Van or MPV to carry two track bikes

[dern]

Yes, the ply is hiding most of the tie down points.

[mangocrazy]

I never ever put in gear. Many do though. But I'm so much a no on that

Can I ask why not? I wouldn't have the strength to push something like the VFR or the Falco up a ramp into the van unaided. By driving it up the ramp I don't need anyone else's help and can get the van loaded even if it's pointing uphill.

[Yorick]

I never ever put in gear. Many do though. But I'm so much a no on that

Can I ask why not? I wouldn't have the strength to push something like the VFR or the Falco up a ramp into the van unaided. By driving it up the ramp I don't need anyone else's help and can get the van loaded even if it's pointing uphill.

I did that for 7 years into my camper.

[cheb]

I never ever put in gear. Many do though. But I'm so much a no on that

Can I ask why not? I wouldn't have the strength to push something like the VFR or the Falco up a ramp into the van unaided. By driving it up the ramp I don't need anyone else's help and can get the van loaded even if it's pointing uphill.

You run the risk of the wheel spitting the ramp backwards when the bike is part way in if the ramp isn't very well wedged.

FWIW I always move bikes in and out by hand, no power and no help from others wanted nor needed. Others may do it differently.

[weeksy]

That's what Weeksy needs, sorted.

Gofundme?

[Yorick]

I never ever put in gear. Many do though. But I'm so much a no on that

Can I ask why not? I wouldn't have the strength to push something like the VFR or the Falco up a ramp into the van unaided. By driving it up the ramp I don't need anyone else's help and can get the van loaded even if it's pointing uphill.

You run the risk of the wheel spitting the ramp backwards when the bike is part way in if the ramp isn't very well wedged.

FWIW I always move bikes in and out by hand, no power and no help from others wanted nor needed. Others may do it differently.

I drilled a hole in the top end of ramp and a hole on back of van. Tied a tent peg to top of ramp and just slotted it down through the 2 holes.
100% safe

[mangocrazy]

You run the risk of the wheel spitting the ramp backwards when the bike is part way in if the ramp isn't very well wedged.

FWIW I always move bikes in and out by hand, no power and no help from others wanted nor needed. Others may do it differently.

If the ramp isn't properly secured you run the risk of that happening even if you're just using muscle power. I made sure when buying my ramp that it locates securely and won't go missing halfway through loading. It's basic due diligence when specifying a ramp. Getting the bike out of the van is done by hand anyway with engine off.

[dern]

I don’t bother doing any of those things but I will next time.

Due diligence isn’t my strong point.

[Yorick]

Can I ask why not? I wouldn't have the strength to push something like the VFR or the Falco up a ramp into the van unaided. By driving it up the ramp I don't need anyone else's help and can get the van loaded even if it's pointing uphill.

You run the risk of the wheel spitting the ramp backwards when the bike is part way in if the ramp isn't very well wedged.

FWIW I always move bikes in and out by hand, no power and no help from others wanted nor needed. Others may do it differently.

I drilled a hole in the top end of ramp and a hole on back of van. Tied a tent peg to top of ramp and just slotted it down through the 2 holes.
100% safe

[mangocrazy]

Here's my solution to stopping the ramp moving backwards - invert the tow bar...

DSCF3188.JPG (204.03 KiB) Viewed 720 times

And use a seriously chunky ramp with a seriously chunky lip/tongue...

DSCF3196.JPG (292.72 KiB) Viewed 720 times

Here's the cross bar that i strap the front wheel to:

DSCF3193.JPG (269.77 KiB) Viewed 720 times

And here is one of the tie down points using a seat belt anchorage point (mirror image fitting on LH side of van):

[mangocrazy]

DSCF3191.JPG (297.68 KiB) Viewed 717 times

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I used to use the bikes engine to get it up one ramp while walking up another ramp, solves the whole arms in the air balancing the bike problem.

[mangocrazy]

A small stool with its height midway between the floor and the van deck makes life much easier. But having two ramps is the gold standard...

