What van best for a bike?

**DingDong** · 10th July 2005, 11:01

If you got the money, Transit Van, LWB and plenty of head room.
Diesels get bad reviews because people dont look after them right, diesel engines will run forever if serviced and driven correctly.

Otherwise Id get a Mitsi L300 because lots of guys lower them so there must be lowering kits out there to make to push a little easier.

**F5 Dave** · 11th July 2005, 10:45

L300= cracked head. Which the owner would likely also have for buying a Mitz.

Yeah the C20s are amazing little things, had one for years with the A15 engine, went really well, could fit my dirtbike in if I used a tie down on the forks. Rusted real well too unfortunately. Lucky to get one that hasn’t.

Moved up to the Hiace SWB. These are why serious commercial people all run them. Brilliant. SWB fits full size bikes in no drama.

Though some guy pitted next to me had one of those import Toymoter Grammpa or whatever, sort of overgrown people movers. To my surprise he had 2 full size KTMs. 3l Turdo Diseasel said went great & loved it. Hmm, maybe in the future. HiAce has only got 220 on it & I promised it a rebuild when it gets to 380 (bought at 65).

**raster** · 11th July 2005, 18:53

FYI
Bought Hiace van SWB not long ago, bike fitted in easy with enough room to get around it, had to fold up the seat, 1999 3.0 Diesel auto, single slider, Aircon, 112,000Ks, $11,000. Basic vehicle, doesn't have central locking($200 fixed that), quite noisey.
Got some second hand carpet to put in it should make a difference

**Skunk** · 11th July 2005, 19:16

Originally Posted by raster

FYI
Bought Hiace van SWB not long ago, bike fitted in easy with enough room to get around it, had to fold up the seat, 1999 3.0 Diesel auto, single slider, Aircon, 112,000Ks, $11,000. Basic vehicle, doesn't have central locking($200 fixed that), quite noisey.
Got some second hand carpet to put in it should make a difference

Good idea with the carpet, or buy a GL spec. Some GL's have better interior in the back with carpet and rear air-con, c/locking etc and side panels without the full-on Custom spec stuff of elec curtains etc.
Got an alarm (Dynatron) for my basic van and a Dick Smith c/locking kit ($35). Most (all?) Jap imports seem to have air con.

**inlinefour** · 11th July 2005, 19:48

Ride the bike forget the friggin van...

**k14** · 11th July 2005, 19:50

Originally Posted by Skunk

Jap imports seem to have air con.

Yeah I would be pretty sure about that one. Ive got a 1986 Hiace LWB (and that even has aircon, works pretty good too), it has dual wheels at the back aswell so a fully tray, the 2.0l petrol model. Can't speak highly enough about it, haven't had to spend a cent on it since i got it. Uses about 11L per 100kms which is pretty economical imo and is great on the open road. Cruises fine at 110ish and I've seen 130. Got double doors which makes access brillant. Most bikes i have put in there is 2 but I'm pretty sure 4 would be possible.

Only little problem is a bit of rust, need to get that sorted, apart from that it should last forever. Only done 176000kms at the mo so plenty left.

**Bartman10** · 11th July 2005, 20:03

What everyone else said. Hiace. I've got a 99 model 2.8D SWB and its great. Fits 2 bikes in easy, parts are easy to get, and you can fit 6 people in when you install a folding back seat. As long as you look after the diesel and chuck in new oil every 7500 k's you'll be laughing

, if you get slopy with maintainance you'll be crying though

!!

Regarding mitsi's they all have/will get cracked heads esp the 2.4 petrol. A mate had a 2.4 van with a cracked head, me next door neighbour had a 2.4 ute with a cracked head and me dad had a magna 2.4 with a cracked head.

**raster** · 11th July 2005, 20:31

I thort Central locking would be a standard in the imports too.

**F5 Dave** · 12th July 2005, 09:26

Originally Posted by inlinefour

Ride the bike forget the friggin van...

Hey that’s a great idea, thanks for your input.

For the rest of us who’s daddies don’t drive us to the race track or dirt event, perhaps some sort of trailer type arrangement to carry all the tools, race gas stands etc.

No need to worry about WOF etc, cops just wave you on when they see a slick shod GP racebike or a 125MX bike on the street, & they make great tow vehicles to boot.

**bungbung** · 12th July 2005, 12:23

If anyone is interested, there is a $1000 hiace parked in my street, looks like a LWB petrol. I can get the phone number from the window, otherwise if you're in wellington, go to miramar and do a drive by on Stone St. Its parked outside number 16 or 18.