Vans / Minibuses etc

mark1892
mark1892 Posts: 77
edited November 2008 in MTB general
Hi there, after a bit of advice. As a family, 2 adults and 2 kids, we are starting to get out and about a lot more - kielder, hamsterley etc. Am finding squeezing 3 bikes on a rack and one in the boot a bit tiresome. Been toying with the idea of getting a van/minibus after seeing a couple up kielder just chuck their bikes in, get changed and drive off. can anyone recommend something that isnt too big and still is car like to drive?

Basically what have you got?? :)

Comments

  • cee
    cee Posts: 4,553
    mark1892 wrote:
    Hi there, after a bit of advice. As a family, 2 adults and 2 kids, we are starting to get out and about a lot more - kielder, hamsterley etc. Am finding squeezing 3 bikes on a rack and one in the boot a bit tiresome. Been toying with the idea of getting a van/minibus after seeing a couple up kielder just chuck their bikes in, get changed and drive off. can anyone recommend something that isnt too big and still is car like to drive?

    Basically what have you got?? :)

    For the answer to the bit in bold......Ford Transit.
    Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.

    H.G. Wells.
  • milkywhite
    milkywhite Posts: 534
    Yeah get a cheap transit. They have the added bonus of being the fastest vehicle on the road. They must be cos they're always up my arse!
    2006 Trek Fuel 80
  • mark1892
    mark1892 Posts: 77
    milkywhite wrote:
    Yeah get a cheap transit. They have the added bonus of being the fastest vehicle on the road. They must be cos they're always up my arse!

    pmsl :D obvious choice i thought too, but then you see mercedes vito's, vw t4's. :?
  • SwanseaDan
    SwanseaDan Posts: 53
    I'm looking at a Daihatsu HiJet but then that's just for 2 of us going out.

    Difficulty with a Transit is the seats, you say you have 2 kids and Trannies are usually 3 seaters. You could try a Ford Tourneo, essentially a Transit but with 3 rows of seats. Remove the last row and Robert's your mother's brother!

    Though fitting 4 bikes in any estate/mpv style van will always be a squeeze, and you'll have the jigsaw problems of which bike goes where to contend with, rather than just lugging them on the back.

    Thought about roof racks for the adult bikes and the boot for the kids bikes?
    ____________________________________________________________
    '09 Specialized FSRxc Comp, Powerplay Detonator pedals, DT Swiss EX 5.1d rims, Hope Pro2 hubs

    '08 Kona Cowan, Sunrise Big Mammoth Fat rims, Marzocchi DJ fork, Avid BB5 brakes
  • mark1892
    mark1892 Posts: 77
    can only get the daughters 20" bike in boot of vectra. sons carrera is too big so that and our 2 giants go on the rack. :roll:
  • milkywhite
    milkywhite Posts: 534
    SwanseaDan wrote:
    Difficulty with a Transit is the seats, you say you have 2 kids and Trannies are usually 3 seaters.

    Kids in the back making sure the bikes don't get damaged. Bit of peace up front for you and the missus.

    Everyone's a winner.
    2006 Trek Fuel 80
  • jayson
    jayson Posts: 4,606
    How about the Citroen Berlingo, looks pretty stylish for the type of vehicle it is and will fit a couple of bikes and all ur kit no probs at all.
    Remedy

    Merida

    Austria 2012
  • .blitz
    .blitz Posts: 6,197
    mark1892 wrote:
    can only get the daughters 20" bike in boot of vectra. sons carrera is too big so that and our 2 giants go on the rack. :roll:
    Trailer ?
  • papasmurf.
    papasmurf. Posts: 2,382
    VW Transporter sportsline kombi
    Meta5.5
    Duster
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    A mate of mine just got a Mazda Bongo. Horrible thing, til you're tired and want a comfy seat inside his portable house :lol: Lacks the class of a vw bus or similiar but it does work well.
    Uncompromising extremist
  • hucking_fell
    hucking_fell Posts: 1,056
    I can get 4 bikes on the roof of my car no bother. Halfords sometimes sell pairs of Thule bike carriers to go on a roof rack. Cheaper than buying 4 individually, or a van.
    More freerange chicken than Freeride God
    Bighit , 5 , BFe
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    I have a T4 and a thule 3 bike carrier. 8)
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • mark1892
    mark1892 Posts: 77
    yeah i seen you can get 4 bike carriers for roof and tow bar but quite like the idea of a van to just chuck everything in. including kids and bikes and other stuff :D

    seen some canny transporters and vito's but might just stump for a cheap swb tranny. :D will keep my eyes out, cheers for comments so far 8)
  • Bmjboy
    Bmjboy Posts: 680
    Crew Cab Vauxhall Vivaro will suit you right - I only have the regular van, but drives superbly and very economical. Ive even put a bike holding rack in mine! :lol:

    Check them out on Ebay, they are cheaper than you think!
    "I don't do double-entendres, but I do like to slip a big one in occasionally"

    Giant Trance X2 / Garmin Edge 305 / Empty Wallet
  • pirwin1
    pirwin1 Posts: 248
    Difficulty with a Transit is the seats, you say you have 2 kids and Trannies are usually 3 seaters.

