Hi
I'm looking at roaming around in a motorhome/race truck for a bit.
By looking at race trucks I am looking at conversions with a garage area, the thing is some really nice trucks don't have this.
My dilemma is that I need to carry at least 1 bike but really 3 would be ideal.
I'm sure a saw a metal bike box type thing once that may do a job... but lots of searching has turned up nowt.
Anyone got pictures, links or even ideas of their own I'd be grateful.
Cheers
Depends on where you are going but unless it's out of sight it's a target. If you are going to be parking up somewhere quiet for a few hours with bikes on the outside expect somebody to make an attempt, even in motorway services these days so personally I'd be ruling out anything without internal storage.
Like Mike says Out of sight out of mind. I have a motorhome but never use the rack. Got a 'garage' across the back that will get 3 bikes in, with front wheels and seatposts off, chained together then Fiamma swing across door locks as extra protection. I wouldn't comtemplate leaving them on back. Fiamma do a box but its fibreglass, I've seen a few bigger steel boxes hanging off the back of things but most look like custom made jobs.
Same as above our main priority when buying the motorhome was a garage big enough to take four bikes with the wheels on, a bed I didn't have to make up on a night and wipe clean seats. After three years and driving all over the UK and Europe I glad we didn't compromise.
I lock mine to the back axle of the van if I park up. It's a real PITA and also requires a 6metre chain!
One day I'll forget to take it off before driving away. 😂
chucking a big metal box full of 3 bikes off the back of most *race* 3.5 ton vans will take you over your rear axle limit anyway
hell taking a dump in the toilet of most of them would take you over the limit.
if 7.5t ignore me 😀
7.5 but I get your point.
I have been focused on trucks with garages... but seen 2 that don't and are the best I've seen for the money.
But if I lost my bikes I'd be gutted, the search continues.
I have been focused on trucks with garages… but seen 2 that don’t and are the best I’ve seen for the money.
Than your budget or expectations are wrong!
Does it have to be a garage? No room inside to maybe adapt it to out them under the bed or something? Or just put them inside for travelling, take them out whern parked up and you need tomove about inside, them bring them back in when you go to bed?
There are loads of Race Trucks with what you want out there.
Loads and loads.
Whats your budget?? That will help us all out to give you pointers.
Guess why they seem best for the money..
Cause they ain't race trucks they are just flabby campers that alot of folk need to do a different license for
If you're looking at 7.5 ton lorries, surely there'll be enough space to fit bikes in whether or not there's currently a dedicated garage area?
We thought about this long and hard. Originally we wanted a garage for the security but found that it massively compromised the interior space for living in. Fine for weekends but not for extended trips. We also didnt want a wide coach built motor home as getting to trail heads can be tricky compared to a panel van based camper.
In the end we went for the bike rack on the back option. We have 2 huge motorcycle chains to lock them to the van and because the bed in our van is at the back your head is only 12 inches from them at night. If we are going to spend a day in a town away from the van then we put them inside
Inside unless you have massive truck thingy for huge box. Never got the “the bikes are chained up right by our heads outside”.
Do you just listen to them being stolen? Go out with bat and smash thieves heads in or get your own head smashed in trying to stop them if they get the better of you.
They are locked to the van not the carrier and the chain is so thick that cutting the frame would be the easiest way to remove them. Will it stop them if they are really determined? No it wont, Will it mean they leave us alone and go for an easier target? Probably
Ah well each to their own I guess. Keep mine inside still.
Out of sight out of mind under my fixed double bed.
Not cramping my interior too much in a 3.5t panel van.
Dunny in the door in the corner , fridge, sink , microwave and hob on the RHS . Heater and seating for 4 where the photos taken from forms a second double bed or a single bed without fannying about.
Worth it not to have to worry about my bikes on the back.
If Trailrat can get several bikes into his 7m panel van, and I get several into my 6m panel van, we both got a kitchen, bog, double bed, standing room etc without feeling that the van is compromised, I fear you have your priorities wrong when considering a 7.5t truck!
The only compromise with a truck that size would be having the bikes outside the vehicle 🙂
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
The question was never what truck should I get, it was regarding secure bike storage on the back.
As it goes I agree, putting them inside a secure garage is by far the preferred option but by its very nature that takes away from living area. The other thing that does is act as a target, anyone determined will just bust into the garage, so further security will need to be in place there too.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we lived in a world where security didn't have to be deciding factor.
Budget wise I'm on the lower end so there certainly isn't a huge choice, especially as I am not looking for a flabby camper but a home.
If it’s a full time living truck FB groups of permanent bus livers may be able to come up with better solutions than part timers like us.
It's easier to pop a lock on a van than it is to cut a good quality chain....
Mines on the back chained up.
But I don't go south....
"It’s easier to pop a lock on a van than it is to cut a good quality chain…."
Well you assume you only have the factory locks. (Foolish )You also assume there is no other security when the bikes are in the garage.( More foolish)
The fact that they are out of sight of prying eyes as a first line of defense is a priority for me. It's stood me well for years .
Had to leave mine in the middle of Glasgow over night a couple weeks ago. No danger I'd even have considered it with bikes on the back box or not. I have considered fitting an empty rack as a decoy though suggesting that the bikes are not on board.
Glasgow you say!
My son just moved there two weeks ago. Started new job last monday decided to cycle in on tuesday as work has cycle racks. Came out of work on tue, bike gone! Security had it all on cctv, guy walks up while they are busy accepting a delivery, bolt cutters out of jacket, straight through cable lock and pedals away.
Not a majorly expensive bike, old but decent Speccy Rockhopper. But he has used it to cycle to work many times during the last nine years in London!