My current Minivan..... and the bike.

[LeeRevell]

I am currently driving my 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan, and generally tow my KLR650 motorcycle on a 5X10 open trailer. Got the trailer at Lowes back in 2011. At one time I planned to fully enclose it and make a mini Toy Hauler TT out of it.
I camp inside the GC, with the Stow&Go seats folded under the floor, and a 4'X8' black rubber bed mat on the floor. I use a twin-size inflatable mattress and blankets, and have a small electric heater for use in camp grounds, and the Buddy Jr. for off grid use. A single-burner camp stove for heating meals and water. I generally don't carry a cooler as I don't use refridgerated foods while MC camping.
Earlier I used a singlewide air mattress but found I really needed the extra width of the twin for comfort.
I had planned more serious mods til I bought the Ford E150 Conversion Van, which will ultimately be my camper rig.
The GC gets 18-25MPG, with it's 3.8L V6 motor. It's got pretty fair 'giddy-up&go', surprising some other drivers who expect to easily pass the 'slow minivan'...... hehehe, I am still a Musclecar Guy at heart.

The KLR650 is a dual sport bike, sort of a heavy dirtbike with highway capability. A modified Diesel variant is used by the USMC as their long range desert recon bike, using the same fuel as their combat vehicles. Mine get 50MPG on regular gas. It's got the widest and most comfy seat of any DS bike, but we KLR guys still often add extra padding for long road trips. I made a strap-on pad of a sheepskin-lined rifle case for runs from north Florida up into NC and TN. I could do 300 miles in a day before "monkey butt" sets in and I need to stop. No "Iron Butt Rallies" for me!
With a self-built rear cargo rack, side bags/boxes and tank pannier bags, I can carry all I need for a long weekend camping rally multi-state. She will cruise 75MPH all day long. 90MPH is top end when loaded. Some say the KLR can top out a bit over 00MPH, but not with my substantial bod on it! I avoid Interstate highways whenever possible though, as I just don't have the excess power to avoid a dangerous situation. And drivers are blind& crazy! Motorcycles are basically invisible to many drivers.

Here she is currently without the large add-on cargo rack......

Loaded for a trip.....

 

[masterplumber]

Looking good, I like the idea of a caravan for a "road tripper". I love the capacity of my truck and the comfort of my cargo trailer conversion, but you get double my mileage. I also ride a '03 KLR. I haven't done a true "Iron Butt" on it, but have hit 875 mile one day and can do 600 without to much trouble. I find if I get off every 3 hours for 15 minutes or so I'm good to go for another 3 hour. Mine was originally Olive drab' but I changed the plastic to all black after the gel coat wore off. If you get the chance, change your front fender to an '08 model - it makes a huge difference in the cross winds and still gives good coverage. Thanks for sharing - I may have to start looking for a good used Caravan. It would also make a good backup for my wife's '03 Escape, which I don't trust at all for reliability.

 

[GSSP]

Nice setup.

 

[LeeRevell]

My only problem so far with the GC is the electric door locks and side door opening/closing. Every so often, they go 'offline', reason unknown. I then need to disconnect the battery for ten minutes and reconnect to reset it. Irritating but not a show-stopper.
My KLR has some 45,000 miles on it now, and was my only transportation for two years at one time, til I bought the GC. I've done a LOT of modding and optimizing for my needs, but have never had the engine opened up, never even had the carb off it. I use Seafoam religiously, and it still runs like a Timex. Time for another set of tires, and I will change the front sprocket to get a little better top end and lower revs at highway speed. It's been totally repainted a few times - original red plastic painted Hunter Green, then camoed, then Hunter Green again, now the plastic is stripped to the original red again. All original decals are long gone. I use a collapsible cargo bag on the rear, and like going grocery shopping. Sometimes the bagger has to come out to see how the heck I will put a cart load of stuff on a bike? Their eyes get big watching me make that cartload disappear from view!
The KLR650 is truly the SUV of motorcycles. Does everything to some degree, but nothing perfectly.

 

[Patrick46]

I've been considering a KLR, a DR600, or a XR650 for my next M/XC purchase.

I live out on the Oregon Coastline, and have been building and riding choppers for well over 30 years now. There's gotta be some 10,000 miles of logging roads, BLM roads, and power line trails between here and I-5 that I cannot TOUCH with my chopper!

Hmmmmm....lotsa wonderful nature, no traffic (or these idiots texting while driving) to contend with, quiet.....YEP....it's time! No to mention that I've got a TAT ride on my bucket list. (sure, RTWDoug did it on his Harley sidecar rig this past year, but I personally know Doug, and he's a NUTCASE!!!)

