Bike(s) storage method inside a van

[Mountaintiger]

Ive just bought myself a transit van. I would like to keep my cycle in there and perhaps carry another couple of bikes internally as well. Can anyone recommend a method of storing the bikes more safely than lying them on the floor. thanks in advance for any help.

 

[mickle]

Turn the bars, cover the main tubes and forks with pipe lagging foam cut to length and arrange them nose to tail with large sheets of card between them. Strap them to the inside panel using nylon webbing ratchet straps.

You'll get nine across, then you can lay some large sheets to make a platform and then double deck them. If the van is an long base you can do this again; 9 x 4 = 36.
If it's a Luton you can fit fifty.

How many did you say........?

Oh.

 

[Noodley]

Or something like:

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/tu592r.html

 

[melliff]

I bought a couple of these:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Delta_Hitch_Pro_Fork_Mount/5360006702/

and mounted them on a heavy board which lays in the back of the vehicle.

Very cheap and easy solution.

 

[BMR]

Get some small luggage bungies and suspend them from the internal roof supports which already have holes stamped in them. with 4 bungies per bike so it hangs it is quite stable and not touching anything, you should be able to get 3 in and this method also doubles as an improvised bike workstand.

 

[bonj2]

when i had a van i had one of these:
http://www.thule.com/Thule/ProductPage____33623.aspx

it was the business for transporting more than one bike
But, when only transporting one bike, it was unnecessary to use it, as my bike would stay reasonably still just by having it lying on the floor with the handlebar in between the raised ply lining and the side door.

however , if you're regularly transporting multiple bikes i'd recommend it. a transit's got about 8 foot load length? that only needs about 5 feet (length of bike minus a bit) so you'll have room for other stuff aswell, or you may even be able to get it sideways.
Consider just bolting it to the floor, that's what i did (DO check to make sure you aren't drilling into the fuel tank)

 

[bonj2]

actually the thing from wiggle that meliff posted is probably even more convenient.
You will also want some straps though for holding the rear end down, which I think the thule 592 comes with. You want those things from camping shops with a ratchet buckle that you can pull to tighten then it stays tight until you press the buckle if you know what i mean, and attach them to something secure on the floor of the van in the right position.
just take a bit of planning as to what you're going to be able to put where on the floor of the van really - check things like how much space you're going to need to shut the doors with the handlebars of any bike you might have there, etc etc. (i.e. not as much room as you might think)

 

[Gerry Attrick]

I have a VW Caddy which I transport our bikes in with the aid of the Thule thingy. Well recommended.