Bike Transport - Transit connect? Van

[Manny]

Due to a rule change in my town parking my trailer on the street is now impossible during track season.

As such, Im considering swapping my truck and trailer for some type of enclosed van solution for track use. This would not be a DD, maybe just for mountain biking and other limited transport stuff.

Requirements is it needs to be able to fit 2 sport bikes and all associated gear for track days and travel. No sleeping or anything.

One thought was a transit connect. Im going to measure it out, but has anyone seen these in use for track stuff? My guess is one bike is doable but 2 no way?

Any other suggestions appreciated - my first choice would be a sprinter, but cost new is crazy and many of the for sale ones I have seen are super high mileage/beat up as they are all work trucks.

[e30addict]

http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...ambulance.html

[Chippertheripper]

paging garandana

[schleppy]

Moyorcyclist reviewed the Transit Connect and seemed pleased with it. I think two smaller bike.s MAY fit.

[Rambunctous]

No trailers on the streets of Boston?

[Jim]

No trailers on the streets of Boston?

He lives in Brookline. Not sure if they set their own laws, or if it's a change for all of Boston.

[Manny]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)

No trailers on the streets of Boston?

He lives in Brookline. Not sure if they set their own laws, or if it's a change for all of Boston.

There is no overnight parking in Brookline on the streets.

I was able to secure a permit via a loophole but they closed it. So now whenever I park I get tiickets. Lots of time I want to have the trailer at home a day or 2 before and a day or 2 after events - or for a whole week if I'm doing 2 events close together. It's a pain in the ass and my neighbors hate it.

I no loner use my truck as a dd in the winter so I don't really need it at all. If I could consolidate the truck and trailer into 1 smaller transport vehicle it would be a plus.

[breakdirt916]

put this same thread up on www.thumpertalk.com

guys on there have tried everything from E350 cargo vans, to 80's subaru outbacks with a hitch carrier, to enormous toy haulers...I'm willing to bet someone's already done what you're trying to do

[nerijusj]

F...that, pain in the ass loading/ unloading the vans. Just move Manny!

[burnham]

Nissan NV? You could stand in the one I saw, and it would fit two bikes. It makes a pretty good electricians/plumbers van, so you should be able to sell it when you're done with it.
http://www.nissancommercialvehicles.com/nv
Not sure what your budget is.

[feralchimp]

On the for sale forum I have my cargo can up for $1750. I'd sell it to you for $1500 though. PM me if interested; should hold two sportbikes but not with a ton of room to spare.

Update: in Somerville, btw.

[Manny]

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Does anyone rent space at the self storage down the road from NHMS? Cost/suitability?

Not sure I follow?

[korndogg]

I have a ram 1500 quad cab and have put two bikes in the back of that. Could certainly fit lots of gear in the quad cab. Why do you need the trailer in the first place?
I was going to suggest the ambulance as well, but not sure why a pickup alone isn't enough.

[Manny]

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I have a ram 1500 quad cab and have put two bikes in the back of that. Could certainly fit lots of gear in the quad cab. Why do you need the trailer in the first place?
I was going to suggest the ambulance as well, but not sure why a pickup alone isn't enough.

IMO using a pickup for 2 people on track trips is horrible. Getting the bikes in is a royal pia from loading them to strapping them, your stuff is open and expose to the elements which on vir trips in April can easily be snow and sleet. Anything can be easily seen and stolen at any rest stop or overnight in hotels. You cant actually fit the stuff in you need in comfortably including ramps, multiple sets of tires, rains, chairs, table, generators, easy ups etc. and you need to unload and reload everythig everywhere and between every trip. When it rains you have no place to sit while at the track, and when it's crazy hot no place for nice shade. Like I said it sucks.

[mycirus]

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=756368

[scottieducati]

Yeah, manny... the sprinter van would give you much more space than a transit connect. You can fit bikes AND still have room for parts / gear / etc. And probably wouldn't make a bad place to sleep with a nice mattress setup.

Here's one local (some rust).

Another local one, nice...

[Garandman]

Another bike that just fits in the TC - Tiger 1050.


- - - Updated - - -

Another bike that just fits in the TC - Tiger 1050.

[Manny]

Wirelessly posted

Any pictures of the back?

[Garandman]

Tiger. Fit without removing the windshield or mirrors.


SV650


The V-Strom - a very long bike - is too long unless you removed the front passenger seat.


It just turned 62,000 miles with nothing but routine maintenance. Still averaging over 25mpg compared to 15 for our Express.

[Manny]

Wirelessly posted

Good for 1 person to the track.

I want to get rid of my trailer and truck very badly, it's just so easy.

[joeswamp]

Amazing what you can fit in the Transit Connect, that's a really useful vehicle. I believe the full size Transit is finally coming to the USA this year. This thing competes with the Sprinter in Europe and I think is available with a lower roof -- Sprinters don't fit in most urban parking garages.

[sandman]

i just took a 2010 black transit connect xlt with around 14-16k miles (i cant remember) in trade on a wheelchair van.

Let me know if it's something you'd be interested in.

I have someone thats going to look at it this week.
If i don't move it in the next week or so it's off to the auction.

I'm not really interested in selling anything other than wheelchair vans.

[sandman]

Wirelessly posted

Good for 1 person to the track.

I want to get rid of my trailer and truck very badly, it's just so easy.

what kind of truck? i could take it in trade on the transit connect.