I see that Lee has an ADV decal on his ammo can. I'm on there more then I'm on here.

 

[Rugster]

Not sure what it means, but my dream bike is a KLR 650 But I sure do miss my Bandit 600, the Bandits are excellent bikes.

 

[GSSP]

 

[Rugster]

Katooms are nice, but I could have 2 or 3 KLRs for the same price

 

[LeeRevell]

The "Doohickey" is another myth expanded all out of proportion. I have a very good pro Kawa mechanic do whatever I cannot (which ain't much!) and he tells me most problems with the doohickey are owner-created, screwing up the adjustment. If you want to install the Eagle Mike part (admittedly better made) then do so. It's like insurance, not needed in most cases. Mine is still original.
Ethanol-corrupted gas only has one problem for the KLR - it will drop your mileage by five MPG on the average. Runs fine. And don't waste your money on Premium gas - the KLR's old-school carb doesn't care, and the added octane is useless. The KLR is designed for 87 octane.

 

[masterplumber]

I changed my doohickey myself at 6000 miles and am glad I did. The spring was broken but fortunately stuck to the stator so no damage done. I bought the bike used with 3500 miles on it so no idea how the previous 2 owners cared for it. It now has 28,000 on it and still runs great. Funny you call it the "SUV" of bikes, I always refer to it as the Landcruiser. Same concept - extremely reliable, runs on most anything you put in the tank, and will do anything. Just don't expect it to be as comfortable as a Land Rover. But then again, it doesn't cost anywhere near what the big comfortable adventure bikes cost either.
Rugster, my son had a Bandit 600. Nice bike too, and more than capable of running a few gravel roads along with tearing up the pavement.

 

[Patrick46]

Katooms are nice, but I could have 2 or 3 KLRs for the same price

Exactally!!

another one I've looked at is a WeeStrom. My friend had one and thought they were underpowered, but I'm not a speed freak, and I've heard many say that they were darn near the ideal 1-up utility bike.

Time will tell.

I'll always have a chopper for the road though.

 

[Rugster]

V-stroms are excellent bikes, very fun. My friend had one and it rode very well. My friend is funny, he'll buy a bike, fix it exactly how he wants it, then sell it for something else.

 

[LeeRevell]

V-stroms are excellent bikes, very fun. My friend had one and it rode very well. My friend is funny, he'll buy a bike, fix it exactly how he wants it, then sell it for something else.

My primary riding buddy does the same thing. I got tired of helping him farkle a new bike, then he'd sell it. He's had his current BMW dual sport for about three years now, a long time for him! He loves the bike but is already getting the itch to sell it and get another.
I bought my KLR new in 2005, and expect to keep it til I can't ride anymore.
Same with my minivan - I love it, and will keep it til either it or I die.....

 

[Rugster]

Lee, I think you and I are in the same area and your riding buddy sounds a lot like my buddy I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same guy.

 

[LeeRevell]

Lee, I think you and I are in the same area and your riding buddy sounds a lot like my buddy I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same guy.

You close to Tallahassee? I'm on the west side five miles out of town. The Apalachicola National Forrest is excellent for dual sporting. Falling on sugar sand and pine needles sure beats going down in mountain gravel!

 

[Rugster]

Yup, I'd bet a dollar your friend lives off North Monroe? He talked me into taking the Bandit with him on his KTM and another guy on a small Yamaha DS out in the forest. The Bandit did ok, but we went very slow and it was not fun. At all

 

[LeeRevell]

Nope, my buddy lives out on Highway 20 west of town, further out than me by Lake Talquin. He had a KLR650 when we met again after he came back to town after a few years away, then sold it and got the 1000cc Vstrom, then traded it for the Weestrom 650 (more tractable at lower speeds), then went through a couple Beemers.
Neither of us has been riding much lately - he's been busy as his dual careers of Real Estate Agent and Sports Massage Therapist have taken off (he's the main guy for the FSU football team) and I have gone into the van thing. Now we are gearing up for deer hunting.

 

[Sherlock]

I spent about six months traveling out of a 2007 Grand Caravan CV. Built a small bedframe and storage into it, packed it full of gear. Got about 19 mpg across 15,000 miles.

When I got finished with the trip I found I still wanted to go camping all the time. Now I'm looking at buying a larger conversion van (which of course is what I should have done initially). ... The Dodge Grand Caravan is a fairly reliable van in my experience, but it quickly became apparent that I could have used more space.

 

[LeeRevell]

Yep, which is why I bought the '88 Ford E150 Conversion Van.