which rack to buy for a Econoline passenger van?

(jason) said:

I have one of those extended 15 passenger vans. I've got 5
kids, so potentially 5-7 bikes to lug with me on a trip.
Any advice on racks or something to tow instead?

I used to have a rack on a minivan (several kids ago) and
it would cause this annoying whistling sound when I went
above 60 mph, I'm looking to avoid that too 🙂

TY Jason Shohet

sportsrig.comsportsrig.comOpen ↗

Have one of the older ones, when they were sold as Howling
Dog trailers. Other than some very minor issues that the
professional assembly guy took care of without any problem,
it completely functioned as advertised. Problem? The extra
charge for the extra axle at toll booths. Otherwise, its on
in a minute before the start of a trip - you can even load
the bikes the night before and store it in the garage - and
off the minute you get home. Load at waist level. I've
gotten six diamond frame bikes and three recumbents (two
singles and a tandem). Very little wind noise and they are
protected by the vehicle.

Works a lot better than the 8' x 4' (actually 100" by 50"😉
trailer that I set up for bikes before. Easy to add racks to
one that type utility trailer and its cheaper, but it is
real hard to weigh the trailer to have the springs work
right - bikes are simply too light. Hit a railroad crossing
at speed and it looks like the bikes are about to launch.
This trailer is sprung for the 3-5 bike weight and rides
like a dream.

Extra value: with the Yakima tandem mount, you can do
most work on a regular or recumbent tandem at a
comfortable height.

Curtis L. Russell Odenton, MD (USA) Just someone on
two wheels...

In article
<[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I have one of those extended 15 passenger vans. I've got 5
kids, so potentially 5-7 bikes to lug with me on a trip.
Any advice on racks or something to tow instead?

I used to have a rack on a minivan (several kids ago) and
it would cause this annoying whistling sound when I went
above 60 mph, I'm looking to avoid that too 🙂

TY Jason Shohet

I would suggest a trailer for the bikes and a Vasectomy.

--

Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager
clee.orgclee.orgOpen ↗
- Bellaire, TX USA -

[email hidden] (jason) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I have one of those extended 15 passenger vans. I've got 5
kids, so potentially 5-7 bikes to lug with me on a trip.
Any advice on racks or something to tow instead?

I used to have a rack on a minivan (several kids ago) and
it would cause this annoying whistling sound when I went
above 60 mph, I'm looking to avoid that too 🙂

TY Jason Shohet

Is there some reason why you can't carry the bikes inside?
It seems to me that by removing the rearmost seat, you could
pack all the bikes in the back.

As to roof racks whistling, most manufacturers offer a
fairing to reduce wind noise, such as this Yakima: orsracksdirect.comyakimaOpen ↗
8007047.html

I *wish* I had an extended Econoline. As it is, my extended
Aerostar will carry me and my wife and our Tour Easys... and
that's it.

Jeff

(Jeff Wills) said:

As to roof racks whistling, most manufacturers offer a
fairing to reduce wind noise, such as this Yakima: orsracksdirect.comyakimaOpen ↗
8007047.html

Those have to be mountee carefully and then watched. If you
check a few that have been left on any length of time, most
will have damaged the paint job from rubbing.

Curtis L. Russell Odenton, MD (USA) Just someone on
two wheels...

Curtis L. Russell <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

On 21 Apr 2004 13:43:18 -0700, [email hidden] (Jeff

Wills) said:

As to roof racks whistling, most manufacturers offer a
fairing to reduce wind noise, such as this Yakima: orsracksdirect.comyakimaOpen ↗
8007047.html

Those have to be mountee carefully and then watched. If
you check a few that have been left on any length of time,
most will have damaged the paint job from rubbing.

Curtis L. Russell

Yeah, but who's going to see it on the *top* of an
Econoline van? ;-)

Jeff

"Jeff Wills" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Curtis L. Russell <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

[Yakima rack fairing] will have damaged the paint job
from rubbing.

Yeah, but who's going to see it on the *top* of an
Econoline van? ;-)

The accident investigation officers. The 15 passenger vans
are reportedly more susceptible to roll-over. Adding five
bike to the top, even if it were practical could exacerbate
that problem.

I have enough problems getting bikes on and off a minivan
roof rack. I can't imagine loading and unloading bikes
from a full-size van roof rack would be anything put a
royal pain!

Light weight trailer seems like a much better choice.

Jon Meinecke

"Jon Meinecke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Jeff Wills" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Curtis L. Russell <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

[Yakima rack fairing] will have damaged the paint job
from rubbing.

Yeah, but who's going to see it on the *top* of an
Econoline van? ;-)

The accident investigation officers. The 15 passenger vans
are reportedly more susceptible to roll-over. Adding five
bike to the top, even if it were practical could
exacerbate that problem.

Uh, no... the extended-van rollover susceptibility is
*real*, but only when the the 15-passenger vans are loaded
to capacity. When the passenger load is less (the OP said 7
people maximum), they're no more dangerous than standard-
length vans. Also, I can't see 200 pounds of bikes causing
more problems than 200 pounds of passenger.

Quoted message said:

I have enough problems getting bikes on and off a minivan
roof rack. I can't imagine loading and unloading bikes
from a full-size van roof rack would be anything put a
royal pain!

Yep- the Cycle Oregon SAG vans are set up with multiple roof
racks, ladders up the sides, and walking platforms on top.
They'll carry up to 12 bikes and riders, I think.

Quoted message said:

Light weight trailer seems like a much better choice.

Jon Meinecke

I agree- but a trailer setup could be much more expensive
than a rack, depending on the user's abilities at
construction and juryrigging.

