anyone use one of the small work vans for mountain biking? (transit/promaster)

[Rocket1k78]

Trailers are nice and handy but pulling one around gets old fast and you have to have somewhere to park it.
I was going to suggest a simple bike rack but i dont blame you at all with the cost of these bikes now, shits insane cost wise

[Kjonus]

Remember the time when you wouldn't be caught dead buying a minivan....lol

All jokes aside if you can afford to drop $25,000 grand on vehicle which is just meant to haul a mountain bike around I'd say screw that and buy a new bike when it gets stolen off your $400 bike rack which is attached to your current vehicle.

[tonytiger55]

Old Honda Element..?

[ShermanEF9]

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Remember the time when you wouldn't be caught dead buying a minivan....lol

All jokes aside if you can afford to drop $25,000 grand on vehicle which is just meant to haul a mountain bike around I'd say screw that and buy a new bike when it gets stolen off your $400 bike rack which is attached to your current vehicle.

I have to agree. My bike won't leave my sight if its not at home or somewhere i can be absolutely sure is safe. Roadtrip to go riding? you bet your ass its in the hotel room with me.

Also those vans aren't cheap. Sticker for my work van which is so basic it doesn't even have cruise is 30k.

[prae]

I'm biased, but pickup and a the biggest chain princess auto sells locked to the frame of the vehicle works just fine for me, or as a previous poster suggested, buy a bike rack.

You're overcomplicating this.

[Sugarphreak]

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[Buster]

That's the way I've always done it... But the new bike is a lot more expensive.

Plus I will be doing a lot more runs out to the mountains to ride with the kids. So it's a bit more multi purpose.

[ExtraSlow]

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That's the way I've always done it... But the new bike is a lot more expensive.

Plus I will be doing a lot more runs out to the mountains to ride with the kids. So it's a bit more multi purpose.

A lot of these smaller vans don't have a second row of seats, or if they do, you can't fit a bike behind them.

[Buster]

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A lot of these smaller vans don't have a second row of seats, or if they do, you can't fit a bike behind them.

Promaster City and Transit both do, if you choose that option. They flip forward to create a pretty big space. If I had to take the kids somewhere, I'd probably use my northshore rack, and then put dismantle my bike for the back. But for normal stuff, I would leave it max cargo, and fit 2-3 bikes back there.

[dirtsniffer]

Pro tip. Bikes in the back - kids on the rack.

[ExtraSlow]

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Something like a promaster city looks great - roll the bikes on, and they are secure. No removing vehicles, etc. Here's a guy putting a dirt bike in the back of one. Should fit a mountain bike no problem.

The guy in that video had a lot of problems fitting that small dirt bike in. I think there's no way you'd be able to "roll on" several mountain bikes.

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Promaster City and Transit both do, if you choose that option. They flip forward to create a pretty big space. If I had to take the kids somewhere, I'd probably use my northshore rack, and then put dismantle my bike for the back. But for normal stuff, I would leave it max cargo, and fit 2-3 bikes back there.

So you'd need the bikes on the rack for the drive so the kids could fit, or take the bikes apart to fit inside. and then if you needed to leave the vehicles and bikes for a while, you could flip the seats forward and the bikes would fit without taking them apart? Gotcha. But then again, if you are willing to take the bikes apart a couple times per trip, then that opens up a lot more options. I thought you wanted to be able to roll them in and out standing up.

At first I thought this was a cool idea, but the more I think of it, the more I think that these vans are going to be suboptimal for every single one of your requirements. A full-size work van would be good. Just get a real sprinter or transit and you'd be all set. Fit four people and four bikes standing up in the back. Boom.

[ExtraSlow]

And if you aren't scared of looking like a tradesman, I think a real truck with a commercial cap would be more comfortable to drive, more comfortable for your passengers, better on rough roads getting to the trails, and probably have lower depreciation too. Plus you could look very cool:

[Buster]

What's the benefit of those style caps. Security?

[ExtraSlow]

No windows, so people won't look in an see your expensive bike. Although, they may assume you have expensive tools, so maybe that's no better.

In the end, there's no such thing as security in a vehicle. Everything can be broken into, and it will eventually. Best security is a shitty vehicle with no visible valuables.
This type of truck basically screams "I've got some toys in here!"

[Buster]

nobody looks at a Promaster City and thinks "this thing is worth breaking into"

[ExtraSlow]

Unless they assume it's a tradesman with his tools. Tools are very popular to steal because they are so easy to sell.

[Buster]

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Old Honda Element..?

This is actually the best solution. I was just hoping for something newer. I'm essentially looking for a more modern version of this.

[ExtraSlow]

Just embrace the awesome and do this bro:

[Kjonus]

If that's an option go with a larger SUV and this set up. That's how I carry my fat tire bikes out to the mountains in the winter time cause I don't want them to get cover in winter road grim. What you're talking about is great but really IMO you're over thinking it. In my many years of mountain biking you don't see many set ups to your original plan. I've driven down to Moab a few times now and camped along the way and the bikes were on a rack the whole way while driving and locked to the tree overnight or in the rental house with with me.

[Sugarphreak]

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