People Carriers As Bike Transporters?

A mate uses a Mazda Bongo, its great. He gets his bike in there no problems and as its a camper (ish) he can drive to the track the day before and get a decent nights sleep

 

Three problems with trailers. Storage, theft risk while stored, theft risk while parked with bike on. Oh and towing speed. 4 then

 

You've forgot theft


Oh and they get dirtier than if you ride them

 

Erm....I put two thefts in there for you

 

The way forward is a transporter if you want a single multi use vehicle. Or an old espace and a nice sprts car for work chewper to insure than a van

 

my trailer takes up loads of space. i have managed to put it against the garage wall but its a faf. it tows better at 80 than it does at 60 too

those moto lug ones look good but cost a bit.....cheaper than taxing a big van for 2 years though i expect

 

I had an animal/livestock trailer, basically like a small horsebox so it had a built-in ramp and was fully enclosed so ideal for bike carrying as everything was dry, hidden from view and lots of space, it did slow the car down though due to having a large/flat frontal area but was ideal for bike carrying. Storage was not a problem but I hardly used it so got rid.

I only used the Galaxy as a bike carrier the time my Son got a puncture and I needed to recover him late at night, even if it fit better I don't think the Wife would have been too happy about me filling her car with oily/smelly bikes and I don't want an MPV as a daily driver myself.

Having a van just for bike haulage is quite an expense unless you're doing loads of trackday/racing etc.

I suppose it all depends how much you need/want to carry bikes around...

 

We used to cart an MV Agusta F4 and a Honda 125 around in the back of a Toyota Previa... seemed to work ok !
Headroom can be a bit of an issue when loading - must say we got some odd looks at the dealer when asking to measure it up when we explained why

 

I got a Moto-Lug. Works well, takes up very little space in the garage, can be carried in the back of my estate car then quickly assembled to put a bike on it. Not used it a lot, but reassuring to have it for emergencies etc. Not had to hire a van since getting it, so it's paid for itself.

 

I have been looking at vans and trailers lately for track days and storage for me isn't a problem but the fact that everyone and there dog will be asking you to be the free removal man and general dogs body i think would quickly piss me off.

 

Have one of these that I might part with early next year.



240V Van Trailer | Bateson Trailers

 

Mate had a Chysler Voyager that had been converted to carry a wheelchair, it was perfect.

 

Was he in a wheelchair then?:smile:

 

No but the rear was all cut about with a slide out ramp. The floor was sloping and there were tie down points fitted to the floor. However I've got a VW T5 Kombi and any other vehicle is just rubbish.

 

If you've got a spare people carrier already then fair enough, might as well give it a go, but if you've got to buy one and then convert it why not just buy a van? It won't cost any more, there's no work to do on it, a SWB won't take up any more room and it'll be far more suitable.

 

Get a cheap van like i have, vivaro sportive 2.0 6 speed..£1200! BOSH!! Solves all my transport problems and just sits on the drive for when i need it.

I have considered a Vw caddy maxi, about the smallest van you can get a bike in..however i figured i may have to load more than 1 bike so settled for next best thing.