[Closed] Strapping or clamping bikes in van

No real experience, but a massive sliding shelf with fork mounts always look aces 🙂

If you’re on Twitter you could search @JR_3DS (JR 3D Solutions). Jake 3D prints front fork mounts suitable for use in a van.

Really like to avoid removing the front wheel(s) and using the through axle clamps if poss.

I have something like this in my van, I just put the bikes rear wheel in the rack, no straps.

It does depend what you use your van for, space priorities etc.

Similar ideas

I keep meaning to make one of these box ones, just to have somewhere to dump shopping, kit etc that it wont slide about the back of the van

We have 2 of these (or similar, don't know where I got them from), fixed together by running longer tubing through both, fixed down with ratchet straps to rings in the floor. Bikes just roll into them without any further fixing. The bikes can wobble side to side of course but this hasn't bothered me much. Can always add a strap to secure the bikes further.

I've messed around with all kinds of straps in the past but my current solution is working really well.

I bought a 10mm metal drill bit, a rivnut tool, some m8 rivnuts and some m8 lifting hooks.

I put 3 rivnuts in the bulkhead and one behind each side door then screwed in the lifting hooks. So I've got lot of options for bungee cord locations no matter which selection of bikes I throw in. It takes seconds to strap them down tightly. No messing around with awful ratchet straps.

I'll build something for the bikes to stand in so they don't lie on each other but I've been just popping a sheet of foam between them.

I had one of those vans. You don't need a sliding rack, they are big enough to access easily.

I made a rack similar to pipioms suggestion but added bungies that hooked round the back of the stem for a bit of extra security as mine didn't cup the wheels quite so much.

Tip for you, put the rack against the the back door and load through the sides.

https://www.bikestow.com

Friend of mine has one of these, it's very good, but tbh wouldn't be hard to make.

We just put a bike on each side, pedal against the front side wheel arch boxing. Ratchet strap at anchor point by front wheel, over the top tube and then down the side of the rear wheel to back anchor point (with blanket between frame and strap). Did that for 5.5 years in both Vivario and T6, until we got T6 converted. Kit just got chucked in gap between the bikes.

Skimmed through my IG to find a photo but couldn’t find anything useful. Best I could find - you can just see the ratchet from the anchor point.

View this post on Instagram

Bikes on each side:

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I made one of those racks for my van, it was not satisfactory as a solution.
Ended up screwing strapping rails to the ply and using bungees. Means I can get 4 in wheels on and another 3 wheels off. It's not pretty but it works.

https://www.ukratchetstraps.com/products/zinc-plated-1806-track-1-5metre

Can’t find a pic of your rack. Just the wall bar?

We can fit four 29ers in the back, with wheels on, of ours side by side and still have four seated. the bikes are protected with bike shrouds, the same shrouds as we use in the camper, so that they don't rub against each other and are held down with an Aldi ratchet strap between the base of the seat and the rear eye.
A tip we picked up from Bike Verbier is a tennis ball with a hole cut out for the bar end protects the van wall from been scratched. In and out in less than a minute per bike and no faffing.
We use the same process for the camper garage less the strap.
Gloves, helmets and backpacks go into a big plastic container again from Aldi

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I made a pair of dummy roof rack rails and bolted them down, then just used normal bike roof racks on those.

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I use one of those Polaris bike shroud things and just strap them to the side of the van. Had 3 or 4 bikes in And just use a bungee per bike. Front wheel tight to bulk head and find they don’t move. If your van is only for carrying you bike a rack would make sense but it limits usable space for an over complicated solution in my eyes!

I just bought a couple of lengths of this stuff and screwed 2 horizontal rails onto the ply on each side of the van. Combined with the tiedown points already present it gives you loads of ways of securing bikes (and indeed other cargo). Don't bother with ratchet straps, just bungees. Really quick.

https://www.vanbitz.co.uk/3mtr-Tie-Down-Cargo-Rail.-Load-securing-rail-for-vans/6776.htm

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If your van is only for carrying you bike a rack would make sense but it limits usable space for an over complicated solution in my eyes!

Rack needs to be removable for sure, in mine bikes are in and out all the time but the rack only occasionally. Bikes in and out in a few seconds, (no messing with padded bags, ratchet straps or anything) and 5 minutes to dismantle or remantle the rack. That's the best compromise for me.

i just use a bungee chord, no need to take wheels on and off

Bungee cords FTW.

I agree fork bolt through racks are a right PITA.

Regularly do 3 modern (big, long, wide bars) bikes in a SWB Transit Custom - one on each side, facing backwards, rear wheel wedged against bulkhead and bars turned towards outside of van. Ratchet strap up over fork brace and back down.

Centre bike balances in the middle, ratchet strap from left to right with a twist round the headtube.

