What van should I get to transport the bikes? [Archive]

Mystic13

20th January 2011, 20:04

I'm selling my trailer due to a lack of room. So I need something to move motorbikes in. The maximum number of bikes will be the adult one and a couple of kids ones.

So I'm seriously thinking about a van (older and cheap). Ideally I'd like to spend no more than $5k.

Those of you who run vans or have had them;

- what are the pros and cons?

- if you have one now would you get another for taking your bikes places?

- what van would you recommend?

I'm not wanting a LWB. (I think), but diesel, Transit sounds good, late 90's. I like a little bit of a nose out front as perceived better protection. VW Transporter mid 90's.

Does anyone have 4wd vans and what's the guts?

I'm looking for pearls of wisdom so if you have never used a van for this purpose then...

Thanks.

Smifffy

20th January 2011, 20:14

Wannabiker

20th January 2011, 20:51

If you are thinking of diesel, stay away from anything beginning with an "M"...Mazda, Mitsi etc...

Latte

20th January 2011, 20:59

Do the sums on petrol vs diesel, diesel rego on a commercial is the same as a 1000cc bike now.

Scuba_Steve

20th January 2011, 21:16

Diesels get screwed like big bikes.
I wouldn't go Transit but others may argue that, I've never had a good experience with them tho, shit performance, shit reliability. I also hate the "nose" on them but thats a aesthetic thing.
I personally like the jappa's Nissan & Toyota, reliable, never break & cheap to run.

CHOPPA

20th January 2011, 21:20

I have a 1998 Ford Econovan done 180ks $5k If your interested I can give you more details on saturday. Im taking it as a trade for 5k so thats all I need for it

k14

20th January 2011, 21:24

My 2c, buy a Hyundai H100. I have had one for 3 years now and it is such a great piece of engineering. It just clicked over 410000km last week on the way to chch. Yes I have had a few problems with it and had to replace a couple of things (gearbox, alternator, starter motor, radiator, water pump) but the price of them is so cheap that you can still pay for all that stuff and come out ahead in terms of other vehicles. I paid 2k for mine with 335000km on it and even if the engine blew I would probably just get a second hand engine to swap over (probably ~$1500 if I got mechanic to do it) and keep going. They are very easy to work on too.

It's a diesel and consistently gets under 10L per 100km. No matter how much I thrash it the fuel consumption hardly seems to change. It will sit at 100-110 all day long. Up hills it will usually drop down to ~70k but apart from that it is solid. Good back space too. Can fit 2 bikes easy and 3 is do able although I haven't had to try it. Seats are a bit uncomfortable but most vans are.

Henk

20th January 2011, 21:26

Have an econovan Maxi at the moment, have previously had another one of these and a Hiace. Both earlier vans rusted out (Get that when you buy cheap shitters).
The Fords are probably nicer to drive and are about 2 inches taller and six inches longer, doesn't sound like much but makes loading dirt bikes and associated crap a lot easier. All have been LWB and you say you don't want that but you can get three full size dirt bikes in which is a bonus. Also van = 100k max legal speed, trailer = 90.
Have done the trailer thing and had mates doing the ute thing. As a toy hauler you can't go past vans, easy to load, some security and at the end of a cold wet ride you can just throw all the wet gear in the back and sort it out when you get home, tilt up rear doors can also give you some shade and a dryish place to hide from the rain or get changed at the end of the day. Never had a 4WD version and from what I've seen I wouldn't bother, much less height in the back and more to go expensively wrong. All vans seem to handle like refridgerators though so don't expect to enjoy driving it very much if you do get one.

gonzo_akl

20th January 2011, 21:48

I've just done this same thing, and pretty much for the same reason around the lack of room for a trailer. I considered utes, but settled on the van because I felt the bikes would be more secure when we travelled out of town, tinted windows, and I managed to get one with an alarm fitted. Bit more peace of mind.

