What van best for a bike?

[GSVR]

I'm looking at getting a van and one requirement is I want to be able to fit a roadbike in the back. Talking GSX1000's etc but not HD's or Rocket 3's

First choice I came up with is the Toyota Hiace but not sure if it has to be a LWB or not.

Also Mitsubishi L300 was another. Maybe just a list of all the vans that will work.

If theres any people here that can advise me on what is best suited to the task your opinions would be very much appreciated.

Regards Garry

[FROSTY:Me]

Without a doubt I'd suggest the hiace vans.They just seem to keep on truckin on. standard deck is still gonna get a bike or two in If money isn't an object those new transit vans look the ducks nuts.

[Marknz]

Yup, from my experience a hiace is the way to go. We rented one in aussie for each of our race meetings and managed to fit everything we needed in for two bikes and two racers for the whole weekend. And we got many miles in travelling from Canberra to Sydney and Melbourne and never had a problem with reliability. Plenty of tie down points, plenty of room and it's not slow with the standard manual gearbox either.

[GSVR]

Thanks for the opinions.

So a SWB Hiace or a Liteace or Townace is big enough? or should I be looking for the LWB variety.

[geoffm]

I loved my Toyota Hiace. Not super quick (2.4,l diesel) but keep on going. mine was the extended wheelbase with a high roof. It means you can stand up in it, and I had 3m clear space behind the fold up rear seat. Because they made zillions of them, they are easy to get parts for, and easy to find someone to fix them.
A Ford Transit would be another alternative - they are a bit wider. The short wheelbase only has 2.3m (less than a lenght of plywood) in the back. The Toyotas are usually more reliable.
Geoff

[FROSTY:Me]

Gary --there are several versions of the HIACE van.
Standard size which has a single sliding side door a lifting rear and a 2.7m
load deck then theres the lond wheel base -same but with 2.85m load deck and then theres the jumbo which has the 3.05m load deck.
motor wise they sare 2.0petrol (mine is this one) 2.2 petrol and lately 2.4 petrol also 2.4 diesel 2.8 diesel and 3.0 diesel.
theres low roof and high roof.Dont worry about the wheel arches because quite frankly then dont affect bike loading one iota.
If I was going to do it all again and I was predominantly transporting one bike I would buy a passenger van and just rip the rear seats and one center seat out and use it like that. The passenger vans are a heap qieter for long distance than the commercials and seem to be geared digfferently
If ya buy an ex commercial van definitely line the floor and lower sidewalls with thick carpet -ya wont believe how much quieter the van will sound.

[Motu]

The Hi Ace is the pick of the larger vans,petrol,diesel,any motor,but older is older.1RZ or 2RZ in petrol and 3L in diesel are the preferd option,and twin door if you can get it.Things go wrong,but not enough to say don't buy one of those.Nissan Caravan or Homy are the next option in big vans,I'd definatly go for diesel with the Nissans,the TD23/27 is the best small diesel to come out of Japan,no cambelt to break,no OHC and no alloy head,it's a KISS motor.Transit is the best van you can get - but you'll be paying huge money for one,if you can afford that sort of money for a bike hauler don't look at anything else.

Of the smaller vans the Nissan Vanette is the pick of the bunch,will just squeeze a bike in,the LD20 is a good motor,but so too is the petrol A15,it's been around since the 120Y.But the petrol ones have a weak gearbox and we just did one this week.Early Vanettes had no power steering and with a diesel you need strong arms to park it (I don't have strong arms and so don't park my Vanette) The Townace/Liteace are ok too,the diesel is a good runner - but if it breaks a cambelt you will just have to walk away,they destruct big time.

Mitsubishi,Mazda?? Some will rave about the good run they've had - but from my end I only see the ones that don't give their owners a good run.

I find that the biggest problem with vans - and it's a good one for me because it keeps me in work - is that it's a major pain to check the oil and water....so no one does,then they end up at my doorstep on a transporter.Forget the hassle,just check oil and water at least every week and watch the gauges - it's really dumb to blow a motor because you were too lazy to lift the seat and check the water.

[GSVR]

Really good stuff guys. This was the information I was after.

Just been down to our local Turners and Higgins (local road works people)have put in 3 2.8 litre diesel 94-96 Highaces for auction on Tuesday. These all have around 450000 kms on them. They are all reasonably tidy on the outside but haven't really looked hard at them. Suspect they would be reasonably well maintained.

So what would you expect them to go for? And is the mileage to high.


I like frostys advice on getting a coach and ripping the seats out.

Will look at Nissans and Toyotas only

[crazylittleshit]

If money is a problem look at the new kia vans I hear there not to bad.

[GSVR]

If money is a problem look at the new kia vans I hear there not to bad.

More I spend on the van the less I have for bikes and lifes pleasures. Its only gotta move stuff realiably. I will still have my car.

[Motu]

Them's big Kms,but all long haul hot running - diesels like that,it'd be in as good nick inside as a 160,000km Townie motor.So long as the rest of the vehicle looks good and well maintained they should be as good as something with 100,000km less.One maintenance issue with Hi Ace's is rear wheel bearings and brakes,the brakes are just a little more expensive than a drum brake car - and the rear wheel bearings are a major to do,the bearing is expensive and there is a shit load more labour than a lighter car rear axle - at those kms I'd be worried about axle bearings.

[Coyote]

Get 'The Dog and Lemon Guide'. Has a review on almost every car and van you can buy in New Zealand. The latest edition we brought was the 2004 one and it was only 20 bucks for a 976 page encyclopaedia

In short, they say the Petrol Hiace vans are the ones to go for and avoid the diesels as they have reliability issues. Aiport Shuttle Companies have reached a million k's on their Hiace vans. Also avoid the E series vans (Mazda Bongo/Brawny and Ford Econovan) like the plague. "There's a special place in hell waiting for the men who designed these vans". They are reliable when new but age badly, and mechanics find them a nightmare to work on

[hondacmx450]

l 300 ok but have to watch your head not much room
hiace yip thay good i have had 3 gsxr750 in one of them and yes thay fit just watch the ferings

[PSYCHO]

Whatever you get try to get LWB and twin sliders,and extra headroom helps too.

[Skunk]

In short, they say the Petrol Hiace vans are the ones to go for and avoid the diesels as they have reliability issues.

Might have to get that book. I've got an 88 LWB Hiace with 286,000 on it and the body is just starting to go. Looking for a replacement.
No prob's with the motor at all - if you discount the diesel filter not being fitted properly and leaking air into the system...

Guess I'm one of the many lucky ones with the Hiace diesels.

Garry - I can get my ZRX1100 in the back by removing the mirrors and leaving the back seat in place. ie seat 6 and fit the road bike or two trail bikes.