Jeff

"Jeff Wills" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Jon Meinecke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"Jeff Wills" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Curtis L. Russell <[email hidden]> wrote
>
> [Yakima rack fairing] will have damaged the paint
> job from rubbing.

Yeah, but who's going to see it on the *top* of an
Econoline van? ;-)

The accident investigation officers. The 15 passenger
vans are reportedly more susceptible to roll-over.
Adding five bike to the top, even if it were practical
could exacerbate that problem.

Uh, no... the extended-van rollover susceptibility is
*real*, but only when the the 15-passenger vans are loaded
to capacity. When the passenger load is less (the OP said
7 people maximum), they're no more dangerous than standard-
length vans. Also, I can't see 200 pounds of bikes causing
more problems than 200 pounds of passenger.

200 pounds worth of bikes on the roof would cause more
problems than 200 pounds of passengers in the cab due to a
higher center of gravity although how much I don't know

I'd be more concerned about low bridges tho

I used to carry 5 uprights on my older Econoline van, one of
which was a Schwinn tandem. I never had a bit of problem.
Used a performance rack back then, about 10 years ago. I
only carry 4 bikes now, 2 being 'bents, on my Windstar
minivan. One is a RANS Screamer. I use a Saris rack, with an
Atoc tandem topper mounted to it for the Screamer. Not any
problems in about 3 years.

Jim Vincent RANS Screamer - Vision R50

"Mark Leuck" <[email hidden]> wrote>

Quoted message said:

"Jeff Wills" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

"Jon Meinecke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

[...] The 15 passenger vans are reportedly more
susceptible to roll-over. Adding five bike to the top,
even if it were practical could exacerbate that
problem.

Uh, no... the extended-van rollover susceptibility is
*real*, but only when the 15-passenger vans are loaded
to capacity. When the passenger load is less (the OP
said 7 people maximum), they're no more dangerous than
standard-length vans.

Yes, loading is a large issue. SUVs and full size vans are
reportedly more likely in general to be involved in roll-
over accidents than lower profile cars. The fact that they
may be driven by people who don't fully appreciate the
handling differences of such vehicles (particularly in
emergency situations) is a potentially large factor.

So yes, adding 5 bikes may have only an incremental effect
on handling. As I said, "could exacerbate"...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Also, I can't see 200 pounds of bikes causing more
problems than 200 pounds of passenger.

The laws of physics? %^) Leverage.

Quoted message said:

200 pounds worth of bikes on the roof would cause more
problems than 200 pounds of passengers in the cab due to a
higher center of gravity although how much I don't know

As Mark points out, adding weight well above center of
gravity will have a proportionately larger effect than
weight closer to the ground. Our old church vans had luggage
racks on the top. The new ones do not. I suspect this change
was at least partially related to safety concerns.

Quoted message said:

I'd be more concerned about low bridges tho

Yes. And concern for my back for lifting bikes onto and off
of the top.

From my experience with minivans, those bikes on top will
have *certain* effect on fuel economy. Perhaps more than a
lightweight trailer.

Jon Meinecke

Curtis,

The sportsrig is expensive (phew). Also, it seems like just
the basic rig. Does it come with locks to hold down a few
bikes? Or do I have to in any case buy a Yakima rack and
mount it onto the rig?

Thanks Jason

Quoted message said:

sportsrig.comsportsrig.comOpen ↗

Have one of the older ones, when they were sold as Howling
Dog trailers. Other than some very minor issues that the
professional assembly guy took care of without any
problem, it completely functioned as advertised. Problem?
The extra charge for the extra axle at toll booths.
Otherwise, its on in a minute before the start of a trip -
you can even load the bikes the night before and store it
in the garage - and off the minute you get home. Load at
waist level. I've gotten six diamond frame bikes and three
recumbents (two singles and a tandem). Very little wind
noise and they are protected by the vehicle.

Works a lot better than the 8' x 4' (actually 100" by 50"😉
trailer that I set up for bikes before. Easy to add racks
to one that type utility trailer and its cheaper, but it
is real hard to weigh the trailer to have the springs work
right - bikes are simply too light. Hit a railroad
crossing at speed and it looks like the bikes are about to
launch. This trailer is sprung for the 3-5 bike weight and
rides like a dream.

Extra value: with the Yakima tandem mount, you can do
most work on a regular or recumbent tandem at a
comfortable height.

Curtis L. Russell Odenton, MD (USA) Just someone on two
wheels...

(jason) said:

Curtis,

The sportsrig is expensive (phew). Also, it seems like just
the basic rig. Does it come with locks to hold down a few
bikes? Or do I have to in any case buy a Yakima rack and
mount it onto the rig?

Thanks Jason

The racks are extra. I already had a full set plus, so it
wasn't an issue. I bought it when they were cheaper, but
right after buying a tandem recumbent, so the wallet was
definitely dinged by the time it went to Massachusetts
fully loaded.

If I were on a budget (as I was the year prior), I would go
the 50" by 100" utility trailer. Its easy to get racks to
work with them and the only problem is storage and 'bounce'.
The first time you see the oversprung trailer filled with
about $ 10,000 worth of bikes (hauling a clubs worth) bounce
sky high crossing the railroad tracks, your heart can come
to a stop.

The Sportsrig/Howling Dog is much better behaved and easier
to store. We just decided that it was cheaper than adding 32
square feet to our storage area for the old trailer.

Guess with trailer and new Yak attachments, you can get
north of $ 1,500 without too much trouble. I think its worth
it if this is your major hobby and you want easy travel. I
wouldn't if this is a seasonal thing or an occasional hobby.
(Plus: you never have to worry if the new car will handle
the old Yak rails - you can add a trailer hitch to just
about anything).

Curtis L. Russell Odenton, MD (USA) Just someone on
two wheels...