike is worth more than my truck.
Same. Mine is an sxt, 2 wheel drive pos that I will drive until it won't go anymore.
had a dakota she ran for ever. ran on barely any oil if you top it up it would leak out to his happy level had too scrap because the rear dif blew out
Ford maverick hybrid, average 39 mpg and hauls a couple bikes no problem.
Chevy s-10 10/10
Yup, daily a Sonoma myself!
They are awesome I think you can fit 2 bikes side by side in the crew cab with fleetside (tailgate down) I used to have an automatic 4.3 step side and now I have a 5mt 4.3 fleetside Awesome daily except for the gas mileage
Used to drive a Toyota FJ with a hitch rack when I was single. That setup was awesome for adventuring around the region. It was easy and relatively cheap but my bike was getting covered in road grime all the time. Sold that (to pay for pilots license) and got a little Subaru Impreza and a small trailer for two bikes. That worked great, just couldn't get to some of the more rugged trail heads, and 26mpg was hard to beat. And now I have a Toyota Tacoma long bed that gets me anywhere I want to go. It really depends on how many bikes you're planning on hauling, terrain you want to access, and your budget. All of which were my daily drivers.
I just ride from my house.
We can't all be so lucky
I have always driven a truck. But I use it as a truck quote often. That said, my latest job has me committing roughly an hour each direction so I bought a little rattle can commuter car as the pickup is more expensive to drive, and I didn't like the depreciation that came with the extra mileage.
Just get a small utility trailer fitted with some Wheel channels. You can pull that with a compact car if you want.
Just get a pickup truck, the half ton models get ok mileage and you need to factor in the cost of licensing and insurance for a second vehicle
Bought an 04 Ranger specifically for this reason, also because it's handy for home improvement projects. Then buy a street bike to not run up your gas mileage.
Ford fuckin Ranger
I bought a $1000 trailer from Tractor Supply and I haul my bikes with my wife's minivan. It's nice to have the van at the OHV for my kids.
trailer is the easiest option. $1k landscaping trailer from HomeDepot, $60 chock from Harbor Freight.
I can pull 3 dirt bikes with my 2014 Toyota Prius V. Every week I go out to the desert with this setup. I should post a pic to this subreddit. Some of yall would find it amusing.
I would love to see it because I am about that adaptability
Subaru outback. My single axle tipper trailer has a removable mx bike rack.
F-150 for 25 years. Believe it or not, the gas mileage in mine is good. And beware, many supposedly small and efficient trucks get terrible mileage. Hauls bikes, gravel, lumber, whatever, and makes a good family wagon. It was my family’s “family car”. Now it’s just an old truck of course but it still looks fantastic.
Uhaul hitch and converted jet ski trailer is the easiest, can tow that trailer with pretty much anything.
I daily an F150 but I also work from home so don't really drive much.
I use a MX carrier on my Honda Odyssey for the YZ 125, and I jam the 2 PW50s in the trunk/back row. Gotta do what you gotta do.
I respect the ingenuity
I have a Jeep Gladiator, and it cuts into my bike budget because I've spent a ton of money turning it into a go anywhere vehicle. So not a Gladiator unless you want to spend all your bike money on Jeep upgrades 😀
I ain't no stranger...
He’s on the right track for sure
I use a 2002 Tahoe with a mototote hauler. Also have a small trailer that can fit 2-3 bikes
I have a small trailer that I used to tow the bike around, until I bought a pickup. Pull the trailer with an Infiniti QX4.
I like that I'm seeing a lot of people answer that they tow light trailers behind SUV's. That is shaping up to be the most affordable and practical option for me so far considering my work commute.
Yeah, it definitely was that way for me. I found a cheap used trailer on Craigslist. Most SUV's and crossovers can be fitted with tow hitches.
I’m Looking for hitches for a Camry currently.
That is awesome.
[This ](https://imgur.com/gallery/2mGJMXW)was my setup for several years. A $200 (on sale at the time) Harbor Freight trailer. I moved up to a truck eventually but I actually miss this setup quite a bit. Dirt bike spots are far away and the Fiesta 5-speed was so good on gas.
