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What do I need to know about hauling with a Minivan?

DannoXYZ said:
Personally, I'm looking at a Ford Transit for the very same purpose:

2010_ford_transit_connect_02.jpg

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/2010_ford_transit_connect_02.jpg

This model came from Ford's European market and is built to more stringent standards than U.S. cars. It was designed as a cargo-van first, and re-purposed as soccer-mom vehicle later. That means it's got heavy-duty trans with oil-cooler already installed. Load-capacity is 1600 lbs; more than enough for two-people, their bikes, luggage and gear. The high-ceiling fits the bike without removing the windscreen and lets you install some shelving for tools & spares. Cargo-net can hold spare-tyres up by the ceiling. MPG is good at 22-city/25-hwy. Europe-only turbo-diesel gets 43mpg. Would be interesting to retro-fit a Prius drivetrain into one of these.

Only concern I found is the cargo-bay is tight. To fit both bikes in, I had to slide forward the front-seats about 4" from their full-rearward position. Not a problem with leg room unless you're +6' driver. Passenger seat can even recline with a bike behind it if you slide it all the way forward before reclining. Tie-downs to the existing back-seat mounting-points is fine if you have straps with half-loop fingers. Personally if I bought one, I'd drill holes in the floor and install eyebolts exactly where I want them. The kinds used for harnesses in racecars. They have big washers on both sides of the floor-panel to spread out the load.
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this is my next vehicle. I love them!
 
the review HERE said the Ford Transits are 22 inches shorter than the Caravan, and the rear seats don't come out. but they are over 10 inches taller than the Caravan!
 
Transits are a terrible choice. I've driven extensive miles in them and the drivetrain is a major let down. Only transmission choice is an old school 3 speed auto with overdrive and it is constantly hunting up and down to keep the vehicle at a decent speed - on cruise control no less. The engine is also very underpowered and gets poor mileage for such a small motor.

All this was in a completely unloaded Transit. I couldn't even imagine how bad it would get with 1000 lbs of bikes n shit in there...

Also, those pics of bikes in minivans - the pics don't tell the story of how difficult it is to stuff them in there or get them out. Just shows them in. We have a full size van and we use it all the time for bike hauling and it's not all the easy to get big bikes in and out.
 
UDRider said:
What is a weight limit on that hitch tongue (not sure about proper term)?
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I don't know the actual tongue weight limit of the hitch setup. The trailer, set up as shown, has between 150-200# on the tongue, which seems reasonable, and doesn't upset the car. Total weight of the trailer, with two bikes on it, is just over a thousand pounds. The Prelude doesn't have a tow rating (in the US) but the same year Accord, which weighs more and has essentially the same powertrain, is 1,500 pounds.
 
After all this, and looking at the cost/milage, I'm seriously thinking about getting an early 2000s VW TDI.
 
I have a friend that used a Eurovan, she swore by it. 2 bikes fit fine, plus all the sundries needed for an AFM weekend. Bonus? she slept in the back. She would have to leave windows/doors open to listen for people messing with her bike at night, but otherwise was fine.

Me? I had a Chevy Ass-tro that I swore at. While I could fit two bikes and gear in it, it wasn't overly reliable. Overheating, final drive problems, general unreliability.

If asked for advice, I will try to get people to think about getting an enclosed trailer. Low maintenance, insurance and licensing it better, it's easily secured, and you don't have to worry about getting it dirty inside. Plus you can store all of your track crap in it when you aren't racing, opening up your garage a little more.
 
Burning1 said:
After all this, and looking at the cost/milage, I'm seriously thinking about getting an early 2000s VW TDI.
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i'm sure lots of people on this board love VW's, but every single vw owner i've personally known that have had cars from that era have experienced some sort of constant mechanical issue after issue. i think those cars dont have a very good reliability standpoint. from windows falling into the door to constant headlights going out to leaking roofs and floorboards... rings not sealing properly... :thumbdown just to name a few

(seriously.. do a mental poll each time you see a one-headlight car. 90% of the time it will be a VW)
 
trailer is a good option. i installed a hitch on my honda accord.
talk about good gas mileage!

a minivan? WTF!
it's gonna be hard to feel like a confident racer showing up in a mommy wagon.
 
cycle61 said:
I don't know the actual tongue weight limit of the hitch setup. The trailer, set up as shown, has between 150-200# on the tongue, which seems reasonable, and doesn't upset the car. Total weight of the trailer, with two bikes on it, is just over a thousand pounds. The Prelude doesn't have a tow rating (in the US) but the same year Accord, which weighs more and has essentially the same powertrain, is 1,500 pounds.
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Kool. This gives me new hope for towing stuff with my mazda HB. I think it's also rated for 1k-1.5k (outside of U.S.), and hitch has a tongue rating of 200.
 
UDRider said:
Kool. This gives me new hope for towing stuff with my mazda HB. I think it's also rated for 1k-1.5k (outside of U.S.), and hitch has a tongue rating of 200.
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:thumbup

Easy. Move the wheel chock forward and back, and load carefully, to get the tongue weight right. You want about 15% of the total load on the tongue, or roughly 100# for one of these little trailers. :)

It's a manual, right? Because I'm not sure I would do this on a compact car with an automatic.
 
I use a 2002 Sprinter 140WB Cargo. ~25MPG. Fits two bikes comfortably or one bike and a cot when I am too lazy to unload on the night of arrival.
 
TheNibbler said:
I use a 2002 Sprinter 140WB Cargo. ~25MPG. Fits two bikes comfortably or one bike and a cot when I am too lazy to unload on the night of arrival.
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which engine gets u that mileage? 2.7L inline-5 diesel?? normal or hyper-miling driving?
 
cycle61 said:
:thumbup

Easy. Move the wheel chock forward and back, and load carefully, to get the tongue weight right. You want about 15% of the total load on the tongue, or roughly 100# for one of these little trailers. :)

It's a manual, right? Because I'm not sure I would do this on a compact car with an automatic.
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No, automatic. :( Ideally I was thinking a smaller trailer, or for bike one of those fold-able ones. Basically rail on wheels.
 
stangmx13 said:
which engine gets u that mileage? 2.7L inline-5 diesel?? normal or hyper-miling driving?
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Sprinter 2500. Flat 5 with turbo. Normal driving. I have seen it go down to 22, when hot. Also saw 28 when empty.
 
UDRider said:
No, automatic. :( Ideally I was thinking a smaller trailer, or for bike one of those fold-able ones. Basically rail on wheels.
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That ought to work. I've seen those towed with all manner of compact cars. It'll keep you from loading up too much crap for the weekend like I always do. :laughing
 
Well back in day, I used a Toy Previa van to haul my bike. They're cheap now! I had a 916. No problem after taking out middle row bench and folding up rears. My next bike was a RC51, I had to roll it in tilted for either windscreen or tail to clear opening. I don't remember. But after past opening, straighten it up. I don't think two bikes would fit though.
But Ive always liked the Euros for track duty. . I would go that route if you could find in your price range

Good Luck
 
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