How do you get a bike into a van?

[Ch00]

I am looking to hire a van to move my bike 500 miles in order to use it for a weeks holiday touring about with the Mrs. Dont really want to ride there and back as we (she) wont be able to take what she needs.

How easy/hard is it to get a bike into the back of a van? Is it best to build a ramp to get it in?

I have looked at hiring a bike for the week but it looks like its going to end up a bit ££££.

I dont have a tow bar on my car but I dont know how much it would cost to hire a trailer. For info my Wee Strom is taller than a SV and must be heavier.

Cheers

Ch00

Big plank , something like a scaffolding board , but be careful as it may be a bit slippery . Either that or lift the front end in with 2 mates on the front and one one the back to keep her steady , once front wheel is in , get one mate on the right side to hold back brake down whilst the rear mate jumps in the van to support the front , 2 side guys then move to the back and haul the rear end up and into the van . Good use of the brakes and support here will avoid a catastrophe .

I use a old scaffolding board with a square steel bar screwed to the underside to get a bike in a van.

You will need some rope to tie it down with and some rags to put between the rope and the bike, I also use the old sofa foam seats to put between the side wall and bike.

Originally Posted by Dangerous Dave

I use a old scaffolding board with a square steel bar screwed to the underside to get a bike in a van.

Aaah yeah , good idea , is that to stop the board from dropping off the back of the van then when under load ?

Originally Posted by xXBADGERXx

Aaah yeah , good idea , is that to stop the board from dropping off the back of the van then when under load ?

Yeah, should of made that bit clear as the board seems to be strong enough so doesn't need any extra strength.

Oh god , imagine that board slipping out , another way to do it is put the van at a right angle to a Kerb and prop one end on the back of the van and the other end butted up against the kerb . That way you can ensure the board won`t move and the bike has a nice run from pavement and onto the board without jolting the front end and maybe causing a bit of a "Wobble and Drop" situation .

Surely the cost and hassle for hiring a van is more than the hassle of taking both your bike and the car on holiday. Just get the Mrs to drive the car with all her gubbins in and park the car up for the holiday, as you would have done with the van.
OK, you will be paying for two lots of fuel but you will be saving on the hire costs.
Plus, you get to ride instead of sitting in a box.................

Well he did say he couldn`t take what the Mrs wanted , so the van could actually have the kitchen sink in it as well

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8vggli15no

HTH

Alex

LMFAO , surely that is fake as you can`t even stand up in a van without jabbing your neck against the top of the door frame ?