New Car to transport my Silvio

[kenhardwick]

My new 2014 Ford Transit Connect 7-passenger Wagon. Well it was seven now only six passenger. With 3rd-row seats folded down, there was still not enough vertical clearance for my bicycles (Silvio and roadbike). So, unbolted and removed one of the rear seat to get more clearance. Plan to take the other 3rd row seat out also.

 

[kenhardwick]

Additional Photo

 

[John Tolhurst]

Oh, very nice. Unusually,

Oh, very nice. Unusually, that model is not available in Australia.

 

[Mark B]

Nice car and contrats!
You

Nice car and contrats!

You know, one of the best things about a
Silvio is the fact that the bike basically hinges in half. I have put my bike in the back of a Ford Focus, just by removing the rear wheel, doubling it over and sliding it in.

I like your solution, don't get me wrong. I'm just saying you can get this bike in just about any vehicle, especially if you remove the front wheel, too and aren't afraid to lay it on it's side. The edging on the seat pan protects the finish on the TFT when you fold it over.

Mark

 

[Charles.Plager]

 Hi Mark,
 You know the

Hi Mark,

You know the rules. Pictures, or it didn't happen.

 

[1happyreader]

Transport to where ?

Heh Ken,,,

Do you have evil plans to take the shiny red wagon ( bike inside ) to some place special like the RAGBRAI ride accross Iowa ???

later ,,, bye

 

[Eric Winn]

I've been eyeballing the 2014

I've been eyeballing the 2014 Ford Transit Connect Van for this purpose. If I measured the demo right the Vendetta will go in fully assembled. Of course the van model is just a two seater but two people is usually all I have in my car anyway....

-Eric

 

[Mark B]

 Hi Mark,
 You know the

Hi Mark,

You know the rules. Pictures, or it didn't happen. [Laughing out loud]

LOL!!! I think I actually made that rule.... Maybe!

Truthfully, I would do that, but I'd have to get my teenage daughter to clean out the back of the Focus. That might take a while!

Mark

 

[kenhardwick]

Thanks for comments...here is my reply....

John Tolhurst
Thanks John... Great Car for a super Bike.

Mark B
Good point...wouldn't want others to think that need a vehicle with a large cargo area just to get their Cruzbike in it.

Would agree about being able to get it into many cars..sorta...I'm 6' 3" - so my Silvio has a 150mm extension, a riser on the handlebar, extra wide handlebar and custom armrest.
So, it's a pretty good size bike. But, it is good for most persons, due to the folding design that they can get a Cruzbike into many cars.
Also, I measure running courses (5K's, 10K's, Marathons,etc) which required riding bicycle. And, taking bicycle (my DF) in and out of vehicle multiple times. Plus, carrying other equipment and supplies needed. And, even maybe my Silvio at times. So, have the need for a large cargo area.

Tim..
"Do you have evil plans to take the shiny red wagon ( bike inside ) to some place special like the RAGBRAI ride accross Iowa ???"

Not Ragbrai but Oklahoma Freewheel for 2014. Maybe Ragbrai sometime in the future. Car just won't be as shiny and new as it is now.

Eric
I remember you posting about the Transit Connect in the forum last year. I was eyeballing them at that time also. The 2014 version is major revision from prior years so glad I waited.
I also mostly just need seating for two. But, as this will be my primary car, really wanted the additional seating available. This long-wheel base version with the 3rd row of seats taken out should work out great for that. Will have the 2nd row of seats folded down and out of the way most of the time.
You may be able to get your bike in and upright with the 3rd row seats folded down instead of removing. See dimensions in image below.

 

[Eric Winn]

Hi Ken - Yeah I measured the

Hi Ken - Yeah I measured the old one and read about the new one and was waiting for the dimensions to really decide if it would work. The LWB is necessary and welcome - I wish the old model had a LWB option too.

I had finally gotten ahold of their spec sheet back before they came out and one of the dealers near me got one as a demo for a brief period during their release delay. It was a red LWB like yours with 3 rows of seats and the lift back rather than the side doors. I discovered the same thing with the seats you did but I'm still inclined to go with the 2 seat van.

I figure if my children (and perhaps grandkids some day) visit I can always rent something while they are here. Or my kids can tote me around.

I was particularly interested in the change from 4 speed to 6 speed automatic and the eco engine for higher fuel mileage. I think with that combination the TC will get as good or better gas mileage than my Chevy Equinox.

I do wish they had kept a bit more of the high line roof as the extra height would be welcome.

-Eric

 

[John Tolhurst]

I would suppose the roof line

I would suppose the roof line is the same, but with the seat version, the floor may be higher to hold the folded flat seats - lose 5".

 

[Eric Winn]

No, they reduced the raised

No, they reduced the raised roof by several inches. I suspect to make it look less commercial since they are pushing a much more spiffed up passenger "wagon" than what was available in the model Doug has (or had). Doug did you keep your old TC or trade it in on the new Mini?

-Eric

 

[Doug Burton]

I traded it in...

Nice van, Ken. Looks like they re-balanced the height vs. length equation to the good.

Mine was a 2011 XLT premium - premium basically meant it had windows in all the panels and some useful things like bluetooth and a backup camera.

I bought it for the high roof, but even after months of research, I discovered that the load floor was about 6" too short to carry my bikes inside in the manner I wanted to. Thus, I wasn't really getting what I was looking for. It was a good hauler for taking the kids to college, etc. though.

The real kicker was that every time I took it to the dealer for repairs, it either didn't get fixed or they broke something that was fine when I brought it in. They never checked their work, and it was a 30 mile round trip every time.

So I'll put a trailer hitch on the Mini and continue to carry the bikes outside.

I kinda miss my old Dodge 15 passenger van. You never had to worry about being able to carry anything with that. Only issue was the rear door wasn't always tall enough. And it really needed its own driveway...

These are problems we only call problems in the "first world". So I can't really think of these things as problems...

Cheers,

Doug

 

[kenhardwick]

Doug

Thanks for info on your 2011 Cargo Van. Per the specs, surprising there is not much difference in the interior Cargo height - 51" for 2011 vs 49.7" for 2014 Van ( I have removed my 3rd row seats in my Wagon so now have about 49" inside Cargo height with about 45" clearance in the doorway. The Silvio will go in upright with the rear wheel removed. And, the DF will go in upright with both wheel intact.


Hopefully I will have better luck with repairs.

 

[kenhardwick]

Bike Racks for Silvio and DF

I build these racks for my Silvio and DF so that I could mount my bike on rack outside of my car then slide entire unit into car.
Used 3/4 in plywood so that weight would be enough to be stable without being tied down. Also, makes nice stands for bike outside of car instead of leaning up against car. Placed extra long rubber mat on floor so that it would roll out over the bumper area to protect the car from scratches, etc.

 

[Eric Winn]

Ken, that looks great. I just

Ken, that looks great. I just wish they had devised the seating to be stowed away flat even with or below the top of the bumper all the way to the front seat backs.

However, your solution is excellent and I really like your bike transport platforms.

How much of a hassle was it to remove the third row of seats? Where do you store the removed seats? I figure I'd likely never put them back if I did this. Too bad they don't offer the cargo van with the optional second row seats like they used to.

-Eric

 

[kenhardwick]

Eric - Seat Removal

Eric,
Thanks for you comments. Also, I like your "bike transport platforms" terminology for what I put together. These will work great in back of our pickup also.

As far as removing the two 3rd row seats, each seat was bolted to floor with 4 hex head screws which were easily accesable. After removing, I folded flat and sat on top of each other in the garage.

 

[1happyreader]

next step ??

Heh Ken,,,,

I think your platforms need a few handles to hold on to !

Make your life as easy as you can !

 

[kenhardwick]

Handles

Timothy,
Yes, agreed. Had planned on doing something of that nature.

 

[ratz]

Theft in this case is great

Ken,

I am so going to steal that plywood idea for long term storage in the winter; excellent work sir !