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Bike/Mountain Bike Transport and Mounting Solutions for Vans, Campervans, and Camper Vans

Traveling with your bike in a camper van or converted van for holidays or weekends: what’s the best solution?

Combeing offers an affordable solution that addresses all the issues related to transporting or securely mounting your bike in your van. You can even sleep with your bike or mountain bike if you wish.

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We’ll tell you more about our Combeing solution in the second part of this article.

Additionally, many people are using an electric bike which is becoming increasingly popular because it combines convenience and enjoyment, making longer trips easier with less effort.

Whether for sport, leisure, utility for errands, competition, or exploring, whether on roads, trails, or mountains, whether electric or classic, the bike has become a great complement to the campervan and van.

Next, we'll look at smaller converted vans and tighter budgets.


Summary


Transporting Your Bike or Mountain Bike Outside Your Van

Bike Rack Installed on the Back or Tow Bar of the Converted Van

Transporting your bike outside the van offers several advantages:

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Transporting your bike outside the van offers several advantages:

  1. Very practical. However, make sure to choose one that allows you to open the van doors or tailgate without disassembling everything
  2. Or with a pivoting arm
  3. Your bike, muddy or not, will be quickly placed without removing the wheels, and most importantly, the inside of the van is free

But it also has some disadvantages:

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  1. You need to consider the extra weight on the rear axle, the length of the van for maneuvering (and parking space), as well as the overhang (in the mountains or on trails) before making your choice
  2. Check the legal regulations (which vary by country)
  3. Think about security (scratches) and theft (alarm locks, U-locks…)
  4. Also consider the risk of bad weather for your bike
  5. Be aware that not all bike racks are suitable for electric bikes as they are heavier: Make sure to check with equipment suppliers like Thule, Flamma…
  6. Of course, there will be an additional cost for such an acquisition, which can be very expensive for a bike rack

Bike Rack Installed on Roof Bars

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The oldest system of external bike racks installed on roof bars still has some advantages:

  1. The bars can be used to carry other equipment.
  2. Some bike racks slide on vertical rails to access the roof bars and can be positioned horizontally to save space in height.
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But there are also some drawbacks:

  1. Be mindful of the added weight and height.
  2. Need to study the routes for travel (bridges, tolls, tunnels, barriers, parking…).
  3. Difficulty handling bikes because you have to
  4. Always an issue with theft, cost, and vehicle fuel consumption.

Transporting Your Bike or Mountain Bike Inside Your Van or Converted Van

More and more cyclists, mountain bikers, and even motorcyclists want to store their bikes inside their van while keeping a bed space for practical and security reasons.

Transporting the Bike in the Van's Storage Compartment

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The lack of a storage compartment (as in motorhomes) has led manufacturers to come up with clever height-adjustable bed layouts to create a pseudo-storage compartment while minimizing the living space in high-end vans.


Of course, all this must be planned before purchasing your van, as there is a significant additional cost to consider in your budget, especially when entering the luxury van category.

Also note that some individuals build their own bike storage solutions thanks to their DIY skills: hats off!

However, be aware that the interior space is often sacrificed at the expense of the main bed, and you will need to choose a van with greater height, which reduces maneuverability (van handling), increases toll costs (van height), and parking in low-clearance areas (under 2m) is no longer possible.

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When the van height allows, some opt for the Combeing system to create a space for storing multiple bikes using their modular boxes system.

However, this system will need to be reinforced, as it is not recommended to stack 3 box heights (consult with their technical service).

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Before you do anything, ask the right questions about bike transport

To travel, transport, and secure your bike, there are several solutions as we've seen, but first, ask the right questions to find the best solution for your needs:

  • What’s your budget?
  • How to prevent theft?
  • What will you use your van for?
  • Do you have the time and desire to do DIY?


Transporting or sleeping with your bike in your converted van

Combeing concept philosophy : bike safely stored in the van without adding extra cost

Several reasons to know if the Combeing concept is right for you:

  1. You're on a tight budget and are looking for a low-cost solution!
  2. You don't have time for DIY, or you don’t like it! You’d rather spend your free time with your family, working, doing sports, or leisure activities….
  3. You don’t want to complicate things!
  4. You want a modular and adjustable system that fits any van, quick to set up or dismantle, and easy to store..
  5. You want your vehicle to stay in Class 1 or 2 for easy parking, avoiding extra fees or toll charges.
  6. You want to travel discreetly, anywhere, peacefully, like in a mini studio with the bare essentials, while keeping your bikes or sports gear out of sight to avoid theft risks.

Endless configurations for storing, transporting, fixing, or sleeping with your bikes

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Case 1: You go to your vacation spot and then your bikes will be stored in a safe shelter.

During transport, you store the modules on the side, and you can optionally mount 1 or 2 bike rack with fixation on your Combeing floor designed for this use to ensure stability.

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Here are some examples from different clients (or our partner Gauthier Loncke who competes in the European Championships) with one or more bikes:

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If you want to save on the cost of our bike rack, you can also stabilize your bikes with straps and makeshift wedges. Be sure to protect the bikes from scratches and potential impacts during transport.

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Case 2: If after transport, there is no possibility to store the bike(s) anywhere other than in the van, you will adjust the modules according to the van size to create sleeping arrangements.

  • For smaller vans like Citroën Berlingo, Renault Kangoo, Fiat Doblo, Peugeot Partner, Ford Connect, Mercedes Citan, Opel Combo, Volkswagen Caddy, Nissan NV200 Evalia or Toyota Proace City, you'll have a sleeping space of 53cm x 160/184cm (length depends on vehicle size):
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  • For medium-sized vans (Citroën Jumpy, Renault Trafic, Volkswagen Transporter T4/T5/T6, Peugeot Expert, Fiat Scudo or Talento, Ford Transit Custom, Mercedes Vito or V-Class, Nissan NV300 or Primastar, Toyota Proace or Opel Vivaro), you'll have a sleeping area of 80cm x 184/210cm when storing bikes on the van side:
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  • In the same category of medium vans, you can position the bike(s) in the center of the van with 2 small side beds of 53cm by 210cm:

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  • Finally, by placing the bike(s) across behind the cabin seats, removing the front wheels (if needed), and positioning the beds across for larger vehicles (Jumper, Ducato, Boxer) up to 160cm by 184cm, depending on vehicle width. It’s also possible in long vehicles like XL, extra-long, or L2 vans:
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Special Case:

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If there are 2 adults and 1 child, a small cabin bed can be placed on the front seats to store their small bike along with the others in the van

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Another option for those who want more comfort: a tent behind the van’s rear tailgate, which can be used for a shower, toilet, or storing bikes out of sight! (Reimo) but make sure to use anti-theft systems with sound alarms, U-locks, and chains for added security.


Transporting Your Bike Safely in Your Van

You’re heading to a mountain bike race or planning a hiking trip.

You want to sleep there with your bike inside the converted van next to the departure point, also because your sports equipment is valuable and may be targeted.

Everything is possible with the Combeing system, as we saw earlier:

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  • You can assemble your kit, clearing space behind the partition from the front cabin, to store the bikes transversally, removing the front wheel.
  • If you're traveling alone, you can set up a sleeping combination with your bike mounted on the Combeing bike rack next to you.
  • Finally, if traveling with 2 people, you’ll place 2 beds in the converted van with the 2 bikes between the two beds on the bike racks.

Flexible to use, the Combeing kit in this van/bike context shows its full potential

  • Thanks to its modular van setup, it can carry 1 or 2 bikes in different configurations, allowing you to easily adapt your equipment for outdoor activities like mountain biking or skiing.
  • Thanks to the Combeing system’s removability, your van can quickly revert to a professional utility vehicle.
  • In 10 minutes, it's installed in the utility van. The setup can be done by one person, and the components are lightweight.
  • Finally, at no extra cost and affordably, it lets you skip the need for alarms and other carrying systems.
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Good choice and happy travels!

