[Closed] MTB Transport

Berlingo obviously.

The back of pickups aren't secure in any way.

Any estate or big saloon with split rear seats will do what you want.

Van always wins - secure, 3 bikes with all wheels on, plus all your kit, plus extra people and bikes if you really want. Not sure why you think it'd be worse to live with than a pickup?

A mate of mine bought a Navarra for 6 grand. Over the last two years he's spent about 6 grand replacing diffs and gearboxes and brakes and hubs etc... The full list is sickening. Granted he bought a bad example but when he'd replaced almost all of the moving parts the chassis snapped. Now he's got about 12 grand in a pickup truck and he has to decide whether or not to get it welded back into one piece.

Plus every time I've been out with him it's a pain as we always have to eat or drink within eyesight of the truck and all our valuables.

I think trucks are cool but vans are infinitely practical. It's like going everywhere with a huge metal tent. You can do what you like in it.

Go on, get a van - it'll be the best thing you ever did.

I'd prefer one to a pickup as an everyday vehicle, personally.

Or a Galaxy kind-of thing if you're happy with a miserable compromise.

😉

A mate has just bought a Peugeot Partner Teepee, after i ripped the piss for 10 mins i had to concede it's actually pretty good. With the rear seats out (10 sec job) it is just as big, if not bigger than my 13yr old ford connect van and a damn site nicer to drive and be inside.

[url= http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201611039415499?make=peugeot&model=partner-tepee&logcode=p ]similar to this[/url]

I have both a van(Peugeot Partner) and a Navara the van always wins for MTB use.

Unfortunately Sharkattack's mate didn't buy a bad example. I work on a lot of Jap pickups and you couldn't give me a Navarra.

Modern vans drive just like large cars, they're easy for every day use. A little bit noisier than a car unless you get one with a bulkhead, but that would limit you to three up front and unless you get a full size transit they're a bit cramped for three full size blokes.

So what they said up there, a Berlingo or double cab (combi) van.

Seat Alhambra. You could remove four seats and have loads of space for bikes and gear. I've removed all five rear seats which gives me enough room for three bikes, loads of gear and to sleep in comfort.

[img] [/img]

Mondeo estate. Massive. I've had a 3 seat settee in mine.

A pal on here had a Berlingo, he used to call it 'Hotel Berlingo'. He turned up at our digs in it at the SSDT & he had more stuff in it than I can name, including a Honda 90, some stepladders & his MTB.

Volvo T5

[url]= http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201611029387151?price-to=3000&advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&radius=1500&price-from=2500&postcode=hd62qu&sort=sponsored&make=VOLVO&model=V70&page=2= http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201611029387151?price-to=3000&advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&radius=1500&price-from=2500&postcode=hd62qu&sort=sponsored&make=VOLVO&model=V70&page=2[/url]

I can get 4 bikes, 4 people and enough kit for a days riding in a Mondeo estate. But i have to take the wheels off (oh the horror).

Currently thinking that a Nissan Navarra type double cab pick-up is the only viable option but a friend suggested a Ford Galaxy might be able to take three bikes with only front wheels removed

Pickups are great for that. The truck backs are as (in)secure as an estate but have tie down points that you can lock chains to.

OP get a van.

. I can get 4 bikes, 4 people and enough kit for a days riding in a Mondeo estate. But i have to take the wheels off (oh the horror). .

I have a berlingo and the rear seat is split as a 1 and a 2
I have the 1 single seat unbolted out all the time so I guess you could take out the double seat instead and have 3 perms seats, I can get 2 bikes with front wheels out down the side using the single space so 3 should go using the double space
Also has some cable mounting points inside for straps or security cables, also if leaving in town I use a bit of black weed mesh as a cover over the lot

Why do the bikes have to be in the car, what's wrong with racks? Changing cars is expensive and you have to think what the percentage usage of your current car is - bike carrying v not carrying bikes.

SWB Transporter.

great to drive. not overly heavy on fuel and ideal size for a bike bus.

Racks suck.

Racks leave your bike exposed to eyes and road grime.

Pick up beds eyelets with bikes locked to.

A pair of tin snips will remove the eyelet quick smart.

I have a pug partner the wife has a berlingo multi space and I also have a pick up .

The vehicle of choice is the berlingo all day long.

Pick up is crap for putting bikes in - although I do have. 3 inch steel bar that goes to the chassis to lock to ....but still crap

Van is great but only 2 seats and is being sold shortly.

