Securing and transporting bikes in small van

[deliquium]

I have a 2013 Berlingo van and want to be able to transport two (perhaps even three) eBikes securely inside - with safety in case of accidents or emergency stops etc considered. And obviously including driver and one passenger.

The length of the floorbed is 1700mm. It has an angled back 'ladder' rack open bulkhead only behind the driver's seat, which reduces the overall usable length at wheel height.

I've been playing about with bikes with front wheels removed - these do fit in longitudinally, without the need to twist the handlebars slightly.

My initial plan is to secure either a substantial wooden batten (100mm x 50mm or even 150mm x 50mm) via the REAR floor load lashing ring bolts*, which are ~1100mm centres. And possibly even considering a length of metal angle iron, or enclosed box section would be best instead?

*which must/ought to be as secure as seatbelt mounting points?

Then attach/bolt THESE and THESE front fork drop out mounting brackets to said cross batten/angle iron.

Simples with the mountain bike with no mudguards. But the other two bikes with guards require the fork dropout anchorage points to be at least 150mm in height from the floor + bikes with different height handlebars would mean they can be stood much closer to each other? But home made rasing brackets have to be created.

My reasoning for wanting to mount the forks and bracket at the rear of the van, is it seems/I imagine? easier to remove front wheels outside the van, lift the back wheel up to clear bumper and lump of wood/angle iron and 'wheel' the rear wheel to the front of the van?

The bikes would benefit from being lashed down to the other unused floorbed rings also.

THIS company make brackets to enable tilted handlbars - but the 18mm plywood floor crosspiece looks totally unsafe to this paranoid [up to a point] chap?

Please would the panel point out any glaring problems I've not considered? Or even if it's total pants?

ps I was right spoilt when I was a tandem and solo trikie with an 'E' reg Tranny van

[Jdsk]

How many doors does it have?

Will you be lifting the bikes in and out on your own?

Please could you add a photo of the bikes going in as you propose? Or a sketch?

Jonathan

[deliquium]

How many doors does it have?

Will you be lifting the bikes in and out on your own?

Please could you add a photo of the bikes going in as you propose? Or a sketch?

Jonathan

2 rear barn doors and 1 side loading door.

Lifting bikes in and out alone. No issues doing that.

Here's a photo of test fit - with some random box to stop mudguard hitting the floor. Click to enlarge.

[Jdsk]

Got it.

I really like dummy front axles as a mounting point.

Can you reach across to anchor the rear wheel that isn't by a door?

Obviously you can create useful space under the supports by the rear doors. Any other thoughts about storing luggage?

Jonathan

[PH]

Another option is finding a way of quick releasing the front guard. I've seen people doing this when mounting audax bikes with guards on roof fittings that secure the front drop out, I haven't paid much attention to how, though it seems to take seconds rather than minutes.
The ultimate set up is one of those sliding trays, where you load the bike/s on outside and slide the whole thing in. I get a bit envious when I see these and I don't even have a car!

[deliquium]

Can you reach across to anchor the rear wheel that isn't by a door?

Obviously you can create useful space under the supports by the rear doors. Any other thoughts about storing luggage?

Jonathan

Methinks either ratchet strap the rear of the first 'offside' loaded bike and then the next after that is loaded? Or the 'offside' bike's rear wheel could secured to the driver's ladder rack 'bulkhead from the passenger compartment - the middle seat back folds and the proper passenger seat completely folds flat to enable simple access.

It's very unlikely I'll want to carry 3 bikes so luggage storage if required shouldn't be an problem?

Another option is finding a way of quick releasing the front guard. I've seen people doing this when mounting audax bikes with guards on roof fittings that secure the front drop out

That's worth some thought - although first concern is having my front light attached to the fork crown on one of the other bikes, which sort of complicates matters possibly?

[Jupestar]

Looks sensible - we did the same once and QR'd the front to a old hub secrued to the wood.

Adjusing the height to get the handlebars to overlap.

Just tied the back up using some simple straps.

[Nearholmer]

Another option is to hang the bikes up, rather than fix them down, if there is a way of securing a hanging rail or two across the van, just below the ceiling.

