Transporting two electric bikes, 3000 miles.

[Big adventure]

My wife and I are traveling to Florida and we would like to bring our bikes. I’m sure we’re gonna go through some weather and I’m not so sure they’re gonna fit in a minivan, but I am gonna look into this. My other alternative would be to rent a pick up truck and have them hang over the tailgate. What do you guys suggest?

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

How do you currently transport them?

Either inside the vehicle or outside... hitch mounted rack, over the tail gate, or inside van pretty much the options. You could disassemble them too make it easier to put inside.

 

[skizzian]

I transport our 2 rises in a 'minivan' type vehicle (vauxhall combo life), using 2 front axle clamps Bike Fork Mount the bikes are a medium and a large, so they overlap a fair bit with the bars not clashing, the front wheels go in wheel bags ( wheel.bag TEX.22 | B&W wheel.guard L - B&W International ) I can fit a HUGE amount of camping gear in still, some can go under and around the bikes. I initially mounted the wheel clamps to a strip of ply with some 1" holes drilled for webbing coming off some cargo stays with the bikes facing back - now the whole of the back is ply and the bikes are facing front.
you do need to check you have enough height and length before investing...
oh and make sure the saddles are dropped before going in (I'm good at forgetting)

 

[Big adventure]

How do you currently transport them?

Either inside the vehicle or outside... hitch mounted rack, over the tail gate, or inside van pretty much the options. You could disassemble them too make it easier to put inside.

I currently transport them over the tailgate, but I’ve never taken them more than a three hour distance. I was just concerned if we run through storms will that damage the Bikes at all, etc. Thank you for getting back to me.

 

[Tgianco]

I have a "cheap" ebike rack (Youngs Electric 2-bik3 carrier... up to 200 lbs, really meant for "fat" tire ebikes, but still works well for my emtb's). I am considering the Veloco-Rack (carry 4-6 emtb's, depending on model you choose)for $1100-$1200 or just doing the basic, tried-and-tested Kuat models ($800-$900-ish). You spent good money on your bikes. Don't risk them falling (happened to a buddy of mine in Vegas a couple of months ago using a cheap carrier, his bike fell off & now he is spending almost the same amount to repair it as he spent on buying it... crazy!) off to save a coupl3 of hundred $$$.

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

I currently transport them over the tailgate, but I’ve never taken them more than a three hour distance. I was just concerned if we run through storms will that damage the Bikes at all, etc. Thank you for getting back to me.

Damage from rain? Bring some microfibers and dry them off if they get wet. Really I'd only "worry" about the chain superficially rusting. I transport my bikes on a hitch rack year-round in New England... rain, shine, snow, salt, sleet.

 

[Tgianco]

I currently transport them over the tailgate, but I’ve never taken them more than a three hour distance. I was just concerned if we run through storms will that damage the Bikes at all, etc. Thank you for getting back to me.

Would have to drive through a Cat 4-5 hurricane or tornado... or a flooded road for there to be enough rain to worry about "rain" damaging your bike. You'll be fine driving with them over the tailgate. Don't stress yourself about it. Your bikes will be fine.

 

[MeatBike]

Tarp + bungie cords

 

[Astro66]

Would have to drive through a Cat 4-5 hurricane or tornado... or a flooded road for there to be enough rain to worry about "rain" damaging your bike. You'll be fine driving with them over the tailgate. Don't stress yourself about it. Your bikes will be fine.

Apparently the pressure created when driving at high speed in rain, can force water into the motor, displays and batteries. It's like using a pressure washer. It is not a recommended practice.

Store inside a vehicle if you can.

 

[steve_sordy]

I transport my bike on a tow bar mounted bike rack. I have been doing this for seven years now on two different bikes. This has been all year round and in all weathers and at speeds of up to 70mph. This weather has included torrential rain, snow frost and high winds. In the UK lots of salt gets put on the roads in Winter, so there will have been salt spray as well.

Throughout, I have had zero problems of any kind with the electrics. And both bikes had/have the much-maligned Shimano motor system. The first one was an e8000, the current one (4.5 years now) is an EP8.

Bottom line, don't worry about the weather, worry more about theft!

 

[Big adventure]

I transport my bike on a tow bar mounted bike rack. I have been doing this for seven years now on two different bikes. This has been all year round and in all weathers and at speeds of up to 70mph. This weather has included torrential rain, snow frost and high winds. In the UK lots of salt gets put on the roads in Winter, so there will have been salt spray as well.

Throughout, I have had zero problems of any kind with the electrics. And both bikes had/have the much-maligned Shimano motor system. The first one was an e8000, the current one (4.5 years now) is an EP8.

Bottom line, don't worry about the weather, worry more about theft!

This really eases my mind. I appreciate you offering your experience. I was also thinking of plastic wrapping any of the main components like battery motor and controller on the handlebars.

 

[RickBullotta]

My wife and I are traveling to Florida and we would like to bring our bikes. I’m sure we’re gonna go through some weather and I’m not so sure they’re gonna fit in a minivan, but I am gonna look into this. My other alternative would be to rent a pick up truck and have them hang over the tailgate. What do you guys suggest?

