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Message started by Greg on 02/04/14 at 04:56:00

Title: Haul bike with minivan
Post by Greg on 02/04/14 at 04:56:00

I think I am going to do some camping in my minivan this year and would like to take the Savage with me. Does anyone have a recommendation for a way to haul the bike with a minivan?

Title: Re: Haul bike with minivan
Post by Dave on 02/04/14 at 05:49:08

Use a small lightweight trailer. I haul my bike behind my Pontiac Vibe, and your mini-van most likely has more engine power than I do.

Title: Re: Haul bike with minivan
Post by WD on 02/04/14 at 07:25:58

Wife drives the van, you ride the bike... ;)

If it's just you, pull the rear and center seats, load the bike into the van, pack your gear around it. Hauled mine with an Aerostar many a time. The seat retention points in the van floor make great tie down/ratchet strap anchors. You only need to strap the front, the rear will be fine.

Neither an option? Lawn mower trailer works fine to haul a bike. Use a tilt deck model with built in tailgate loading platform.

Title: Re: Haul bike with minivan
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 02/04/14 at 08:55:55

Of course the wife drives & you ride is the best option,, but, if youre camping, you mite wanna little trailer anyway,, so, if the wife can pull the trailer down the road, you can ride a while, then load it a drive her down the road a ways. I do think its just wrong to use a minivan to haul a bike, unless its a mini bike, but, thats just my ocd talkin, im sure,,

Title: Re: Haul bike with minivan
Post by verslagen1 on 02/04/14 at 09:13:18

While a trailer will provide the easiest method along with some extra hauling capacity. It'll also limit your max speed and make maneuvering a little more difficult.

You might consider getting a receiver mounted rail.
I'd add a frame mounted bar/bracket to each side to beef up the support.

Title: Re: Haul bike with minivan
Post by GridMonkey on 02/04/14 at 14:59:28

I've used one of these with great success. You do want to stop and check on the straps from time to time, but id do that anyway, even when trailer'd. check your vans hitch rating though it puts more load on it than if you have a trailer that has a mid axle/ 2 axles.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorcycle-2-Receiver-Trailer-Hitch-Carrier-Pull-Behind-Hauler-Tow-Towing-Rack-/390698493748

Title: Re: Haul bike with minivan
Post by v-pilot on 02/04/14 at 19:03:25

I have one with a rear entry wheelchair ramp...it's da $hit. Riding buddies started coming out of the woodwork after I got it, hauled more of their bikes than my own. :-/

Title: Re: Haul bike with minivan
Post by Greg on 02/05/14 at 04:30:11

Gridmonkey, I was thinking about one of those. Are the any concerns with the gear box or belt ?

Title: Re: Haul bike with minivan
Post by Greg on 02/05/14 at 04:31:54

I also thought about putting it in the van but don't think it will fit. If the snow and ice stop long enough, I will do some measuring. I extended the forks by 4 inches which will make it even tighter.

Title: Re: Haul bike with minivan
Post by Greg on 02/05/14 at 04:33:05

I don't think I could do a trailer. The 2 times I pulled a garden trailer,welding was required to complete the jobs...

Title: Re: Haul bike with minivan
Post by GridMonkey on 02/05/14 at 16:42:46

4742454E4943200 wrote:

Gridmonkey, I was thinking about one of those. Are the any concerns with the gear box or belt ?

I only tow'd mine about 100 miles each way. Didn't seem to affect it at all. Started right up when we got to where we were headed. Long trips it would be simpler if the bike had chain and you could just pop a link, but i didn't have an issue. Your choice of course, I also don't really know much about the gear box, so i don;t know how things change when its rolling in neutral with its front end picked up higher.

Title: Re: Haul bike with minivan
Post by Tempted on 02/05/14 at 17:55:54

I pulled my Suzuki GS850(600+lb bike) a couple weeks ago with a 6x12 single axle trailer behind a Honda CRV. The 4 cylinder, FWD one at that. About 60 miles. What kind of van do you have? There are some big differences between minivans. A Nissan Quest and Chevrolet Astro are both considered minivans but the Astro is more capable than most midsize trucks when it comes to towing and cargo handling abilities.

Title: Re: Haul bike with minivan
Post by verslagen1 on 02/05/14 at 19:06:40

There are no plain or pressure fed bearings in the tranny.
all open ball in cages oiled by splash.
if it gots oil in it, it'll be fine.

just make sure it's in neutral

Title: Re: Haul bike with minivan
Post by Greg on 02/06/14 at 05:19:49

Tempted, I have a Mercury Monterey. Its specs are in the second half of this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Freestar.

Title: Re: Haul bike with minivan
Post by Greg on 02/06/14 at 05:20:29

Thanks for the info GridMonkey and verslagen1

Title: Re: Haul bike with minivan
Post by Steve H on 02/06/14 at 13:53:54

I used to carry my CB350 in my VW van sometimes.
No middle seat. Front wheel between driver and passenger seats.

Title: Re: Haul bike with minivan
Post by shaunCW78 on 03/03/14 at 15:39:06

686D6A61666C0F0 wrote:

What virago tubes did you use to swap?

Title: Re: Haul bike with minivan
Post by Greg on 03/04/14 at 04:33:34

I didn't use Virago tubes. I bought an extended pair from Forks by Frank.

Title: Re: Haul bike with minivan
Post by raverson on 03/08/14 at 21:56:59

I haul my Savage with a 5x10 Cargo Mate utility trailer. Easy loading and unloading and pulls like a champ with my 4 cyl. Toyota Tacoma with A/T.

http://s14.postimg.org/4anervhwh/5_X10_GW2_K.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
screen shots (http://postimage.org/app.php)