[Closed] Stowing luggage, etc inside van

You can get telescopic props like this
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normally used for holding up plasterboard on ceilings but excellent for acting as a divider in the van.

Depending on the size of the van, I guess...

Mine (LWB Nissan Primastar) has just been insulated & ply-lined, and I can still (just and literally no more) get my bikes in sideways with both the wheels attached up against the bulkhead, and ratchet strap them securely here. Just need to wedge a bit of cardboard etc in between them to stop them rattling and scratching each other if I'm carrying more than one bike.

Luggage & general stuff remains a problem (who ever thought it'd be such a pain in the hoop to carry stuff like the week's shopping home in the back of a van...) but phase 2 of the plying-project is to get a rack of shelving units in on one side to harbour 'stuff' and 'kit'.

Also going to get a pair of over-sized wheel-surround boxes made up with hinged lids, so that they'll double up as bench seats for dossing around in the back of the van in AND have a bit of space to stuff more crap into as needed.

Haven't ruled out screwing a roof-mounted cargo/stuff net in yet either - which would be super-handy for cramming soft & squidgy stuff like, sleeping bags/hammocks etc into.

Oh - all my biking stuff lives in one of these( http://www.reallyusefulproducts.co.uk/uk/) , which'll hopefully be tuck'able underneath/into the aforementioned shelving unit when the time comes.

For the bikes, a self-made wooden rack that the front wheels wedge into, + a bungie looped round the stem to stop them rolling out under braking
Tool box and other stuff that's wide based and low centre of gravity, some old rubber mats to stop it sliding all over.
For everything else, that won't wedge somewhere, more bungies through the load eyes or any other suitable hooking point.

Not driving like Colin McRae also helps.

For the bikes, a gutter for the wheels made out of an old ikea bed base support, luggage straps to anchor and pipe lagging to stop rubbing. Other stuff gets wedged and ignored for soft stuff like kit. For bigger trips, other luggage gets anchored with bungees or luggage straps

Tie-down cargo rail on the internal walls will give you lots of points to bungee to.

http://www.vanbitz.co.uk/3mtr-Tie-Down-Cargo-Rail.-Load-securing-rail-for-vans/104.htm

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For multiple bikes, just stick an old blanket between them.

I've a cargo net on the other side for stuffing soft things (jackets/clothing) etc behind.

Hooks on rear doors for hanging up helmets etc.

Large storage crate inside the side door for loose odds and ends, shopping, bottles of wine.

My van has a boot with two bike shelves that can take two bikes each. I've got tie down loops that I removed from the van before conversion that I hook bungees onto. Between the bikes I put an old bit of polyurethane foam underlay to protect paint/stanchions etc.

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And to stop trays moving:

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BigJohn - Member

You can get telescopic props like this

Great idea.

Liking these ideas, thanks.

Cargo net is a great idea. Had already considered old blanket to protect multiple bikes, now this can go in the netting when not in use!

That cargo rail looks perfect, thanks. Possibly in concert with some kind of gutter/stop for the wheels to stop the bike slipping sideways when bungied.

I like the idea of a storage crate for shopping/suitcases etc. May consider some kind of chest with a lid up against the bulkhead so it can double as seating for changing/having a brew/etc.

Does anyone bother with a removable floor cover that can just be taken out & hosed down if it gets muddy? Could solve two problems if it were non-slip also.

I use a bit of lino cut to size for the floor, replaced with a bit of carpet when camping. Generally I leave it as unconverted as possible for flexibility, we use it for our outdoors lifestyle, carting wood etc, furniture removals, camping so need it suitable for all these purposes

Does anyone bother with a removable floor cover that can just be taken out & hosed down if it gets muddy? Could solve two problems if it were non-slip also.

The floor of mine is just vinyl from B&Q. It doesn't soak up spills like plywood does and can be washed if required but mostly I just let it dry and sweep it clean.

That cargo rail looks perfect, thanks. Possibly in concert with some kind of gutter/stop for the wheels to stop the bike slipping sideways when bungied.

Fair enough! When you linked to Vanbitz earlier, was that a recommendation that you've used them & they were good?

Yeah. Easy enough to order. I got a batch of screws from B&Q and just fitted enough to make sure they didn't pull out of the ply.

Oh - I painted them with hammerite too.

You can also get matching shoring bars if you want to stop stuff from sliding back and forth or, potentially, to make some sort of stacking mechanism for multiple bikes.

http://www.vanbitz.co.uk/details.asp?ID=103

We have four of these for when the bikes are in the back of the camper. Rest of the stuff is secure from how we pack it.

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Also these on the garage door for helmets, shoes, gloves, goggles and any thing else.

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Does anyone bother with a removable floor cover that can just be taken out & hosed down if it gets muddy? Could solve two problems if it were non-slip also.

I looked and they seemed a lot of money when a tuppeny groundsheet does the same job. I don't look at how neat it is with 3 bikes piled in and an old curtain covering them.