SWB internal bike rack solution

[Barnstormer]

If you like me don't fancy leaving expensive bikes on a tailgate or tow hitch rack while you dive into a motorway service station or the pub on a weekend away then you might be interested in the system I'm using in my SWB Kombi.

It's not a new idea and can be found as old threads on older generation forums but thought it might be a new idea to some 6'ers.

I'm basically using a pick up truck mount fitted across the tailgate opening. remove the front wheels of the bikes and clamp forks onto mounts which can be positioned along the bar to allow best nesting with the next bike. My set up will easily accommodate 4 bikes behind the second row of seats.

Here's it loaded up with three bikes to wet your appetites:-

 

[Barnstormer]

Here's it unloaded for reference, this bar uses a toothed extension and an over centre lock to wedge rubber feet between the tailgate sidewalls:-

 

[Barnstormer]

I sourced the system in the US where 'truck' mounts are more common.

This one came from Performance Bikes in California and comes with two clamps as standard. I bought extra clamps and wheel mounts

TransIt Xpress Truck Rack

XPORT Xpress Truck Rack - Extra Mounting Kit

An alternative is available in the UK, made by Saris (of external bike rack fame), pricey but similar

Saris Kool 1 Bike Van Truck Rack Silver Black : Bikes | Mountain Bikes | Road Bikes| Winstanleys Cycles

Or if you are tight, google 'cargo ratchet bar' and source separate fork mounts. This is a cheapie on eBay. Make sure you buy a square section one or you'll be fitting flat plates to a round bar.

Expanding rear bed load ratchet cargo bar for Mitsubishi L200 Pickup rails NEW | eBay

 

[Barnstormer]

If like me you're riding a 29'er and have a SWB van then you'll need to remove or tip the single seat forward as the wheelbase is too long to fit behind the seat without angling the frame and reducing capacity:



But a road bike, a 27.5'er or old school 26'er will fit easily behind the rear seats:-



It took a while to orientate the fork brackets to allow most efficient nesting of the handlebars but both tall mountain bike bars and forward road bike stems don't clash with the tailgate when closed.

Here's the first bike loaded, note different clamp orientations:



And now all three loaded in with room for another:

 

[Barnstormer]

And finally if you've not seen them, the Thule Go Box Express is a fantastic quality fold up boot bag with cover and is available in two sizes.

The one shown is the smaller of the two, perfect for helmets, shoes and muddy kit. I secured it to the bar so it doesn't slide forward out of reach on the road.

Buy Thule 800501 Go Box Express at Tredz Bikes. £47.99 with free UK delivery (wait for the £5 discount pop up code and save er, £5)

It's also available in a larger size from motorhome suppliers, I bought mine from Rose Awnings in Poole for not much more than the smaller one (which is confusingly described as large size by most bike retailers)

Thule Go Box Large

 

[Barnstormer]

So there you go, at least your muddy bike won't get covered in road salt and muck and you can open the tailgate to shelter changing in the rain.

Hope the thread is of interest!

 

[ZipcodeUK]

That's a fantastic idea, well researched too!!

 

[Pauly]

So there you go, at least your muddy bike won't get covered in road salt and muck and you can open the tailgate to shelter changing in the rain.

Hope the thread is of interest!

Awesome info thanks for sharing

 

[StuS]

I like that system a lot but realised when I got it last week that my 29er doesn't fit too well and I have the 3 seat bench.

I am considering swapping it out for the 2 + 1 so that I can remove the single to fit it in and then maybe install something like this.

 

[DaveyB]

Cracking bit of info you've shared there. Couple of questions if I may.
1. Does it come with the protective foot pads so as not to damage the van?
2. How does it extend as it looks as though it has the spring loaded nipples that are then limited to exactly where the drilled extender holes are? The alternative you've posted up has a hydraulic pump to make it more adaptable to any width (guess that is why it is so blinking expensive).
3. Does it come with the front wheel holders or did you have to source those separately as well?

