[busyweb]

Loading a motorcycle into the Astro Van project.



In last couple of weeks, I had to spend time for some efficient way to loading a motorcyle on the car.

First of all, I had to find a vehicle.

Sedan, Pickup Truck, Van, and else...

After weeks of research, I decieded Astro Van.

The reasons for me.

1. Astro cargo space is good enough for the most mid-sized bikes

2. Motorcycle is well hidden by others after loaded

3. Many other stuffs are also loaded into the van, and it has advantage of weather proof.

4. MPG is pretty good ^^;

5. And used one price is very nice for me as poor man... ha ha ha



So, after I got a little reliable used Astro Van (passenger type), I removed all the rear seats.

Tried loading and unloading, successful.

However, loading the bike myself was little hard.

Unloading is easier.



I started a reserch again for a week.

Some useful information from internet has been found during the research.

Started my implementation.

Using 12V electronic winch is pretty simple and cost effective for the Astro Van and for me.



Bought some items.

1. 12V electronic winch with *** Remote Controller *** very nice..

2. Wheel chock for the secure transfort.

3. Portable Jump Power Battery for the winch

4. Couple of more ratchet straps

5. Winch mounting supplier, and build one for my new winch and wheel chock (customize)



Yes, today afternoon, finally finished the project.

Here is the some photos about it to share with you.



[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQbc4yrI46E[/media]



Now, I need to start Fix Astro Van project for a week... ha ha ha

There are some problems for my new/used Astro Van.



Thanks

 

[qwerty]

Rube would be proud.

 

[srs713]

Guess I just don't know my own strength...



Never had any trouble getting a bike in/out of my Astro. Never needed a winch. Even loading my '80 850 Special into a pickup.



Had a 250 Honda Rebel at the same time I had the Astro. Went on a 2 week vacation. Loaded the bike up using one ramp. Strapped it down to the seat mount points on the left side. Leaving the right side of the van floor wide open for my sleeping bag. Slept in the van while on the road & then when I got to where I was gonna spend a few days I set up a large tent for some elbow room & got the bike out to ride around on. One of the best vacations I've ever had.



Kinda wish I still had the van now. Might have to start living on the street soon.

 

[Rohnsman]

Pretty elaborate. I'll be interested to see the loading video. Also be interested to see how this might be applicable to a pickup rather than a van.

 

[northcountry]

I've had 4 Astros-good vehicles. Usually kept them to about 150,000 mi.. Only issues were tie rods, keep a look out.

 

[busyweb]

Thanks for the comments...

Here is the Part 2, loading and unloading using winch.

I made some comments on the video clip.

Good and Bad parts of the using winch !!! ^^;

I may need some wider and longer ramps for easier and safer loading the bike...



[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45fDlsZeoyU[/media]



Thanks...



PS: I'm very skinny and physically not that strong, so I did this project.... ha ha ha

 

[qwerty]

Guess I just don't know my own strength...



Never had any trouble getting a bike in/out of my Astro. Never needed a winch. Even loading my '80 850 Special into a pickup.



Had a 250 Honda Rebel at the same time I had the Astro. Went on a 2 week vacation. Loaded the bike up using one ramp. Strapped it down to the seat mount points on the left side. Leaving the right side of the van floor wide open for my sleeping bag. Slept in the van while on the road & then when I got to where I was gonna spend a few days I set up a large tent for some elbow room & got the bike out to ride around on. One of the best vacations I've ever had.



Kinda wish I still had the van now. Might have to start living on the street soon.

Not having a house or apartment does not mean homeless. More and more people are choosing to live in stealthy RVs made from vans, pickups, and even sedans. I enjoyed living in south Florida in a 1966 Econoline. It's a great way of life if it suits you: lots of freedom, independence, and just plain fun. Van dwelling can also bve a great way to stretch a little bit of money a very long way. It's a great option for students. Google "van dweller".

