Buying a van for bikes.

[email protected] · March 2015

I'm thinking of buying a very cheap old van to transport my bikes around.

Question is what size? Corsa, Astra or transit ?

Would a full sus 29er, wheelbase 1140 ( I think 1876.6 total length including wheels???) be too long to fit in the back of a small corsa or astra sized van?

Any recommendations?

BloggingFit · March 2015

If you are looking to keep wheels on then Corsa will be too small. Suspect Astra may be tight.

welshkev · March 2015

Short answer, no it won't fit.

You'll need a lwb van.

Ferrals · March 2015

Yeah you won't get one in an Astra van.
If you want a small van something relatively tall like a Peugeot expert might work and you could tie the bike in upright..

Caveman_Chris · March 2015

I got FS 29er fits in the back of my 2012 peugeot partner/Citroen Berlingo Corner to corner. It was lying on top of my usual work stuff, 18" tall boxes and such.

How about an estate car with the seats folded/removed?

If there comes a time when I lose my work van I'm be getting a commuter/bike transport van. I've been looking at transit connects. Haven't measured up though.

RockmonkeySC · March 2015

The back of a Corsa van is smaller than the boot of my Mondeo hatchback.
Transit Connect would be my choice or an old Volkswagon T25 and a Subaru Imprezza WRX Turbo engine conversion but that may be over budget.

tlw1 · March 2015

transit with covered bulkhead so no one can see the bike that's worth more than the van inside

welshkev · March 2015

You'd need a lwb connect as well though. I had a swb for a while and it would fit a 26" diagonally but only just

So try before you buy

tlw1 · March 2015

welshkev wrote:

You'd need a lwb connect as well though. I had a swb for a while and it would fit a 26" diagonally but only just

So try before you buy

LWB = room for a hooker too

Rigga · March 2015

Bmw 535 or 530d sport estate will be my next car, they are huge. And really really fast.

welshkev · March 2015

Surf Matt, is that you?

fizik · March 2015

Old Volvo v70 estate. Fast for the money, cheap, solid, comfy, great stereo, get a long bike in with no wheels off with all seats folded or at least 2 bikes wheels off all under the parcel shelf with no seats folded for stealth. You could get a t5 engined v70 for very little money with 250bhp, or go diesel (d5) for economy but still decently quick. I used to get 2 bikes diagonally in my mk2 caddy - solid cheap little van if you can find one and nippy in tdi form, also stuck to the road like glue with coilovers, Koni shocks and sporty low profile tyres. Transporters t25's and t4's dont come cheap, nice vans though had a t4 as a daily for a couple of years. I would go with a big estate at a low price point, you could end up with something really quite nice and well specced etc for very little, Volvo is just one example.

Maro · March 2015

I have a VW T4 but I think a caddy or berlingo would be fine for your needs. Check insurance costs too if you're on a budget, van insurance is more costly than car insurance.

bobbydeak · March 2015

Citroen Belingo multispace. Classed as a car but once the seats are down its bigger than most small vans. Also tall enough to stand bikes upright.

The Rookie · March 2015

Don't forget that the vast majority of vans will be classed as a commercial vehicle and have to adhere to the lower speed limits (50/60/70 instead of 60/70/70), only car derived and with an MAM of less than 2 tonnes can use car limits, so a 'car' (Estate or mini MPV style) may be preferable from that respect..

roger_merriman · March 2015

fizik wrote:

Old Volvo v70 estate. Fast for the money, cheap, solid, comfy, great stereo, get a long bike in with no wheels off with all seats folded or at least 2 bikes wheels off all under the parcel shelf with no seats folded for stealth. You could get a t5 engined v70 for very little money with 250bhp, or go diesel (d5) for economy but still decently quick. I used to get 2 bikes diagonally in my mk2 caddy - solid cheap little van if you can find one and nippy in tdi form, also stuck to the road like glue with coilovers, Koni shocks and sporty low profile tyres. Transporters t25's and t4's dont come cheap, nice vans though had a t4 as a daily for a couple of years. I would go with a big estate at a low price point, you could end up with something really quite nice and well specced etc for very little, Volvo is just one example.

That's what I have, as you say swallows bikes with ease, took a bike in a box, without a problem.

And is a good motorway/A road cruiser.

Twelly · March 2015

Ford Cmax. 2 bikes and 2 people with wheels on and seats down. 3 bikes and 3 people with 1 seat up and wheels off. I reckon with a bit of persuasion and a couple of uncomfortable friends, 4 bikes 4 people is possible, must try one day..

Its fast enough, does 50mpg and has heated seats for post ride bum warming.

Obviously my massive Fiat Ducato is a lot easier when I am riding near work but I can only take it so far (work van)

The Rookie · March 2015

Two left field choices
Subaru Forester
Daihatsu YRV

Both will take a 2 mountain bikes sideways in the boot (wheels off) without even folding the rear seats, the YRV has a great little engine and is quite fun to drive (same Engine as the Aston Martin Cygnet) and fairly economical, the Forester has 4WD and good ground clearance and while they are a bit thirsty, the 2.0 is reasonably brisk while the turbo can be easily made rather mental (my old one produced 400Nm of torque from 2250-4000 rpm and would muller M3's off the line).

bob6397 · March 2015

Ford Galaxy? My parents use one and it is like a van in all respects other than it has 7 seats when you want them.. We have had 4 26 inch bikes in the back, no wheels off, 1 seat up in the back row... Awesome

Maro · March 2015

My mate had citroen picassos for years, he took out the rear seats when he got them and put them back in when he was finished, they all served as great bike busses

phz · March 2015

I got an ex-British Gas Kangoo. Solid bulkhead so loses a bit of load space, but can get at least 3 upright bikes in diagonally with wheels on (one of those is an Alpine 160 so a long bike). Car derived so all good speed limit-wise. 50mpg so not too bad on fuel.

hainman · April 2015

I just bought a Kangoo Maxi,bikes fit straight in and bought one of the cheap alloy bike stands that take either front of back wheel depending how you pack them,some bungi cords to keep the bikes in place,

Buying a van for bikes.

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