Any experience with vans to carry two Motos?

[Mikep328]

We fly from Bristol to the IOM every year for the Manx GP for 10 days and hire motos on the IOM.  For next year planning, I'm thinking about taking our own bikes, my '76 CB400 and a current Kawasaki Z900RS, on the Liverpool-IOM Ferry but carrying them in a van.  What would be a good hire van choice to carry those two bikes and one passenger? 

[Bryanj]

Have to be large transit size but check the hire firm will let you go to iom and sit down before you check ferry price as commercials are definately not cheap!

[Matt_Harrington]

I've moved a couple of bikes in a LWB VW Caddy but it was a squeeze - and topped/ tailed the bikes. +1 for a transit, much easier!

[Mikep328]

Have to be large transit size but check the hire firm will let you go to iom and sit down before you check ferry price as commercials are definately not cheap!

We've met several guys over the past few visits to the IOM who told us it was less expensive to put a van on the ferry than two motorcycles.  That's one of the main reasons we're thinking about the van.  I haven't checked the ferry price but renting a van for 10 days is about 1/3 the price of renting motorcycles on the IOM for that period. 

[Matt_Harrington]

Thinking a bit more, perhaps you could hire a larger camper van and then also save the cost of accommodation!! 

[Mikep328]

Matt, that's a good suggestion and if we were younger we'd do that but at our age we tend to like the comforts of nice accommodations!

[Matt_Harrington]

Matt, that's a good suggestion and if we were younger we'd do that but at our age we tend to like the comforts of nice accommodations!

Totally agree - nice comfy bed for me! My days of 'camping' are well and truly over....

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Wendy did camping once before we met when she went to a vehicle  Rally down south as a young teenager. Like most Ladies  She was not keen on using a field as a WC. 😁😁😁

[billdn]

Someone I know hires a van one way to Liverpool with bikes on board, unloads at Liverpool,  rides to ferry and does reverse on return . Not sure if any cheaper though !

[AshimotoK0]

Transported CB500F, BSA A10 and CB175 in a van at same time.Ford Transit Custom.

[Laverdaroo]

I can get the VFR nose first and the CB550 rear end first into my VW T5 short wheel base. It’s a squeeze but very doable. If, when I get there I’m staying over, I have a bed folded up against the wall that once folded out, sits onto the wheel arches to sleep on. Ratchet straps on the roof hold all the mattress from a futon, bedding and other associated gubbins too away from the bikes.

Mine’s a T26 on a 54 plate, standard roof height so if I can do that in mine a transit should be big enough I should think…..

The only issue is not smashing ye head on the way in as it’s a low roof, sounds a faff but isn’t really. I used to get the VFR and my ex’s 56 plate T100 Trumpet in at the same time too and it’s not one of the bigger vans either. If you can get one with windows in classes as a day van, the seats all in clip from the floor creating the same space and you won’t get charged as a commercial on the ferry


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[Skoti]

Made up some brackets to fix onto rear seat floor fittings on my T6 van.

Kitted out to carry two bikes or just one.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/UuoVoNG3EJ7PUgus6



 

[Laverdaroo]

That’s perfect, super clever idea too.


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