Researching TTV (Tandem Transport Vehicles)
 

The kids are grown, and the mini van is 10 years old, so its time to start thinking about a new non-commuting vehicle. I really like the ease of popping off the front wheel and putting the tandem into the mini van, quick, painless, and weather proof, but we don't need a mini van anymore. I'm wondering what other vehicles make good candidates to transport an assembled (minus front wheel) tandem? I'm sure the key is in the seat layout.

People have stuffed tandems into cars as small as a Honda Fit (riders sitting in tandem in the car with the bike on the right) and Honda Elements (right down the middle) are a very popular tandem hauler at many rallies; it's all about deciding just how much car you'd like to have and how much of your personal space you're willing to share with your tandem.

Zona hauls their tandem around in a Honda Accord wagon, which works fine for them... we have used two different K1500 Suburbans, a Toyota 4Runner and two different pick-ups with enclosed shells to haul ours around.

Having the rolling garage is nice if you do a lot of trips or rallies with your tandem and don't want to leave it attached to a rack on a car or haul it into your sleeping quarters at night but, clearly, those who subscribe to the roof or rear rack mount scenarios are free to drive what they like... I've seen everything from a Porsche Boxter with receiver mount carrying a Cannondale RT3000, to Mini Coopers with Atoc Mounts hauling tandems, to a small enclosed trailer / rolling bike tandem garage with a triplet stuffed in caddy-corner sans wheels + a tandem, to our '97 Suburban with 3 tandems on the roof, six people inside and enough luggage behind the 3rd row seat for a 3-day rally.

We've kind of reached the point where we don't like having the bikes IN the passenger compartment anymore. At present, our '96 DoubleCab Tundra allows just that as the bikes and tandems sit in the enclosed bed, out of sight and out of mind. We no longer have to deal with the noise and odors that come with hauling a bicycle around inside a car and I applied 'Limo Tint' to the camper shell's windows which make it nearly impossible to know what's in the bed of our truck to most passers by. Yeah, the gas mileage sucks... Thought about adding a Mini Cooper S to the stable, but I'd have to give up my two motorcycles to make that work and I'm just not ready to do that.

http://www.thetandemlink.com/Images/Calfee/truck_1.jpg


http://www.thetandemlink.com/Images/Calfee/truck_2.jpg

We fit our tandem inside our Nissan Rogue. Fold down the passenger seat and the passenger half of the back seat. We have to remove the saddles (on QR's so not hard) but it fits with the wheels on.

The constantly variable transmission is pretty neat too.

Believe it or not, you can fit a medium-sized tandem in a Subaru Outback wagon. But, you have to put the rear seat down and take both wheels off. We usually put it on the roof, but on long trips we put it inside. Actually, now that we have a Honda Odyssey, we don't use the Subie all that much. You still can't beat the convenience of a minivan... we can fit our Santana Cabrio triplet inside the Odyssey with only the front wheel off.

Other vehicles we considered for tandem transport included the Honda Element, as mentioned, as well as the Ford Flex.

A tandem can be fit in most vehicles; it's just a matter of figuring out how.
Have hauled tandem in Honda Accord SW and Hatchbacks, VW Squareback, Jeep Wagoneer, Ford SW, etc.
One time needed to haul 3 tandems to our local Bike Swap meet. By taking off pedals, capt. seatpost with stoker bars attached and wheels we fit all three in the Accord Station Wagon with the hatch part way open and bungeed down.
Hey, where ther's a will, there's a way!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

We are in same boat (or should I say van) We have a Toyota Sienna and put the bike on top using the ATOC tandem topper. We can easily fit in inside by taking two seats out, but it's a pain to remove and install the seats.
We thought the Subaru Outback might be a good option. Would be easier to put it on top since its lower than the Sienna. Taking both wheels off to put it inside would not be something I would do.

Our Avant works for us - this is my old Avant - but my new one is just a newer model which is about the same size. I use a Yakima sidewinder. I don't like having a bike in the car. Still had room for four and all the gear. Oh - it gets about 30mpg on the freeway without the bikes - about 25mpg with all of them on top.

http://www.rastta.com/images/rack.jpg

Went Back to a MiniVan
 

For years we were in the same boat as you: had the minivan, perfect for Tandem transport. Then 7 years ago we went away from it with a roof rack, then a DraftMaster rack behind the 4Runner. We just ordered a new Tandem and decided we don't want to deal with the weather and dirt on the bike. So we bought a used Toyota Sienna. ...full circle. What we will do to protect these puppies. Vort.