Berlingo can take 3 bikes and 3 people no bother .

I do love chatting to my riding buddies from inside the car with the window down while they are busy removing wheels an all sorts to get them in their Passat and 3series estates.

Berlingo is roll up. Open . Slot bike In and bunji to the side.

30 seconds max.

I don't miss the leather seats and 19inch wheels at all.

I've got a medium sized panel van. The only thing I'd swap it for is a newer, better medium sized panel van. Mine is a bit old and basic but it's still by far the most useful thing I've ever bought in my life.

My wheels haven't been removed from my bikes for a few years now other than tyre changes.

I could probably get 4 or 5 bikes with only front wheels removed in my SMax, but where are the riders going to sit? Realistically you can only carry two bike internally with seats for 2 or 3 people, you might squeeze a 3rd bike in if you had to. If you're into dismantling the bikes - YES THE HORROR, carefully dismantling muddy bikes and carefully wrapping them up like the baby Jesus and trying your best to rack and stack them in your car like a 3D puzzle, then just about any car will do.

Personally if security is not n issue then you can't beat hanging your bikes on the outside either by roof racks or a tow ball mounted rack. Ride upto the car, in 30 seconds your muddy bike is stowed, 5 minutes to change and you're off and you''ll be supping a cup of tea and munching on a bacon butty by the time the other poor sods have finished dismantling their bikes and carefully loading them into their cars then cleaning themselves up enough to brave sitting in the car and driving off.

Obviously a van is the ultimate bike lugging vehicle. Really can't see the benefit or appeal of a pick up. Unless you have a rack on the back, then you might as well load them onto the roof of a car.

The benefit of an SMax type of vehicle over a normal estate is that it gives you options. If i'm on my own i'll put my bike in the back laid on its side compete, and at the end of the ride if it's muddy stick it on the roof. If i'm going for a ride after work so the bike will with the car unattended I can get 2 bikes upright with only front wheels removed inside and secure all day in the car park, then either the same on the way home or on the roof if the bike are muddy. If i'm away for the weekend I have the option of carrying upto 7 bikes externally another riders and all their gear inside in comfort.

SMax with two long travel 29ers with front wheels removed with forks attached to an internal rack with gear. You could get another bike in if you had to but not it's rider:-

[img] [/img]

The bike shop business must be booming in the uk if you lot are mechanically inept enough to think taking wheels off is time consuming. Or a faff.

Naw not inept but it is more time consuming than just putting bike in whole.

It was great that they made a car that's perfect for our sport.

It's even better that folk are too snobby to be seen in one/drive a french car Keeps prices down

Though I'd love a van (I really would) you can't beat a roof rack (or tow ball rack) if ALL you have is a car...

As others have said... A van is an expensive way of carrying bikes if you already have a working car...

Security wise you could chain the bike to the rack in garages etc, but really I've found people don't leave the bike on the roof much..just when you're driving.

I suppose if you took the bike to the office to ride after then this is an issue, but I'd simply lock the bike inside?

DrP

Modern vans drive just like large cars, they're easy for every day use. A little bit noisier than a car unless you get one with a bulkhead

Do they?

We had a T5 & a T5.5 - the only car they drove like was a really, really sh*t one. Hell we replaced the van with a 15 year old Passat which was considerably better.

Yes, the van is better for carrying stuff around, and for getting changed in the carpark, they are not enough reasons for me to want to buy another one.

I guess it depends if your into "making progress" or not.

Modern vans drive well and better than some old cars. They are not as refined as modern cars.

Pickups are great for that. The truck backs are as (in)secure as an estate but have tie down points that you can lock chains to.

Don't underestimate how much bigger a galaxy is than an smax. Or galaxy easily takes three bikes and three people, only front wheels off. I can get a 650 HT across the boot alone, front wheel off. Seats down is 7'+ long and will take a couple of bikes with both wheels on diagonally.

Honda FRV, not got one myself but saw three blokes with three bikes up at Lee Quarry and it seemed perfect. Roof rack is terrible if you are alone, a piss at the motorway services is too stressing as no one is watching the bike.

So many responses, so little time to reply. A few additional comments from me (more to follow later when I'm back from riding):

jam bo - Member

The back of pickups aren't secure in any way.

Any estate or big saloon with split rear seats will do what you want.

