Been debating how I am going to transport 2 karts to track.
Main issue - convenience. I can pull trailer, but I have no space to park. And it’s PITA to hook it up, back it up and so on. I was thinking building purpose trailer that will fit garage and be compact, but that will be very labor intensive.
I just got an idea to simply get used Mercedes Metris or Ford Transit (not Sprinter - garage door is 8ft tall). Will be tight, but will be compact and easy. Some modifications will be needed, but doable. Long WB metris should fit 2 karts, and there will be some space upfront for stands/etc
Having done both, I really like the compactness of the van setup. However, it takes more planning and organizing to get everything in an out. Also, not having a vehicle to leave the track if you need to run and get something or go grab food is pretty inconvenient.
The trailer is nicer from the perspective of having dedicated space to work with, and being able to unhook and drive the tow vehicle around if needed. The negatives are then having to have a vehicle that tows well, and it takes up a bunch more space.
In my ideal world, I would have something like a Metris or Sprinter as a dedicated kart hauler. But I have access to space to park my trailer and a vehicle that can tow, so for me, I am sticking with the trailer for now.
Ability to get out to grab food, etc. I thought about it too. But in my case, it’s local track, they have vendors on site. And if SO decided to join us, she would be driving her car anyways (only 2 seats in van). If we do decide to travel regionally, it will be same story, most likely 2 cars.
But for “lets hit a track on a test day” type of scenario van seem to be winning big time as it will be jump and go. No fiddling with hitch and so on.
And, since I am not talking travelling around, track is like 15 miles from my house. As long as this van runs, and since it will be dedicated for karts, I don’t need to worry about something new-ish… Mileage will be very limited. If it runs good at purchase most likely I won’t even need much maintenance on it(I do weight insurance/maintenance vs trailer hassle during my internal debates )
I am glad it’s not just me, seems like everyone puls 10x12 behind..
Ok, even on a track, why can’t I simply leave karts under tent and go where I need to go on a van. If it’s Metris/Transit it’s small enough to be used just like a tow truck would.
Well in my case for races the paddock is usually pretty full and it isn’t always easy to get in or out of your pit spot once everyone is parked. But for test days or if you run smaller events then it isn’t such an issue.
I use a 5x8 utility trailer to carry 3 karts, it’s light enough that I can move around by hand, and it is smaller than a car so easily fits in 1 car garage slot. I don’t try to back it up perfectly, I just roll it around by hand to get into place. It’s easy to hook up to the hitch, takes less than a minute – you’ll have to explain why that’s bothersome because it’s way less work than loading the rest of the karting junk. Main drawback is no rain protection, but if it’s a rain race, well, everything’s going to get wet eventually anyways.
I considered the van idea but that would be $25k+ as well as $1k/yr in insurance, maintenance, and everything else. A trailer is much cheaper even if you get quite fancy. You can get a custom enclosed trailer that’s 5.5” (just wide enough for a kart to fit through the rear ramp) and at a lower height to fit in a standard garage. But it will be difficult to maneuver around, at least without one of those trailer dolly rollers.
AI does strange stuff. Like why did it make the trailer longer and more aerodynamic, change the rims? It just randomly changes things render to render.
Sadly for you, Rebel Scum gets amped up by playing mid-century Polka at Burning Man volume. Usually there’s an uptick in calls to emergency services when we come race. The poor souls realize they will never, ever be as groovy as the Scum and some feel compelled to take drastic action. We defend our turf vigorously with a full arsenal of Nerf guns.
Do you have picture of your 5x8 trailer with 3 karts? And how do you carry other stuff?
We don’t do rain races here, but I wanted ability to leave trailer on track overnight if needed.
Why hassle - I have long inconvenient driveway, PITA to back off and pull in. And in general, pulling trailer is not super-convenient. Be it going to gas station, or anywhere.
I ran a 5x8 with two karts (one adult, one kid). I just added a generic Amazon truck bed ladder rack, and it worked out great. I never left it overnight, but I planned on just tying a tarp down everything if I had to. For extra security, a couple bike locks could dissuade some opportunists, too, but I never tried that. Before the trailer, I ran my daughter’s kart out of the back of a wagon with minimal tools. It was fine for practices, but it quickly was not enough space for races, hence the trailer.
The 5x8 was great in that it fit in the garage with barely more footprint than the kart itself, and I’d just put the kart on jack stands on the trailer and work on it without having to unload it. The kart on top was even easier to work on in situ. Tools and gear would be packed in the truck bed under a tonneau cover. All in all, it was great, but, man, there’s nothing like having an enclosed trailer. I pay for monthly storage around the corner from me and have 24x7 access with a keypad, so it has cleared up a lot of garage space. It is also great not having to pack all the tools every time. You do have to consider being able to maneuver around parking lots, but I also found myself having to plan around parking the utility trailer if we had to stop since nothing on it was secured from theft. Like said above, I wouldn’t bother trying to back it in and out of tricky places. I’d just unhook it and push it around. The karts were centered such that it was not too tongue-heavy. Same for hooking it up - I’d just get close then set it on the ball by hand.
Biggest advantage with an enclosed trailer (and potentially a van if it is done reallllly right) is having a nice, dry place to get out of the weather. Here in NC, rain is frequent, summers are brutal, and winter is cold. My daughter’s first six races were cold and rainy, so the canopy we crowded under wasn’t great. Upgrading trailers made a huge difference in comfort. I’ve also gotten way better at driving the trailer. The awkwardness of learning one goes away pretty quick with practice.
I used a folding stand, and you can barely make it out in the picture with the truck. It is strapped to the tailgate, so it took up nearly no room. The gas tank was strapped to the front corner of the trailer since it fit perfectly in the gap between the round kart nose and the corner. The canopy, tools, and gear bags went in the truck although you could probably also strap a canopy to the tailgate beside the stand or on the platform beside the kart if the kart was slightly off-center. There was also a lot of space by the tongue for a big box
The top kart is on a generic truck ladder rack. I bought it off Amazon, and it was adjustable enough to fit the side rails perfectly. It also had spots for tie-downs. Getting a kart up there took two people, but it wasn’t bad. Bottom kart just rolled on. I used the folding stand for both karts
There is plenty of space for tools, fuel cans, whatever else you want. You just need to be a little bit creative. For example, strap the fuel tanks into a kart seat, spare tire bag underneath a kart, etc. But I throw most things into the back of the SUV, just because it is faster. If I need to carry more stuff then I also have a roof carrier but rarely ever need it.
It is a compromise for either choice. I started with an open bed trailer and made it a double decker with ramps for 2 karts. The problem for me was storage. I didn’t leave them on the trailer, so I was always unloading and finding places to put the karts. I switched to an enclosed 12x6 aluminum single axle trailer and haven’t regretted it at all. I park it after race day, and I don’t have to unload that day, In the winter, it is a storage unit for karts and other things. Being aluminum, it only weighs about 3000lbs loaded with 2 karts and stuff so it can be towed by most midsize suv’s or any truck. I have fit 3 karts in there as well. The yearly registration is my only additional expense.
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