Vans
 

After my IAM ride today where my gloves leaked and I was so cold I nearly cried I decided its time to get something with 4 wheels. I was planning to build a track/race bike anyway so I need somewhere to store it and move it. I currently only have a bike so I only want 4 wheeled transport in the worst conditions, is a van going to do?

A van looks the best shout but is storing a bike in a van a bad idea

Are there any vans that are paricually good at transporting bikes e.g. tiedowns in usefull places or are all vans pretty much the same?

I was looking at £1500 what do you recomend? I was thinking SWB transit, I think they are the same wheelbase as a normal car?

What the realistic fuel ecomony, I am happy to drive it slow as it will be slow and I cant see the point of trashing it.

Any security tips?

Cheers

Re: Vans
 

Good morning.

As a Transit man of many years standing, I can heartily recommend them.
You should get around 30-35mpg from a swb diesel.

The downside is that being rear wheel drive, the floor height is higher than front wheel drive vans of a similar size.
If you're only carrying sports bikes a low roof model will probably be ok, although a medium roof would be better. You need a high roof van for any touring type bikes with tall screens.

In most vans there are few tie down points, but these are easily fitted. I have a kind of dog guard in mine, which goes across the van behind the seats, I put the front wheel against it, & with a bike on its sidestand secure it with ratchet straps threaded over the bottom yoke & through one of the uprights in the 'dog guard'.

Another van that is worth considering is the LDV Convoy, from 1998 onwards they were fitted with the Transit engine & gearbox. I have a high roof twin wheel model which has served me well for the past 8 years.
They're not quite a nice to drive as a Transit, as not having independent suspension on the front they do 'bump steer' a touch, but you get used to it.
The body has more useable space than a Transit, but being slightly wider they wont go through a 6'6" width restriction if it's dead tight.
SWB models are rare, but they did make them, & the body is a little less prone to rusting than a Transit.
Another good side is that they're usually cheaper for a given year & mileage.

I would advise getting an insurance quote before buying a van, as it has become more costly to insure a van for private use in recent years, thanks to 'White van man'.


Cheers.

Re: Vans
 

Storing a race bike in a van is a godsend to any thief. Van's are bad enough for getting broken into, suspecting tools and such will be left inside. If they find a van with a bike in the back, it's a jackpot.

Get a good wheel lock and alarm for your van, just to deter the small time thieves and I wouldn't keep anything of any value in it. I've had two van's broken into FWIW. I live in Dublin mind you. But, they are great vehicles for gear heads like myself!

Re: Vans
 

Also, I'd especially advise against tinting your windows. Let a thief with a torch look in and see there is nothing worth breaking in for.

Re: Vans
 

I know its a stupid idea storing a bike in a van, but the only other option is storing it on the street. I was thinking of getting a fully panneled (if thats the right term) van so there is no chance of breaking the windows to look/get in. I was also thinking of adding some of those extra security locks that upgrade the normal ones. As far as i'm aware it is very easy to pop the standard locks out of most vans.

Re: Vans
 

Agreed scroats bust into vans in the hope there will be something in them. By bro used to park his 4 vans back to back on one of his drives to ensure there was no access to the rear doors. Really P'eed off his next door neighbours who got a view of 2 sprinters, a tranny and an LDV from their front window.

when his guys turned up in the morning. they had fun shifting them so the right guy got the right van

Re: Vans
 

Full panel van (no windows) with no access to back from the cab would be ideal. Yup, extra or improved locks, that said, they got into my van with a mega screwdriver used to punch right through the sheet metal and pry the door lock out in our underground parking garage. An alarm is a must as a deterrent and if you could somehow rig a hidden switch so your battery doesn't work when switched off, and maybe a separate battery for your alarm, you'd prevent them from driving it away. As we all know, if they want it bad enough they will get it. Don't be showing anyone the bike in the back and leave the bike with a mate when you go out of town is best you can do. Or sleep in the van. [-o<

Re: Vans
 

Think I might have found the ideal van.

Something like this
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk...r=&max_mileage=

Re: Vans
 

Looks pretty ideal. A cot, a mini fridge and a few dozen posters of your favourite pinup and you're in the racing business. Good luck, and get an alarm.

Re: Vans
 

i would by p'eed off too, if a tranny moved in next door


bloody weirdos