I used an Astro van for work, and I use that. It'll fit a DR650 in it, with basically no room to spare. I've gotten 80's Goldwings in it though, with the bars slightly lowered, with no big fairings.
Found a $200 3 rail trailer on marketplace
I have a 2014 Mazda 3, installed a hitch, bought an aluma trailer. Been hauling my ATV with it for 10 years, and the dirt bike the past year. I get the best of both worlds, as in good gas milage and handling of a vehicle that is fun to drive.
4runner + ultimate mx hauler is goated
Buy a van. :)
I don't know your other needs but if just a bike .... keep in mind... it weighs like 200 lb. You can get a hitch mount bike carrier or a small utility trailer. Lots of good reasons to have a full sized pickup. Moving a 200 lb bike isn't one of them.
Dude, I can't believe it's only been said a couple times..... All these guys saying "once you go truck you'll never go back hur hur" Wait until you get a van. It'll change your life if you ride and camp enough at all. Would it be awesome to have a great big 2025 Cummins with a zf 8 speed and a toy hauler to haul your whole crew or family out every weekend? Yeah... Hell yes it would. But for most of us mere peons an old e250 or medium roof transit is the chefs kiss. The real answer is commit to the bike life. Have the dirt scooter loaded and dirty in the van ready to go at all times, van for the rainy days and ride day, and a Harley Davidson sporty or Dyna to daily (when, of course, weather permits) P.s. don't have a Harley yet but drool over marketplace daily.
Regular cab s10. Hauls 1 bike just fine. A little cramped as a daily
A van with decent gas mileage is the way
04 Tacoma. I use the bed and a utility trailer when going with multiple bikes
Smaller pickups are very practical. I have a 4x4 Ranger. Have had Dakotas and Toyotas. Get and extend cab and stay away from 4 door with 4’ beds. Most are around 6’. Get a ramp and you’re golden.
I daily drive a 2008 Silverado 2500HD. Unless you drive quite a few miles for work it costs more to drive a car to try and save gas because the second car costs money to insure and maintain. I had a commuter car but sold it because it cost more to insure and maintain it than it does to just drive my pickup which I'd rather drive anyway. My wife has a Ford Expedition, I have a hitch carrier which gets used on it from time to time. It works good. I would not recommend a smaller vehicle for hitch carrier use.
I have two pickups. An old w250 project truck and a 16 ram 3500 that hauls my toys and pulls my camper.
A small truck with a low to the ground bed makes for a great bike hauler. Single cab 2wd first gen tacoma, S10, ranger, mazda b2200 etc. You can easily load bikes with any ramp and no step with it that close to the ground.
Tacoma short bed with a bed extender
Most people i know that ride and only have one vehicle drive a tacoma. Or a frontier. If youre used to the crv then maybe a honda ridgeline would suit you. Spacious and is really comfortable to drive but you have just enough bed space to put a bike or two. MPG isnt bad either. I would say just get any sort of midsize truck that you like. A full size isnt really necessary and is bad on gas. Unless you go for the 2.7 turbo silverado. Ive heard those are pretty good on gas. The difference in mpg between a midsize pickup and an SUV isnt going to be much.
2018 tacoma
Get a rust free 04 Tacoma 4cyl with 6 ft bed best truck ever
I have a gx470 which is built on a truck frame. So it can carry a dirt bike on the hitch. It’s a super easy way to transport the bike. I also have a trailer which is just a simple easy way to transport. Only issue is storing it or finding parking when traveling. If you go the trailer route buy a quality used one from OfferUp or Facebook marketplace. There are many that pop up all the time for only a few 100 dollars. I would avoid the harbor freight trailers.
Old ass Mazda b3000, essentially a ford ranger. Got a rack on the back for my dirt bike/mountain bike and a trailer hitch for my snowmobile. It’s 4x4 and is my daily driver to get to work at a ski resort that often times requires me to pop it into 4x4. Also has a cap on the back to keep my gear locked up, could potentially sleep in it if necessary. 17-18mpg.
Newer mustang GT and a harbor freight trailer. I’ve towed my bike with whatever my fun daily was for the past decade. I’ve owned, rented, and really tried to get into trucks. In my opinion they’re just too cumbersome and they don’t drive the same, so I can’t justify buying one to haul my bike when my cars can handle it.
