Discussion
I'm thinking of getting a transit van for business, and though it might also be useful for transporting bikes too.
Couple of options though. You can get three different lengths, and three different heights. Every addition adds cost.
So the low roof is std (4.8ft), and a medium roof is 6ft, for an extra grand (ish)
Lengthwise std is 9.7ft, medium is 11.2ft for another grand
So how is a van for transporting bikes, I've only ever used an open trailer.
I'm assuming the extra height would be more beneficial than the length, so you're not bending your back over all the time. Anything else I should look out for or consider?
Couple of options though. You can get three different lengths, and three different heights. Every addition adds cost.
So the low roof is std (4.8ft), and a medium roof is 6ft, for an extra grand (ish)
Lengthwise std is 9.7ft, medium is 11.2ft for another grand
So how is a van for transporting bikes, I've only ever used an open trailer.
I'm assuming the extra height would be more beneficial than the length, so you're not bending your back over all the time. Anything else I should look out for or consider?
A van is great, a standard swb transit will do you just fine unless you are transporting really tall stuff like GS's and the like.
Front wheel chock and 2 straps is all you need, and a ramp of course, I'd actually recommend 2 ramps, one for the bike and one for you, they are cheap enough
Front wheel chock and 2 straps is all you need, and a ramp of course, I'd actually recommend 2 ramps, one for the bike and one for you, they are cheap enough
For a frame of reference, I can get 2 superbikes in the back of my mk1 (yes..2004!!) Merc Vito panel van and all the associated tools, paddock stands, fuel cans, leathers etc.. needs a little planning but not difficult or impossible.
If I had the choice, a little longer (300mm?) might be nice but height is difficult to utilise other than for standing up, which you don't do much of in a van.
HTH
If I had the choice, a little longer (300mm?) might be nice but height is difficult to utilise other than for standing up, which you don't do much of in a van.
HTH
My friend has a swb low roof transit. We collected my zxr in it, he fits 2 Honda NC750S in it. It’s really easy to park, just a regular parking space and so its very compact.
As I have kids, we need more than 3 seat (4 min), so I’ve gone with a mwb medium roof Iveco Daily. There’s tonnes of space in it. I’ve bought some rear seats for it which I’ve yet to fit. It’s a great van (designed by Giugaro lol!). I also have a Caponord which wouldn’t fit in the low roof van without removing the screen...
Tranny swb/low roof
The Iveco Daily, med roof mwb...
As someone else mentioned, I use a pair of ramps, that means I could also load up a mower or quads...
My friend now thinks he should have gone with a mwb high roof. I would also say that the rwd iveco has loads more passenger legroom than the fwd transit, but it would be useless in snow/mud!
As I have kids, we need more than 3 seat (4 min), so I’ve gone with a mwb medium roof Iveco Daily. There’s tonnes of space in it. I’ve bought some rear seats for it which I’ve yet to fit. It’s a great van (designed by Giugaro lol!). I also have a Caponord which wouldn’t fit in the low roof van without removing the screen...
Tranny swb/low roof
The Iveco Daily, med roof mwb...
As someone else mentioned, I use a pair of ramps, that means I could also load up a mower or quads...
My friend now thinks he should have gone with a mwb high roof. I would also say that the rwd iveco has loads more passenger legroom than the fwd transit, but it would be useless in snow/mud!
Edited by NITO on Tuesday 1st September 21:08
Edited by NITO on Tuesday 1st September 21:21
I had a 2013 Transit Custom L1H1. It was great at transporting bikes to be honest. I put three bike grab mounting plates on a ply base, with extra tie down points.
I could get three RS250 or other small bikes in there inside. Three larger sports bikes will fit, provided the exhausts do not clash. They are within a couple of cm of a full sized Merc sprinter in interior width.
A decent drive too. Cruise, A/C, heated seats and super long gearing for those long motorway hauls.
A max of two bikes was all I could get into a VW T5 in comparison and the drive was much worse.
I could get three RS250 or other small bikes in there inside. Three larger sports bikes will fit, provided the exhausts do not clash. They are within a couple of cm of a full sized Merc sprinter in interior width.
