SWB internal bike rack solution

Here’s my DIY one .
20mm plastic conduit and clips . About £3 from wickes . Had the oak already . Fits 15mm axle just nicely .
 
Is anyone running a 20mm thru axle?

I purchased the saris traps and some delta mounts but the mount is 95mm wide when used for the 20mm so has around 10mm of side to side play.
I know there is the extra spacers included in the kit but it’s rather fiddly trying to hold a bike up, put the axle in then slot in two spacers.
Just wondered if I am missing a easy hack to doing it all or wether a different mount would be more suitable for my bikes.
My misses 15mm axle bike works perfect but not mine
 
I finally found time on Sunday to finish/refine my internal rack for the California. Because of the available width reduced by the kitchen unit I had to very slightly angle the fork mounts so that the handle bars can overlap. I also countersunk the screws up through the bottom of the angle.
IMG_0824.jpg IMG_0822.jpg IMG_0823.jpg
 
The two topics on internal bike racks are now merged.
 
So ... I am new to this forum and don’t own a VW van ... but

I am looking to buy a T6 Multivan SWB in the next 2 months and am a keen mountain biker and ride several times a week. I also have a wife and 3 kids and this van would have to assist in my ‘Soccer Dad’ school and sports duties. My bike is used to travelling inside the car (my precious) due to my reluctance to take wheels off all the time (I go fast enough downhill to worry about my mechanical skills).

Here are my unresolved questions relating to this internal bike rack thread that I hope the enthusiasts / owners here can help with:
1. Can the row of 3 seats be put in front of the captains chairs?
1a. Forward or rear facing?
1b. If so, would there be enough room to place a standard dual suspension 29er between the now rear positioned captains chairs without taking wheels off?
2. If I take the captains chairs out, can I move the 3 seat row forward enough to diagonally fit the bike behind? I guess what I am asking is what space is left?

I will tackle how I will mount things / tie downs etc. once I know if things will fit. I can see myself welding some Frankenstein solution up :)

Thanks in advance for your assistance.
 
You won’t get a mtb in a swb from front to back. I could only just fit mine in a lwb. You might get it diagonally.
 
This photo might help.

66652D4F-41DF-4682-93F9-0BBED6CCE8CE.jpeg
 
We can only get two in without front wheels with the rear seat pushed right up to the front, so no passengers.
 
You can fit one in but only if you remove the single seat of the rear 3 (if its 2+1 bench not a fixed 3?)

Deaky is yours a LH drive? only your rear bench is the other hand to mine?
 
Hi Nuthin,

My internal rack detailed above is a friction fit between tailgate pillars and is front wheel off.

Whilst most road bikes fit straight fore-aft behind my 5 seater kombi split 1/2 rear seats (fixed mount not sliding track like a caravelle) a 29’er won’t fit without removing the single or double seat as the bike wheelbase is too long. It would fit front wheel on with a mid seat removed but obviously the rack wouldn’t be appropriate & would be lashed to remaining seat head rest with bungee.

Sounds a faff to be trying to fit bikes as you had planned and certainly not enough room for front wheel on.

Angling second 29er into void by sliding door I can fit two front wheel off bikes on rear rack in place of single rear seat, enough room behind double rear seat for both wheels off 29ers (4 riders, 4 bikes). Easy fit 3 bikes on rear rack with double rear seat removed - 3 riders, 3 seats, 3 bikes.

Through axle converter required for the rack I bought if bikes require such.

SWB so much easier to park than a LWB which when I’ve driven one reminds me of my old defender 110 4WD skip. If you are buying new rear camera is worth the expense.
 
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

View attachment 4743

View attachment 4744
Thanks for the info Could you hose these Thule organisers out? Or would it wreck them?
 
Wow! Great info here guys. Nice bike Deaky .. show off.

Deaky - So is that pic with the bench moved forward? Can passengers sit in there?

Generally I only need to take 3 passengers on weekdays, so the 2+1 seat with the single removed could be an option ... if the space is enough still behind the front seat for the bike. Does that mean if I had 1 of the captains chairs in the front with the 2seater part of the 2+1 in place behind it, that I could put the bike down the side from the tailgate all the way to the front seats? This means that during the week with the kid runs I could still do 3 kids and a bike as required? This would be perfect.
 
Or ... can I just buy an extra 2 Captains Chairs instead of the bench or split chair and then just slide the bike up the middle?

Your advice is greatly appreciated
 
Or ... can I just buy an extra 2 Captains Chairs instead of the bench or split chair and then just slide the bike up the middle?

Your advice is greatly appreciated
You can get 3 individual seats so that the middle one can be removed to facilitate the insertion of a bike. However that will need some changes to the QR connections in the floor; a job best carried out by a specialist.
 
Back
Top