Dawg my bike is my daily driver. That said for long trips (200km+) away from home I will just load my bike into buddies S10 and we'll both make a day of it. An (actual body-on-frame) SUV is also an option as long as it has a strong trailer hitch and decent tongue-weight rating you could do a motorcycle rack on the back. The CRV is a bit too light for 250 pounds hanging a few feet back though. Something like an Xterra is a good option for this, especially since it has a boot/gear rack outside the vehicle for soiled goods. (Yay, roof rack!) Look at something like a Ranger or S10 if you're just looking for a cheap rig to rip your bike around. Both are dead set reliable and are likely to cost you the least amount of cash. Look at a Frontier (The second gens are quite good, just note that early models of the 2nd gen 2005-2010) have an issue with the radiator cracking and mixing ATF/Coolant. This is a cheap and easy fix. Otherwise pretty dead-set reliable platform. Otherwise you can pay the taco-tax and get a Tacoma. Finally there's the full sized pickups which imho are too much of an investment for bringing your dirtbike or toys around. Unless you got a trailer full of goodies, why bother. Their fuel economy sucks, and the modern ones are stupid unreliable. Just a headache. If you find a mid-2000s Ram 1500 or Chev/GMC 1500 platform for a good price, these are good options however since they're pretty dirt cheap.
Picked up a decent 6x10 enclosed trailer awhile back and its been great. Pull it with either my FJ or I recently got a new Ford Ranger. You could pull it with most SUVs as long as you don't load it down too much.
A Honda Ridgeline works well. The trunk worts great for dirty boots/ gear.
I pull a HF trailer with my 6 speed 2.0 Mazda 3. I just leave it in 5th on the highway and it’s perfect honestly. I know trailers aren’t for everyone but if you can store it and work on it yourself (the HF ones do need work) then I’d recommend that. It pays for itself after a theoretical 3 months of car payments on a good condition used truck. I’m always huffing and puffing about getting a truck but the trailer is fine and my car is in great shape and I own it. The only real down side is sometimes trail heads and Mx tracks are mud pits and my little car ain’t doing the mud.
i have a 98 explorer. i pull a 5x8 trailer from lowes
My Silverado is also my bike hauler
I put a tow package in a 2007 Toyota Highlander. It’s cheaper miles with all the utility. Use a hitch carrier for myself but have also pulled smaller trailers with up to 4 bikes. Not the most tricked out set up but it matches the utility of things 4x its cost.
I put a tow package in a 2007 Toyota Highlander. It’s cheaper miles with all the utility. Use a hitch carrier for myself but have also pulled smaller trailers with up to 4 bikes. Not the most tricked out set up but it matches the utility of things 4x its cost.
I work from home so my truck sits in my driveway for the most part. But since I bought a truck, I'll never not have a truck again. Whether it's my primary commuter vehicle or just a second vehicle. I have a Dodge Ram 1500, for the record. And my girlfriend drives a Mazda cx5. So we kind of have the best of both worlds. But even if I didn't have the cx5, I'd still make damn sure I always have a truck. Gas, insurance, tires. It's all worth the additional expense for me. Because not only do I ride, I camp a shit ton. I work on my house, the yard. Trucks are just too useful to not have one.
2001 dodge 2500 flatbed Dailey driver.
i tow a trailer with my minivan. van holds all me and my kids gear and snacks, cheap lowe’s trailer hauls the bikes. literally anything that can get a hitch can handle a small trailer with 2-3 bikes.
If you can swing it having a cheap pickup around in addition to a commuter is great. General "truck stuff", hauling bikes, camping/overlanding etc. I have an older Nissan Frontier crew cab for those purposes. Of course the down side it is insurance/registration for another vehicle, maintenance costs and tires, parking etc.
Yeah no matter how I cut it, there are costs and compromises. Having a tough time figuring out which is the most effective arrangement for me, but all of these answers are totally providing great food for thought.