I ended up with a Toyota HiACE 2.8 litre diesel regular wheelbase. The extra length would be a nice to have but it comes at a premium. 2 side doors also makes life pretty easy. bit gutless on the hills but seems to cruise at or around the speed limit effortlessly.

Initial thoughts are that it is the best way to go. It fits 2 full size MX bikes easily and I reckon I could get a 3rd one in as well. Bought a big plastic bin for all our gear so all pretty easy to pack up and go.

Downside, as mentioned they aren't the most fun things to drive, the thing that bugs me the most is that they are bloody noisy and I have trouble talking with my son. Any suggestions on quietening then down would be welcomed.

snapperhead

20th January 2011, 21:57

Something different but maybe worth pondering on. A flatdeck ute. I took my hayabusa to Pukekohe on sunday on mine. easy peasy. All the crash protection up front and drives like a car. petrol motor, easy and cheap to work on. good mpg too. And sooooooooo many other uses when bikes aren't on the move. Just putting my $ 0.02 out there.

k14

20th January 2011, 22:12

Downside, as mentioned they aren't the most fun things to drive, the thing that bugs me the most is that they are bloody noisy and I have trouble talking with my son. Any suggestions on quietening then down would be welcomed.
I got some old carpet they were throwing out at work and put that in the back. Also have some more that I have been meaning to put on the sides of the back too. Carpet made big difference, still have to turn stereo up loud to hear it though!

Scuba_Steve

20th January 2011, 22:24

Downside, as mentioned they aren't the most fun things to drive, the thing that bugs me the most is that they are bloody noisy and I have trouble talking with my son. Any suggestions on quietening then down would be welcomed.

I love driving vans, petrol 1.5l late 80's Vanette has to be my favorite.
The only way I've found to quieten the diesel vans so far is to turn up the music, unfortunately this won't help your predicament. You can try carpeting/sound deadening any metal part of body but at the end of the day it's a van and as such was built with function only in mind.

gonzo_akl

20th January 2011, 23:00

I got some old carpet they were throwing out at work and put that in the back. Also have some more that I have been meaning to put on the sides of the back too. Carpet made big difference, still have to turn stereo up loud to hear it though!

Thanks Guys, I will try the carpet, was thinking that something to deaden the sound in the back would help. Otherwise I might just have to get the the hearing aide #1 son keeps telling me I need.

Cheers

soundbeltfarm

21st January 2011, 04:13

I bought some sound deading sheets off tm. they are not stick on but i have a piece of carper down on top of it and man what a difference it has made.
i doubled up over the engine from the seats back to a foot past the engine covers. them single cover to the rear of the van.
got some self stick sheet for the wheel arches and a tip i got from a local stereo installer is you dont is to stick an offcut on the outside wall skin to break the acoustics and now my van is way way more quieter.
he said you dont have to go overboard like on the sales brochures like dyna mat.
all up i have spent 250 and it is the best money i have spent on the van.

blossomsowner

21st January 2011, 05:04

I have had two nissan homy vans, last one was a 95 lwb 2l petrol. Underpowered when loaded up but they still get you there ok. No speeding tickets either. Very reliable and easy to drive.........recommend these and hiace and hyundai h100. Also mazda/ford are ok. good luck

Mystic13

21st January 2011, 22:30

I have a 1998 Ford Econovan done 180ks $5k If your interested I can give you more details on saturday. Im taking it as a trade for 5k so thats all I need for it

Thanks for the offer. I'll PM you but I'm still in making my mind up on which van mode.

Cheers

And thanks everyone for all the useful comments.

racefactory

21st January 2011, 23:03

Just get a Nissan Vanette it's the best van for the money and shitloads of parts for them.

Hiace is OVERRATED. Fucking crazy prices on those things.

Most of all, stay away from alll Euro trash, you can not beat Japanese quality and that's a fact.

sinfull

22nd January 2011, 01:16

92 Hiace 2.4 turbo deisel, fuck i love that van but you can have it for 3.5 k , just stupid to own it now i sold my race bike ! Though it is fuckin usefull lol !

