Bike day vans and campers

[ReadyShreddy]

I want to get myself a day van or camper to travel to bike locations in the UK and France. This would also be useful to commute to work and weekend driving.

Which options are the best for this? I've been looking at LWB VW caddy etc or larger vans like the ford transit. Any pictures of layouts etc would also be helpful.

 

[Robstyle]

I've got a swb t6, tbh any smaller than that wouldn't be as versatile.
It's awesome to daily drive. The transits are good too.
There's various bike rack setups that work. Rocky mounts are the shit if you need to take your front wheel off. I use a pair of Yakima highroad racks that are awesome and super fast to secure bikes inside. Run a roof tent for camping, it's alot easier to have seperate sleeping area vs trying to cram it all in van in my experience.
The pics kinda sum it up.

 

[Anders]

Its not a camper, but I use my VW LWB Transporter for everything. Commuting to work, going to enduro races / training (with my petrol enduro bike), sleeping in it (when alone) etc. The walls are covered with 9mm plywood. I have only a few brackets / pockets for boxes of different kinds attached to the walls, no bed or other furniture. I'm also using it as my daily driver and to trensport big/heavy objects, so I can't fill it with furniture. I also need to be able to transport two motorbikes, hence the need for almost full width inside.

I have used VW transporters like this for the last 20 years or so, and they are quite well suited for the job.
I have no interior pictures, I'm afraid.

 

[Weeksy]

2023-01-02_09-28-35 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

transit custom for us. It's a bit different to this now as we've got toolboxes, spares etc, the sides are carpeted. But essentially it's still a van.
If we need food, the Webber BBQ goes with us, along with a bike washer and a gazebo.
Race meetings i sleep in a tent, the boy sleeps next to the bike in the van.

2023-01-13_08-14-51 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

 

[ReadyShreddy]

Thanks, I've noticed a lot of people with the VW T4, T5. Looking at your pics I think I the caddy will be to small.

 

[ReadyShreddy]

I think I've narrowed the van choice down to the Peugeot expert LWB, transit custom swb or vauxhall vivario swb, based on my budget and getting two bikes in there. VW is out of my price range.

 

[Anders]

I have friends with Opel Vivaro (including my son) and Ford Transit custom vans. The all are quite satisfied, as far as I can tell.

 

[gardo]

I own a Ford Transit Connect LX 230 LWB High Roof. Cheap as chips, and I've lived in it for a few days here and there. Bike fits inside with no removal or loosening of parts. I've had 3 bikes in it but not more than that yet. I've got a solar panel on the roof which coupled with a battery/inverter etc. has allowed me to use a tv/xbox/slow cooker. I also had some great conversion kits installed from van2b. That works pretty well.

 

[Dgti]

If you don't mind hanging them on the back or just for a day out.

 

[Rockhopper70]

The Ford Tourneo Connect looks like a good compromise. A bit more car’ish.

 

[mooby77]

I have a 2024 Vauxhall Combo E life , electric XL, ultimate 200 mile range in summer , 150 winter , I bought it for a stupid price brand new , discounted 19,900 , from list of £34400 , which of course you would never pay
I can carry my bike and all kit and sleep in it , I made a mount up which affixes to the cargo mount points and uses a Delta Bike Hitch Pro - Thru Axle

I have a basic cooking set up , which is good enough for me , I have a Ecoflow Delta 2 power bank that provides all power , its not classed as commercial , so cheap tax (0) this year and normal rate next and cheap insurance and does't attract the thieving scum like vans do , know that feeling... touch wood ....
With my electric tariff , it costs about £ 7 quid to charge to do 200 mile or so , not bad.

 

[Hobo Mikey]

Have camper can travel.

 

[RustyMTB]

I like that that thing is basically an HGV & still the bikes are glued on the back.

 

[russ_e]

Roof tent on a Caddy is also an option. If you don't mind towing then a trailer tent / folding camper are great options for a limited budget.

I've got a T6 and It's cramped inside with a single bike, never mind 2.