Brainstorming: Ultimate RallyMoto Support Vehicle

So, let's just say that (hypothetically) I wanted the best (cheap) vehicle for efficient, comfortable highway trips, carrying a motorcycle to stage rallies (NO TRAILER!), where it will then have to serve as the support vehicle, traversing E36 M3ty roads while carrying all manner of tools and spares. What would be best for this?

The head says Previa with a camper top and a hitch-mount carrier, the heart says P71 with knobbies and a hitch carrier, the hootus says El Camino. My driveway says 454 Suburban, but my wallet cringes in fear of the gas stops.

Craigslist yields a $1000 e34 that I now want to turn into a ute

This is the answer:

Put motorcycle in the back. Plenty of room for spares and sleeping when the bike is out. Standard 2WD for the budget option, diesel for bonus points.

But that gets what, 14 mpg tops? I can just use the Suburban for that, and sleep in the back, etc.- plus, unless going with the (very not budget friendly) excellent example in the photo, it fails to communicate on sight that I am an asshat

Better MPG.

Whenever I hear support vehicle, this is the first thing that comes to mind. You can get a truck with a service body like that at a government or local city council option cheap. Lots of storage, heavy duty chassis, 4x4, well maintained, just build some ramps for your dirtbike and your off to the races.

In reply to EvanB:

Now THAT is more like it!

In reply to Fobroader:
I actually looked at a bunch of utility-body trucks during the search that ended with the Suburban- not only do those trucks command a premium, but without a single exception every one I looked at was on its' last legs.

How about going pre-Previa with a 4WD Toyota Van? Real 4WD, torsion bar front suspension, and coil rear, so lifting it a few inches is easy. Narrow, with a great turning radius. Of course, they are extremely hard to find, except, apperently in the pacific northwest, where they are merely really hard to find.

But seriously, though - my Dodge Grand Caravan was cheap, hauls my scooter to races in the interior (but should be able to hold a lightweight bike on a hitch carrier), and gets 23 MPG on the highway. I've camped in it, the cargo area without middle or rear seats is 9 feet long. Sure, it can't bomb down dirt roads at full speed, but should be able to handle them taken carefully. And they are so cheap, you can probably consider it to be disposable.

Let me expand this slightly- what vehicles have an available 2" receiver hitch (required for the bike mount) that really probably shouldn't?

used 7.3L diesel E series based ambulance, bonus points for all the built in toolboxes.

How about Honda Element?: http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/609000045/overview/

NONACK wrote: Let me expand this slightly- what vehicles have an available 2" receiver hitch (required for the bike mount) that really probably shouldn't?

You own a welder. All of them.

In reply to 92dxman:
I legitimately had not thought of those... I always assumed they sucked, but maybe I should do some research.

In reply to bluej:
Don't think that using the Celica hasn't crossed my mind

The answer is Comanche, in-berkeleying-destructable, not to bad on gas either

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/4563485404.html

I really want to do this to my 740.

You provided a link with the only one I don't want. That 740 looks far better than it has any right to. Build thread?

I have had no luck finding a build thread. If I decide to make one myself I will definitely have a build thread for it.

More pics. Looks like they took a sedan and moved the rear window forward. I would do it with a wagon and have a more vertical rear window for increased cargo capacity.

http://jalopnik.com/5336145/even-in-the-volvos-homeland-the-sawzalls-cannot-be-restrained-volvochero

Unloved by all but is a Grand Cherokee really so bad?

KyAllroad wrote: Unloved by all but is a Grand Cherokee really so bad?

I dont mind a Grand cherokee at all if it has the 4.0 in it, i wouldnt want one with the 318 or 360 though

NONACK wrote: Let me expand this slightly- what vehicles have an available 2" receiver hitch (required for the bike mount) that really probably shouldn't?

with this handy adapter - ALL of them!

ultraclyde wrote:

NONACK wrote: Let me expand this slightly- what vehicles have an available 2" receiver hitch (required for the bike mount) that really probably shouldn't?

with this handy adapter - ALL of them!

That looks like a disaster in the making....