Cheap van for mountain biking?

[Smokey32]

Hey all. Im toying with the idea of getting a cheap and nasty van for hauling me and my sons mountain bikes around and a friend or 2.

Needs to be big enough to get at least 3 bikes in at once. Couldn't care less about the van itself, the cheaper the better, as long as it runs.

What should I be looking at?

Thanks.

[Krikkit]

Cheap old ford galaxy or other people carrier with some seats stripped out? Would be far better to potter about in.

[AlexiusG55]

Krikkit said:

Cheap old ford galaxy or other people carrier with some seats stripped out? Would be far better to potter about in.

In that case maybe a Fiat Multipla? 3 seats across the front so you can take 2 passengers with all the rear seats removed.

[Smokey32]

Can you fit 3 mountain bikes in those?

What happens at MOT time say with the rear missing?

[mygoldfishbowl]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Camper-van-Race-van-off...

[A500leroy]

berlingo multispace surly?

[LimaDelta]

Pickup for bikes!

[ZX10R NIN]

+1 to the Galaxy, as long as the rear seats & belts aren't there then it's not an MOT failure.

[mbwoy84]

Non-turbo 1.9 Kangoo. Had one for years and never missed a beat. Surprisingly enjoyable to drive for what it was too.

[MrModo]

LimaDelta said:

Pickup for bikes!

Cool, i've been trying to work out how to fit bikes in the back on my L200 ...do you have a rack in the back to mount the bikes? What is that you've used to hang over the tail gate??

[MrModo]

I'd steer clear of old vans...being work vehicles they're mostly hard a hard life and are at the end of their life

an estate or MPV would be a better bet

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Isn't there a trailer you could tow? That would save some expense.

[Lukas239]

Would a big estate and some roof bars do the job? Opens up your options considerably if so

[LimaDelta]

MrModo said:

LimaDelta said:

Pickup for bikes!

Cool, i've been trying to work out how to fit bikes in the back on my L200 ...do you have a rack in the back to mount the bikes? What is that you've used to hang over the tail gate??

It's a tailgate pad by Dakine. I leave it in place permanently and it has five Velcro securing loops on the inside to strap around the downtube of the bikes. Zero movement when driving.

Budget option would be a yoga mat and roll of duct tape.

[MrModo]

LimaDelta said:

It's a tailgate pad by Dakine. I leave it in place permanently and it has five Velcro securing loops on the inside to strap around the downtube of the bikes. Zero movement when driving.

Budget option would be a yoga mat and roll of duct tape.

Thanks...gonna get me one!

[S1KRR]

ZX10R NIN said:

+1 to the Galaxy, as long as the rear seats & belts aren't there then it's not an MOT failure.

Not quite

If theres a seat there must be a belt
If theres no seat. Doesn't matter if belts are there or not.


Related point. Removing seatbelts can bring on SRS lights, which are a fail. So leave the belts in.

https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/m...

MOT Manual said:

You don't need to inspect:
•a belt fitted with no corresponding seat
•a buckle or stalk with no corresponding belt

HTH

[akirk]

vans are good - bolt a bike wheel gizmo to the floor to make it easy - brilliant space for waiting in the rain / changing in...

[Smokey32]

Do bikes fit in these suggestions?

Def needs to be inside. Had enough of roofbars and racks.

Van or MPV it is then.

[s2sol]

I've got a 2000 Fiat Scudo 1.9 non turbo. I bought it 2 years ago for £400, and I've spent about £300 on it since then. Unintentionally, I've done over 30000 miles in it during that period. It's a cracking van with lots of irritating problems, but it's done me proud, and I've developed a quite an affection for it.

[snowandrocks]

Small lightweight box trailer - no mots, tax, insurance to worry about and negligible repairs/servicing.

Any reasonable car will hardly even notice it on the back. You also get to travel in a nice comfortable car rather than a crappy old van.