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104 reviews

What our customers say...

Joel Joel

2 month(s) ago

star star star star star

5 stars well deserved. Great team A simple email resulted in a purchase. I felt considered, taken seriously and at the center of attention Once there, Matthieu was more than incredible. Really at the top. Knew how to satisfy, fulfill all my wishes. The family thanks you.

Hervé LOZES

5 month(s) ago

star star star star star

Ingenious and really well thought out concept, quality material and precision manufacturing, with a responsive team, I highly recommend!

Laetitia Coudrai

5 month(s) ago

star star star star star

We bought a Combeing kit a few months ago for our VW T5 transporter and we are very satisfied with it! Delivery was free and fast. Customer service is top notch, whether for information or responsiveness. The kits are adaptable to your type of vehicle but also to your use whether it is road mode, night mode or day mode (with table). Very good value for money. We highly recommend. And a big thank you to Mathieu for sending goodies!!

Laurent Gréco

6 month(s) ago

star star star star star

A great team, a high-quality product, a very competitive price. We sold our converted van because our annual usage time did not justify such an expensive investment. We bought a utility vehicle that we converted to our taste with the possibility of modifying its configuration according to our needs following the many very professional tips received from COMBEING. The team took the time to welcome us into the company and to assemble our modules in order to have a tailor-made layout with everything necessary to live independently: gas, water point, electricity, toilet, solar panel, shower... In short, everything necessary to live pleasant moments according to our desires without having to have our vehicle approved in VASP. Thanks again to the whole team for their welcome, their availability and their professionalism which really deserve to be highlighted

Domie Palet

7 month(s) ago

star star star star star

Very satisfied with the modules, fast delivery, a super friendly team, thank you Mathieu for his advice and his professionalism, the best!!!! We recommend without moderation...

Johann Manassian

9 month(s) ago

star star star star star

Really great, the team is really cool, the products sold (sports kit for VW T6 for me) are really great (but I didn't doubt that, I had already planned everything thanks to their website, but with their advice I made some changes that suit me better). I also did the sprayed cork insulation before going to get my kit, super simple and beautiful rendering. I really recommend more than ever. Thank you and good luck in your new premises.

caroline faure

1 year(s) ago

star star star star star

5 stars without hesitation for this professional company for the modular fitting out of Vans and Campers. Special dedication to Mathieu, who was able to listen and find all the solutions to my constraints while respecting my budget! The team is great, the atmosphere friendly! I recommend!!

Laurent FOUCHARD

1 year(s) ago

star star star star star

I was looking for a van that could be used as a daily, utility or leisure vehicle and with the Combeing Full kit, I found exactly what I wanted for my L1H1 van. I spoke several times with Mathieu and Raphaël, their listening, their responsiveness and their availability as well as their advice and services were very valuable in guiding me in my choices... In short, very well-made kits, easy and quick to set up, as well as a great team mean that I highly recommend this friendly company...

Stephane Picard

1 year(s) ago

star star star star star

We made an appointment, Mathieu welcomed us warmly and showed us around the workshop, then we went to the selection area to recap and make the quote. We had all the necessary technical explanations as well as his advice and feedback. The guy is sincere and super professional. Our choice validated, he helped us throughout the time needed to set up the modules. Again, lots of advice and tips, thanks to him. I thought the idea was absolutely brilliant on paper but it's even better in the van, the possibilities are endless, the quality is great, everything is thought out down to the smallest detail. In the end, it confirms that with my 1m70 we can sleep across without any problem and therefore keep the table in place during the night. Conclusion: we are satisfied beyond our expectations. Thank you COMBEING, thank you to the brilliant inventor and thank you Mathieu for your advice

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