Almost OT. Suitable van for dirt bikes

I'd like some advice from those with experience please. My 2 boys (4
and 6) now both ride dirt bikes, and I occasionally take my old TT600
to club events so I can ride (chug around) with them. I also have a 3rd
son, and I've just been voted in as the President of our club, so I can
see a long future of transporting bikes to club events.

I want to simplify the whole transport thing by getting an old, cheap
van to chuck bikes and gear in.

As cheap is the operative word, I'm thinking of an old Ford Transit, or
a Mazda E LWB. I really need to know from people who've done similar
things. The main query I have is about the bike carrying capacity of
each.

Any other sensible model suggestions would also be appreciated. I am
also considering an enclosed bike trailer, but this doesn't seem quite
as convenient to me (trailer storage is a problem for me, but vehicle
storage is not).

 

old cheap vans are usually shitboxes

Ford Tragic , unreliable expensive euro trash

Mazda thristy fuckers in petrol form

Trailer storage is usefual as can leave the bikes in there and a clamp on
the trailer
and saves buying another vehicle unless you really need a van

also cheaper to buy a trailer and cheaper on the rego

ask any dirtbike boy what van they use and its always a Toyota Hiace as they
go forever
and reliable

 

I appreciate this. I don't mind doing a bit of work to it.

The ones I'm looking at have either a 302 or a crossflow 4.1 engine,
mated to a C10 auto or celica 5-speed. I'm not overly concerned about
the original mechanicals.

This I can also appreciate.

Rego, definately. Trailer, about the same price as a shitbox van,
actually.

If you're riding on your own, or 2 bikes at a pinch. I don't think
there's enough room in a HiAce to accomodate 3 bikes.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

I've got a Mazda E2000 LWB in which I can carry 3 road bikes or
probably 4/5 dirt bikes. Have "Eye" bolts anchored to the floor where
the bikes are tied down. 2 facing forward, front wheels against the
bulkhead and the 3rd in backwards.
Use 2 tie down straps on the front of each and 2 on the rear.

Have carried bikes as far as Melb to Syd with no probs apart from not
enough horsepower.

E2000 is Petrol/LPG and gutless going up hills on LPG so switch to
petrol.

Paid $3500 for the van 4 years ago and it's got Michelin steel belted
radials (new when I bought it) which after 80,000 kms are still legal
on the front but need replacing and the rears will go another
30,000kms - run 45psi.

On petrol it's a bit thirsty if you push it, but on LPG it halves my
costs, other than possible valve probs in the future because it wasn't
dedicated with LPG therefore doesn't have hardened valve seats.

It's got a 3 seat fold down in the back and 3 seats across the front.
All with seat belts.

Have considered selling it, but what would I replace it with for
similar money although I might be lucky to get $2000 for it now.

No I'm not offering it for sale.

HTH

Kind regards
Dave Milligan

 

Thanks dave. That's exactly what I was after. I had assumed that fuel
usage and guts would both be crapola in a E2000, but I can live with
that. Did they come in a diesel?

 

I think the diesel version was the E2200. Same body, different motor.

There was also an earlier version (E1800) and short wheelbase version
(E1400) and the long wheel base version came in single and dual rear
wheel versions.

The dual rear wheel version gives you a flat floor but a bad ride and
high tyre wear. The single rear wheel version gives you wheel arch
intrusion into the load space but a better ride and better tyre wear.

Ford also sold these as the 'Econovan' which is just a rebadged version
of the Mazda one (they are often cheaper though).

We had an E1400 and repowered it with a 2.4 litre import motor and it
went 'quite well' after that


G-S

 

petrol 324k for 63 litres

yes thats bone dry in a new ECONOvan (mazda clone)

 

You'll appreciate it even more with a 4 or 5 litre motor in it! The
E2000/Econovan will give about 6km/l if my truck is anything to go by
(although the van is probably a bit lighter & relatively slightly more
aerodynamic).