Buyasta

22nd January 2011, 07:34

Just get a Nissan Vanette it's the best van for the money and shitloads of parts for them.
that's a fact.
You think you could get more than two bikes in there, though?.. My mum has one of these, and it's pretty small.
Of course, I am fairly biased, having had to drive the damn thing a lot more than I would have liked - it only has a 4-speed gearbox, so you're revving the hell out of it just to do 100, which makes it loud as hell, plus you have to keep a bag or two of cement over the back axle to stop it from getting stuck even just on loosish gravel driveways.
Certainly cheap though, and had the added benefit of having such an outdated engine that when it died recently, my brother had some points lying around from his old 70's 120Y that would fit it.

Pixie

23rd January 2011, 08:55

One big enough

racefactory

23rd January 2011, 09:51

BMWST?

23rd January 2011, 09:56

toyota hi ace are expensive compared to others but they are reliable as a stone and you tend to get the extra money back come resale time...
if you get a diesel you have to get road user tax,often overlooked, will be about 230 bucks for 5000k or about 5c a kilometre.Seems a bit over the top but you get much much better economy out of a diesel....

Scuba_Steve

23rd January 2011, 10:10

You think you could get more than two bikes in there, though?.. My mum has one of these, and it's pretty small.
Of course, I am fairly biased, having had to drive the damn thing a lot more than I would have liked - it only has a 4-speed gearbox, so you're revving the hell out of it just to do 100, which makes it loud as hell, plus you have to keep a bag or two of cement over the back axle to stop it from getting stuck even just on loosish gravel driveways.
Certainly cheap though, and had the added benefit of having such an outdated engine that when it died recently, my brother had some points lying around from his old 70's 120Y that would fit it.

damm what one does she have? not 1 of the "people mover" vers is it?
I had an 86, 88 & 89 they were all unstoppable beasts we constantly took it 4wd'in anywhere standard 4wd's would go this thing could follow so I don't know how you have trouble with gravel driveways?
I loved driving them their 1.5l would dominate most vehicles in accel upto 60-70km/h we used to love pissing the boyracers off as we out accelerate them from the lights.
They would handle 120km/h quite comfortably & had no probs pulling 140 would max out at about 180 (indicated) cheap as fuck to run as they say "run on the fumes from an oily rag" and you could fit 2 dirt bikes in comfortably.

racefactory

23rd January 2011, 10:32

unless you know how to wind back km's in my opinion RUC is just as expensive if not more than running a petrol. Vanette 1.5 is an excellent vehicle but really depends on how many/what size bikes and cargo you want to take.

good luck eh, vans rule.

Buyasta

23rd January 2011, 10:53

damm what one does she have? not 1 of the "people mover" vers is it?
I had an 86, 88 & 89 they were all unstoppable beasts we constantly took it 4wd'in anywhere standard 4wd's would go this thing could follow so I don't know how you have trouble with gravel driveways?
I loved driving them their 1.5l would dominate most vehicles in accel upto 60-70km/h we used to love pissing the boyracers off as we out accelerate them from the lights.
They would handle 120km/h quite comfortably & had no probs pulling 140 would max out at about 180 (indicated) cheap as fuck to run as they say "run on the fumes from an oily rag" and you could fit 2 dirt bikes in comfortably.

She has a 92 DX - the absolute bottom of the line model, so 1.5l engine, 4 speed box, and rear wheel drive, not 4wd.
While the acceleration isn't too bad considering the massive wind resistance and the fact that its using an engine straight out of the 70's, it still takes a hell of a long time to get up to 100, and the fastest I ever managed to get it was about 117km/h.
I imagine it goes a fair bit better with a 5 speed box in it, but still, you managed to get it up to 180?
While it's not a bad van for transporting people or small loads, it doesn't seem particularly well suited to transporting bikes, to me - several times when moving furniture and such, I had to borrow a friends Hiace because the Vanette was too small, and another annoyance is the size of the rear door opening - several times we've had stuff that would fit in there, but you can't get it in because the door is too narrow.