[Yorick]

A small stool with its height midway between the floor and the van deck makes life much easier. But having two ramps is the gold standard...

I used a milk crate. Then the engine pulled me up

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

A small stool with its height midway between the floor and the van deck makes life much easier. But having two ramps is the gold standard...

They were actually scaffold planks

[Tricky]

I don’t bother doing any of those things but I will next time.

Due diligence isn’t my strong point.

TBH I don't either, have been loading bikes in my vans for at least a couple of decades now on the same single ramp without securing it in any way or any assistance (other than the bike's engines) and never dropped one or had the ramp slide out , although I've probably jinked myself now

I'm guessing that my current van (2021 Renault Trafic) will be same dimensions as yours, I put two bikes in all the time, and have had 3 in it too ( a blade, 765 ST and RC390)- that was a bit of a squash but they go, and went and came back all the way from Cadwell with no mishaps or damage

[weeksy]

I don’t bother doing any of those things but I will next time.

Due diligence isn’t my strong point.

TBH I don't either, have been loading bikes in my vans for at least a couple of decades now on the same single ramp without securing it in any way or any assistance (other than the bike's engines) and never dropped one or had the ramp slide out , although I've probably jinked myself now

I'm guessing that my current van (2021 Renault Trafic) will be same dimensions as yours, I put two bikes in all the time, and have had 3 in it too ( a blade, 765 ST and RC390)- that was a bit of a squash but they go, and went and came back all the way from Cadwell with no mishaps or damage

And in flip flops, has to be flip flops

[mangocrazy]

I don’t bother doing any of those things but I will next time.

Due diligence isn’t my strong point.

TBH I don't either, have been loading bikes in my vans for at least a couple of decades now on the same single ramp without securing it in any way or any assistance (other than the bike's engines) and never dropped one or had the ramp slide out , although I've probably jinked myself now

I'm guessing that my current van (2021 Renault Trafic) will be same dimensions as yours, I put two bikes in all the time, and have had 3 in it too ( a blade, 765 ST and RC390)- that was a bit of a squash but they go, and went and came back all the way from Cadwell with no mishaps or damage

Yes, that fits with my experience. I've had 3 bikes in a Transit sized van; a Ducati 888, a TL1000S and my Hejira 350 2T. It was very tight, but nothing got damaged and nobody died. I've been doing essentially the same routine for not far off 30 years with no loading mishaps. I do rather like the Big Cheese's scaffold plank walky uppy idea though, especially as I get older. I did use scaffold planks for loading the bike initially, but scared myself and got a proper ramp.

[dern]

A small stool with its height midway between the floor and the van deck makes life much easier. But having two ramps is the gold standard...

I used a milk crate. Then the engine pulled me up

Are you all midgets?

[weeksy]

I don’t bother doing any of those things but I will next time.

Due diligence isn’t my strong point.

TBH I don't either, have been loading bikes in my vans for at least a couple of decades now on the same single ramp without securing it in any way or any assistance (other than the bike's engines) and never dropped one or had the ramp slide out , although I've probably jinked myself now

I'm guessing that my current van (2021 Renault Trafic) will be same dimensions as yours, I put two bikes in all the time, and have had 3 in it too ( a blade, 765 ST and RC390)- that was a bit of a squash but they go, and went and came back all the way from Cadwell with no mishaps or damage

Yes, that fits with my experience. I've had 3 bikes in a Transit sized van; a Ducati 888, a TL1000S and my Hejira 350 2T. It was very tight, but nothing got damaged and nobody died. I've been doing essentially the same routine for not far off 30 years with no loading mishaps. I do rather like the Big Cheese's scaffold plank walky uppy idea though, especially as I get older. I did use scaffold planks for loading the bike initially, but scared myself and got a proper ramp.

A guy at Silverstone on Tuesday was using a spindly plank to unload his Busa. I cringed. But it went ok.