A trailer behind your non-shitbox car is probably less likely to leave
you stranded (assuming of course that your dirtbikes are unregistered).

The Econovan LWB truck would suit you then, except you need a long ramp
& it's less secure. Mine has a flat tray 1.8m wide & 3m long.

Incidentally, I'm heading up to Goulburn/Tarago from Melbourne on the
28th (meeting J5 to deliver his postie bike). If anyone has anything
to be delivered/returned, let me know. I can go via Canberra if
necessary.


BTH

 

usually it means a lot of work , motors arent cheap re BTHumble not long ago

in that case the Tragic is prob your best bet as they are a huge van and
actually not bad to drive

trailer doesnt depreciate or require maintenance , or break down

prob not

HTH

 

Yeh. Econovan is a contraction of "Economical? No. Van."

 

Hi Geoff

Is the diesel a straight swap? i.e. does is fit on the same mounts?

I'm thinking of repowering mine. It's (probably) got a partly blown
exhaust valve. Well that's my opinion. It's not an LPG dedicated
engine and therefore has non LPG hardened valve seats. I'm assuming
that, because of a compression test done 8 months ago and one cylinder
was down by 25%, a fucked exhaust valve is the culprit.

Rest of the motor seems sound - not that I'm an expert. Gearbox is a
little hard to move from 2nd to 3rd at times but that's probably just
worn selectors.

snip

Do tell. What was the 2.4. Diesel or Petrol? Did it go straight in?
and how much moola?

My other option is take my van (with 3 bikes inside) to NZ in my next
ex Melb shipment and get a mate (who's a Mazda wrecker) to put a
reconditioned Mazda unit of some description in it. That might be my
cheapest option.

It would be back before New Year and I wouldn't be without it too
long.

Kind regards
Dave Milligan

 

Look for a Toyota Commuter Bus 1988 is best , the Commuter engine is very
torquey eg; very good in mud except in reverse , you just need to remember
this when parking . All the floor is accesseable underneath for tiedown
points bolts and for max safety I welded 32mm x 3mm x 70 mm long angle
attach points to 22 mm x 1.6 mm tube at 400 spacing and pop rivoted to the
window ledge stiffening section , this goes full length down the drivers
side and stops at the sliding door on the off side . The Commuter is a real
pleasure to drive and is five speed g/box .
Madza engines are bastards and transit vans excellent on road NFG off road .

 

The Toyota Commuter vans are nicer to drive than the Mazda's IMO, but they
are substantially more expensive for similar age and condition.

I have no idea why you think the 1988 year is best! From what I've seen
each major model change has substantially improved them...


G-S

 

Perhaps they're widely regarded as being better, eh? ;-)


BTH

 

If I had my choice over again, I'd take my chances on a used motor from
the wreckers (giving it a compression test first). I passed up one for
$700 from a wrecker in Ballina last year while I was passing through,
which I could have fitted up including a new clutch & engine mounts for
about $1k. The reco one ended up costing $3800. Since I'm not doing
1000km per week any more (more like 300km per month), the longer
expected life doesn't really justify the extra $2800.

As for fitting a motor into a van that's radically different to what
the manufacturer put there, do it only if you enjoy worms by the
canful...


BTH

 

I can only say what I know , thats the only reason I said 1988 , I have
owned 5 Toyota Commuters no problems with any of them .
The lenght fire wall to back door is 3.3 meters , I have had 3 full size
bikes in the Commuter , I think you might get 4 in but it would be a bit
awkward tying the down , Rods kids are young so the small bikes would fit
easy .
One really big mistake I made earlier on in my Van career was changing
engines over its a no no and I owned a engineering workshop !!!!
Pay some more and get one that goes .
The RACV will only insure the 1988 Commuter I have now , a very low mileage
vehicle for 3500 , so thats probably the dealers wholesale price , look for
army F/horrible green ones most of them are low mileage .
Cheers ideekay
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