Sleeping arrangements...
 

trying to weigh up camping vs van vs B&B.

Camping pros and cons are obvious (pretty crap when it's cold/wet) but cheap

Van is more tricky for me, as I'm subject to London Low Emissions Zone, so a cheap van is out of the question, and there's the whole "is it a campervan on the V5?" problem with the insurance.

B&B might be cheaper than a van, and warmer than a tent, but misses out on the evening banter I would guess?

Anyway, please vote above (if my poll works) what you plan to do, or did last year, so I can figure out what the score is and learn from peoples valuable experience :) Comments also welcome...

I'll be using my Van again, started racing in 1998 towing the bike on a trailer and camping. Soon got fed up with that so went for a cheap Van.
This year I'm looking at arriving on Thursday and departing Sunday so that's 3 nights in the back of a van. Got to be better than 3 nights in a Tent and doesn't have the hassle of packing up each evening to head off to a B&B and then returning each morning

Last Year Hugh was using the Streetvan (Now Zipvan) system they have in London
http://www.zipvan.com

Best thing I ever bought for racing was my van. Makes it so much easier the whole weekend. Having said that a couple of times at the end of the day we went to a hotel a few times and if you got the money its the way to go for sure. Nice hot bath/meal/bed.

Craig

Ditto. :D

but don't buy just one air mattress, I know.

I like to rough it:lol:

combination on trailer, tent or hotel for me - in that order

if circumstances were different, I'd have a van and use that

or if you can afford it, motorhome and tow the bike. Reckon that would work out cheaper than hotels - they dont depreciate that much or cost huge sums to run - just 000's to buy in the first place

Depends on money to an extent. The natural order if money is no object is:

Camper
Hotel (miss some of the craic)
Van (properly converted)
Tent

Note: if you are in a normal van on a cold night, it will be colder than a tent.

yes it bloomin is!! Get it ply lined at least and covering with carpet or similar will help, anything to keep the heat in. Having slept in both, laying naked in a field is probably warmer than a van which is bare!

Cheers guys. I’m thinking start with B+B and see what happens. In fact, Brands in only about 30 mins from my place so I’ll probably sleep in my own bed for the first meeting, and take it from there. A couple of B+Bs maybe, then decide whether to get a van. Plus, that gives me more chance to scope out other people’s set ups.

Given I don’t use a van (or even a car) for work, a van would be extra purchase cost, tax, insurance, maintenance… probably more expensive on fuel than my diesel car… starting to think B+B and tents for the summer months might be a good shout. :confused:

Although… getting a van would mean I can chop the car in for a nice little sports car if I don’t need to practicality anymore! hmmmmmm :devil:

maybe hire a van instead

I had thought of that, but would probably need to hire onefrom Thursday to Monday to cover a full weekend, so 2 nights in a B+B starts to look cheap then! :eek:

1st season as well, as I already have trailer plan to tent but with number for local B&Bs if weather is cold. Does that make me a fair weather racer?:confused:

Three elements required to make a comfortable night.

1. Van
2. Blow up bed
3. Pit *itch;)

Bradders will be OK this year then as he has Nick B as his Pit Biatch :devil:

Or buy an old Chrysler Voyager - carrys the family the rest of the season, keeps the bike dry on the way to the meeting and gives a nice carpeted bedroom floor when the bike is out!

Just add earplugs against the gennys and a flight eyemask for the blazing dawn sun we always get at DD rounds...........

Works 4 me

I started off sleeping in a tent outside to keep costs down but thats no fun early season. Tried sleeping in the pit garage ( in a tent ) but that's not much better. Then tried the van option too and that's the best all round option. B and b is all very well but you are away from your bike and time to work on it. Sleep in the van mate and if you afford it buy a gazebo or similar.

van insulation
 

A well insulated van should be adequate for a comfortable sleep.
Does anybody know any source to get good advice on van insulation?

