Bikes on a ute?

[raster]

One thing to remember with a van, we had problems with smell of petrol inside, I don't know weather I should not have filled the bikes right up before travel or not. Make sure the gas can is sealed.

How to other people get on with this or just ignore it.

[inlinefour]

Thanks, that's the other idea that we're weighing up also, just the hubby doesn't like the idea of the bikes on a trailer (Don't ask me, it's his precious or something!)

Had one awhile back and with a bit of mucking around fitting two bikes in was possible, but ackward. The one bonus to the van was it had tinted windows, alarmed and had plenty of room for any gear that needed to be taken. The Hiace might be a bit small for your needs but the Transit would be a good idea. Hope you get it sussed soon and does not cost a bucket load.

One thing to remember with a van, we had problems with smell of petrol inside, I don't know weather I should not have filled the bikes right up before travel or not. Make sure the gas can is sealed.

How to other people get on with this or just ignore it.

A good quality fuel container tended to be no problem provided it was done up well and was securely stowed. Some of the older bikes tended to loose a bit of fuel out the carb(s) when going around a courner a bit quick though.

[ArcherWC]

ZX6 and CBR1000 on the ute

[Kendog]

Thanks for all the posts people, very helpful so far

[Clivoris]

VAN. No contest. It stops being uncool as soon as it becomes bike transport.

[ArcherWC]

i use a full covered race trailer, EVERYTHING go's into it and then gets locked up and locked to the car. Maybe a bit of a pain for towing, but it definatly makes life easy at both ends of the trip.

[Kickaha]

I use a Toyota Double cab ute, two bikes on the back and the gear goes in the back seat, it's been everywhere from Invercargill to Taupo

Given the choice though I'd go for a LWB high roof van

[Timber020]

I have done trailers, utes, trucks and vans.

All 3 options work, but the van is so damn practical if your taking the boat alot. Get a tarp, chain and cover the bikes and you can sleep inside the van.

Theres this strange male attraction towards utes, it cant be helped.

[Skunk]

I have a low bike trailer. A mate uses a ute. We also have the van.

If it's security you're worried about - go the van. Damn practical too.
If it's safe, easy loading - go the trailer.
If you want to compromise both get the ute. Harder to load and easy for people interfere with the bikes.

My opinion.

[MotoGirl]

We take dad's Mitsi van (2.5L turbo diesel) and load the bike into the back of it - this is the one you would've seen at Manfield last week.

It's really handy because we can not only load the bike and our gear into it, but we can take extra stuff like seats and the picnic basket. Dad's just bought himself an SS ute but we'll continue to use his van because it's more secure, stuff can't get wet, and it's easier to load and unload.

That round trip to Manfield cost us $80 in diesel so it's pretty economical really. When we're not carting bikes around it, it's got a back seat so we can carry up to six people.

[MotoGirl]

One thing to remember with a van, we had problems with smell of petrol inside, I don't know weather I should not have filled the bikes right up before travel or not. Make sure the gas can is sealed.

How to other people get on with this or just ignore it.

We move our bikes around with an empty tank and fill them up when we get there. It always looks funny parking close to the petrol pump with the hose inside the van!

[FROSTY:Me]

Over the years Ive used all 3 options.
My opinion is by far the van is the best answer
I would prefer a metal sided van given my time again.

[Toaster]

Havent read ALL the replies, but you also haver to remember trailers need WOF and rego. Also another cost, esp. if it doesn't get much use.

As for ute... depends on the length of the bikes vs the tray, they differ so much (at least between the cruiser size and sportsbike size).

[Drew]

I've got a ute and a van, (at least my business does), and I think the van is the better option. My ute is a double cab but is still tight to get all the gear and stuff ya dont wanna get wet in the back seat.

Van gets my vote, only reason I've been using the ute so much is the work logistics of leaving the tools on the back of it for my business partner to use.

[steveb64]

I use a trailer, as I'm usually on my own, so the loading's easy - have a length of 300x50 plank, and the trailers a low one...

One thing to watch for if you go the trailer way - get one that's long enough! Ours (pic below) is a 7'x5' (2.1x1.5 - contractors size), and the tailgate can be closed with any of my roadbikes on it... no probs. A 6'x4' will be too short...

The big hassle with having a trailer, is if you want to go down the South Island... the ferry rates go up pretty fast, with the trailer on.

Utes work OK too - pic attached is a mates Toyota, pre leaving for Taupo. There's bank in the pit area, where the thing could be backed up to, then bikes wheeled over a plank, on & off. Trouble is, you need something similar at home as well...