Henk

23rd January 2011, 18:50

After a test load to see if it was possible for an upcoming trip, I can report that you can get two FXR based buckets, a KDX200 and a 400EXC in the back of a LWB econovan. Bloody tight though.

Clivoris

23rd January 2011, 19:15

If the van Choppa is selling is his big red one...It's awesome. No worries about space in there.

Clivoris

23rd January 2011, 19:17

If the van Choppa is selling is his big red one...It's awesome. No worries about space in there. I have van envy when I see it.

SMOKEU

23rd January 2011, 19:32

I personally like the jappa's Nissan & Toyota, reliable, never break & cheap to run.

A reliable Nissan?! I've had 3 of them and they've given quite a few problems.

NodMan

23rd January 2011, 19:54

on my seventh Hi Ace van! very reliable and hold price pretty well, over 500k to 50 litres diesel
I retired the last 2.8 diesel at 450,000km, motor good but body rust catching up,
I put a 3.0diesel in my latest one and its got better pull on hills but still no speeding tickets as it prefers sitting at 100 - 110kmh.and best this one has NO side windows!
Have had two long wheel base, but all others been swb and no probs with two road or race bikes and spares kit,or one LAPD cop bike and one road bike, or three dirt bikes (third one reversed in middle) so bars dont clash, factory tiedown points are OK std in Hi Ace but I also take tiedown points off front outer seat belt mounts and put extra pair of 1+1/2" exhaust u clamps thru the double skin area just inside and above the rear tail lights, Good Luck Nod

racefactory

23rd January 2011, 21:17

A reliable Nissan?! I've had 3 of them and they've given quite a few problems.

Nissan is reliable as fuck and no cambelts- one less big thing to worry about when buying vehicle.

Scuba_Steve

23rd January 2011, 21:26

A reliable Nissan?! I've had 3 of them and they've given quite a few problems.

I'm upto the 4th van of Nissan breed & the only problem I've ever had is the Govt's stupid WOF rules. I've found 'em just as reliable as the Toyota's if not more-so due to chains instead of cam belts & at cheaper prices also quite often come with more grunt than the Toyota equivalent.

Mystic13

23rd January 2011, 23:51

Thanks. A lot of useful information. It also appears that we like different vans just like we prefer different bikes.

The van does sound like the go though. That at least is clear.

Cheers.

Mungatoke Mad

24th January 2011, 00:44

Thanks. A lot of useful information. It also appears that we like different vans just like we prefer different bikes.

The van does sound like the go though. That at least is clear.

Cheers. Toyota hi ace LWB have a shitload of room in em for the bikes tools large lunch box kids etc Nissan vannett youll get a bike a bag 2 sandwiches & a malnourished kid in expect 2 get stuck regular'y on any non paved surface but they are relible as fuck and run 4eva on the smell of an oiley rag.Go diesel some will disagree but what ever you choose make sure its a Manuel autos SUCK at least you can crash start a manual .

Mystic13

24th January 2011, 08:11

"Go diesel some will disagree but what ever you choose make sure its a Manuel autos SUCK at least you can crash start a manual ."

I've never tried to crash start a manual diesel. Can it be done? Just thinking because of the plugs.

BMWST?

24th January 2011, 08:43

I've never tried to crash start a manual diesel. Can it be done? Just thinking because of the plugs.

ahh yes if its cold and the glo plugs you mean.I think it has to be quite cold for the glo plugs to actually be required.
Diesel experts required.Might be like a bike though maybe you have to crash start in a higher gear to overcome compression?

k14

24th January 2011, 10:26

I've never tried to crash start a manual diesel. Can it be done? Just thinking because of the plugs.
I did it with my H100 when the starter motor went bung but it was in summer and I am pretty sure I let the glow plugs go out before trying. If the engine is cold it never starts without them though.