Im immigrating, does anyone know what kind of payload weight the tail lift on something like a transit box van is? can it hold a motorbike, and whats safest way to strap it down inside? centre stand with straps or wot?
No idea mate - I think the tail lifts have the max payload on a plate on the lift so have a look for one in your street (you never know)
Where you going?
As above, most of those tail lifts have a max weight on them, but if its not some huge lump, I would have thought it would be alright.
As for strapping it down, taking it the van will not have tie down points, I suggest you get it against one side of the van and put something nice and soft between it and the side of the van. Matresses are ideal, or sofa cushions. Putting the bike on the centre stand will be fine if it has one. A couple of ratchet straps from the side of the bike, as low as you can manage it, to the side of the van should hold it ok, especially if you drive carefully if the bike is not wedged in with other stuff.
Failing fancying this idea, get along to Halfords and get a couple of tie down points. Four screws sees them in the floor of the van. Get youreslf some heavy duty handlebar straps and that will get you sorted. If you mount the rings forward of the handlebars, it pulls the bike forward. Best done against the bulkhead.
cheers.
Im going home… back to belfast!
getting a price froma removal company over there who said they could take the bike aswell, as so far the cost of hiring a van and ferry etc is around £600
The maximum safe working load on your average Transit type van payload will be in the region of 250kg.
Unless your bike is something particularly heavy you shouldn’t have a problem with it. I’ve used a 200kg tail lift on a Sprinter van in the past to lift a Blackbird into the back of the van without any trouble.
I just popped over to my neighbour who has a Transit luton.
His Ratcliffe Tail lift is a slimline one and has a SWL of 250kg so unless you have a goldwing you should be OK
cheers guys.
Waiting for a price back from a removals firm in belfast who are doing a run to Surrey end of august, and may be able to return with my stuff, means im not paying for them to bring over an empty van, and might not cost much more than doing it all myself in a hire van
Just double check with the removal company that they dont require ALL fluids to be drained from the bike, there are some strict laws regarding flammable liquids and corrosives in box vans, particularly where ferries are involved.
that means your emigrating to be pedantic but transit van tail lifts can ususally hold a bike with no problems, they can ususally hold a couple men and your bike aint any more than that… best to check with someone…but I seriously think it will be fine.
On straping it down more straps the merrier and dont think your going over the top
Likely the transit wont have any proper strap down points so tie it in as many places as you can…likely it will try to fall over both ways, twist both ways, run forward under braking and backwards under acceleration and likely to be trying to do all of that at the same time…I have moved loads of bikes with minimal trouble inside vans but they do bloody move…so tie it up good…
use rags where it touches the bike if you can but make sure non of the ropes.straps touch good body work…
Oh one last thing cover it in as many cushions and covers as you can.
If your stuff is going over in a van, couldn’t you ride the bike over, taking the ferry across the water ?
i got my beloved car aswell…
gona cost enough as it is, without paying for hire van, car and motorbike to trek across