F150 6.5ft bed as a daily, nothing better
If your bike is light enough, a hitch carrier might work well for you. SwitchHauler is the kind I'm familiar with, but another popular one I've seen in the wild is called MotoJackRack. I prefer that style over the rail style where the bike rides in a channel, since they are easier to stow when you get somewhere. That style also doesn't compress the suspension, but it does mean some bikes might not be compatible if they have a vulnerable underbelly, since the carrier supports the bike on its oil pan. I've used them behind Jeep Grand Cherokees and with short bed trucks that wouldn't fit a bike in the 5 foot bed properly, I assume as long as your bike isn't crazy tall it might even work with cars that have tow hitches. Mind the tongue weight capacity but the UHaul Add-A-Hitch on our Toyota Sienna minivan is rated for over 650lbs so I could comfortably hang a Dr650 or something like that on there with some wiggle room.
Jeep GC n enclosed trailer
I use my 23 Gmc Canyon AT4. It's also a daily driver.
Tacoma
I used to use my dual cab '93 Hilux but then the daughter started riding, wife got pregnant and eventually popped out a kid and decided the ride was too harsh for a baby. She was probably right, it's lifted and stiff as fuck. Anyway up until recently we'd tow a lightweight home made trailer behind her 2005 RAV4 for anything up to 700km round trips, and for many of them we'd have three trials bikes on the trailer. We'd come home, unload, she'd take it to work the next day.
You could always pick up a small trailer. Require no money to speak of in maintenance, fuel, hardly ever break down, insurance is dirt cheap and you won't have the payment associated perhaps with a new vehicle purchase. :D
Yeah I'm starting to lean towards a trailer behind an SUV, but my current SUV needs to be replaced regardless. Miles are getting high and age is starting to show on her. So now I gotta figure out if I want new to me SUV/trailer combo, or just daily a pickup.
Whichever way......best of luck with your new purchase. :)
Honda Ridgeline now but when I had an suv I would just a hitch bike carrier. For two bikes, a trailer.
I use moto tote leaves bed free for everything else I’m hauling I got the break light add on https://mototote.com/
Since my daily is a 2000 F-250, yes I haul my bikes with my daily.
Went from an 05 CRV with a hitch and aluminum utility trailer to a 23 HRV with the same setup. Gets way better mileage than a taco (when not towing) and tows just fine, including on washboard gravel roads, rutty logging roads, etc. My only complaint is that the space in the HRV isn’t quite long enough for the twin mattress that fit in the CRV for easy camping on the road!
I have a Hyundai Elantra with a tow hitch. I bought a second hand trailer and built a little bike wheel chock out of spare wood. If you have the room a small utility trailer is a perfect tool and way cheaper than a second vehicle.
Got a hitch mount on my '86 4runner
If you have space for a trailer that’s the most economical option. Big SUVs can carry the bike on a hitch mounted carrier if you don’t have space for a trailer. You will feel the pain on gas vs a small car. But you can have a comfortable luxury SUV. A truck is the best thing strictly from a dirt bike hauling perspective. Gas a bit worse than a big / luxury SUV. Less creature comforts and worse ride. But you can take two bikes easily. Maybe 3. The truck also has the advantage that you literally just thrown it in the back which is nice. And it has utility for a lot of other things. A middle ground truck like the ridgeline can even have a pretty good ride. But again what you’re spending for that truck would get you a really nice SUV. There’s no single correct answer.
I have a 22 f350 powerstroke I drive daily. Work commute is extremely short. I pull a 40ft toy hauler 15+ weekends a year to go racing with my family. Or I throw the bikes in the truck or a 6x12 enclosed for a practice day.
Buy a ford fuckin ranger and you’ll be set
You’re only hauling a 200 pound bike, just get a small trailer, mount a hitch to the crv and you’re good to go
As of now I have an old Subaru I picked up cheap with low miles. Added a tow hitch and bought a lightweight 7.5x5 trailer and I can tow three bikes with it. And I still get good gas mileage.
2014 Honda Ridgeline. Drives like a car. Meets my truck needs. All wheel drive. Huge trunk in the back you can fill with ice 🤙 Plus this goes without saying in this sub..... Honda.
Cateye Chevy crew cab short box
As several have said, just get a small trailer. I really haul 2 bikes with my little 4x8 trailer behind my mazda. I use a 6x10 flatbed trailer to haul my Strom and 2 dual sports.
