Hauling a Tandem

[crtreedude]

Hi,

Since we live in a foreign country that doesn't have bike stores with everything including the kitchen sink, I am trying to solve the following issue.

We have a Cannondale Tandem and want to haul it down the mountain to the flats where the roads are very nice and the scenary wonderful - and very little traffic.

The problem is moving the thing. We have a Montero (older, say 92) and I am going to attempt to stuff it inside - but there is no telling if it will work.

I don't want to hang it off the back, I need it to be inside the size of the Montero - and I don't think it is with the wheels off.

Any ideas what we should do? We can have almost anything made for very little money, so that something that clamps on the spare tire would be fine - just looking for ideas,

Thanks

[zonatandem]

Can't really picture what a Montero looks like.
However, if you have a hatchback or rear window on the Montero that pops open, tandem could be loaded inside, back end first, with both wheels removed. It may hang out a bit, but some padding and bungee cords could solve that issue.

[crtreedude]

The back of the Montero swings like a door - a really big one. The Montero, being older, is a full-size SUV (I use it primarily for hauling guest to the fincas)

I think the bike just might fit if I put the back seat down and front passender seat - but then where does the stoker fit? :rolleyes:

[gregm]

I've seen a lovely picture on the Web of an automobile inner tube inflated and placed on the roof of a small hatchback. Tandem was then laid down on its side on top of the giant tube, and the whole assembly roped to the car. Awesome.

I recently strapped my tandem, laying down, wheels off, onto the roof rack of my Beetle. Worked fine.

Good luck!
-Greg

[R900]

Our tandem will fit inside our Sienna minivan (like when we bought it and really had not planned to). I've hung it off the hitch rack for short trips, and just bought a new Yakima tandem roof rack for general transport. I think it would fit inside a full size SUV. Do you have a center asile?

John

[gregm]

http://home.nannynannybooboo.com/bike/tandem_roof.jpg

Here's how the bike looked on the rack. Ooh, guess I did leave the rear wheel on.

Bars and seat were coming off anyway, as the bike normally has a child stoker, but was going out of town for riding with an adult stoker -- makes sense to me to just leave them off when loading the bike onto the roof.

-Greg

[zonatandem]

The posting of the tandem on top of a truck inner tube that was on top of a car roof was on the website for the Belgian tandem club. Written up in Dutch it translated to: 'worked very well even on the very rough pavement of Flemish and Dutch roads.'

[crtreedude]

Thanks,

That gives me some good ideas where to start - We do have a center console - that migh just work as well. Time to haul the bike out to the Montero and test it.

(I think I'll wait until everyone wakes up though...)

[dubbelop]

The posting of the tandem on top of a truck inner tube that was on top of a car roof was on the website for the Belgian tandem club. Written up in Dutch it translated to: 'worked very well even on the very rough pavement of Flemish and Dutch roads.'
It's this picture:

http://www.tandemclub.nl/images/transport/binnenband_1.jpg

And it's on this page (http://www.tandemclub.nl/vervoer_op_autodak.html)

[crtreedude]

Interesting

But spring a leak in that tube and boy will you scratch the top of the car all up!

I just might try it - the trusty Montero is old anyway!

[ElRey]

I have a C'dale tandem as well: if you want it on the inside, take off the wheels and it'll fit easy. I hang mine off the back of my BMW 330Ci, which is a lot smaller than a Montero. With teh whels off it's fine- doesn't stick out very much on either side. Take care you don't leave the wheels on and hvae your tires blow from the exhaust heat.

[crtreedude]

The stoker (my wife) has decided on the tube approach - I believe it should be good. Also, we have a few rough roads too - much less possible damage.

Thanks all for the help - I would have never thought of an innertube. Imagine that, inner tubing with a tandem...