Transporting expensive bikes (cycles) (1 Viewer)

[Chris2050]

Hi there,

My first post, please be gentle! We have set about the exciting process of searching for a motorhome! Besides using it for family holidays (2+2 teenagers), we are keen triathletes and will be using it as well as a race van to transport our 2 cycles to races and training weekends. We also climb so will need to leave the bikes at the van on some days. We can fit a 6m van on the driveway. Just!

Strapping to a bike carrier for either transport or storage is no option. I don't want them scratched or dented or covered by flies or road mess and don't want them on display for theft. The way I see it the bikes either get a spot inside the motorhome, or a spot in a garage.

One option is a van with an extra single side bunk, with cushions removed or even top removed to hold the bikes.

Another option is to buy a motorhome with a garage, but these seem few and far between. The best I've seen is the Dethleffs A5880 which has two bunk beds in the rear, and a decent garage when the lower bunk bed is folded away (which would be fine most of the time).

A bike trailer would be a third option but that seems like a load of extra faff.

How about a box that bolts on to the rear of the motorhome, perhaps as a chassis or tow bar extension, and that acts as an 'external garage'?

Any other ideas, peeps?

Thanks!

 

[daveandsan]

I know its a bit of a pain regarding putting things back together but have you thought about using a hard case that cyclist use to take their bikes on aircraft when going abroad.

 

[funflair]

Hi Chris 2050

Welcome to fun, I fully understand about not putting bikes on a rack on the back we have a Tandem and two carbon mountain bikes in our garage and would not dream of putting them outside, but our van is a big larger than 6 metres. One option you dont mention above is having a slightly larger motorhome and storing it away from home, 2+2 teenagers could get a bit cosy in a small van.

The bike trailer would be a faff you are right. The box bolted to the back would be functional but would add to the length of the motorhome so I guess you would have to remove this to get it on your drive.

Motorhome and Caravan show at the NEC next week, might be worth the trip for a good look around what is available.

Martin

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[Mr Ed]

A lot of PVCs (panel van conversions) have a transverse bed at the rear that folds up to give space for this very reason ,they also have tie-down points to secure large items.Look around a large moho retailer and you will get some ideas.

 

[Chris2050]

Good point Martin. We have flight cases but they are a major hassle to pack, plus the bike needs to be super clean - not something that I would particularly enjoy when tired cold and hungry after a race!

Is anyone able to identify the trailer in this video, which apparently can be reversed without hassle?

My thought about the box bolted to the back is that it could be removable, in a similar fashion to the Thule & similar boxes, and then stored to one side of our driveway.

Chris

 

[TheBig1]

mounting a box for 2 bikes on the back of a motorhome is fraught with problems. to be secure it will be pretty heavy and this load is increased on the back axle eating into a limited payload. a custom box trailer would be more suitable as you could kit it out to carry spares and a workshop as well as bolting in custom transport racks

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[jumar]

Hi, having tried various motorhome types, we are now using an Hymer with a Garage, its 6.5m.
We climb and we bike, when we climb. bikes out of site in Garage, when we bike, gear in Garage.
Expensive bikes and expensive gear is worth keeping safe, and away from view.
Hope you find your solution, we did. Eventually.

 

[jaygee]

Same problem here - we take 3 bikes away with us , one of which is worth megabucks and didn't want to put it outside on the back so bought a motorhome with garage. Downside is that its just over 7.mtr!

 

[jonandshell]

Nothing else will do.
You need a garage van!

Bikes will be out of sight and out of mind. Nothing to attract the opportunist thief.

If you have to be under 6m, buy a tent for the teens!

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[DBK]

Good point Martin. We have flight cases but they are a major hassle to pack, plus the bike needs to be super clean - not something that I would particularly enjoy when tired cold and hungry after a race!

Is anyone able to identify the trailer in this video, which apparently can be reversed without hassle?

My thought about the box bolted to the back is that it could be removable, in a similar fashion to the Thule & similar boxes, and then stored to one side of our driveway.

Chris

There were a few manufacturers of trailers like that, including a French one who made some really well designed ones from what I've seen. Unfortunately, I think they have all ceased trading.

You can get a platform which fits on a towbar but then you would probably need a custom box made out of aluminium to fit on it.

 

[jonandshell]

Voila! 6m, tip up rear bunk to make garage, 5 berths remaining with garage in use.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=231707334708&globalID=EBAY-GB&alt=web

 

[BMStewart2004]

I think there is a Chausson which stores the vertically bikes in a garage on the UK passenger rear. Can't recall the model number.

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[andy63]

The chausson flash 610 has a garage with ott access to it if that's possible....
Over 6m but still a lovely compact yet roomy looking van..
Trouble is no used models available yet and the new ones seem to be in popular demand..
Ta Andy

 

[BMStewart2004]

I'm currently looking at vans with Garage for the same reason. For Chausson 610 look over the channel. Plenty of choice and much less expensive.

 

[GeebeeJaybee]

We take our bikes in the garage as my husbands full suspension mountain bike is his baby and he won't leave it in sight due to value.
We made a rack for the garage which has a thing on it to bolt through the forks after removing the front wheel. This means the bike sits lower so the garage height is flexible and the front wheels go in wheel bags for protection. The bikes don't move so dont get scratched etc. We had 3 bikes under a single bunk.

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[filopastry]

If you can find one the Laika 7.1G has a garage and bags of room. We carry a 100cc scooter in the garage and two bikes on the outside racks .... and rather nice MH too

 

[GeebeeJaybee]

If you can find one the Laika 7.1G has a garage and bags of room. We carry a 100cc scooter in the garage and two bikes on the outside racks .... and rather nice MH too

A bit longer than the 6.00m maximum he is looking for though!

 

[jollyrodger]

I will be building a box to mount on the back ,demountable m/bike platform on the rear of mine total length 6.4m