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These are the Voyages....
- Thread starter x01660
- Start date
Beautiful scenery!
Got a question, but don't wanna start a new thread.
Do y'all think a C10 would fit in the back of a Chevy Express van?
I'm looking at vehicles I may potentially get, and I'm REALLY liking the 04-13 1500 Express vans with the 5.3. Mostly because they come with AWD in those years.
So, if I pull the rear seats, think it'll fit, heightwise? I may need to pull the windshield...
Thoughts?
-Z
Do y'all think a C10 would fit in the back of a Chevy Express van?
I'm looking at vehicles I may potentially get, and I'm REALLY liking the 04-13 1500 Express vans with the 5.3. Mostly because they come with AWD in those years.
So, if I pull the rear seats, think it'll fit, heightwise? I may need to pull the windshield...
Thoughts?
-Z
A tape measure will tell the tale but think you would have to remove or modify the windshield.
First thought is, due to your and the bikes size, it won't be any fun getting the bike in there.
I think a trailer might be an option.
** I know you're in an apartment so owning/storing a trailer could be an issue.
With that in mind {and reading your other post about towing a Bike with a Bike}
One of the Harbor Freight trailers could serve both projects and can be "folded" for storage.
ie; (requires minimal storage area)
Also: A small trailer is relatively inexpensive to rent and almost any vehicle would tow them.
Ride safe, Ted
First thought is, due to your and the bikes size, it won't be any fun getting the bike in there.
I think a trailer might be an option.
** I know you're in an apartment so owning/storing a trailer could be an issue.
With that in mind {and reading your other post about towing a Bike with a Bike}
One of the Harbor Freight trailers could serve both projects and can be "folded" for storage.
ie; (requires minimal storage area)
Also: A small trailer is relatively inexpensive to rent and almost any vehicle would tow them.
Ride safe, Ted
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Your Flowers By Irene Chevy Express van has a relatively low cargo interior height that will not accommodate a windshield-on stuffing of an ZG1000. Windshield off and I think there would be 4 - 5 inches clearance
Length would require the bench seat to be removed.
For other more suited van options: see the MB - Sprinter, Ford - Transit, and Ram ProMaster.
All of these give you much more height than the Chevy Express and more than enough height to stand up inside. Still not a breeze to just ride in carelessly but the C-10 would technically fit with the windshield on.
Wayne, Carol & Blue
So this is the issue. And I'm probably gonna get ROASTED for this, but oh well.
What I actually want to get is a minivan. Specifically a Toyota Sienna.
Maryann won't be caught DEAD driving a minivan.
And I want a vehicle that's AWD and enclosed, and can haul a bunch of stuff. So not a pickup truck.
So I settled on a 1500 Express with AWD. Can set it up to do camping, etc.
What I'm trying to avoid is having a trailer (by getting the full size van). So maybe I do get a Sprinter van and pull the rear row of seats out.
I don't drive regularly, so my vehicle is gonna be a utility. She'll have the fancy city car.
So yeah... Maybe I find an old ProMaster that was set up for municipal transportation, and rip out the rear few rows of seats to accommodate the bike.
Hmmmmm.....
-Z
What I actually want to get is a minivan. Specifically a Toyota Sienna.
Maryann won't be caught DEAD driving a minivan.
And I want a vehicle that's AWD and enclosed, and can haul a bunch of stuff. So not a pickup truck.
So I settled on a 1500 Express with AWD. Can set it up to do camping, etc.
What I'm trying to avoid is having a trailer (by getting the full size van). So maybe I do get a Sprinter van and pull the rear row of seats out.
I don't drive regularly, so my vehicle is gonna be a utility. She'll have the fancy city car.
So yeah... Maybe I find an old ProMaster that was set up for municipal transportation, and rip out the rear few rows of seats to accommodate the bike.
Hmmmmm.....
-Z
Minivans get unfairly roasted. They're more practical than the average 4-door pickup with dinky bed that's on the road.
I have a 4x8 Harbor Freight trailer that I pull behind my Mazda3. I've always liked small, sporty cars, so this setup suits me well as the 90% of the time it's a car, and the 10% of the time I need to haul something, I can haul as much as a 1/2 ton pickup. It's even more practical in a lot of ways, as the deck is just 18" off the ground instead of 3ft, it's got removable sides, can haul 4x8 sheet goods inside the 4 sides, and I don't have to worry about being careful scratching it or breaking a back window. It's how I've hauled my motorcycles, as well as up to 2,000lbs loads of dirt, gravel, and concrete.
For a van to haul a motorcycle, though, I'd definitely be with Ted on finding something with a taller cargo area. The classic American vans just suck in that respect. A high-roof sprinter would be a great choice, and you'd like it for your other needs such as camping, as you could actually stand up. Your back will thank you!
I would recommend installing some tiedown points. I've seen people who installed the rail type systems for hauling bikes in the tall vans like that, which works really well for accommodating different bikes.