A decent drive too. Cruise, A/C, heated seats and super long gearing for those long motorway hauls.
A max of two bikes was all I could get into a VW T5 in comparison and the drive was much worse.
Driven a few new Transit Customs this year, really great, could quite easily have one as an only vehicle. One thing for me is just how much handier the SWB appears to be for parking etc - just that bit of extra length in the MWB is really noticeable if you are regularly in tight spots, just depends how much you need it.
NITO said:
mwb medium roof Iveco Daily. There’s tonnes of space in it. I’
The Iveco Daily, med roof mwb...
^^^ I had the eariler version (many years ago) it is a good van - if you need the space / reliability but they drive like a lorry.The Iveco Daily, med roof mwb...
The Transits do drive well (but older ones rot) not sure if they still do both FWD and RWD but the FWD have a much lower floor.
VW / Merc hold their values for a reason and loads of car parks have 6' - 6'6" height restriction and many camp sites won't let vans on but allow the Vitos / VWs
I leave 2 rear seats in mine and can still get a bike it - monster trailies or large screen bikes might not fit though - dirt bikes, KTM Dukes etc fit ok
We have Transits at work, the same vintage as this were absolutely rotten to pieces and had long failed their mot's on corrosion. I like the way the Iveco drives, it's not car like, but it's not my main vehicle so it's always a bit of a sense of occasion for me lol, mine doesn't have a spot of rust underneath, I guess it's due to the separate chassis/body construction they use, it feels a bit lorry-esque but then it is a heavy duty build from a predominantly lorry manufacturer. The height of mine is 2,685 from memory, it gets into most Maccy D drive through's 
I wouldn't want such a long van if I didn't have off road parking. It has an integrated reverse camera built in which is great but it's a long beast. Things like fuel consumption aren't a major concern because I'm only racking up a couple of thousand miles a year and not 50 or 60!
The later Transits we have had at work seem to have better bodies from a corrosion point of view, but the engines have not been so reliable, with one of them letting go at 99,300 miles. Fortunately it was within the 100k warranty period!!
My mate's Tranny which is the later shape, is lovely but the passenger legroom is very tight for me due to the shape of the dash and I'm not that tall 5'11,
I nearly went with a Sprinter for a lot more money, but they too seem to suffer from corrosion judging by many I'd seen for sale. We have an Iveco chassis cab at work that is well over 300k and only ever needed a clutch as 'major' works, so that gave me some comfort. My van is on 80k.
It's a bit of an ongoing project at the moment, need to sort out the seats, re-line it all, modify the bulkhead etc. With merchants etc being closed mostly with lockdown I've missed the boat this year!
I wouldn't want such a long van if I didn't have off road parking. It has an integrated reverse camera built in which is great but it's a long beast. Things like fuel consumption aren't a major concern because I'm only racking up a couple of thousand miles a year and not 50 or 60!
The later Transits we have had at work seem to have better bodies from a corrosion point of view, but the engines have not been so reliable, with one of them letting go at 99,300 miles. Fortunately it was within the 100k warranty period!!
My mate's Tranny which is the later shape, is lovely but the passenger legroom is very tight for me due to the shape of the dash and I'm not that tall 5'11,
I nearly went with a Sprinter for a lot more money, but they too seem to suffer from corrosion judging by many I'd seen for sale. We have an Iveco chassis cab at work that is well over 300k and only ever needed a clutch as 'major' works, so that gave me some comfort. My van is on 80k.
It's a bit of an ongoing project at the moment, need to sort out the seats, re-line it all, modify the bulkhead etc. With merchants etc being closed mostly with lockdown I've missed the boat this year!
Edited by NITO on Wednesday 2nd September 10:36
Company I work for does hydraulic deck conversions in the back for a niche industry on Merc Vitos, VW Transporters and Ford Transit and as a consequence I get a new demo every 3 months (20,000 miles) which I rotate according to what I fancy - I'll be doing my best to not have a bloomin' Transit again.