TBF, I was thinking of a pick up with the additional boot thing which makes it more of a large estate car IYSWIM. Having said that, I didn't appreciate that the eyelets could be easily cut through.

My brother has a Pathfinder and it's ****ing huge inside, hence leading me to the Navarra.

legend - Member

Van always wins - secure, 3 bikes with all wheels on, plus all your kit, plus extra people and bikes if you really want. Not sure why you think it'd be worse to live with than a pickup?

Fair point, I'm assuming that a van is more costly to live with, run and insure. I'm also assuming they're less comfortable over long drives - ISTBC as always.

FWIW, I'd love a van, especially one that I could dump the motorcycle into as well, I just didn't think they'd be good as an everyday car.

chakaping - Member

Go on, get a van - it'll be the best thing you ever did.

I'd prefer one to a pickup as an everyday vehicle, personally.

Or a Galaxy kind-of thing if you're happy with a miserable compromise.

😉

Larry_Lamb - Member

Why do the bikes have to be in the car, what's wrong with racks? Changing cars is expensive and you have to think what the percentage usage of your current car is - bike carrying v not carrying bikes.

For security mainly. Racks suck IMO. When we head to Wales or Scotland we always take a decent break for at least half an hour. If the bikes were on a rack we wouldn't be able to do that.

When I looked into a tow ball rack, I was advised that I couldn't carry more than 40kg on the rack (something to do with the nose weight) so that ruled out three bikes.

Also, I live in a flat an don't have space to store the rack.

About half of my driving is carrying at least one bike.

The other thing I've found is that in winter, my car smells damp after being out for a ride, no matter how much I dry the bike and stash wet kit into a bag. I figured that with a pick up I could just leave the stuff in the back as it's separate from the cab.

Thanks for the suggestions so far, all are gratefully received. 🙂

Fair point, I'm assuming that a van is more costly to live with, run and insure. I'm also assuming they're less comfortable over long drives - ISTBC as always.

More costly for road tax, insurance shouldn't be an issue, and fuel economy on a 140ish Vito or Transporter will be around 37mpg.

We've got 2 captains chairs up front, so it's actually more comfortable on long drives as you can find different ways to sit. Having a bench up front is never good for being a passenger though

For the first time opted for a van with family n bikes the estate really struggled! Don't know why didn't do sooner... brilliant!!!

[img] [/img]

I'd rather have a pickup than a van for an everyday driver but I wouldn't choose a pickup over a van to carry bikes in the back of.

My pickup has a hardtop, it's reasonably secure but everything is on show, if an undesirable with a screwdriver so much as looked at the hardtop lock it would pop open.

Oh, and don't buy a Navara.

[quote="trail_rat"]It was great that they made a car that's perfect for our sport.bloody useless as a car though.
Last time I spent any time in a small, cheap French car the last thing I'd have done after getting out is go on a bike ride. Physiotherapy would have been more appropriate.

Large estate car should manage 3+3 with wheels off, might be a bit of a squeeze if taking significant amount of kit as well.

Swb transporter fits in a supermarket car park space, with big mirrors and beepers is easy to reverse Park, is low enough to fit in a multi-storey, slow depreciation, limitless customisation options and does about 40mpg.

I've had the same experience as xcstu, can't see me having a car again.

Oh, and my mate's old employer had a navarra. Continually breaking down and bits falling off. 😆

Car needs to be pretty big for the third person. A van would be ideal. Rather than a bike rack what is the cost of generic roof bars and a box? Could get bags in there and then the bikes inside.

When we head to Wales or Scotland we always take a decent break for at least half an hour. If the bikes were on a rack we wouldn't be able to do that.

well...you would be able to though, wouldn't you..!!

just don't go to the cinema or anything!

DrP

Fair point, I'm assuming that a van is more costly to live with, run and insure. I'm also assuming they're less comfortable over long drives

Insurance on my T5 is £400 (started at over 800 with zero no claims and coming down every year), Tax is £220. As for comfort I've driven it from Newcastle to the Alps and back every summer since we got it. I don't remember being uncomfortable even on the old original seats. I just wish I had air con.

3 of us go away for weekends away in a mates Octavia estate and there's easily enough room. Yeah, you have to take the front wheels off but it's not really a problem.
Loads of room left over for luggage.

Depends how often you go away as to how practical it would be.
Every weekend, get yourself something like a Galaxy. A few times a yr, get a large estate.

