I'm planning to take the bed section out of my T4 LWB so I can move my bike around. There should be enough space to put the bike in there diagonally but all the lashing holes in the body work are now covered.
What I was wondering is how do you normally hold the bike still? Do you put the bike on it's stand and then strap back against that, or strap both sides similar to how you would when it's on a trailer?
The thing I'm worried about is putting the stress of the bike moving around through the side stand mounting welds - they weren't really designed to do that. I could maybe come up with a system where my bike gets leaned over and trapped in, but supported and tied down. Would that be better?
My van may well have lashing eyes under the flooring but I don't really want to cut up sections of the ply & carpet floor while hunting for them. I feel confident that I can find some structure to fix to at low level so I should be able to tie the bike down firmly.
I just hope I don't ever have a head on with the bike in the back or it will probably shoot out through the windscreen and pull the van inside out in the process.
-- Edited by RichT4 on Wednesday 1st of December 2010 10:51:13 AM
Yeh, that would hold the bike upright for me but probably not give it enough support for travelling.
I could use a milk crate to hold the bike level when in the van but it'd then be heavily reliant on the straps to stop it falling over.
I suppose I don't really have a choice as I don't really want to lean the bike against a wall as that would tear the fabric.
So to hold the bike sill - put in 1st gear and a cable tie on the front brake lever. I could have the bike positioned diagonally in the back, have it leaning backwards resting on to my lift up stand - that way the pressure is on the skid pan. Then strap the bike towards the front and back of the van - should keep it still while travelling.
I might just give it a bash this weekend to see how she fits
Strip the bike down and place all the bits into boxes - they stack really well
I have a mesh bulkhead in my van but think it would still be fine without it. Put bike on sidestand, wedge front wheel into space immediately behind drivers seat and door frame, bike in 1st gear and turn the rear wheel back until the chain goes taut - all bikes will move a few inches even whilst in gear so doing this means it can only roll forward.....which it actually can't as the front wheel is wedged.
You still need to tie the bars down to something but don't go mad compressing the forks or you risk popping a seal and/or damaging the sidestand bolt/hanger.
It ain't gonna go over as long as it's wedged and tied - might move sideways a little but as long as you have no antiques/mirrors next to it you should be fine
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Caution - the poster may well have been drinking........
Cheers Ming, that's more or less the plan I'm going to go with only without having the bike on it's side stand. Clayton has also given me some similar advise about this and I think that technique will work in the space I've got to play with.
Just need to find a used plank from somewhere and I'm cleared for take off!
Not really an option Andy, there's too much camper stuff that can't easily be removed. It'd be a right pain trying to cut the sheet to fit the shape. Good idea though..
put mx lock-n-load on you tube seems ideal answer if you have the room
I had a look and it is a great looking system. I've also looked at the motocinch system.
Problem with these types of fasten down system it that they seem to be mainly aimed at trailers. I get the impression that a trailer (or box van as they call them) may well have a sturdy wooden floor. The floor in most panel vans is thin ply on top of corrigated sheet metal. I fear that the bike would rip the mounts up or maybe distort the floor pan.
There is always this way of doing it
-- Edited by RichT4 on Thursday 2nd of December 2010 10:03:11 AM