... some ideas and inspiration for your next fit out:http://www.actionvan.biz/Windsurf
very nice..inspiration and ideas..anyone know if you can get the racking system in Australia?
What do you recon guys, better to go PVC construction / or aluminium square tubing? I am going to attempt my build in a few weeks....... thinking horizontal stacking rather than vertical.....
Reckon it may be down to asthetics, with an argument for the practicality of both. But Robbo has the right idea with the cargo barrier protecting the driver/passenger from missiles during an impact. (missiles...should have said flying objects)
I used timber with mine, only because I had some already. But the thing that was a key space saver was the measurement between the racks.
One of the quickets easiest ways to do a van rack that I have done in the past is.
Get some cross member roof supports of the van (as seen in the above pic) from a wrecking yard, re install them upside down in the van, and you have a great system that costs little and will hold 2 boards, sails and gear and keep the van free for other stuff.
Theyre good looking racks also, like the flexability in the action van racks and their lean size.
Now here is the challenge,
A van that has to meet the following specs.
1 x SUP/Sail, 1 x Slalom, 1 x Wave, 1 x Kite, 1 x Skate , 1 x Bike, Tennis/Footy and some camp & fishing gear. PLUS
4 x Children & Better half (and a soft kids surf board! think they will have to balance that on their heads!)
And wait for it..must be able to be a daily drive, and fit in and under car parks!
Ideally can sleep 1 also.
I have done some early scale sketches , its do able, the issue will be 3 boards, 2 is ok 3 a push, it will need to be a LWB van,
Equipment selection will be key also..think I have that sorted, luckly I dont formula, SUP race or Windsurf Race otherwise it would need to be a small truck.
This set up will cover 0-30knts any condition, and non wind activities and also be able to teach kids or anyone on the SUP sail also.
worse case scenario, would have to go to a van that wont go 'under' car parks.
VW Crafterhttp://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/crafter-range/crafter-double-cab/overview/
clever!
more seats accross more room in back! if budget was not a factor you could really set up something awesome with that crew cab config for any sport/rec/camp use.
not sure can get into a city park too easy though.....will keep idea for plan B.
When building racks I have always preferred to have my boards stored on their side, always seems more secure to me and takes up a little less room. If you need to tie them down you can with one strap across multiple boards.
Thanks for the tip, was exactly how my crazy A..idea may work...
Van research notes
...FIAT have the cleverest fan idea off all in the Scudo..the cab is lower than the rear of the van.. so if you need to fit a longer board in it will fit in over the drivers head with ease...bugger is they are are barn rear doors...I like a roof over me at the back and its raining..soft I know...
the Scudo was my option at one stage due to SUP size and lenght needed..but got better at SUP and found a 9ft2 board that works for me and fits into a car/van.
Any more ideas are welcome, I promise to show pic and plans if it comes off, I'm sure I am not alone in requiring a Van spec as described....maybe less kids for most...! how the Fk! did i let that happen...!
Est project date July/Aug.
I've got a 2010 Medium Wheelbase Low Roof Transit and for two hundred bucks I built a removable three-tier poly tube rack (40mm retic pipe).
It fits 5 boards - 85, 101, 122, 141 and 147 horizontally, with 9 sails, masts and booms underneath, plus three gear tubs. Admittedly Its a big van compared to others.
The polypipe absorbs the bumps and I can remove it to use the van space for other things.
As a van owner with experience of car parks, finding a van that will go into car parks is going to be tricky. Might be best to find out the lowest one you want to enter, then find out what the smallest overall height of a van/vans with that spec, then try to meet all of your other specs.
IKW777 said to consider the VW Crafter Crew Cab, but this is 2.853m high and without a body. A VW Transporter Crewvan is 1.990 or 2.176 high and has options for varying cargo lengths. The Scudo (1.942 high) isn't available with child seats fitted so there would be a high extra cost having them fitted and ADR-certified for child carrying.
If you look at the VW, watch out for their DSG transmission. Our local car paper is reporting failures of the earlier-model DSG and the new model hasn't been around long enough to confirm that the problems have been solved.
Hope this helps.
I am very happy with mine. I have the 103Kw version and can't fault it. The auto DSG box is great and has never caused any issues. We did a 4000 k trip last year in it and sat on 110k the whole way while still being very fuel efficient. Usually get 1000 k out of the 80L tank.
We've got a VW Caddy maxi & it gets 5.5ltres per 100km.Only a 1.6 or 1.8ltre motor but Turbo diesel and suprisingly powerful.Not as nippy around town as my Corolla but on the highway cruises effortlessly with low revs.
I store my 3 boards on their edge ( or 2 on their edge & one wedged across the others). They are on a bed in their bags and no worries re bumps.Have a cargo barrier but a hole in it for the noses & put the front seat angled forward and they fit well 245 cm longest one.
The 'Action Van' racking system can be purchased on its own for anyone interested, they are built to/spec order.
RRP Prices here are:
£440 for a 2 Board Rack
£550 for 3 Boards &
£660 for 4 Boards
Board toaster rack....... had me thinking, simple design, like your filing toaster rack at work, just drop the boards in, they get snug in the vee..... and strap them over and around.... sorted...........
size does matter ! re board space
i like my swb sprinter 01
4cyl is more reliable imho
just fitted the hws ;]
have had drama at car parks
I found out, that the more time I spend, pimping my van, the less room I got for equipment :)
Mine - www.redsurfbus.com/2011/02/building-van-interior-for-camping-and.html
Currently cram in 90 and 111l slalom boards, 3 booms and an 8.8 under the wide sections at the back, along with 6 masts that fit in a new section above the rear wheel arch. Under the thinner section I have a sail bag with 6 slalom sails. Resting from the rear of the bed over the headrests secured by lots of chord is my 11'2 sup and a 78cm wide slalom board on top of that, these go on the roof when camping.
I always thought if stuck with barn doors to use a 'window blind' type thing from the roof inside the van to secure to both doors when open - almost creating another room for the van........tempted to get a bigger one with barn doors but love my redsurfbus too much to change it, and of course I would have to get anything bigger resprayed or the whole website goes wrong!
Have you seen the vw doubleback?....www.bikeradar.com/news/video-doubleback-vw-campervan/
I can fit 2 boards and masts in the box on the left and booms and sails under the bed, next to the fridge. Portable gas kooker and barbecue are allways with me :)
I bought a roof box 220x90cm to fit all the camping gear or whatever..I can get in my wave board and 4 sails...
Hi Guys, .
slightly off topic but do you know how the previous H1/Iload (pre 2008) was called in Oz ?
I'm trying to source a part for mine but I can't even find the aussie name for my van....
I found "Starex/satelitte" but they don't seem to be the right name.
And what would be the name in english for the part that splits the brake lines under the car , "Brake splitter" ? ? In french it's "repartiteur"
thanks in advance
Sean
We don't get this model van in Australia. I've never seen it before. The one may be mechanically similar to the iLoads sold in Australia. Perhaps contacting Hyundai Australia may be the go or see if there is a Hyundai motoring forum and asking the question there.