 

[srs713]

Not having a house or apartment does not mean homeless. More and more people are choosing to live in stealthy RVs made from vans, pickups, and even sedans. I enjoyed living in south Florida in a 1966 Econoline. It's a great way of life if it suits you: lots of freedom, independence, and just plain fun. Van dwelling can also bve a great way to stretch a little bit of money a very long way. It's a great option for students. Google "van dweller".

I did check out some of those sites way before I felt the need to. The idea of having a nondescript vehicle that could park by the road & be ignored seemed like a good idea. Save $$ a night for KOA or other camp ground fees. But mostly it started from the idea of buying a cargo trailer and building in the cabinets and beds myself. I would make them modular and removable so I could use the trailer for cargo during most of the year. Once I started looking into parts sources (lots of neat 12V & RV stuff out there) I just kinda went with it, following links from site to site.

 

[admiral]

BusyWeb,



Pretty neat idea's. 1. loading into a van. 2. using a winch. Also using the attachment points for the seats as ratchett anchor points is another positive. TW loading and secured in a very storng manner.



Thanks for sharing your idea's.

 

[busyweb]

BusyWeb,



Pretty neat idea's. 1. loading into a van. 2. using a winch. Also using the attachment points for the seats as ratchett anchor points is another positive. TW loading and secured in a very storng manner.



Thanks for sharing your idea's.

Thanks. Mr. Admiral for the warm comments...

Some may think that I'm doing not that efficiently... ha ha ha, I felt myself too.

But, I'm happy that an idea came out some good results even though not perfect as you have seen my videos.

I would like to enhance(update) this little bit more, don't know what nor when but it will be.

 

[Adam-n-nevada]

I want an astro van now! Geezz....a home...a garage... and all nicely packaged into a mobile unit that could go nearly anywhere (4wd Safari edition, hehe).



Very nice idea busyweb!

 

[busyweb]

I want an astro van now! Geezz....a home...a garage... and all nicely packaged into a mobile unit that could go nearly anywhere (4wd Safari edition, hehe).



Very nice idea busyweb!

Oops..

I was looking for the All Wheel Drive Astro..........couldn't find one with my very little budget. ha ha ha

It might be better with 4wd safari.



Thanks for the comments.

 

[Kev250R]

Their good vehicles, built-on a half-ton Chevy or GMC truck chassis if I recall. A few years ago I had a friend who bought one for his wife and family. They had no complaints with it, even drove it on many of our camping trips which often required driving down some dirt roads. The largest complaint my friend had was that it seemed to eat tires, though in desperation he put a cheap set of light truck tires on it and that solved the problem of eating-up a set of front tires every ~20K miles, of course he also went-up one size and that made it too tall to fit through his garage door! One other thing I remember was that any involved repairs (water pump and serpentine belt R&R come to mind) were made easier by removing the front grill and fenders (doesn't take too much). All-in-all good vehicles though, enjoy!



--Kevin "You lifted a your wife's van? Cool!"

 

[Gerry]

BusyWeb, clever and clean. A great adventure rig to be sure, but Brad's and Henry's would be hard to beat when comfort starts to factor in. Nice ! Thanks, Gerry

 

[busyweb]

Here is some update for the winch and wheel chock setup photos.

I really appreciate auto shop mechanic who made idea and built this setup for me.

He even spent his own money for welding, and paid back for him because that's too much ^^;



First of all I added couple of more ramps for much better safety when loading and unloading.

There was alot differences when I tried; felt really safe feeling during the loadin/unloading.

And here are some updates.



* Bought a wire-roller and welded on the top/behind of the wheel chocke.

* Wheel chocke is now little bit passenger side so that I could have more room when handling the bike.

* Wheel chocke is permanently screwed down on the van cargo floor.

* Elec. winch is placed behind wheel chocke, and screwed down well.



With this updated setup, I don't have to install/uninstall any items/materials during the loading/unloading.

All I need to do is hook-up jump battery to the winch, and start loading.

I'm very happy with this new updated setup.



Here are some photos of new setup.



1. I added more ramps for better safety on loading and unloading.

2. Wire roller photos

3. After bike is loaded...

Now, I need some vacume and wash my new van for the coming adventures.... ^^

Thanks