Utes and bikes?

[takitimu]

For a dedicated vehicle, Van is absolutely the way to go, but given mines multi purpose, I prefer my Ute.

[B0000M]

van wins.

ive been with mates in utes, a double cab is all very well to fit 3 bikes, except they rub, the tail gate must be down, and theres no room for any gear either in or outside the ute. furthermore nothing is secure.

trailers theoreticly reduce your speed to 90kph, also add heaps of weight and loss of fuel economy, not to mention your probably going to tow it with your nice tow vehicle which you will manage to get mud right thru your nice car


that said, only some vans fit bikes in them.

hiaces do. flat floor ones dont. mitsi high roof ones do, i dunno what else does

[barty5]

van wins.

ive been with mates in utes, a double cab is all very well to fit 3 bikes, except they rub, the tail gate must be down, and theres no room for any gear either in or outside the ute. furthermore nothing is secure.

trailers theoreticly reduce your speed to 90kph, also add heaps of weight and loss of fuel economy, not to mention your probably going to tow it with your nice tow vehicle which you will manage to get mud right thru your nice car


that said, only some vans fit bikes in them.

hiaces do. flat floor ones dont. mitsi high roof ones do, i dunno what else does

Shit thought you where going to say that nice flash tow vehicles also get stuck when in deep mud and dont look so flash after. As for fuel economy thats a dirty word to me but it dosnt really change with my car. Tows best at 110ks

[B0000M]

Shit thought you where going to say that nice flash tow vehicles also get stuck when in deep mud and dont look so flash after. As for fuel economy thats a dirty word to me but it dosnt really change with my car. Tows best at 110ks

lol , yea and ideal for towing trailers that fancy new orange tow vehicles cant lol

[raglanash]

Courier extra cab is the go if you want a ute, can squeeze people in the back if you have too, fit 3 bikes with the tailgate down and could get the tailgate up with 1 bike on an angle, was a good ute. Got a double cab hilux now, it's fucking high off the ground when loading and the tailgate is down all the time, waaay nicer ute though.

[Hemex]

Well I've got a single cab ute, Mazda b2000 that I got for REAL cheap...Fits 3 bikes in easy but not 3 people and gear... then again how often are you going to be taking 3 bikes and 2 other people with you?
For 2 bikes and 2 people its awesome and I dont think I would EVER pick a van over my ute...

Also, if you just want to fit 3 people in just to commute, its all good... just make sure there's atleast one chick out of the 3, else its going to look pretty fuckin gay with 3 guys all snug and cosy in a single cab..

[krasher]

Was a pain in the arse when i was doin couier work van full a shit on a monday morning. Use to get strange looks sweepin it out in the midle of down.
Edit: not forgeting if there anything youve run ova that dont smell so good you got it all the way home with yah. Gota love cow shit.

Haha lol, had a couple mates who had be paddock hacking get crook from the stench of their bikes after a ride home in their van. Leaving their petrol on didn't help either.

Thanks for the feedback. Van's win but I am not getting on. I had a major car accident when I was 14yrs that has left me like a patchwork blanket with skin grafts and stuff so not real keen to go there again. I like my legs. Probably quite irrational but not a battle I want to fight. They also suck to drive. I want something nice to cruise in too.

Was looking at a mid 90's L200 Double cab or something like that. Tray is only about 1500 long though right? Pretty short. With the tail down will she still fit a couple or even 3 bikes? Anyone know?

I have never had a ute. What are they like to drive? How do the handle? Road noise etc? I want something I can relax in on long trips - not be bouncing all over the place etc.

Cheers.

[Hemex]

I have never had a ute. What are they like to drive? How do the handle? Road noise etc? I want something I can relax in on long trips - not be bouncing all over the place etc.

Cheers.

Yeah I hate vans for the same reason... right up front and don't feel very secure...

My ute, has the back slide out VERY EASILY at a roundabout...its got heaps of power and its awesome over long distances... Just a few rattles and creeks which piss me off but those are on a list that I have been fixing...

More than welcome to take mine for a spin... its an '85 B2000

[barty5]

Yeah I hate vans for the same reason... right up front and don't feel very secure...

My ute, has the back slide out VERY EASILY at a roundabout...its got heaps of power and its awesome over long distances... Just a few rattles and creeks which piss me off but those are on a list that I have been fixing...

More than welcome to take mine for a spin... its an '86 B2000

utes are good for get the arse out side ways like vans. Note to self must do more work on my over powered ute and finish.

[thecharmed01]

We have a double cab nissan ute, and it fits 3 bikes on the back (tailgate open) but that was two big big's, one smaller, the small was facing backwards in the middle..... but also 3 people and gear inside easy!
We chuck one of those gazebo's on the back with the bikes for cover.
Toolbox was on the back too LOL

Not sure how much gear you boys take, but we had 3 gear bags and lots of armour/boots etc????

