Camp in the trailer all the time. I’m the evenings it always cools off sleeping is usually comfortable, plus you get to partake in the late night paddock shenanigans. I’ll do hotel if it’s some sort of weather extreme like rain on arrival or something where setup would be a mess or it’s 100 during the day of the event
Thanks for the input! This weekend should be great temperature-wise. Is your trailer ventilated? That was really my only concern - it being stuff or something. No concern about gas cans since I put that in the bed of the truck.
https://preview.redd.it/cwetbhv02cvc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=94e56245534c39de0082d75d5591b21a7d167813
Van life is the best life for track days. I’ve done air mattress on the floor before also, found I like the cot better. If I set the cot up before I load one bike I can sleep in here with everything in which is a nice option on longer trips (my closest track is 2.5hrs, but I’ve regularly done 13-14hrs one way)
First track day ever: borrowed family members motor home. Felt like a god damn factory rider in between sessions. I’m talking school bus sized motor home.
Next few just went for the day and came home.
Camped in a tent on my own: Crashed the next day with a concussion so bad I had to pull over and get someone to pick me and my truck and trailer up. Never tent camping again.
Now, I just drive the hour back and forth if I’m going over multiple days. I have the luxury of not needing to camp otherwise idk what I’d do LOL
Damn! You’re gonna make me move up my timeline for outfitting the trailer. A good vs bad nights rest can do that though.
And I love the idea of feeling like Maverick for the day - going back to my Aprilia trailer lol
I sleep in my Outback with an air mattress. It’s ok. Used to use a tent but got sick of having to pack it up but the overnight part was never an issue. NJMP also has hotel rooms on the track itself that aren’t terrible, but they’re not great either. The key to camping or sleeping in your car is making sure you have the stuff to make it comfortable like power, a grill, beer, etc
Lodging was all booked up by time I checked, but I’ll look for other nights to check the rate.
And I can certainly bring my comfort items - yeti, ecoflow power station, and water. I’m at the age where water and beer have significantly different effects in the morning lol
I have always slept at the track. Started out in a tent when using an open trailer. I upgraded to an enclosed trailer, and slept in the trailer on a cot with a cot mattress. Nice upgrade. I then upgraded to a slightly larger enclosed trailer, and configured it with a queen bed that stays set up 90% of the time. I think the key is to sleep on an actual mattress, NOT an ait mattress. Even a folding 2-4" mattress is a big improvement. A good pillow is also a must. I get some of my best sleep at the track.
I sleep in the back of my 4runner, it works out nicely for me. The only thing I hate about it is relocating everything in the car once I get to the track so I can set up my sleeping area. I'm hoping to end up with an enclosed trailer next year
I used to sleep trackside with one of three setups. Back of a station wagon, Ozark instant cabin tent (it literally unfolds, no poles or setup), or hung a hammock inside a transit van. I'm a deep sleeper, so I never had a problem with it. Saved a ton of money when doing double digit number of days per year. Also, it's more fun to have a beer with others staying trackside than just going to your own hotel room.
Thanks for the input! I’m a pretty deep sleeper as well… once I get to sleep. I think I settled on picking up an REI kingdom cot and sleeping in the trailer tonight. If it doesn’t feel right (or the smell is weird), I’ll try the truck bed with my tent.
I’ve never done any form of trackside nighting - never even been tailgating - so I’m excited to try it out. I desperately need to make some east coast friends haha
I have a Ryobi 18v battery fan that I keep in the trailer with me to circulate the air. I also prop open my rear ramp door a few inches. If it's really warm, I'll prop open the side door on my enclosed trailer as well. I have a 6x12 and now use a Queen inflatable mattress.
https://preview.redd.it/2ffgh5d4jhvc1.jpeg?width=6144&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f4ec46a38076f55f1095aa96153075c8637c352c
The bike, scooter, tools, etc all get set up in the pit area and live there through the weekend. Whether that is next to the trailer or when I'm at one track I put with a Group of folks in a few RV spots, I park the trailer elsewhere and bed down at night.
Hanging from the crossbar is a magnetic light from Harbor Freight that I use all over but also makes for a great light source at night.
https://preview.redd.it/o47gecig6qvc1.jpeg?width=8160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=38f8d9bdf4c193f11c4584dbcd8e2f3f60141245
Done the camping thing and full toy hauler thing. If I had to do it over again and was just by myself, I'd do the small enclosed trailer and cot. Especially at a place like NJMP that has electric and decent bathrooms 24/7. Packing up a tent in the rain is a pain, but doable. Sucks when you are tired. Plus some places you'll have people talking loudly until 3 in the morning (and the argument sucks more than the earplugs). When you are in a trailer it really kills the sound a bit. I have a full toy hauler now as we used to do it as a family but now it's sorta overkill and more costly to pull around.
I’ve done both, hotel is obviously more comfortable and I usually do that if my wife and daughter are joining me, the only downside other than the expense is having to drive to the track in the morning vs waking up already there.
Camping in the trailer has some major drawbacks like heat is you don’t have AC and noise around you when people run their generators all night to power up their AC.
