I'll be using my Transit to occasionally haul my motorcycles. Mostly my big adventure bike. KTM 1190 Adventure.

Loading ramps (Black Widow) http://www.discountramps.com/motorcycle-bike-ramp/p/AF-9034-HD/

Wheels chock (Kafe') http://http://www.discountramps.com/kafe-wheel-chock-2/p/KAFE-WHEEL-CHOCK-2/

Not difficult to do with a single bike, but with two big bikes, the fit could be tight if you would like room for all your gear.

My van design intentionally has a Murphy bed so that I can haul my motorcycles. So, when designing your van, keep the motorcycles in mind.

 

Pingel removable chocks are excellent, they are what I use in my toy box.

 

I bought the long and low van for my needs. I live on the inside comfortably and my bike rides on the trailer. I've got pictures on Facebook...ford transit usa owners.

 

A guy sold me one of these when I picked up my KTM 950 Adv. in OK city years ago.

It works everywhere. I've used in the shop, the pickup, the utility trailer, the toy hauler and expect will use it in the Transit. Very reasonable price, no installation involved. Tie down the bike to the stand, then secure the stand in the vehicle, then have an additional tie or two from the back of the bike.

When done, store it in the garage till you need it again. I hang it on the wall.

https://www.harborfreight.com/1800-lb-capacity-motorcycle-standwheel-chock-61670.html

 

I'm due to pick up my 148 HR in 10 days, which will be converted into a camper/moto hauler. I'll be hauling two supermoto's.

 

SuperDave, what will do you do about the gasoline smell in the van? do the gas tanks vent?

 

I only have EFI bikes now, and there's little to no smell at all. If needed, I'll have a maxxair fan, and a floor vent to keep it fresh inside.

 

Here's one of mine with 2 KTM 990 Adventures inside

I use a mini removable aluminum extrusion bulkhead but the "Baxley" type wheel chalks work wonders and I have a few of them to use as well for bike hauling.

**** I've even had a Goldwing inside mine before.

 

Here's one of mine with 2 KTM 990 Adventures inside

I use a mini removable aluminum extrusion bulkhead but the "Baxley" type wheel chalks work wonders and I have a few of them to use as well for bike hauling.

**** I've even had a Goldwing inside mine before.

i have a similar set up but your ramps are so much nicer. What are they please?

 

Mine is also a long low roof. I use a chock similar to above and strap the bike to the factory van tie downs. No issues.

As said above most FI bikes don't stink, older or leaky machines beware. It's still do able if you keep positive pressure going with the fan.

No problem fitting two motards, I have had a Busa and a motard in there with enough room. Loading the left side bike is a pain in the ass though.

 

Do you think I could get a 990 Super Adventure and Husky FE 501 in a 144 HR? Looking to buy/build a motovan.

 

I am able to fit my 1190 Adventure (minus panniers) and my 350 EXC-F in my 148" MR. If they are staggered. No room for much of anything else.

 

Why not? This is what mine is slowly becoming! I plan some sort of modular setup to fit all those roles. Interior design to be determined lol.

With a 148 you will have room for seating in front I am thinking. Mine is a 148 and a Hayabusa is a pretty long bike, you could easily have 3 feet in front of them. Mine often just extend to the mid point on the rear door. I have the 60/40 side doors.

 

oh hey there. looks like i might be able to add some information to this particular thread as it is relevant to my interests.

the van: transit hr el 350 (3.5eb yadda yadda)
the bike(s): KTM 950SE, Husqvarna Terra 650 and Husaberg FE570S

the initial configuration:

third bike outside originally

test fitting third 'small' bike in the center

all three bikes loaded

final layout sans machines loaded

 

now, with all that pictured; it's about 1,200lbs of machine that will be flying forward in case of an 'incident'. i hope it never happens. i've been contemplating some sort of bulkhead but just not sure i want to go that route and will it really help (unless it's some heavy duty bulkhead)? pretty much everything in the van will become a projectile in an 'incident' as i haven't figured out cabinets or means of securing the load.

with all three bikes it's pretty tight to move around but there is room on both sides of the front bike for storage and room between the two big bikes in the rear as well as to the sides of each bike.

could you get three baggers in the van? if you took of the side bags mabye sorta kind of but it would be tight.

carbed bikes with all of their smog equipment removed (the 950SE in this case) will stink the van up with gas. i simply left the doors open while the bike was in there and parked (the van was my garage for the summer while taking care of my mom).

i plan on making another platform with two chocks behind each seat for a two bike configuration leaving as much space in the rear for sleeping quarters. the chocks are the harbor freight cheap variety and do the job.

 

That's why I built a mini bulkhead in mine to give the bikes something extremely secure to tie to and keep them from joining me at the wheel.

If you turn the bars on the bikes you can squeeze more out of the small space as well. Here's 3 dirtbikes side by side behind the mini bulkhead.

 

I transport my motorcycle all the time in my low roof T250. Some bits of advice:

1. don't get a lowroof if you don't have to. the taller roof REALLY helps a lot. but it's not essential

2. the real trick is to just have a good ramp. most ramps i have seen from home depot/harbor freight are OK but they really are more general purpose ramps and the incline is too steep in most cases to comfortably load a bike by yourself. find specialized foldable motorcycle ramps which are LONG. you need length so you get a very gradual extended incline which will give you the control to get your bike up and down safely.

 

It's just a tri fold ramp I purchased then added some snowmobile superglide on it for traction. I can look and see if there is a name on it but it's pretty generic and rated for 1700 lbs.

Makes it nice to be able to ride a 500 lb bike up and not worry about losing traction.

That's 2 KTM 990's loaded in there with wheels facing outward for reference too.

 

I regret getting the low roof a little as my Victory Highball has handlebars about 12" too high to fit inside with out dropping the bars. Dang it.

 

I realize I'm a little late to this thread, but here's how I set up my 250 148" mid-roof with a ramp. The ramp was made from (2) 48" wide x 5'-0' long sheets of aluminum with a two inch bend over each side. There are 2x2 aluminum crossmembers welded in. It folds in the middle and just clears the closer mechanisms in the top middle of the door. I had the ramp itself custom made from a template that I provided, however the builder didn't pay a lot of attention and I had to cut off the very nice mounts he had welded on and make up my own from angle iron. Getting the geometry right so that the aluminum skin laid down flush with the rear floor when open was a challenge. Plus, the thickness of the ramp had to be accounted for so the doors would close when it's folded up. I was contemplating the idea of using struts as an assist (the ramp's too heavy to manhandle without some sort of help), but then came up with the idea of using an ATV winch, which works really well. The winch cost about the same as one strut would have. I stipulated to the ramp builder that it had to have 1200 lbs. capacity, but when I first installed it, it bounced like a trampoline with just my weight on it. I bolted a piece of 1" square tubing to each side, close to the middle, that drop down by gravity as the ramp deploys and it now handles me on the bike without any issue. I just ride the bike in.

I needed something easy to use, without having to drag out some ramps and set them up. The van doubles as a bike garage as I work away from home for 4 months during the summer and take a bike with me.

 

Looks great !

And you are never too late to a moto van thread.

 

I fit a Harley chopper and a dirt bike in my low roof transit no problem. Just posted that van for sale on here. Check my post history.

 

I've got mine setup to haul two and use the Moto Cinch System.