Being an outdoorsy type you'll probably have a window cracked so unless you have a propex to add heat ,( 2 stroke genny and fan heater is cheaper:eek: ) then a good sleeping bag, mattress and a cosy pillow will do more than van insulation. Stretch carpet on ply lining will keep your a*se off any cold steel but have a look at condensation issues before stuffing voids with fleece.

http://www.vwt4forum.co.uk/showthrea...ght=insulation

Pete (bare van man)

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power". Abraham Lincoln ...53 horse power should do it

Thanks a lot Pete, great forum. I had not thought of condensation. It seems that some flashing tape here and there, bubble rap, ply and carpet will do the trick. A roof vent also seems a very good idea. Definitely it would be horrible to sleep in a damp and smelly/overinsulated van.
Alex

I've got a van with just ply on the floor, a sinlge matress, sleeping bag and a duvet. I've never been too cold and the matress stands against the van wall when transporting the bike around. This year I've got an ace trailer for the bike meaning even easier setting up, park up and kip (after a few social scoops of course)!

If you want to avoid the emissions charge why not get a trailer big enough to sleep in an drag it round with your car? Mine is Alan Parkes' from last year and I believe he paid around £1800 to have it purpose built which is far cheaper than buying a van with no costs after that.

Damn you! I have enough options running through my head without you adding another!? :lol:

Have looked at T4/T5 vans but they seem quite expensive? I can get a newer Sprinter in most cases which give much more room for internal kitting out. :eek:

Maybe a Voyager or similar would work? No low emissions charge as it's a car, and insurance might also be cheaper than a van as I have never owned a van before (not sure if no claims carries over from a car?). Back to autotrader... I spend more time on that site than with my missus!!!

I can add another option..... http://www.moto-trek.co.uk/trailers/cyclone-100/

That's what I did last year and will this year too. Although I intend to add some insulation and darken the roof a little for comfort.

I went from car to van and yes it did carry over.

I did B&B and hire van last year for a couple of reasons. First I sleep like crap, a good nights sleep for me is 4-5 hours, so figure would get lot less in a tent and be a liability on race day (well more of one!!).
Second is that as far as my business is concerned I coincidentally had business meetings at the same place and time as each race meeting so the hotels were kindly set as an expense along with the transport by way of a zipvan.
Lastly, I didn't have room for a trailer and can't get another residents permit for a van, so thought hire van would be best.

BUT by mid way through the year after a number of breakdowns with the vans I wished I had just bought one. FAR less hassle and the years hire would almost buy one. Also staying in a B&B is a little unsocial and you miss some of the banter!

1st race for me will be Snetterton, £62.50 for 3 nights in Travel Logde or a Tent? I'll miss out on some of the banter to get a decent nights kip thankyou!

genny
 

Looking at various options, including doing some basic insulation in the van, came to the conclusion that roof insulation, foldable bed plank and electric blanket should assure a reasonably comfortable night in paddock.
The problem now is power source and the only viable option is to get a generator.

Looking at the market, for example at http://www.justgenerators.co.uk/page...i-hy2000Si.htm
for a quiet petrol generator you need to cough ~ 4-500 :(

For those who have it, what do you use or suggest?

Thanx

A

I use a van which is ply lined and and floor carpeted. Chilly nights are abated with the use of a good quality blow up double matress, a couple of sleeping bags and a duvet. All the sleeping gear lives ablove the driving compartment. I do use a genny to warm the van up a bit prior to kip time. An oil filled 1kw radiator combined with a 1kw blower heater does a grand job. Once and snuggled up, theres no need to run the genny and pee others off.

Another alternative (and one i have done in the past) is to use a caravan. Cut a door shaped hole in the back, trim the edges and put locks on inside. Use the cut out section to make a door, trimmed again to fit in the hole. Sealing gap with window trim type stuff or duct tape! Bolt type locks great and with use of padlock they are secure.

I mounted ties down points in sound areas of the caravan. The bike was parked on paddock stands in centre over axle on paddock stands. It was stable and added only a small % to the weight of the van. Great for the weekend and the awning acts as a store /paddock workshop/party space. if I had the space on the drive I would do it again. As it is my car is not suitable for towing (yes, it does have the power) and a van, car and caravan will not all fit on drive.

I used a ply lined van with a fold down bed fitted.

It also had power fitted so I could hook up at circuits (where available) or plug into my generator.

It even had a microwave!!

Coincidentally, it is now for sale.

Should anyone be looking...

Motor home
 

I've tried sleeping in a tent, then thought that the van would be better, then went back to the tent, then bought a caravan then bought a motorhome.

if you can't justify the cost of a caravan or motorhome or a properly converted race van, I'd go for the tent.

I've stayed in a travel inn a few times but I don't like leaving everything and everyone and then I've been late back in the morning as well. I sleep better in a tent.


Matt