Van to transport motorcylcle

[rob600]

Hi

I'm new here and totally new to the world of vans

The site looks great and hopefully i can get aome advice here

I'm looking to buy a second hand van to transport my motorcycle to and from trackdays. My budget is £500 and £1000, I'm not bothered about looks so a few dents or a bit of rust is not a worry. My main concern is getting something thats mechanically sound and reliable.

I initially though a transit connect might be good as i know a few guy who can get a bike in the back fairly easy, if i needed to carry more than one id stick a trailer on the back, the connect would be quite good as i could also use it as a 'run around' due to its smaller size. The problem is that these are out of my budget.

The other option is a 'traditional' sized transit. One of the short wheel based ones would do me fine i think. Not sure where to start as there are several models/variants.
Can you guys give me a bit of advice on what would be suitable. also do you think i can get something reliable enough to get me up and down the country for this sort of money?
Also, what are transits like for fuel economy, ill be going for a diesel but not sure about which bring the best MPG (most of my driving will be motorway miles)


thanks for your help in advance

[Luke]

i think you'll struggle to get a connect for a grand you'd get a decent smiley face (mk5) van but a mk6 would be better in fwd as you get a lower floor - makes loading the bike easier but your really looking at a btm book van for £1000

[rob600]

i think you'll struggle to get a connect for a grand you'd get a decent smiley face (mk5) van but a mk6 would be better in fwd as you get a lower floor - makes loading the bike easier but your really looking at a btm book van for £1000

thanks for the reply
yeah the connect is now not really an option so it gonna be a standard van.
Just had a look at your thread with the different marks and corresponding pictures. Mk5 will do me. Did they not nake any of those with fwd then?

[Luke]

no they are all RWD

they all have the same floor but some have harder springs so the backs further up ones like the 150's are quite a bit higher than the 80's

[geminivehicles]

no they are all RWD

they all have the same floor but some have harder springs so the backs further up ones like the 150's are quite a bit higher than the 80's

thats what i thought but my 100 is very high

[general--lee]

i use a 150 swb LOW ROOF for transporting motorcycles and it is quite high off ground but not too bad i made a ramp max lentgh that would lie on floor in back so its not that steep for heavier bikes...

i have had a 1960s triumph and a ducati 900ss in there at same time and fitted fine , some dirt bikes the mirrors touch the roof very slightly, had a faired yamaha fazer in there as well so a track bike should fit easy and still get yout mates in if you need it....

[Luke]

i used to have an RM125 and that touched the roof lining on my mk1 but like you say a track bike goes in easy

[rob600]

Thanks folks,

i think i would be able to knock up a loading ramp of some sort so it shouldnt be a massive issue about the load height.

I noticed you guys mention different numbers when discussing the vans eg 150 swb

i had a quick look around and from what i understand is this number reffering to the payload of the vehicle? (correct me if im wrong)

ie 150 swb = 1.5 tonne?

Thanks

[general--lee]

all i know is my 150 is 3200kg groww weight so needs the bigger van mot same as 190 which is 3500kg gross

not sure of weights of smaller vans but think that all 120s and below are a normal car class mot which means more stations available and cheaper lol..

[rob600]

Cheers,

ive been doing a bit more reading and have another question... i understand rust an corrosion can be a problem especially ubder and including the floor and crossmembers?

just wondering how easy is it to get under a van and look for myself? (will it need to be jacked up?)

also where are the crossmembers located and how many?

thanks

rob

[Luke]

you can fit underneith (unless your a large lad) no problems without jacking it up

the crossmember in question is the one right at the back - goes all the way from one chassis rail to the other, the front crossmember can also rot but its the back one thats worse

also look at all the rear spring hangers - the point all the springs are anchored to the van

you really need to look at a few that way when you see a good one it'll stand out

[MinorMatt]

I can get under an unjacked van easy - and im not small

[keep um going]

Ive got a N reg 80swb never been welded just passed mot Diesel tyres good x3 needs new 1 soon. £600