[Blair.DRZ]

I had a 1990 l200 double cab for a while but only ever had 1 bike on it at a time, even on an angle still had to leave the tail down, but I'm sure could've got two on quite comfortably. Even though it was a double cab there wasn't heaps of room in the back seats, but some of my mates are real fat arses anyway so that was probably the problem. But good strong runners, not really made for speed but just keep on going and going.

[kezzafish]

Ha haaa, krasher and Hemex you've bought up the one good point that i was hopeing no one would mention... vans are death traps lol. But a great place to be pinned while you wait for the jaws of life!

But i will say that 3 bikes plus gear plus 3 very cosy dudes is mint and easy in my van. 2 bikes on the side have bars turned in and have 1 strop to the side and 1 pulling em forward. Rear facing centre bike has 2 strops down forks to rear bumper and 1 strop holding it back against front seats. Gear can very easily be stashed around, on top of, underneath (between wheels) the bikes. We all have our own 20 litre fuel cans which come with us and i always take a pretty comprehensive set of tools... nothings gonna fall off the back like a ute as it's enclosed.

But... it IS a challenging drive which i actually enjoy, we usually get half pissed on the way home and have a laugh (and a cuddle)... i've always thought it'd be rad to have a Van race class with weight handicaps for the faster vans/drivers. Imagine all the plumbers,electricians,couriers that'd be keen, i'd fuck em all up. Run 40psi in front and 50 in rear for added roundabout fun

We only take the trailer if we have 4 bikes (1 on the draw bar on a special frame we made)

[Reckless]

Courier extra cab is the go if you want a ute, can squeeze people in the back if you have too, fit 3 bikes with the tailgate down and could get the tailgate up with 1 bike on an angle, was a good ute. Got a double cab hilux now, it's fucking high off the ground when loading and the tailgate is down all the time, waaay nicer ute though.

Hey ranglan try the extra ramp thing. I saw it a while ago now and take an extra ramp for the height of the 4x4. so you put the ramp on the tailgate and the other shorter one on the bumper(bullbar in my case). Bike up one and you walk up the other works great!! Walkin the plank makes all the difference LOL!!! I've taken a pic for ya! The things in the rack on the ute are where the Fork props sit.

Back on topic! I have a Mazda Proceed cab plus 4x4. Good for 3 bikes frontwards I have a rack mounted to the front. If you where regular with two bikes and passengers would be peeeerfect. We fit 3, but the center is a crf150f (or was a KX85). The problem for all vehicles (vans & Utes) when moving from 2 to 3 bikes is the area you need for bikes and gear. The cab plus is good for tray area but 3 adults is a squeeze inside with the helmets & food etc, good for two and a junior though. We take the Exy up gazebo with us most times for shade etc!
I reckon if your goin to 3 full size bikes you gotta move to a trailer so you have somewhere dry for all the gear as well. As B0000m says its a lot more expensive on gas towing a trailer.
So I reckon perfect would be: 1-2 bikes: van or Dble cab ute, 3+ bikes: trailer and double cab ute with canopy.

[raglanash]

Hey ranglan try the extra ramp thing. I saw it a while ago now and take an extra ramp for the height of the 4x4. so you put the ramp on the tailgate and the other shorter one on the bumper(bullbar in my case). Bike up one and you walk up the other works great!! Walkin the plank makes all the difference LOL!!! I've taken a pic for ya! The things in the rack on the ute are where the Fork props sit.

Sweet, I have just been picking parking spots carefully or taking a run at it or riding it up if i'm feeling keen, saw a guy the other day with a little step ladder...

I recon that the xtra cab mazda or fords are the perfect ute for bike transport, from 03 up they have the suicide door to get into the back which was awesome, I would still have mine but my work upgraded me to an 08 Hilux, fuckers eh....
Got a few mates with he old hilux single cabs, they just go and go.

[takitimu]

Was looking at a mid 90's L200 Double cab or something like that. Tray is only about 1500 long though right? Pretty short. With the tail down will she still fit a couple or even 3 bikes? Anyone know?

I have never had a ute. What are they like to drive? How do the handle? Road noise etc? I want something I can relax in on long trips - not be bouncing all over the place etc.

Cheers.

1500 would be about the same as mine, I put the tail door down, made some holders for my ramp that goes across & holds everything in, the deck liner has some slots almost at the back, you can get ramps that go on the end of the tail door & wrap either side but they are expensive, seen a few guys use quad ramps ( walk on one, bike on the other ), to be fair reckless has the best looking setup I have seen.

Road noise is not to bad, got some wicked michelin tires, if it's bouncy get a bag of gravel & strap it under the back of the deck, or a concrete post or two, mine is a bit bumpy with one bike, two bikes ( 250 kilos ) and it's nice, the extra weight stops them being quite so tail happy to.

Enjoy