How do you load multiple bikes into a medium van?
Discussion
As the subject line says, how do you do this? I can load a single bike into a Transit and strap it down without any real problem but will soon(ish) have a need to get two track bikes loaded. There's the standard Transit lashing points at all 4 corners and 2 just before the wheel arch at floor level and 2 above each wheel arch.
I just can't get my head around how you place the straps onto the bikes and lashing points with 2 fully faired bikes.
I've looked into front wheel chocks such as this:
I wouldn't really want to bolt it through the floor though unless unavoidable. Any advice and shared experience would be appreciated.
I just can't get my head around how you place the straps onto the bikes and lashing points with 2 fully faired bikes.
I've looked into front wheel chocks such as this:
I wouldn't really want to bolt it through the floor though unless unavoidable. Any advice and shared experience would be appreciated.
naetype said:
As the subject line says, how do you do this? I can load a single bike into a Transit and strap it down without any real problem but will soon(ish) have a need to get two track bikes loaded. There's the standard Transit lashing points at all 4 corners and 2 just before the wheel arch at floor level and 2 above each wheel arch.
I just can't get my head around how you place the straps onto the bikes and lashing points with 2 fully faired bikes.
I've looked into front wheel chocks such as this:
I wouldn't really want to bolt it through the floor though unless unavoidable. Any advice and shared experience would be appreciated.
I get 2 race bikes into a Mk1 Vito.I just can't get my head around how you place the straps onto the bikes and lashing points with 2 fully faired bikes.
I've looked into front wheel chocks such as this:
I wouldn't really want to bolt it through the floor though unless unavoidable. Any advice and shared experience would be appreciated.
Simply mount 2 front wheel chocks onto a piece of plywood boarding cut to the right size (about half the length of the van).
Tthen use handlebar /grip wraps to tie the front down and keep the bike upright and steadied.
Then run a single strap through both rear tyres, wrapping it around each rear wheel in turn to stop the back of the bikes bouncing around.
Like this, I can get 2 bikes, 4 paddock stands, tool chest, 20 litre jerry cans, 2 sets of tyre warmers, leathers and other gear and all the other gubbins in quite easily.
The folding load ramp gets strapped to the recess in the tail gate where the rear window would be in a crew cab design.
Don't forget to offset the wheel chocks slightly so the bikes handle bars aren't fouling eachother.
And yes, the chocks must be fixed down to the board...
Steve Bass said:
Simply mount 2 front wheel chocks onto a piece of plywood boarding cut to the right size (about half the length of the van).
Good idea ! Presumably it could just be the width of the van (thinking about storing it when not being used)I was intending to fit riv nuts to the van floor the ply will work just as well
I was looking for ideas the other day and many advocate just strapping the front forks down but I like a rear strap too in case of an emergency manoeuvre / accident
The problem with most vans is that there are no tie down points in the middle of the van so straps often have to go through the other bike to reach the other side of the van. I always put some in as it saves hassle in the long run. Not a fan of the handlebar straps as they can bend clipons. If you have paddock stands put them up on the rear ones and strap down through the rear wheels
Steve Bass said:
....
Simply mount 2 front wheel chocks onto a piece of plywood boarding cut to the right size (about half the length of the van).
Tthen use handlebar /grip wraps to tie the front down and keep the bike upright and steadied.
....
That sounds ideal, but still slightly confused as to how you strap the plywood board to the van or if you even need to, does the rear strap stop the bikes sliding rearwards?Simply mount 2 front wheel chocks onto a piece of plywood boarding cut to the right size (about half the length of the van).
Tthen use handlebar /grip wraps to tie the front down and keep the bike upright and steadied.
....
dibblecorse said:
Do you have rear paddock stands for the 2 bikes, if so load the 1st opposite side to the sliding door, strap that down, load 2nd bike, only awkward point is reaching the middle tie down point, straps at the rear to stop pivoting, job done, no need for checks.
Yup, got rear stands. That would make sense but there is no middle tie down point at the front bulkhead on my Transit Custom. Or am i missing something?Apologies if I seem a bit dense over this, I just seem to have a mental block as to how this all works
Edited by naetype on Sunday 21st June 20:17
scorcher said:
The problem with most vans is that there are no tie down points in the middle of the van so straps often have to go through the other bike to reach the other side of the van. I always put some in as it saves hassle in the long run. Not a fan of the handlebar straps as they can bend clipons. If you have paddock stands put them up on the rear ones and strap down through the rear wheels
Ahh... that makes sense. I had a look at the Transit tech build sheet but couldn't see where to put a front 'middle' lashing point. Would it be okay just to bolt one in through an existing bulkhead mounting point?And thanks for all this info so far, a big help.
naetype said:
Steve Bass said:
....
Simply mount 2 front wheel chocks onto a piece of plywood boarding cut to the right size (about half the length of the van).
Tthen use handlebar /grip wraps to tie the front down and keep the bike upright and steadied.
....
That sounds ideal, but still slightly confused as to how you strap the plywood board to the van or if you even need to, does the rear strap stop the bikes sliding rearwards?Simply mount 2 front wheel chocks onto a piece of plywood boarding cut to the right size (about half the length of the van).
Tthen use handlebar /grip wraps to tie the front down and keep the bike upright and steadied.
....
dibblecorse said:
Do you have rear paddock stands for the 2 bikes, if so load the 1st opposite side to the sliding door, strap that down, load 2nd bike, only awkward point is reaching the middle tie down point, straps at the rear to stop pivoting, job done, no need for checks.
Yup, got read stands. That would make sense but there is no middle tie down point at the front bulkhead on my Transit Custom. Or am i missing something?Apologies if I seem a bit dense over this, I just seem to have a mental block as to how this all works
The rear end's are prone to jumping around if not fixed down hence the 1 strap through both rear wheels but wrapped around each wheel approach.
The ply sheet is cut to fit across the width of the van but not obscure the tie down points. DO NOT affix the bike front tie downs to the sheet ply!! Must be to the load bay tie down points.
Been doing this for years and works a charm. Bikes will go nowhere and I've taken some serious road trips to TD's of over a thousan kilometers.
And avoid putting the rear of the bikes on a paddock stand. They are often longer than the load bay can accomodate when the bike is in and they aren't strong enough to support a bike tied down. amny Stands will flex and open up, allowing the bike to fall off on one side. Not good.
Sheet can be pulled out easily enough for a good sweep out or as required when van is in non bike duty..
My Vito has sliding doors both sides which makes it really simple but a friend does this same thing in his 2018 transit with only a passenger side sliding door.
Edited by Steve Bass on Sunday 21st June 16:12
The Bike Grab wheel chock is very popular with the bike recovery / moving firms.
I bought two of them with a 3rd mounting plate and bolted them to some plywood, with additional strap down points. Fitted into a Transit custom, it made loading bikes a doddle. I could fit three RS250s in a SWB custom. Custom's are pretty wide inside though, within a cm or two of a sprinter.
I bought two of them with a 3rd mounting plate and bolted them to some plywood, with additional strap down points. Fitted into a Transit custom, it made loading bikes a doddle. I could fit three RS250s in a SWB custom. Custom's are pretty wide inside though, within a cm or two of a sprinter.
https://youtu.be/BptIiBQmrrA
I always use this method with 1 bike.
When i have 2 i put the other rear wheel first and tie against the rear door.
Im sure there are many methods but has always worked for me.
I always use this method with 1 bike.
When i have 2 i put the other rear wheel first and tie against the rear door.
Im sure there are many methods but has always worked for me.
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