 

[shylock]

Good thread , thanks for posting

 

[Barnstormer]

I like that system a lot but realised when I got it last week that my 29er doesn't fit too well and I have the 3 seat bench.

I am considering swapping it out for the 2 + 1 so that I can remove the single to fit it in and then maybe install something like this.

My mate has the bench rear seat and we fold that fully forwards behind the front seats when we use my rack in his van. But obviously riders are contained to the front seats then.

My 2+1 rear bench Kombi was delivered with a single rear bench! An expensive mistake for the dealer, they had to take the van back from Devon to North Wales and fit a new floor for the extra seat feet fixings. So swapping seats isn't straightforward I'm afraid!

 

[Pauly]

Someone else posted some pics a while back (that i cant find now) of a similar setup but the ends of the main bar fixed in place of the lashing points
If you wanted a bit more of a permanent solution may be the way forwards as seem to remember it was a bit cheaper too

 

[Barnstormer]

Cracking bit of info you've shared there. Couple of questions if I may.
1. Does it come with the protective foot pads so as not to damage the van?
2. How does it extend as it looks as though it has the spring loaded nipples that are then limited to exactly where the drilled extender holes are? The alternative you've posted up has a hydraulic pump to make it more adaptable to any width (guess that is why it is so blinking expensive).
3. Does it come with the front wheel holders or did you have to source those separately as well?

Thanks.

1) Yes, L shaped rubber feet designed to fit on top and in-between a pick up sides. So the whole assembly is rotated 90 degrees forward to fit a vertical wall.

2) An extending ratchet section- pull out until slightly oversized, break back with pip pin system (all in photos) and then lock straight for a friction fit. Despite potentially being able to shunt forward in a sudden stop it's never moved even loaded up.

3) Front wheel mounts were purchased alongside bar in Performance Bikes, San Francisco, but don't seem to be listed at present on their website. Concept exists for conventional roof bars so can probably 'mix and match' with other manufacturer's equivalents.

 

[Barnstormer]

Someone else posted some pics a while back (that i cant find now) of a similar setup but the ends of the main bar fixed in place of the lashing points
If you wanted a bit more of a permanent solution may be the way forwards as seem to remember it was a bit cheaper too

Yes, I've seen a few cheapskate versions on the inter web with fork clamps nailed to a shuttering ply base that anchors to the floor with baler twine but this system is so quick to fit and wasn't expensive for an elegant solution. Fortunately I'm in the US most weeks so wasn't a problem to source at a sensible price.

 

[StuS]

This is the eBay sourced one but the eBay link on the following page doesn't work for me.

https://www.t6forum.com/threads/welcome-new-members.2/page-10

 

[Pauly]

This is the eBay sourced one but the eBay link on the following page doesn't work for me.

https://www.t6forum.com/threads/welcome-new-members.2/page-10

Yes thats the one i was thinking of

 

[Pauly]

Yes, I've seen a few cheapskate versions on the inter web with fork clamps nailed to a shuttering ply base that anchors to the floor with baler twine but this system is so quick to fit and wasn't expensive for an elegant solution. Fortunately I'm in the US most weeks so wasn't a problem to source at a sensible price.

Are you offering to be the official UK importer ?

 

[ZipcodeUK]

@Barnstormer , can you share some info on the 'zipped bag' that your jack is in please? This looks exactly like what i need.

 

[Barnstormer]

@Barnstormer , can you share some info on the 'zipped bag' that your jack is in please? This looks exactly like what i need.

Oh yes, I knocked it up alongside the wall pocket system in the second photo above which holds floor pump, bike & paramotor tools. The jack bag has an eyelet in the underside co-incident with the mounting bolt. Also made some zipped storage bags that fit underneath the double rear seat.

Made on an industrial sewing machine from PU backed polyester offcuts from hang glider transport bags. My youth was mis-spent designing paragliding & hang gliding kit, used to drag a hang glider around on my old T2 camper in the late '80's.