My youngest son started BMX racing this year. So far we have supported it in my truck. There's a local track that is maybe 3 or 4 miles away. Heck, we could get there on the golf cart (if it wasn't broken also).

But this weekend we journeyed ~ 3 hours for a (single, double, triple) points weekend at the Alabama State Championship.

Understand, my truck is a helluva vehicle. But for BMX racing, it's like killing a fly with a sledgehammer. A BMX bike is small and nothing. But it's incompatible shape makes it difficult to put in the back seat of the truck. And I get 19 - 20 mpg with my 7,100 lb truck, and get there with my ears ringing (a little). I missed a couple turns here and there and would like to have a Navi screen up in my face. It rides like a tank. If I can be smoooooth rolling up in the 460, that would be nice. Nice, quiet, navi-guidance, seat cooling, bluetooth Pandora ... what could be better?

I tried to put the bike in the trunk of the Lexus before we left, but it wouldn't fit. But I got to thinking I could just take the front wheel off and turn the handle bars sideways and lay the wheel in there. Other than that, I think all the other stuff will fit. Mostly tools and spares. Except the canopy ... I'll have to check that too. It's long.

Here's my point: Who has a good suggestion on how to convert the LS to a BMX hauler. I DO NOT want a bike rack on the trunk. Let me reemphasize that. I WILL NOT put a bike rack on the trunk. Mainly what I want is, something to line the trunk with so (mainly) dirt from the bike, or chain grease will not get on the trunk.

I was thinking of cutting some card board to shape. Like a box with no top, laid on it's side in the trunk.

I know you guys are full of good ideas. Let me know what you may suggest. I hear ideas for stuff from you guys and I'm like ... woah, brilliant, I wish my mind was that clever. Astonish me again!

BTW - My son stole 2nd place from local Alabama riders. Even though the 3rd place rider cheated twice. On the 2nd time, he bumped my son, but he came out on the short end of the stick. My son went on to get 2nd. The first place boy had a great attitude and raced clean. My son was ahead of him for a while, but he was a good rider and was familar with the track. It was an awesome weekend and he collected a lot of points and a big ole trophy.




7milesout

My son is on the left, 2nd place.

 

My trunk is always covered by a blanket. I can throw stuff in there and don't have to worry. It's not a thick blanket but thin and strong. Works great for me. My trunk looks brand new.

 

The OEM trunk mat, if you have one, is replaceable for not too much money. Buy a new one for use when you're not BMX hauling and then you can feel OK trashing the old one.

The harder part is the carpet on the sides of the trunk and the trunklid. That stuff is relatively delicate. I'm wondering if you might be able to cover it with protective, self-adhesive plastic sheeting.

 

http://www.weathertech.com/lexus/200...ner/hybrid/no/

 

The weather tech stuff is awesome, but for $125, I may just cut cardboard to shape. I'm a cheap-skate. Check out the picture above. I had to come home to get it to work.

 

Before commenting on materials to use, I wanted to say congratulations to your son for doing such a great job! Second place is awesome but more importantly, from the sounds of it as well as the photo, it seems as though you both had a great time!

The cardboard on the bottom sounds like a great idea, as long as you can obtain a thick price so that it can withstand some abuse, so your not constantly replacing it, unless you don't mind.
Also, for the "walls" on the interior of the trunk, I like dal2402's idea. Not sure exactly what product he's referencing, but a good plastic protective would be vapor barrier that is used traditionally behind Durock in showers.
If I'm not mistaken, it about 40 microns thick (a human hair is about 1 micron).
Get some 3M that n double sided strips, tape it up near the corners/seams, floor, cardboard on the floor on top of the plastic, then go Greg's route and use a thin blanket.
Sounds like over kill but that's what I'd probably do.
I'm particular in that way and I desire to have as minimal wear as possible.

 

Yes yes congrats to your son. That is awesome. I'm sure there are many 1st place finishes in his future.

I like the idea of the cardboard. I use towels, but then again, that's what works for me.

 

how about...
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Surface-S...2450/205187255

 

Get one of those heavy duty clear carpet protectors (the ones your office chair goes on - about 5'x4'). You can find them at thrift stores, Goodwill, Re-Stores, etc, for about $5. Cut it to size, the shape of your trunk. The little spikes on the underside keep it in place and it is pretty indestructible. Cardbosrd may work but it will likely get torn by the pedals, chain, wheel nuts, etc). You could also change the front axle for a quick release, although the judges may not permit that for competition.

 

They also make bike bags that you could put the bike into and then not worry about what's in the trunk. All the dirt and stuff stays in the bag, and is easy to dump. Cardboard and other "liners" will still need to be carefully removed to get any dirt out without dumping it in the trunk.

 

I just played BMX Tetris. I got all the stuff into the trunk that I load into my truck for BMX racing. This set-up is only for long-distance bmx racing. Which entails at least 1 more trip this year, next weekend to Augusta, GA.

Do you guys remember the movie Red Ocotober. When it was stated in the movie, "A Ruskie doesn't take a dump without making a plan..." Well, maybe I would make a good Ruskie!

Previously I had all the contents to carry on a checklist on my smartphone. So my son and I don't get to the track and go, uh-ohhhhh.

Well I took that list, and put it in a chronological loading order, or the way to get all this stuff in the trunk. The "BMX Race Package" is currently loaded in the trunk, boot closed. Below is a list of items in the "package," condensed down ... because I have each individual item listed on my load sequence. What a nerd I am. But now, my son and I can ride long distance in luxury. Or we can take the whole family in luxury. Course if we stay overnight, we may have an issue, but generally the rest of the family would come down separately, so no problem.

• Big metal chair. Easier to get my big butt out of.
• Canopy - And this one is quite large.
• 3 Water Bottles - One is like a baby water cooler as a reserve.
• Cinch bag carrying spares - Chainrings, inner tubes, brake cable, etc.
• The BMX bike - sans the front wheel / tire.
• 2 Camp Chairs.
• A big tool box - overkill, but you never know.
• Tire Pump
• Helmet & Gloves
• Neck Brace
• Socket Set - More overkill, but you never know.
• And the front wheel / tire. No room for the kitchen sink.

It's very compact in there ... I'm not sure my Corolla wouldn't hold more!

 

The weekend I was preparing for, was rained out. So the LS did not get used for BMX duty. Since then my mightly Corolla has returned to service. I was preparing the LS because the Corolla was down and the truck is overkill, and not comfortable for long rides like the LS.

Since this thread, the Corolla has returned to service, and the truck has blown it's clutch!

I added to this thread to say that even though the trunk of the LS is not huge, it held ALL of the BMX gear, but the Corolla's trunk does not. I've used the Corolla for local BMX races, and the back seat has to hold some of the gear.

The big race was postponed and I may go back to the LS for that duty. Will let you guys know.


- 7mileout