SWB internal bike rack solution

[Deadagain51]

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:-

View attachment 4735

If you want to do a really cheap version, I custom cut a scaffold board, sanded and painted it, and mounted fork mounts to it…works a treat, if it wasn’t for my shelving system I would get 3 mounts on that, however I have just added a 2nd wood strut that sits further back…I can get 2 29” emtb’s in by just removing the middle seat, or take out 2 rear seats to get 3 bikes in

 

[WinFreak]

If you want to do a really cheap version, I custom cut a scaffold board, sanded and painted it, and mounted fork mounts to it…works a treat, if it wasn’t for my shelving system I would get 3 mounts on that, however I have just added a 2nd wood strut that sits further back…I can get 2 29” emtb’s in by just removing the middle seat, or take out 2 rear seats to get 3 bikes in

View attachment 158805

If you angle the fork mounts slightly you can get the bikes closer together, like so:

 

[Deadagain51]

Doesn’t work with 29” ebikes, they get clattered about too much, the way I have done it there is a decent amount of space between them so you don’t get handlebars clashing, etc

 

[WinFreak]

That’s odd, other than them being a bit heavier I can’t see why they would move so much more.

Mine are really sturdy like this and don’t move at all but having the handle bars staggered means they’d miss eachother should they move.

Also I bolted the fork mounts through the plank into some pronged nuts rather than using the little screws it came with, that stopped some movement as well.

 

[Deadagain51]

Yeah we tried having them like this, I think it’s due to the shelving system that’s in. Easiest solution was having the one in the middle set back. I got some cheap 3d printed fork mounts to start with and they were shockingly bad, ended up selling them and buying some decent alloy ones, much better, I know what you mean about the screws though…need to get some bigger ones in mine as the y do work loose

 

[WinFreak]

You could try drilling all through your plank and ramming some pronged nuts in the bottom and then using bolts to clamp them on, shouldn’t move anywhere then.

I plan to put some more holes and nuts in mine so I’ve got some flexibility to bring different bikes.

 

[Deadagain51]

They look very similar mounts to mine…come with different fittings so will fit various wheel sizes, boost, normal 100mm and also spindle

 

[Deadagain51]

You could try drilling all through your plank and ramming some pronged nuts in the bottom and then using bolts to clamp them on, shouldn’t move anywhere then.

I plan to put some more holes and nuts in mine so I’ve got some flexibility to bring different bikes.

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I have just been testing doing away with the fork mounts altogether and just pivoting the seats rather than removing them the rear wheel sits inbeteeen the seats and they act like a wheel mount. Need bungee ropes but so far seems bang on..next road trip with 3 of us I will test this system

 

[ellyp81]

late this thread, am i right in thinking in a SWB Kombi I can't fit in a 29er MTB using a fork mount unless i flip the 3 seater bench making it unusable?

Currently use a 2 bike Bike Stow stand with the bench flipped over currently. thinking about future changes of the back of the van

 

[bobbybasic]

 

[ellyp81]

great looking product if you have the 2x1 setup. Looks well made

 

[TallPaul_S]

late this thread, am i right in thinking in a SWB Kombi I can't fit in a 29er MTB using a fork mount unless i flip the 3 seater bench making it unusable?

Currently use a 2 bike Bike Stow stand with the bench flipped over currently. thinking about future changes of the back of the van

Depends how long your bike is. Just saying it's a 29er means nothing these days. You can get an XC 29er which has a 1150mm wheelbase, and you can get an XXL 29er with a 1350mm wheelbase. 20cm longer!!!

I've fitted, nay... squeezed, a 1350mm wheelbase bike in my SWB, which left around 650mm space for a kitchen pod. And a slightly shorter bike alongside it.




Unless you have a very short bike and/or someone with very short legs and a sliding seat, I can't see how you'd get a seat in front of a bike. Turning the handle bars doesn't really make them any shorter, either.

 

[Village]

If you get the handlebars right up to the tailgate and angle the bike slightly it may be possible, depending on wheelbase.

 

[TallPaul_S]

Yeah the size of the bike will be the biggest factor.

Mine is as far against the tailgate as I can go, allowing for my drawer handles.

 

[The Bear78]

Yeah the size of the bike will be the biggest factor.

Mine is as far against the tailgate as I can go, allowing for my drawer handles.
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Nice set up!
I am wondering if, when using a front axle mount, you would gain much from turning the handlebars backwards to take advantage of the fork offset?

 

[TallPaul_S]

Nice set up!
I am wondering if, when using a front axle mount, you would gain much from turning the handlebars backwards to take advantage of the fork offset?

Funnily enough, yes - I have to hang my big bike with the bars turned or rise it's too long to hang up! I gain about 10cm.

But, I can only turn the bars on one of my bikes, it's has wireless gears so only has 3 cables. My other bike with 5 cables doesn't let me turn the bars 180 degrees.

 

[Nohands]

Anyone found something which works with road/gravel bikes - particularly larger ones?

Don’t think van king or the MTB bikes versions will work for me the mount is too close to the door, even if I angle down my shifters I’m still a few cms short.

For reference my bikes are 58cm, have 120mm stems and integrated cables - all of which aren’t helping the situation!

think I need a fork mount which would sit approx 30cm back from the floor mount. The rear of the bikes would need to be angled but that’s fine.

 

[ellyp81]

Anyone found something which works with road/gravel bikes - particularly larger ones?

Don’t think van king or the MTB bikes versions will work for me the mount is too close to the door, even if I angle down my shifters I’m still a few cms short.

For reference my bikes are 58cm, have 120mm stems and integrated cables - all of which aren’t helping the situation!

think I need a fork mount which would sit approx 30cm back from the floor mount. The rear of the bikes would need to be angled but that’s fine.

Have look at BikeStows new rail

 

[TJH1985]

I’ve just gone for the classic twin track, I 3D printed some spacers with metal inserts to stop it filling up with dirt etc.

I’m 2+1 so take a single seat out when I use this but I’ve got a dog cage in as well so with the 2 + 1 in I can fit my 29” Enduro bike in with both wheels on leaning up against the cage and front wheel turned. So that’s what I do most of the time, this is more for longer trips.

 

[Nohands]

Have look at BikeStows new rail

Great thanks - looks like it could work. Going to give it a go. Will report back!