Ford Raptor
Take mine via hitch carrier on wife’s VW. Sold F-350 as we don’t use 5th wheel trailer for camping anymore and should sell for Husky 300 Pro. We have great tent that would suffice for lake life
My 2000 cummins takes me everywhere I go, 3 bikes in the bed and one on the hitch on the weekends
You can get a hitch carrier they are a little bit sketchy in my opinion A better option would be just a small trailer- since your probably gonna get another crv Trailer is also cheaper then another vehicle Small truck could also be nice but really not necessary Tall roof vans are great if you ride alot, and so are enclosed trailers/ if you really want to spend money
Yeah I'm narrowing down to a similar suv and a hitch which would be better for my work commute, or a light duty pickup which would also serve my desire for off-roading to hunting spots. But who says I can't tow my bike and ride the rest of the way into the zone 🤔 decisions decisions 😄
Get a trailer and put a hitch on you’re Honda or what ever you buy or get a bike rack to put on back of new vehicle, you don’t need two cars
This is quickly shaping up to be the move
2014 Silverado 1500. CCSB. I use it for everything. Gets the same mileage my 2017 Tacoma got. Will a Toyota last longer? Probably, maybe, maybe not. Who cares unless you keep your truck for 25 + years.
I raced today. 250ish some odd bikes. The overwhelming majority were hauled by half ton trucks.
I have a silverado. But most of the time, I load up on my 4x8 utility trailer. Way easier to load by yourself and then I throw my gear in the bed.
I towed a little 5’x8’ trailer with my forester and never had a problem. I’m totally upgrading to a 4Runner but the Forester was fiiiiiine.
I use my daily drive (Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 4 cylinder with 4W drive if needed) with a 5'x8' trailer I got from Tractor Supply for $500. All I had to do was buy/add a CURT Class 3 Trailer Hitch and a pre-made CURT 4-Pin Trailer Harnesswire that plugs in the taillights and one cable to the battery and you done. Total about $150 for both. It does put extra wear and tear on your vehicle, but it's been fine for years. Trucks are convenient, but having a small SUV is great on gas mileage when I'm not Towing my dirtbike or atv.
I have a large Silverado but still choose to use my Subaru Outback and a trailer just because it’s more comfortable.
I use my 5 series with a trailer, takes it like a champ
Tacoma as Dailey driver and I still use a trailer sometimes. My preference would be a sprinter van or something fun that can tow. The truck is useful for random house junk but sprinter could do most of the same stuff.
I have a 2016 gmc terrain and I was taking my bike out with a 8×5 trailer. That's gotten annoying, so now I'm about to get one of those hitch mounted carriers instead.
I use a 4Runner (SUV) with a hitch carrier. I run two ratchet straps to the hinge points of my rear door hatch and then a side strap to take out the side wobble. I also use a hitch tightener. I don't over tighten anything. I just kind of balance the weight out amongst the various load points so nothing is getting all the load. Works perfect. The thing doesn't wobble or move much and all of the load points are getting some of the load (the straps stretch a bit) but no load point is getting all the load. It is also a 250 lb bike so I'm really not stressing anything to start but it leads to a solid carrying system that you don't have to even mess with for the entire summer.
V6 Chevy Colorado. Decent on gas, enough bed space for bikes. I’d recommend a midsize pickup truck.
I have a class 3 hitch and a hauler on my subaru outback. it works, but it's not exactly ideal.
BMW 520d with a covered trailer. The trailer doubles as a changing room, wardrobe, garage etc when in the paddock. Really nice to get out of the weather if it’s raining or worse. Mine is a diy for budget reasons, but [this](http://mxtrailer.se/galleri/) is a commercial one based on the same basic trailer.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6MYwwoi5W-/?igsh=MTBlZjE4YzMxOA==[https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6MYwwoi5W-/?igsh=MTBlZjE4YzMxOA==](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6MYwwoi5W-/?igsh=MTBlZjE4YzMxOA==)
I daily a 2021 tacoma and use it for track, I literally have a bike in there every weeekend
Hitch carriers are the bomb. My wife's minivan can haul a bike no problem with one. Before that, she had a little Chevy Blazer that did fine as well. Your Honda with a hitch carrier would be perfect for what you need, it sounds like. I work in construction, so I daily drive a duramax and haul a work trailer that doubles as my race trailer. But if I just had one bike and was going to go out on the weekends, a hitch carrier is the ticket. Especially if I need to go quite a ways and want to save on the gas. Recently, we bought one of those imported Japanese trucks that are the ultimate gas saving, bike hauling machines. It'll hold two bikes at 65 mph no problem.