For the amount of times it would come into its own, for me personally something like a Berlingo would be a rubbish choice because there's no getting away from the fact it's a conversion of a cheap, French van. I wouldn't use it's benefits often enough to warrant putting up with the misery of driving one the rest of the time....

My old X-trail was pretty good - big enough for two bikes complete and one in bits + third seat in the back. And the fold down area was plastic so you could basically hose it out. Flat as well. Two mates have T5s and I'd really like one. The LB Sportline takes 5 or 6 bikes fully built and has room for five at a push, four with comfort. Done a bunch of 14+ hour trips in that.

Since the x'y I've had two Yeti's. As a car, brilliant, as a bike carrier, useless. Wheel off, pass seat all the way forward, lumpy load area unless you remove the stupidly heavy sits. Don't get one of those 😉

Current "car" is a Kia Sorrento, can easily do what you want.
Previous car was a Touran, agian with the flexible seat arrangements easily attainable.
Zafira can also accommodate your wishes.

bloody useless as a car though.
Last time I spent any time in a small, cheap French car the last thing I'd have done after getting out is go on a bike ride. Physiotherapy would have been more appropriate

We all different. Afaiac it moves at the speed limit and stops.its taken me to the south of France and at least has the pedals and seat and wheel in a line unlike any vauxhall I've ever had.

By contrast the c1 i had in tenerife I'll whole hearted agree with you. It was grum . Im sure the shocks and springs had been replace with steel rods.

I think the upright position of the berlingo is what makes it comfy- well for me cause I'm tall with long legs most regular cars have me looking through the sun visor to reach the wheel with the seat back enough to get my legs under the wheel.

3 bikes and three people isn't that hard. Any focus sized estate should do it with wheels off.

Unfortunately Sharkattack's mate didn't buy a bad example. I work on a lot of Jap pickups and you couldn't give me a Navarra.

I also know someone who had one and had to spend 2 grand having the engine put back together after it blew up. Fortunately it was under a warranty so he got his money back.

3 bikes and three people isn't that hard. Any focus sized estate should do it with wheels off.

Yeah exactly. I used to get 3+3 inside my Civic hatchback. Although to be fair bikes have gotten longer and bigger wheeled so it's not quite so easy these days, but I laugh when people suggest a van for this purpose - a sledgehammer to crack a walnut.

I know you say you're against racks, but I've got a big Thule towbar rack which locks to the car. I can then put a big motorbike chain lock around all the bikes. No worries stopping at service stations etc. Obviously that doesn't stop thieves following you home but vigilance will hopefully stop that?

DrP - Member

When we head to Wales or Scotland we always take a decent break for at least half an hour. If the bikes were on a rack we wouldn't be able to do that.

well...you would be able to though, wouldn't you..!!

just don't go to the cinema or anything!

DrP

Well not really as it's nice for both of us to sit down in the restaurant/coffee shop at the same time.

I know you say you're against racks, but I've got a big Thule towbar rack which locks to the car. I can then put a big motorbike chain lock around all the bikes. No worries stopping at service stations etc. Obviously that doesn't stop thieves following you home but vigilance will hopefully stop that?

The only other problem with a tow bar rack is the nose weight on my Fiesta will only really accommodate two mountain bikes, three at a push. My motorbike chains (Almax Series III) weigh almost as much as my Whyte T-130. 🙂

out of sight out of mind is a better front line security than any chain though.

Stop trying to fight it, you clearly need a van.

I suggest hiring one for a weekend to see how you like it.

trail_rat - Member

out of sight out of mind is a better front line security than any chain though.

Totally agree, hence me thinking that a pick up with the hard top cover might be a good idea (which, from the responses on this thread, isn't). Still don't like the idea of bikes on the outside of the vehicle.

chakaping - Member

Stop trying to fight it, you clearly need a van.

I suggest hiring one for a weekend to see how you like it.

Money no object, a VW or a new Transit would be top of the list and I wouldn't even be asking. 😀

Hiring for a weekend is a good call. 🙂

Totally agree, hence me thinking that a pick up with the hard top cover might be a good idea (which, from the responses on this thread, isn't).

Still don't like the idea of bikes on the outside of the vehicle.

Vans don't drive like cars and then only feel like one once you've silent coated everything to bring the sound deading qualities up to those of a car. Once you've done that though, what you're left with is a big wafty monster - ours is the most comfortable long distance cruiser I've ever owned.

Pickups drive even less like cars, but do oversteer comically. A rack is what you need.