Unless you have a really, really good chain and lock (Kryptonite fuggedaboutit), they won't be on the tailgate very long.

 

[Big adventure]

Unless you have a really, really good chain and lock (Kryptonite fuggedaboutit), they won't be on the tailgate very long.

Yes, thank you for that advice as well. We will be taking them in our hotels every night.

 

[steve_sordy]

This really eases my mind. I appreciate you offering your experience. I was also thinking of plastic wrapping any of the main components like battery motor and controller on the handlebars.

All of those will help for a long journey. My longest journey with a bike on the back of my car would have been less than 3 hours one way.

 

[Big adventure]

I transport our 2 rises in a 'minivan' type vehicle (vauxhall combo life), using 2 front axle clamps Bike Fork Mount the bikes are a medium and a large, so they overlap a fair bit with the bars not clashing, the front wheels go in wheel bags ( wheel.bag TEX.22 | B&W wheel.guard L - B&W International ) I can fit a HUGE amount of camping gear in still, some can go under and around the bikes. I initially mounted the wheel clamps to a strip of ply with some 1" holes drilled for webbing coming off some cargo stays with the bikes facing back - now the whole of the back is ply and the bikes are facing front.
you do need to check you have enough height and length before investing...
oh and make sure the saddles are dropped before going in (I'm good at forgetting)

Thank you. Yes I would prefer this way aswell. I’m going to measure everything and see what I can fit and not fit.

 

[mike_kelly]

My wife and I are traveling to Florida and we would like to bring our bikes. I’m sure we’re gonna go through some weather and I’m not so sure they’re gonna fit in a minivan, but I am gonna look into this. My other alternative would be to rent a pick up truck and have them hang over the tailgate. What do you guys suggest?

I use a Swagman hitch mounted rack. I have about 10,000 miles on it. For emtb, getting the bikes on a low hitch mounted rack is easier that wrestling them up higher. But there are some caveats. First they can sway a LOT in the back. A hitch mounted rack with welds can fail due to this. I use the Swagman now because it is all bolted together rather than welded.
Next I use a hitch stabilaizer. The hitch receivers are not highly machined devices and the rack can wiggle in the receiver. The hitch stabilizer bolts the receiver to the hitch mount to firm it up so it doesn't move. In addition I put ratchet straps to try and reduce the amount of left-right sway.
We have a canvas bike cover we put on in the case of rain. But we don't leave it on because the cover significantly reduces gas mileage.
Going through snow country where they salt the roads can be a real pain because the salt slush can spray up and destroy the rack and the bikes. I've rusted out a couple of racks this way carrying snow bikes.

 

[Brawwp]

2 bikes fit fine in the minivan. Mines a Sienna and I fit my wife’s bike too with plenty room for gear.

Alafia and santos are pretty fun in Florida too btw.

 

[Big adventure]

I use a Swagman hitch mounted rack. I have about 10,000 miles on it. For emtb, getting the bikes on a low hitch mounted rack is easier that wrestling them up higher. But there are some caveats. First they can sway a LOT in the back. A hitch mounted rack with welds can fail due to this. I use the Swagman now because it is all bolted together rather than welded.
Next I use a hitch stabilaizer. The hitch receivers are not highly machined devices and the rack can wiggle in the receiver. The hitch stabilizer bolts the receiver to the hitch mount to firm it up so it doesn't move. In addition I put ratchet straps to try and reduce the amount of left-right sway.
We have a canvas bike cover we put on in the case of rain. But we don't leave it on because the cover significantly reduces gas mileage.
Going through snow country where they salt the roads can be a real pain because the salt slush can spray up and destroy the rack and the bikes. I've rusted out a couple of racks this way carrying snow bikes.

Yeah, thank you for all this advice. I don’t think I’m gonna do the back bike rack way. I built one and it was pretty good but I did get a lot of bouncing and I just wasn’t comfortable using it so I do like the wheel over to tailgate the most if they’re gonna be exposed to the weather. The stabilizer and ratchet straps are a great idea.

 

[BobR]

Our 5th wheel has a hitch and we tow them outside with no cover on a rack and we have been from coast to coast with them. No problems

 

[Big adventure]

Our 5th wheel has a hitch and we tow them outside with no cover on a rack and we have been from coast to coast with them. No problems

Thank you very much for replying to me. That eases my mind.

 

[BobR]

Thank you very much for replying to me. That eases my mind.

We do bring them in at night for security reasons though, out of sight out of mind.

 

[steve_sordy]

We do bring them in at night for security reasons though, out of sight out of mind.

Agreed! I NEVER leave my bike unattended, unless it is inside a locked vehicle and under cover, or inside my garage and chained to the floor. Bike thieves travel well-equipped these days and it only takes a few seconds to steal a bike.

 

[Big adventure]

Agreed! I NEVER leave my bike unattended, unless it is inside a locked vehicle and under cover, or inside my garage and chained to the floor. Bike theives travel well-equipped these days and it only takes a few seconds to steal a bike.

Yes, thank you . I learned the hard way.