I have a 4x8 Harbor Freight trailer that I pull behind my Mazda3. I've always liked small, sporty cars, so this setup suits me well as the 90% of the time it's a car, and the 10% of the time I need to haul something, I can haul as much as a 1/2 ton pickup. It's even more practical in a lot of ways, as the deck is just 18" off the ground instead of 3ft, it's got removable sides, can haul 4x8 sheet goods inside the 4 sides, and I don't have to worry about being careful scratching it or breaking a back window. It's how I've hauled my motorcycles, as well as up to 2,000lbs loads of dirt, gravel, and concrete.
For a van to haul a motorcycle, though, I'd definitely be with Ted on finding something with a taller cargo area. The classic American vans just suck in that respect. A high-roof sprinter would be a great choice, and you'd like it for your other needs such as camping, as you could actually stand up. Your back will thank you!
I would recommend installing some tiedown points. I've seen people who installed the rail type systems for hauling bikes in the tall vans like that, which works really well for accommodating different bikes.
The AWD Sienna hybrid gets 36 MPG combined. 36/36. Can haul 8 people, easy to get in and out of, looks pretty sleek, and will blend in and not attract attention.
Its the perfect vehicle.
Except the wife won't drive it, lol.
All good. A Sprinter or Transit with a high roof would be better anyways. Can have it set up for camping and hauling bikes. Like I said, I don't really drive at all, so when I do, I won't be too concerned about fuel efficiency, looks, etc.
And journeymen use them, so they must be at least somewhat reliable....
-Z
Would she drive a minivan like this one?
www.mecum.com
2014 Honda Odyssey For Sale At Auction - Mecum Auctions
View the 2014 Honda Odyssey for sale at Monterey 2016 in , as T182.
www.mecum.com
Would she drive a minivan like this one?
2014 Honda Odyssey For Sale At Auction - Mecum Auctions
View the 2014 Honda Odyssey for sale at Monterey 2016 in , as T182.
Bro, if I had money, I'd buy that right now, REGARDLESS of whether or not she'd drive it!
That thing is BADASS!!!!
-Z
When my son & family were returning from Kenya, they needed a vehicle for her. When we discussed a minivan, her response was nope, nope, nope (they had 3 & 5 year old girls then). She ended up with a really nice Sequoia.
I understand Maryann's position.
Zach, cutting down the C10 windshield might solve the issue. I did that to mine too cut down ei d buffeting and it worked well, and looked nice.
I understand Maryann's position.
Zach, cutting down the C10 windshield might solve the issue. I did that to mine too cut down ei d buffeting and it worked well, and looked nice.
Yeah. I'm thinking I should just get a Transit 350 with a tall roof. Will give me PLENTY of space to haul Nyx, and I might be able to make a mini workshop in there. So I have a place to put her and work when the work will take more than a day, or require clean conditions (like valve adjustments).
Like I said, I don't really drive at all, so this vehicle will be the utility. Plus, I think I can get those in AWD.
I think a Transit is gonna be the way to go!
-Z
Ok, yeah. I DEFINITELY need a Transit van, then.
Thanks for sharing this. And I like the van, the KZ, AND the future road racer!!
-Z
Ramping it in and out is another consideration. Trying to throttle it up while standing on the ground and keeping the front wheel in the track is tough. To gain 2.5-3 feet (the height of the van floor the ramp would need to be long enough to prevent high-centering the middle of the bike). Even for a trailer I eventually opted for a tri-fold ramp that I could ride the bike up and onto with. By riding the bike up I still had my feet to keep the bike up. More motorcycles are damaged during track day events loading and unloading rather than crashes and mishaps on the track.
Yeah, that's another reason I'm thinking of getting the Transit van. I can get a long triple width ramp, and with the low load height of a Transit, it should be no worse than going up a slight incline.
So like this, but with longer ramps:
Or, more realistically, like this, but with full width and longer ramps (this is a 250, vs the Connect above):
-Z
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Boom! There we go!
-Z
LoadAll Cargo Delivery Van Loading Ramp
Self-Storing loading ramp for Sprinter, ProMaster, Transit & other cargo vans. Light-weight with built-in traction for safe, easy loading in any weather.
loadall.com
-Z
That future road racer is now 40 years old. The bike and van are long gone.
We now have a Nissan Frontier pickup and I mounted a 2500 lb ATV winch to the front tie down rail. I have used it to load and unload a replacement GPZ 550 into the bed. The cable is long enough that I can use it to load the C-10 onto a harbor freight trailer. I don't trust the pickup gate with the weight of the C-10. Soft ties to the triple tree, hold the bike upright and push the button on the winch remote. As it goes up I move to the back until I get the rear tire up and can put the side stand down. It goes at a much more controlled pace, both up and down. I power the winch from a portable power pack.