No bikes touching, no extra racks or mounts, just 3 straps. Doddle.

i just use a bungee chord, no need to take wheels on and off

Certainly seems a good solution to keep bike and van in harmony.

I have MWB citroen just use bungee cords through the middle loops that are fixed to the van side back wheel in drivers corner bungee around seatpost and then one around the stem holds all size bikes that way Road/CX/Fattie do have two pieces of wood on floor to hold a motorbike in position and use big tie straps for that works great use to have a SWB so had pedal against wheel arch both vans were plylined like yours.

Love a few more pics of that set up Tracey. From side front etc

I’ve now got a right armoury of ideas, cheers all.
Think I’m favouring some sort of slotted rack with the slotted end near the bulkhead, then it’s: Open rear doors; roll bikes in; strap front if necessary; shut doors and head to the pub. My kinda simple.

Feel free to keep em coming until Friday by all means.

Many thanks all.

Don't have any more at the moment. That was taken after a very early start in Wharncliffe.

Shroud is like this from side. Had them for five years and are well padded. They are made by a company on the south coast that make windsurfing bags. They have been a godsend in the camper garage and have done thousands of miles all over Europe with no damage to bikes. Our daughter has just gone to the Alps in a Tourneo Connect and uses the same bags and straps but has had to remove the front wheels so that the camping gear can go in down the side.

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Thanks Tracey, they sound really good for in between bikes.

I’m heading towards having a go at something like this 👇👇 with something like your shrouds in between.

Cheers again.

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Any pics of that set up?

I made this out of an 8x4 18mm sheet of ply and some scrap 3x2

Like that 👍

Have you ever managed to fill all 4 slots with modern MTBs?

I just bungee mine to the sides as well, but my van is full of work stuff most of the time so dont have the space for fancy racks ect.

I went for the stand I linked to above, and the same is true I think of the home made ones from @bigyan and @colp, because they only take up a tiny amount of floor space, so when bikes are out they hardly affect the load space, and bikes can simply be rolled onto them. No straps. It is ultra convenient, but I guess comes at the expense of some solidity. They're also very cheap. Perhaps cheaper to buy than make. I don't often load more than 2 bikes but I find it fairly secure just to roll a further 3 in in between and either side, facing the other way.

@colp what is the vehicle?

I haven’t tried 4 bike but it could work depending on the bikes. It’s in my Vito Tourer xlwb. I made it like a briefcase so it can be removed easily and stored if I put my 3rd row of seats in.
If you set the 3x2 blocks to accurate widths for your tyres (I have 2.4 and 2.6) the bikes wedge in tightly and it’s rock solid, no straps required.

Cool, I've a Merc Citan to pick up on monday, XLWB, with seats folded flat in rear it has same space as you, to fit full bikes, your idea was something I was considering.

@luket those look quite good, could knock up a decent 4 bike rack with those, any pics of your set up?

New van day is always good, we have a couple of those rear wheel stands, not for transport but for putting the bikes in whilst outside the camper.

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Coming from South Yorkshire ours are ebay copies of the XLC stand and will take up to 2.6 29er tyres.

You can order them from Tredz. TIP put two in the basket and then wait for the £5 off voucher once purchased repeat and get another £5 voucher.

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.XLC-Bike-Display-Stand-VS-F01-_127029.htm?sku=497658&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjw34n5BRA9EiwA2u9k3_71WmafVosH_HPp8CHSGCRwuBa_PDIIMWdynTR78Rosgq_bMse8BBoCQcAQAvD_BwE#

Ok guys, I’m going for this. Going to go for 3 slots for, rear, front, rear, wheel pattern (3 bikes obvs.)
What happens to the other end, front, rear, front?
Will they not just flap around, or do I just have to do some bungee strapping?

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@Nobeerinthefridge

On the off chance I've managed to post my first photo since the site changed....

Edit: That work? I posted a flickr link. Can't seem to see the picture though. Gah!

Well, I managed to post a link if not embed a pic, so that'll do. You could make a 4 bike rack out of these, probably cutting them down a little. You'd have to alternate orientation of bikes I imagine. Or you could rack 2 (or 3) and slot the others between and either side.

Tennis ball suggestion would be a nice addition.

This is the story so far. Managed to sort one bike holder, the finished item will be for 3.

Bit rough, but it’ll do.

https://postimg.cc/gallery/G2bBD2F

The story so far: Engineering maestro I’m not (obviously)

All made with with whatever scrap was leftover after building works (obviously)

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I've got a couple of extending poles that plasterers use to hold plasterboard up on the ceiling. Put bikes against side of van, extend the poles and drive. I also use them to keep my windsurfing kit down one side so I have free space to get changed when it's cold outside.

Nice ce and simple for me .

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I just used bungee cords and the fixing points that were built into the van. Just make sure you put one through the back wheel and frame or it will move.