Transporting your scooter in a mini van.

Mscmkr · Post by **Mscmkr** » Wed Jul 03, 2013 3:58 am

Hey everyone, i was wondering if anyone has transported there scooter in the back of something like a mini van? I have a Scion XB and was wondering if anyone has figured out a good way to transport a scooter inside something like that? Any tips would be much appreciated. Im going to buy a pick up sometime down the line, but until then my XB is my only option. This would only be every great once in a while but it would be helpful if it was possible.
Thanks everyone and safe riding, mscmkr

Howardr · Post by **Howardr** » Wed Jul 03, 2013 4:55 am

I routinely transport my Buddy or my Stella in my Dodge Caravan. Take out the seats, roll it in, tie it down and away I go.

Howard

michelle_7728 · Post by **michelle_7728** » Wed Jul 03, 2013 5:36 am

Mscmkr wrote:.... I have a Scion XB and was wondering if anyone has figured out a good way to transport a scooter inside something like that? Any tips would be much appreciated. ....

I don't know how tall it is inside a Scion, but I'm guessing the mirrors and windshield would need to be removed. Also, you will want to have minimal gas in your scooter or it will slosh around proving bad for the scooter in the short term, and probably leave a bunch of gas inside your Scion.

These are just things I've read in other threads on transporting scooters.

Good luck!

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Wed Jul 03, 2013 5:52 am

The 2014 Ford Transit Connect will come with a 1.6 litre EcoBoost engine which is reported to have a 30mpg rating.

I love that truck!

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Wed Jul 03, 2013 12:22 pm

Howardr wrote:I routinely transport my Buddy or my Stella in my Dodge Caravan. Take out the seats, roll it in, tie it down and away I go.

And when you take out the seats, the tracks in the floor have convenient tie-down lugs!

Shame my Town & Country bit the dust last year.

WileE · Post by **WileE** » Wed Jul 03, 2013 12:46 pm

Used the minivan a few times to transport the scooter. As mentioned, you'll have to remove the mirrors and windshield (if you have one). I usually take out one of the middle seats and lean the scooter against the other seat and tie it down.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Wed Jul 03, 2013 1:29 pm

Just to state the possibly-obvious: Don't lay it down. The bike has to stay upright to avoid fluids flowing where they shouldn't be.

irishtim · Post by **irishtim** » Wed Jul 03, 2013 2:11 pm

Have transported in separate trips: two large frame vintage Vespas, a Stella,
ET2, a Blur and a Blue Badge Allstate in a Honda Odyssey. You can also
Transport one scoot and still have room for one second row
seat no problem.

ElCid · Post by **ElCid** » Wed Jul 03, 2013 4:32 pm

irishtim wrote:Have transported in separate trips: two large frame vintage Vespas, a Stella,
ET2, a Blur and a Blue Badge Allstate in a Honda Odyssey. You can also
Transport one scoot and still have room for one second row
seat no problem.

+1 for the Honda Odyssey.

I haul my Buddy around in the back of one all the time.

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 3:26 am

Syd wrote:The 2014 Ford Transit Connect will come with a 1.6 litre EcoBoost engine which is reported to have a 30mpg rating.

I love that truck!

I've been keeping an eye on that one myself. I thought they got in the 20s. I saw an article in a MC mag where an owner had one converted to take a full-sized sportbike. This necessitated removing the front passenger seat but a scooter should be a snap.

If I could find a plain, affordable one, I would consider a Transit Connect for my next car.

MrChet · Post by **MrChet** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 3:55 am

From a picture thread on modernvespa.com:

Wonder if one will fit in the back of an old landcruiser?

Stormswift · Post by **Stormswift** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 12:25 pm

At least 2 of us transported our buddies inside Rav4. Back seats had to come out and scooter had to be tilted when getting through back door. Once inside the car it fit fine

laxer · Post by **laxer** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 3:40 pm

My Rattler fits, no problem, in the bed of my pickup.

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 7:33 pm

A Scion xB is way too short for a scooter. I tried it with a friend's Honda Metro... no go. Couldn't Tetris the thing in no matter what we did. My Chevy tracker isn't even big enough (and that's a pretty spacious compact SUV). My rattler was sticking out the back and we had to use a tow strap to hold the rear door shut.

I've heard that, once you remove mirrors and such, the Honda Element is nearly the perfect size and has modular seating. Of course, I've seen the Transit Connect vans in action, and those are cool little haulers! If I could afford one, I'd get one for the scooter AND my audio gear.

theflash784 · Post by **theflash784** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 2:12 am

I have a 03 Land Rover Discovery. I have never tried putting my Buddy 125 in the back. I did get a cargo rack to slide into the hitch receiver and used rachet straps to hold the scooter in place on it.