I find my Honda Odyssey to be really useful. It is so nice to have the tandem inside so I don't have to worry. For example, next weekend we'll be at a hotel in Solvang with the tandem safely and discretely ensconced in the car. Combine with Saris rack, which keeps the bikes quite stable, and the Weathertech mat to keep the sync chain from staining the carpet. Having the tandem upright is really nice. It is hard outside a minivan to get this functionality. A Honda Element will fit a tandem, but isn't so nice to drive.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/...268cb8d693.jpg

We've been having a good experience with our '05 Mazda 6 Hatchback. We take both wheels off, put the rear triangle behind my wife and still have room for two airline size carry-ons, two backpacks and a crate for helmets, shoes, gloves, etc. I bought a piece of light weight carpet and cut it to fit the back to protect the back of the rear seats and the rest of the interior from the chain. Also use a Pedro's Chain holder to keep the chain from flopping around. I cover the whole thing with an old dark, blanket.
We can get the bike out and ready to roll in under five minutes.
We just came back from a 2 week trip with the bike in the car. It all seems to work fine.
Unfortunately, Mazda stopped making the 6 in a hatch. We're looking at the new Honda Crosstour and the similar Acura as options. I think the Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback might also work.
All this is because we won't drive anything that doesn't look and drive like a real sedan. We figure most of the time we use the vehicle it's not carrying a bike so it should be something we enjoy in that bike-less mode

How about some love for Detroit?
 

My neighbors and I would really appreciate it if you would look at some American options. The Ford Flex and Edge are great to drive, and hold a lot. The new Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain are roomy for th3eir size SUV's. My Fiancee's Chrysler Town & Country minivan is feature packed and would easily hold a tandem or two.
As for me, i got rid of my station wagon, and bought a 2010 mustang GT convertible. hitch rack, and voila', instant TTV made right here by union labor in Flat Rock, Michigan.

Sure, why not. As long as price, quality, reliability are on par... and my tax dollars are not used to bail the companies/unions out, why not.

The tax dollar argument goes both ways! you're an investor now! That's why i suggested the specific vehicles. they are great, and you can feel like a patriot!

I am van lover. We've had 3 minivans in the past and now I just stepped up to a Chevy Hi top conversion van. I can fit anything it this beast.

Fine for you to state your appreciation, but last I checked this was not an American forum. We welcome folks from all countries. While it may be dominated by Americans, let's try not to let it devolve into US-centric politics.

I agree. I never would have bought the Mustang if my fiance didn't have the minivan!

We took our tandem with us when shopping for a new vehicle last year. We ended up with a Honda Element (color coordinated to match the bike) and love it. We rarely have passengers, so we removed the two rear seats. The inside holds our tandem and two single bikes (and a lot of gear); the roof rack holds our two kayaks. We would have liked a little better gas mileage, but we wanted the peace of mind of storing the bikes inside the vehicle. We must be a good ambassador for the Element - several of our friends have now purchased it, too.

I guess we're the Detroit poster child... We use our Yukon Denali (04 model) with the seats folded down and our tandem fits similar to TG's truck - diagonal, but only need to take the front wheel off. I'll have to snap a photo next time we put the bike in there.

I will say that we have a tandem rack on my Subaru Outback, but the tandems get transported inside the Denali most of the time.

Maybe.... Our last two Suburbans ('97LT & '02 Z71) were both made in GM's Silao plant in Mexico. Our Toyota Tundra, on the other hand, was made in Princeton, Indiana using a motor made in Huntsville, AL. Hence, the quandary most consumer find themselves in when attempting to be jingoistic in their buying habits.

However, at least we know where all of our past and current tandem frames were made....!!!

Claremont, California
Bedford, Pennsylvania
Seattle, Washington x 2
Rancho Cordova, California x 2
La Selva Beach, California

Really like being able to put our tandem (with F wheel off) right down the middle of our 2001 Mazda MPV. My long wheelbase RANS V3 also fits down the middle without removing a wheel. But, when the minivan gives up the ghost, I'll look into something smaller. Already have a Thule tandem rack.

As with the Honda Fit mentioned before, the (pre 09) Toyota Matrix can also take a tandem lengthwise with the driver and passenger sitting on the left side (F&R) of the vehicle.

Our Honda station wagon was built in the rustbelt (Marysville, O) but the trans and tires came from Japan.
Hard to say anymore where anything is really 'made'.
Our Zona tandem utilized American made carbon fiber tubes and was built by a genuine American frame builder (Bob Davis, Peoria, AZ) and utilized American, Japanese, Taiwanese and Mexican made compoenents.
Asi es la vida!
Pedal on!
R & K/zonatandem

The Ford Flex looks interesting for tandems, but you could back a tandem into it, and keep it upright?

http://www.fordvehicles.com/resource...lx10_specs.jpg

The 2011 Honda Concept Odyssey introduced at the Chicago Auto Show looks nice to me, but I have a thing about minivans.

http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/cro...p-1_460x0w.jpg

I looked at one of those at a car show and there is not that much height in the rear. 32 or 34" if I recall. I need 38" minimum for all my bikes with the seat on.

Ay, there's the rub. Sure in many cars such as the Flex, there might be the length to store a tandem, but have insufficient height to store upright. And not upright is a big compromise. In other cars such as crossover SUV's, there might be the height, but not the length. Cars with both tandem length and saddle clearing height are limited. These include minivans, large SUV's, the Honda Element and ?