    You can fit seats in the back of a transit just behind the front row. They are on a much lower level compared to the front ones.
    My Ride
  • grantway
    grantway Posts: 1,430
    Buy a Vauxall Vivaro Fab van drive better than me Ford Galaxy
    Now thinking of buying the Long Wheel version with seats in the rear
  • Raymondavalon
    Raymondavalon Posts: 5,346
    Land Rover Discovery S1 - 200/300TDi or SII TD5
    The Series I Discoveries are quite cheap to buy, just make sure you have it checked over good and proper by a Land Rover savvy person

    Up to 7 seats, 4x4 to get you, the clan and the bikes to places where 2WD vehicles just cannot. Plenty of space inside
    The reliability and economy of the legendary TDi engine (30MPG) as well as it being cheap to maintain and easy to service

    3 ways to carry bikes:

    On the roof as I do with a Thule rack and 591 bike carriers, great as it keeps people's hands off the bikes when they're stored that high (I do use a £15 alloy step I got from B&Q to reach the bikes)

    In the back as seats 6&7 can be removed with ease

    On the towball - with the Thule Euroclassic range

    Admittedly, I have a Discovery Series II 4.0L V8 which I bought solely for lugging the bikes and related stuff around. It's by far the best people/bike hauler I have had to date
    The Bouncer
    The Shaker
  • dave_hill
    dave_hill Posts: 3,877
    Just seen a 1999 Vauxhall Frontera station wagon in the Autotrader, 2.5 turbo diesel, 85000 miles, £795.

    Slap a rack on the back of that and you're laughing.

    Or what about an L200/Hilux/Navara/Ranger crew cab? Stick the bikes in the cargo deck?

    Volvo V70? Mad reliable, built like a tank, drive like a sofa.
    Give a home to a retired Greyhound. Tia Greyhound Rescue
    Help for Heroes
    JayPic
  • dave_hill
    dave_hill Posts: 3,877
    SwanseaDan wrote:
    Difficulty with a Transit is the seats, you say you have 2 kids and Trannies are usually 3 seaters.

    Easy solution here. Newer transits have a full bulkhead between the cab and the loadspace. Soundproof the loadspace and shove the kids in with the bikes. Hey presto! Peace and quiet for you and the missus up front. Jobs a good 'un.
    Give a home to a retired Greyhound. Tia Greyhound Rescue
    Help for Heroes
    JayPic
  • boybetterknow
    boybetterknow Posts: 44
    isuzuki carry van 1.3,eg sooty van lol.
  • mark1892
    mark1892 Posts: 77
    boybetterknow wrote:
    isuzuki carry van 1.3,eg sooty van lol.

    erm no :lol:
  • JackBenson59
    JackBenson59 Posts: 118
    We have a Ford Tourneo. Take the rear seats out and there is bags of space. When buying there is the option of 8 or 9 seater with both the rear and middle rows of seats being removeable.
  • boybetterknow
    boybetterknow Posts: 44
    mark1892 wrote:
    boybetterknow wrote:
    isuzuki carry van 1.3,eg sooty van lol.

    erm no :lol:

    thats what my mate has,and is more than good enough,cheap to run and small so you can squeeze it in anywhere :lol:
  • jjojjas
    jjojjas Posts: 346
    I used to use a Defender 110, drove bugger all like a car, so thats out :lol:
    I managed witha Volvo V7 for a while, can't fault em', but now I use a Volvo XC90 which is very capable and prices are down to about £10k for a nice one now.
    Jas
    it looks a bit steep to me.....
  • P-Jay
    P-Jay Posts: 1,478
    We use a Transit my mate bought. If you get, I belive it's a 2001 onwards Transit 90ps, which is the FWD one they're pretty good on juice and sit confortably at 80mph. They were deisgned for lighter loads than the bigger engined RWD transit so tend not to be battered as they were used for local deliverys, florists engineers and like the rather than full of 2 tonnes of chippings and builders tools.

    £2-£3k, maybe less will see you right.

    Ah, re-read you need 4 seats, might be tricky that. Old VW Sharans and Ford Galaxies are pennies these days and if you take out the back row of seats have HUGE boots that'll take bikes (we got 3 big DH bikes, in Bike bags with a weeks worth of luggage each in the back of a Galaxy down to Heathrow back in the summer).
    Shocker Enduro
  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    What's your budget?

    My bro in law and sister have a T5 130PS Transporter that they have semi converted (professionally) into a camper. Proper back seats but tonnes of room and the best driving van by a country mile.

    Van was (04 reg, abouyt 40k miles) £11k, conversion so far has been about £4k (put windows in the back, proper steel spring bed that converts into seats with 3 point seatbelts, cooker, bling 18" alloys, etc!)

    Having said that, if I removed all the wheels, I reckon I could get all your kit in the back of our mk5 Astra Estate - the boot is HUGE, it's quick (150bhp diesel), economical (VW vans are all thirsty) and comfortable.
  • OwenB
    OwenB Posts: 606
    My mate has just gotten one of these, loads of room and you can take out the third row of seats to make the load area even bigger.
    I use a Citroen C8, gets 4 bikes in with the wheels off and can still fit in five adults with the rearmost seats removed.
    http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/caddy-maxi/life/
  • mark1892
    mark1892 Posts: 77
    thats the thing fellas i want something im not faffing about with taking wheels off or strapping down. im thinking open the doors, chuck bikes in and away we go. budget of a few grand. now looking at galaxies, sharrans, espaces as mentioned by p-jay, never thought they were so big but with the back 2 seats removed loads of space and best thing about them - they are cheap as chips at the mo. cheers for all the comments :D

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