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 3:18 am

TVB wrote:Just to state the possibly-obvious: Don't lay it down. The bike has to stay upright to avoid fluids flowing where they shouldn't be.

That brings up memories of my old Honda Mini-Trail. It had a gas cap with a knob you turned to close the vent and folding handlebars. It was meant to be carryable in a car trunk. We never did because Daddy always had a pickup truck, which is another good option.

Another fond memory was the classic Volkswagen van, back when it was an affordable box instead of a pricey yuppie transport. The side sliding door could be opened and there was room to put a John Deere Model 60 lawn tractor in there crossways. The door could still be closed and the back seat was still there for the kids although foot room for adults was another matter.

If somebody owns one of these classics, a scoot should fit handily but it might have to go in at an angle.

Stitch · Post by **Stitch** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 3:31 am

I've seen a buddy and a Stella sidecar in a ford wintard at the same time, and I know a Stella fits in there too. Also, a buddy 50, and six people will
fit.

Tocsik · Post by **Tocsik** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 2:55 pm

Scooters fit in a variety of vehicles no problem.

BeefSupreme · Post by **BeefSupreme** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 3:17 pm

We got my girlfriends Buddy in the back of a CRV when she got it. Had to drain the gas and use lots of moving pads, and had to leave the rear window cracked for the headlamp to sit outside. But hey, it worked!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29331232@N02/9256445094/" title="BuddyCRV by documbie, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3710/9256 ... 822d16.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="BuddyCRV"></a>

rick71454 · Post by **rick71454** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 7:44 pm

Hello Mscmkr;BuddyLand:

I routinely transport my Buddy 125 in the middle of my Plymouth Grand Voyager SE mini van. My middle seat is removed and the scooter fits right in there between both sides of the vehicle, with the slider doors shut. I use a bungee cord(s) to secure it to the back side of the front seats.

Instead of purchasing a metal ramp, an 8 foot 2x6 wooden board works well in rolling the scooter into and out from the minivan.

Thanks
Rick71454

HunterRose · Post by **HunterRose** » Sun Aug 04, 2013 4:59 am

Just picked up 2 new Buddies. A 170 for me and a 50 for my wife. I don't have a pickup nor do I have a trailer or hitch. The nearest Genuine dealer is about 3 hours away. I saw this thread and the pics so, I decided to take my Dodge Caravan to pick them up. Took out the back and middle seats. It worked great!

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Sun Aug 04, 2013 11:59 am

There's certainly no wasted space in there.

HunterRose · Post by **HunterRose** » Sun Aug 04, 2013 2:46 pm

Loading through the side doors seemed to work the best. The anchors for the seats made a great place to hook the tie down straps. I guess this would be one advantage of not having a newer model with stow-n-go seats.

Stormswift · Post by **Stormswift** » Mon Aug 05, 2013 12:44 am

HunterRose wrote:Just picked up 2 new Buddies. A 170 for me and a 50 for my wife. I don't have a pickup nor do I have a trailer or hitch. The nearest Genuine dealer is about 3 hours away. I saw this thread and the pics so, I decided to take my Dodge Caravan to pick them up. Took out the back and middle seats. It worked great!

Now THIS is EPIC!!!!

Wolfhound · Post by **Wolfhound** » Mon Aug 05, 2013 11:35 am

If you have a trailer hitch on the rig then then easiest way to transport would
be to use one of the hitch motorcycle/scoot carriers. That would eliminate
all the hassle of mirror removal, seat removal and stuff like that assuming you are not talking about a one time move.

Wolfhound · Post by **Wolfhound** » Mon Aug 05, 2013 11:53 am

Try Amazon for trailer hitch motorcycle carriers, they have them from $32.91
and up. All pretty reasonable in price. Of course if you dont have a reciever
then you are looking at another $250.00 or so to get one installed.
I have one of these carriers that I use on my TTMH(Teeny Tiny Motor Home)
but usually use my CRV and pull a Tractor Supply 6x8 flat bed trailer to carry
either the Side car unit or 2 scooters. It ran around $900.00 but I use it for
lot of other hauling.

Danielm · Post by **Danielm** » Mon Aug 05, 2013 2:54 pm

Put my new Buddy in the back of a mini van no problem a couple weeks ago. Had to remove the mirrors and tilt it to get it in but we got home without issue.

Also had the most lucky timing ever when I went to remove it and a random guy I've never met walked down the street and said... hey you need a hand with that? Yes, why yes I do! hah

Stilts · Post by **Stilts** » Mon Aug 05, 2013 3:13 pm

A friend of mine regularly puts two P-200s in his older model Dodge Caravan.

Modern Buddy

Transporting your scooter in a mini van.

Transporting your scooter in a mini van.

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Transporting a scooter