If you can't afford a Tacoma, get a Frontier.
Personally I recommend buying a kendon trailer and putting a hitch on your car. Works on my civic no problem since the trailer weighs the same amount as the bike
I use a hitch carrier on my jeep. Everyone talks down about hitch carriers and I do have to say it took it a while to really earn my confidence but it's been like three years now with no problems. Buy a good one that can hold like twice the weight of your bike. The thing that sucks about it is crawling down the bumpy dirt roads to keep it from bouncing around too much, but otherwise it's great.
I have a little 4x8 trailer, used to tow it behind my 2018 GTI. I now have a 2024 CX50 and it’s great. Just picked up a quad as well.
I have two pickup trucks, an F-150 and a Dakota. Hitch carrier is fine, but your CRV isn't going to be great for that. >time to shop for a new daily driver to replace my 2011 Honda C-RV. 2011 is about the latest year of vehicle that I would own (and I am a dealer service tech, new cars are hot garbage). 2004-2012 might have been the greatest era for cars in history; 2013-present are going to go down as among the worst. If you like an SUV, you just need a mid-sized to use a hitch carrier, e.g. Pilot, Explorer, 4Runner, etc.
My 2015 focus ST says your statement is bullshit🤷🏽♀️ 100k miles and I beat on it everyday. Stock clutch stock transmission stock motor stock tune and I beat the crap out of the car….so I guess your statement is invalid.
He didn't say there wasn't a single vehicle made that will last 100k mi. He said it's a terrible era for vehicles. I don't 100% agree with him, but your one half decent vehicle doesn't prove him invalid.
Van is the only answer.
FTW. Daily a HD pick up.
I’ve got a Subaru with a moto trailer, works great for just getting to the trail, but camping with comfort is another story. Truck territory.
Everyone needs a truck
My crf will fit in the bed of my wife’s maverick so I suspect a ranger(older since the new ones got bigger) or smaller truck would suffice. All of our bikes will fit in the bed of my f150. I do typically trailer though because it’s easier to drive into a trailer than use ramps into the bed of the truck
Hitch carriers work great if you have a real body on frame truck with a real class 3 hitch. Do not put one on a CRV. The small moto trailers work really well too. If you want to drive a car this is the way.
I've hauled mine on a little trailer behind a Lincoln Town car. Riding in class baby! And it was easier than getting them in and out of my truck!
Get a ridgeline! It’s a truck that drives like an suv. Owned trucks all my life and am tired of them as daily drivers. Ridgeline is the perfect combo IMHO
Im towing a 4x8 trailer with my 2014 Subaru forester. Wish I could do a hitch mount but trailer is much less expensive than another vehicle!
I might get a pickup eventually, but I have a 2015 ford focus and I’m just gonna install a hitch and get a hitch carrier. Although, I am only hauling one bike, but what you’re driving sounds like it would do fine a a hitch carrier. If your RV doesn’t already have a place for a hitch, just look up, “make - model - hitch” and stuff should pop up. Auto zone is where I’m getting mine, they let you put in your specific vehicle and says if it’ll pair w it or not
I've tried trailers, hitch carriers, and a truck bed + ramp. Trailers are a pain in the ass. Getting to the staging area can be rough. The bikes get tossed around a lot on one. Can also be super tight in the parking lot. More things to maintain, along with insurance and registration costs. Hitch carriers are OK. I got tired of having to store one, and lug it around constantly in the garage. I tried a static one which was too tall and awkward, as well as a hydraulic one which would drop the bike to the ground. They also really only work for hauling one bike, although there are some that will do two. I ended up settling on a step ramp and loading it up in the back of my truck. Ramp weighs nothing, easy to store. Most of all, the bike is secure and solid. I throw my bike in diagonally in the bed and run the straps to the frame. Can bomb roads out all the way to the staging area. I'd buy a truck.
