Adventure Bike Rider Forum

Vans have been 'the future' for years, lot's of us have been driving them since the last century and still see no reason to change B) .

Tonibe63 wrote:Vans have been 'the future' for years, lot's of us have been driving them since the last century and still see no reason to change B) .

I agree - I've had vans for the last 15 years. I've got a VW kombi now, all the mod cons, leather seats, internal roof and side panels all lined etc lovely to drive all day if needs be. Happily take 5 of us and all our boarding gear in comfort down to the Alps or take the seats out, chuck in the tarpaulin and load it up with firewood or a couple of bikes.

Can't think of another vehicle I'd like to own at the moment (thumbs)

Putbinoot wrote:Also been looking at vans until my head hurts, been jumping back and forth between vivaro lwb crew and lwb van, think i am going for the van so i can add my own seats to make it easier to get a couple of mx bikes in plus have this mad idea of having it as a van/bike transport/camper so we will see but think like garlic bread they are the future.

The problem there is legally, if you fit seats, you probably won't be insured, plus there now has to be side windows where there are seats, so you're probably better buying the combi and folding the seats forward until you need to use them.

A slight twist on the thread; but any thoughts on minibuses or combi vans rather than commercial vans? Something with seats that are easily removed - strikes me this would be much more practical as a family run around, bike van and weekend camper.
Is a VW caravelle, Ford Tourneo, Vauxhall Vivaro etc big enough to get one (or even two) bikes in the back with some or all or the rear seats removed?

Dave

There are problems here in Spain with 'combi-vans', in that if one is classed as a 'coche' (car), you can be fined if caught using it for business use to transport goods. Having only had either a car or a van in the UK, I don't know the exact situation over there now.

Tonibe63 wrote:Vans have been 'the future' for years, lot's of us have been driving them since the last century and still see no reason to change B) .

Totally agree , my first van was an Austin A35 and I have driven and still do any van that's in the yard , my current van for carting my bikes is a Vito compact , fitted with twin side doors I have fitted out behind one side door with a gas cooker and shelving for cooking area , got an Engel fridge in the back plus racking , I can get the DRZ or the xt660 in plus all my gear , yes I know they get tin worm but it's nice to drive goes well and it's good on fuel as I found on my recent trip down to Jax Shack. (thumbs)

If you want inspiration, it's here...

www.outsidevan.com

Putbinoot wrote:Also been looking at vans until my head hurts, been jumping back and forth between vivaro lwb crew and lwb van, think i am going for the van so i can add my own seats to make it easier to get a couple of mx bikes in plus have this mad idea of having it as a van/bike transport/camper so we will see but think like garlic bread they are the future.

Me also, started the slog around dealers last week and the variation in knowledge/customer service level is so wide it's actually funny :laugh:

I've decided I want the smallest (external dimensions) van that I can carry one bike + a bit of kit in with the option of squeezing two bikes in once or twice a year. Besides the loadbay being suitable, must haves are: seating for three in the front, tailgate instead of doors, twin side doors, solid bulkhead, 'would really like' are: auto box, some sort of grip control, adaptive cruise control, rear side windows, keyless entry/start. Not interested in alloys, go faster stripes and twin tail pipes!

Tranny Custom answers most/all of these but a bit larger than I wanted, at the moment the favourite is the new Citroen/Peugeot/Toyota Dispatch/Partner/Proace. May get away with the shortest length and has loads of kit. Waiting a loan for a few days of the 180 bhp auto Citroen Dispatch version and initial pricing looks pretty favourable, especially as they'll throw in free servicing for 60k/4 years and a fourth year warranty.

I've had my SWB Transit 13 years from new, now with 186,000 miles, just got back from a bit of a jaunt round France and would go anywhere without hesitation, but the rust is really starting to show now. I had £600 worth of welding done MOT before last, then only £60 at the last one in March, but i'm seriously considering leasing a van next to see how it pans out.
In a way it's dead money but all costs should be taken up by the supplier as long as it's not my fault and i'll get a new van every couple of years.
Anyone tried this way of doing things and what experiences, good or bad, have cropped up?

I have a 98 fiat Scudo--basic 1.9 NA Peugeot engine--a bit gutless,but bulletproof. Its an ex health authority wheelchair ambulance with cut down floor and rear ramp and designed to take two wheelchairs--with all the fittings etc. It has windows in the back, a single passenger seat in the front and two seats in the rear with belts --seats come out easily. It will take ANY roadbike, or two offroad at a bit of a squeeze, and you can sleep in it. Some of you may have seen it around--its a sort of pale blue/green. Now Fiat galvanised most of the lower chassis so that a 1998 vehicle with 180,000 on the clock has virtually NO rust--you will still see plenty of these around--rare to see any rust. Full independent suspension means a good ride for a small van also. The only thing that has worn out is the drivers seat--but replaced that with an upmarket one from another bigger scrapped Peugeot--they all have very similar seat fixings. I just put the ramp down, ride or walk the bike in, park it between the seats and strap it down--takes 5 minutes tops. I can see no reason to change mine except for the same configuration with a more powerful engine.Its such an old , but simple, vehicle that its easy to maintain and parts are plentiful. However, they rarely come up for sale but are well worth it. Its been to Italy, the south of France a couple of times etc--and if you want to wheel a sack truck in with a washing machine on it then its the thing! One more thing--it seems to be exempt from the London LEZ--and gets car rates at toll booths and ferries--being "non commercial"