In my car, on the rare occasions I carry a bike in it, I use a lash-up involving the passenger hand-holds above the rear doors, and that way can get the bike in, leaning at about thirty degrees, with wheels on, and secured. I’m thinking that I the higher roof of the van ought to allow something similar, without the lean.

[PH]

That's worth some thought - although first concern is having my front light attached to the fork crown on one of the other bikes, which sort of complicates matters possibly?

There is a potential conflict there, though if you chose that route I doubt it'd be difficult to find a way around it.

[Norman H]

I have a variety of those front fork mounts, including the type in your link. Incidentally I would have no worries about using plywood, it’s immensely strong; ¾“ phenolic ply should be fine but you could double it up if you’re worried. The main thing is to secure it to the vehicle.

I think ratchet straps are overkill for securing the rear wheel. The bikes will oscillate from side to side and it’s a good idea to lash them down from the sestposts or saddle rails in order to minimise this, but I use 6-8mm rope guy lines and a truckers hitch for this. I see your Berlingo has no shortage of lashing eyes which would be ideal. With more than one bike I also lash the bikes together by their seatposts.

[deliquium]

I think ratchet straps are overkill for securing the rear wheel. The bikes will oscillate from side to side and it’s a good idea to lash them down from the sestposts or saddle rails in order to minimise this, but I use 6-8mm rope guy lines and a truckers hitch for this. I see your Berlingo has no shortage of lashing eyes which would be ideal. With more than one bike I also lash the bikes together by their seatposts.

Totally agree about the lashing from seatpost or saddle rails - the thing is I'd need a video instruction tutorial for truckers' hitches, whereas I know how to use ratchet straps

[Norman H]

Fair enough, it’s a very handy knot to know and a search will reveal plenty of instructional videos. Otherwise, just be aware not to overtighten the rachet straps, even the 25mm variety can produce quite a large mechanical advantage.

[mattsccm]

Simplest version I saw was some suitable mount for the axle bolted to some hefty plywood. That covered the whole floor of the van. Pointless bolting the ply down, it can and won't move that much even if the van rolled.

[Brucey]

FWIW at one time I had to carry a bike, with mudguards, in a car regularly. I found the easiest way of making the front mudguard QD was to use a very long brake centrebolt, which protruded from the fork crown. This was fitted with a standard nut to secure the brake, as well as a second nylock type nut. The mudguard fitting was slotted, so a fraction of a turn on the nylock was enough to release it, without disturbing anything else mounted on the same bolt. I always intended to make a special nut, combining the attributes of nylock and wing nut, but I never did. In those far-off days I used wing nuts to secure the stays, but these days I would use Secu-clips instead.

In general I think the plan is sound, although with e-bikes it is doubly important to secure the rear wheel, owing to the extra weight. There is such stuff as Al angle; this can be (of course) much lighter than steel, whilst offering easier fabrication (unless you weld it).

[deliquium]

I found the easiest way of making the front mudguard QD was to use a very long brake centrebolt, which protruded from the fork crown. This was fitted with a standard nut to secure the brake, as well as a second nylock type nut. The mudguard fitting was slotted, so a fraction of a turn on the nylock was enough to release it, without disturbing anything else mounted on the same bolt.

That sounds like a possible solution, thanks Brucey. The mudguarded bikes I'm considering transporting don't have fork crown through holes, but that shouldn't really affect that idea negatively.

The only pitfall of mounting more than one bike on drop out brackets at the same floor level, is handlebar conflict - two bikes no problem. And my reticence to stagger fore and aft positioning of the bikes is because manhandling the forward facing one and front wheel removal shenanigans. As mentioned, removing front wheels, with or without mudguards outside the back of the van and simply lifting the back wheel up onto the van floor - and wheeling it one wheeled to the end of the available floorbed is fairly simple. The van roof is not high enough to wheel a bike forward on two wheels and then drop the front - which would require lifting of the fork dropouts.

So I'm trying to think of a way the best way of constructing a fork bracket mount, approx 160mm tall - so doesn't matter if mudguards are not QR - so that that bike's handlebars won't impede the floor mounted mudguardless bike adjacent.

I think the rear of the bikes definitely need to be substantially secured too, to prevent too much vertical wobbling strain on the front fork mounts - as pointed out by several helpful posters. There's no reason why the eBike batteries couldn't be removed and stored separately of course, to aid matters.