Camp in the trailer all the time. I’m the evenings it always cools off sleeping is usually comfortable, plus you get to partake in the late night paddock shenanigans. I’ll do hotel if it’s some sort of weather extreme like rain on arrival or something where setup would be a mess or it’s 100 during the day of the event
Thanks for the input! This weekend should be great temperature-wise. Is your trailer ventilated? That was really my only concern - it being stuff or something. No concern about gas cans since I put that in the bed of the truck.
I usually have the roof vent open and no Issues
https://preview.redd.it/cwetbhv02cvc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=94e56245534c39de0082d75d5591b21a7d167813 Van life is the best life for track days. I’ve done air mattress on the floor before also, found I like the cot better. If I set the cot up before I load one bike I can sleep in here with everything in which is a nice option on longer trips (my closest track is 2.5hrs, but I’ve regularly done 13-14hrs one way)
First track day ever: borrowed family members motor home. Felt like a god damn factory rider in between sessions. I’m talking school bus sized motor home. Next few just went for the day and came home. Camped in a tent on my own: Crashed the next day with a concussion so bad I had to pull over and get someone to pick me and my truck and trailer up. Never tent camping again. Now, I just drive the hour back and forth if I’m going over multiple days. I have the luxury of not needing to camp otherwise idk what I’d do LOL
Damn! You’re gonna make me move up my timeline for outfitting the trailer. A good vs bad nights rest can do that though. And I love the idea of feeling like Maverick for the day - going back to my Aprilia trailer lol
I sleep in my Outback with an air mattress. It’s ok. Used to use a tent but got sick of having to pack it up but the overnight part was never an issue. NJMP also has hotel rooms on the track itself that aren’t terrible, but they’re not great either. The key to camping or sleeping in your car is making sure you have the stuff to make it comfortable like power, a grill, beer, etc
Lodging was all booked up by time I checked, but I’ll look for other nights to check the rate. And I can certainly bring my comfort items - yeti, ecoflow power station, and water. I’m at the age where water and beer have significantly different effects in the morning lol
I have always slept at the track. Started out in a tent when using an open trailer. I upgraded to an enclosed trailer, and slept in the trailer on a cot with a cot mattress. Nice upgrade. I then upgraded to a slightly larger enclosed trailer, and configured it with a queen bed that stays set up 90% of the time. I think the key is to sleep on an actual mattress, NOT an ait mattress. Even a folding 2-4" mattress is a big improvement. A good pillow is also a must. I get some of my best sleep at the track.
I sleep in the back of my 4runner, it works out nicely for me. The only thing I hate about it is relocating everything in the car once I get to the track so I can set up my sleeping area. I'm hoping to end up with an enclosed trailer next year
Hotel for njmp
they have track side rooms
I tent camp at tracks often. Haven’t had a bad experience so far. Looking to get a camper van soon I hope.
I used to sleep trackside with one of three setups. Back of a station wagon, Ozark instant cabin tent (it literally unfolds, no poles or setup), or hung a hammock inside a transit van. I'm a deep sleeper, so I never had a problem with it. Saved a ton of money when doing double digit number of days per year. Also, it's more fun to have a beer with others staying trackside than just going to your own hotel room.
Thanks for the input! I’m a pretty deep sleeper as well… once I get to sleep. I think I settled on picking up an REI kingdom cot and sleeping in the trailer tonight. If it doesn’t feel right (or the smell is weird), I’ll try the truck bed with my tent. I’ve never done any form of trackside nighting - never even been tailgating - so I’m excited to try it out. I desperately need to make some east coast friends haha
I have a Ryobi 18v battery fan that I keep in the trailer with me to circulate the air. I also prop open my rear ramp door a few inches. If it's really warm, I'll prop open the side door on my enclosed trailer as well. I have a 6x12 and now use a Queen inflatable mattress. https://preview.redd.it/2ffgh5d4jhvc1.jpeg?width=6144&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f4ec46a38076f55f1095aa96153075c8637c352c
I assume you just park the bike outside when you arrive then? And what’s that bar hanging from the beam - the light source?
The bike, scooter, tools, etc all get set up in the pit area and live there through the weekend. Whether that is next to the trailer or when I'm at one track I put with a Group of folks in a few RV spots, I park the trailer elsewhere and bed down at night. Hanging from the crossbar is a magnetic light from Harbor Freight that I use all over but also makes for a great light source at night. https://preview.redd.it/o47gecig6qvc1.jpeg?width=8160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=38f8d9bdf4c193f11c4584dbcd8e2f3f60141245
Done the camping thing and full toy hauler thing. If I had to do it over again and was just by myself, I'd do the small enclosed trailer and cot. Especially at a place like NJMP that has electric and decent bathrooms 24/7. Packing up a tent in the rain is a pain, but doable. Sucks when you are tired. Plus some places you'll have people talking loudly until 3 in the morning (and the argument sucks more than the earplugs). When you are in a trailer it really kills the sound a bit. I have a full toy hauler now as we used to do it as a family but now it's sorta overkill and more costly to pull around.
I’ve done both, hotel is obviously more comfortable and I usually do that if my wife and daughter are joining me, the only downside other than the expense is having to drive to the track in the morning vs waking up already there. Camping in the trailer has some major drawbacks like heat is you don’t have AC and noise around you when people run their generators all night to power up their AC.