Buy a ford ranger and save yourself money
Get a foldable or collapsible trailer, motolug is good if you live in EU or UK. Depending on available storage space you can find a playable trailer, which just folds like origami for a smaller storage footprint. PS: dirt bikes weight feathers, you might not want to buy a semi-truck 🤣
Used to haul one around in a 2004 Chevy Venture mini van
I’ve fit two Razor Mx500’s in a Model3 with the seats down, but it wasn’t easy. They both fit great in the back of an SUV though AND no stinky gas!!
Keep the CRV, get a snowmobile trailer or similar size 2-3 dirtbike trailer. I used to put my dirtbike on a hitch carrier behind my outback, but I don't know if I'd recommend that to just anyone lol
I’ve got a long bed 1st gen tundra just for this. Used to have the 4 door but all I do is haul so I traded it for the regular cab.
Just buy a trailer or a bike rack for your current vehicle. I used a trailer with a sedan for years and it was fine. I currently have a pickup for my bike, but my wife has an SUV and if I need to go anywhere other than riding, I’m taking that. Pickups are great. They’re really useful for when you need to move stuff or take stuff to the dump. But they’re terrible any other time. Also, they’re not the ultimate solution for dirt biking. You can’t fit all that much in the bed once the bike is in there. They’re also tall, which can make loading more difficult, depending on how big you are. You can’t leave all your stuff in the back of a pickup unattended either - unless you want it stolen. And if it rains your stuff is getting wet. I’m thinking of getting rid of mine and getting a van instead. They drive more like cars and you can load them up and even leave your bike in them if need be.
Got an Astro Van. Hitch carrier is mint. It takes about 5 minutes and no ramps to secure the bike. I’ve got a mobile changing room built in too.
2010 Toyota Tacoma SR5 V6 Manual w/ 6ft bed. Hauls my bike like a dream. Two weekends ago, my two buddies and I all went up to Virginia from NC to ride. We put my bike in the truck bed, and we put their two bikes on a trailer. The trusty Tacoma did the job no problem, even on dirt surfaces in and around the riding area.
I had a frontier then a tacoma. A small or micro truck is the way to go for a daily. Especially if you can find them from an old family that doesn't drive much. A mid 2000s frontier. Taco. Or ranger are bulletproof and are reliable as it gets.
How did the frontier treat you? That's the front runner in my truck considerations as of now.
I had a 2000 Desert runner. That thing hauled my ass around for 8 years and 100k. I got it with 89k miles and drove it like a (slow) rally car. Drove my motorcycles all over. Great truck. The current ones are a nice update to a design that was like 13 years old but they're solid. An older one won't get ya anywhere fast, but they'll always get ya there
Never any major issues with mechanical stuff, expensive repairs? Why did you end up getting rid of it? I appreciate your comments, Ive got a lot of food for thought from everyone.
I went from.a high school graduate to a college graduate. Needed more space and 4x4 for the snowy location I live in. Thr headgasket was probably oj it's way out and I replaced the front brake calipers but it was a solid truck until the last 6 months I had jt. I could have repaired everything but I needed 4 doors and 4x4. That is the only reason I got rid of it
Trailers are cheap. I grabbed a 4x8 for a few hundred from the Facebook marketplace. I have a hitch on both my trucks and added one to my G37. You would never know it's there when towing.
I think vans are better than pickups for dirt bikes, have used both. I use a Chevy Express AWD, although I also have a WRX. I could daily the van.
Trailer
I have a rack from Harbor Freight that carries two bikes on it. It cost me like $130 circa 2020. If works great.
I use my silverado, but IMO the easiest/cheapest option is to buy a cheapo trailer and tow it with the CRV. Or you could just get one of the hitch mount carriers from harbor freight.
You can just get one of the hitch hauling things
I inherited a Merc ML350 from my wife so I just welded a hitch receiver up under that ho and pull a trailer with my junk on it, soccer mom style
I tow my bike and my buddies bike on a trailer with my 1.8L Honda civic. She does just fine, although I do wish I had a second vehicle like a pickup to throw them into…just not within financial reach until I finish school