I'd suggest the German brands are much better and if you factor in depreciation they're not much dearer.
Vitos are lovely as autos but too many peddles as a manual with their stupid parking brake, VW less nice as an auto (their DSG gearbox is too racey and weak with big miles), Transit auto is the world's worse (severe case of ADHD on a an A road).
.
Transits have a very high floor which is more painful loading bikes, Vitos are comparatively much lower in everything; floor loading height, roof height and in driving position with the VW somewhat in the middle.
I'd also echo the comment about the slightly longer wheelbase variants. 10" extra wheelbase sounds like win-win on the inside but it's the difference between you parking it everywhere like a car or looking for a 'big' space.
I have a VW T5 as my personal vehicle but wouldn't mind the latest Vito (2015 onwards / 447 model) but it would have to be a rear wheel drive one to get the Merc engine rather than the FWD ones that use a Renault derived motor.
I'd suggest the German brands are much better and if you factor in depreciation they're not much dearer.
Vitos are lovely as autos but too many peddles as a manual with their stupid parking brake, VW less nice as an auto (their DSG gearbox is too racey and weak with big miles), Transit auto is the world's worse (severe case of ADHD on a an A road).
.
Transits have a very high floor which is more painful loading bikes, Vitos are comparatively much lower in everything; floor loading height, roof height and in driving position with the VW somewhat in the middle.
I'd also echo the comment about the slightly longer wheelbase variants. 10" extra wheelbase sounds like win-win on the inside but it's the difference between you parking it everywhere like a car or looking for a 'big' space.
I have a VW T5 as my personal vehicle but wouldn't mind the latest Vito (2015 onwards / 447 model) but it would have to be a rear wheel drive one to get the Merc engine rather than the FWD ones that use a Renault derived motor.
From a size point of view a SWB low roof Transit or VW Transporter will take pretty much anything including something like a GS.
The smallest panel van you will get away with is something like the latest Vivaro/Dispatch/Partner (all the same van) and even that will be fine size-wise although you may need to fold the mirrors down if you’re taking something tall like an adventure style bike.
Front wheel against the bulkhead and a couple of straps around the top yolk will hold it solid unless you’re going to go a bit ‘Lewis Hamilton’ in which case a couple of straps around the pillion footpegs might be useful.
The smallest panel van you will get away with is something like the latest Vivaro/Dispatch/Partner (all the same van) and even that will be fine size-wise although you may need to fold the mirrors down if you’re taking something tall like an adventure style bike.
Front wheel against the bulkhead and a couple of straps around the top yolk will hold it solid unless you’re going to go a bit ‘Lewis Hamilton’ in which case a couple of straps around the pillion footpegs might be useful.
Edited by Nick928 on Wednesday 2nd September 20:03
Transit is decent,but out of my budget, as it would be a third vehicle on the fleet.
I had a s
tter of a Vivaro, small one, fitted 3 MX bikes and all you need for a day , drove like a car (granted a but of a crap one) , i would have another, as flaky as they are.
What you need to be honest about is what use it will get, and what for. I have had SWB, LWB and XLWB Iveco's , all great race trucks, but agricultural to drive, and thirsty too, and daft as it sounds , the payloads of the big ones is st, i guarantee every one thats kitted out is over weight, by the time you get bike and gear in , 1000kg doesnt go far , when you have 3 people and a tank of diesel in her .
We also had a 7.5 tonner, and again, great while you are at the track, but not much fun to drive.
I had a s
tter of a Vivaro, small one, fitted 3 MX bikes and all you need for a day , drove like a car (granted a but of a crap one) , i would have another, as flaky as they are. What you need to be honest about is what use it will get, and what for. I have had SWB, LWB and XLWB Iveco's , all great race trucks, but agricultural to drive, and thirsty too, and daft as it sounds , the payloads of the big ones is s
t, i guarantee every one thats kitted out is over weight, by the time you get bike and gear in , 1000kg doesnt go far , when you have 3 people and a tank of diesel in her . We also had a 7.5 tonner, and again, great while you are at the track, but not much fun to drive.
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