22 replies to this topic

[domdee]

ey up peeps
what van can a mini fit in the back off?
ive seen pictures before and wondered make/model the vans have been.

all help, comments appreciated

[charie t]

transit tipper

[Artful Dodger]

Vw camper pickup thingie

[BritishRacingGreen]

Mercedes sprinter, just about

[minijules]

on its side, id imagine a mini can fit in most lwb vans,

[Brad_Raybould]

A Mini Van.

Only jokin, I've seen one in a Mercedes Sprinter but it was a very tight squeeze.

Edited by Brad_Raybould, 09 January 2013 - 12:17 PM.

[Tupers]

Long wheel base transit.

[100ev8]

most luton vans

[kieranjt]

Mercedes Sprinter / VW Crafter

[Mini_Magic]

A standard Transit Van, if you chop up the Mini into small pieces.

[Black.Ghost]

If its just a shell and doesn't need too much protecting, you can fit it in most vans quite easily. Other than that, my method of choice is a 3.5T Luton with a tail lift. There are two ways I have successfully got a mini into the back of one of these, both complete cars.

The first requires two people. Push the front wheels on to the tail lift and raise it a little. Use a suitable lifting strap (I used towing straps) and connect it securely to the underside of the mini, and use an engine hoist to raise the back of the car off the ground. Continue to raise front and then back until tail lift is at max height. Push the hoist forward and it will push the mini into the van. Getting it out again invokes the same, but in reverse and is a delicate operation.

The second method is considerably more simple, but will require two strong people, or possibly more if not too strong. Get two long planks of wood, and place from the ground to the van. Raise the tail lift until touching the planks, and thereby ably to support the weight. Push the mini straight into the back of the van, Italian Job style. You need to push it pretty hard and fast to get in there, but it is simpler than the first method. If you are alone, it might be a bit tricky. To unload, position the planks of wood as before, and again raise the tail lift. When you put the wheels on the planks, they will lift up to the vertical. Ease the car out slowly and the further back it gets, gradually they will go back to the ground. Don't do it too fast or something will go wrong and the car will hit the ground with considerable force. I unloaded by myself, and I put two large blocks at the end of the wood to hopefully catch the mini. It didn't work, it shot straight over them and up the road and started rolling back down! Fortunately, I was able to jump out and stop it myself. I did this in an open garage area and would not advise it on a normal road. If however you have someone with you, they can stand behind the mini and lower it down gently.

I have also moved a mini shell entirely by myself with just an engine hoist to help as well, including unloading it, using a LWB van (I can't remember the make though). It just needs a bit of patience, determination and thinking outside the box.

Of course, a 4x4 with a trailer is much easier! And don't forget to ratchet the mini once in the van, even if the handbrake works fine.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

You can fit it in most with a little imagination

[rotherham]

You can fit it in most with a little imagination

Haha that's brill!

Edited by rotherham, 09 January 2013 - 05:02 PM.

[Black.Ghost]

I'd love to know what you would have said had you been stopped

I assume its secured in at the front of the car? I'm hoping ratchet straps….

[A-Cell]

You can get three in The back of a coach, I m sure I saw it in a film once. Now what was the film called?