transporting ackward and cumbersome things..Experience?

[Jester]

Hi
1.Did anyone remove all seats in the back before, is it hard?
2.Has anyone ever transport a motorcycle in the back of a Deli? If so, was it hard?

I'm planning to pickup a bike on Sunday, and I'm hoping for a simple roll-on, roll-off into and out of the back, but need be I suppose some disassembly will be needed..
Suggestions?

[Mystery Machine]

To remove the rear bench seat is six 14mm bolts (3 each side) and the seat is out....although you might want to get a friend to help you haul it out because it is a bit on the heavy side and not easy to handle on your own. Also - fold it flat (backrest down) before carrying it because it makes life a lot easier.

The captains seats are just as easy - undo the four domed nuts on base of the seat and lift it out. These aren't as heavy as the rear bench but they still weigh quite a bit and are awkward to handle.

To remove all the rear seat with the help of a friend will take you 10 mins tops including all the unbolting, lifting, carrying and storing. Just watch for the bolts sticking through the runners once you've removed the captains seats....maybe best to cover them with some mats to prevent them damaging anything!

Regarding transporting a motorbike, take a look at this thread on the UK forum HERE where someone was asking the very same question this week. Maybe of some help to you?

[Jester]

thanks dude!
It did help, they have some good idea for mounting points.
Also, now I know at least *some* bikes do fit :)
We'll see how it goes on Sunday...

[DelicaMark]

This is what I do with my downhill mountian bike.

DelicaSIze.jpg (43.12 KiB) Viewed 4314 times

We made some loops to attach the tie downs to. These are attached into where the rear seat attaches.

Delica Size loops.jpg (35.66 KiB) Viewed 4315 times

My bike is quite large and it fits into the back with out having to angle the handle bars. I use a broken piece of cement block to block the tire and the bike doesn't move.

[coaxial]

interesting.. let me know if it fits, although I don't have much hope my motorbike or even my scooter would fit in my lowroof.

Even without the seats out though I have fit several interesting things in through the side door:
an old 80's honda DIO japanese scooter (easy)
two mountain bikes (complicated)
one mountain bike (easy)
5 people and camping gear (fun)

[Green1]

I've done 6 people with camping gear... and it all fit and we were comfortable! (that was a bit of a surprise!)

As for awkward... I carried a 14' antenna... this is when I discovered that the vehicle is only 12' long inside... (it rested against the tailgate and stuck out the front passenger side window and was strapped to the upper mirror arm, extending to about the same place as the front bumper)

I've also carried an 8'4" ladder on top of the folded down seats (measured 8'6" to the back of the driver's seat from the tailgate)

and I carried a friend's entire new kitchen (including the kitchen sink! ) as flat-pack cupboards, the seats stayed in, but the boxes were stacked all around them and on top of them floor to ceiling, I'm sure that's the heaviest I've ever loaded the delica, but it behaved just fine.

[coaxial]

all this capability and we (me anyways) still seem to be free of the "can you help me move" calls every weekend that pickup truck owners get

[DelicaMark]

Hey coaxial! My van is a low roof and my bike is really tall with the triple clamp fork and riser bars. I would say that it is as tall as a lot of motorbikes. A scooter should fit easily....not sure how high mirrors are on the handle bars though. The mirrors might be the main issue with motorbikes and scooters being too high to fit.

-Mark

[loki]

This is what I do with my downhill mountian bike.

DelicaSIze.jpg

We made some loops to attach the tie downs to. These are attached into where the rear seat attaches.

Delica Size loops.jpg

My bike is quite large and it fits into the back with out having to angle the handle bars. I use a broken piece of cement block to block the tire and the bike doesn't move.

Hey man we should get together and ride the Zoo some time, I love it up there. Are you racing this year? I'm going to give it a shot, the superD on Doumont nest weekend will be my first, should be fun.

[Jester]

So, awesomness that is Delica comes through again.
For anyone who searches for similar answer in the future, a 1973 CB750 WILL fit in the back of Deli, with rear seat removed and mid capitan seats left for front end support. No disassembly required of any kind.
With some temporary anchoring in place, it was a fast,safe and easy loading and transport experience.
Pictures to come.

BTW I think I'll leave the rear seat out untill i KNOW I'll need it.
Without it there is TONS of room back there.

[Jester]

2 people, one dog and one bike. And I'll bet I could organize the inside to fit another couple people or other cargo if there was a need and time for it.
Please note my dog's "i don;t like it, but I'll suffer because I love you" look. Priceless.
pictures: