The van life movement has been well under way for a couple of years now and converted vans are becoming more dialed with clever gear storage, stylish interiors, and fully self-contained systems that allow adventurers to head off the grid for weeks at a time. But if you’re a mountain biker just starting out with van life you may be wondering where to start. What are the essentials for keeping your bike safe from theft and how do you prevent your van from smelling like a locker room?
There is no one right answer for how to set your van up for a mountain bike life on the road, but below are seven essentials that I’ve found necessary as my partner and I have traveled across the country and back in our Dodge Promaster Travato mountain biking van.
(Looking for a new bike? Check out this enduro bike buyer’s guide.)
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1) A Shower
This may be a controversial topic for some van lifers, but for me, a shower is absolutely necessary. I usually return from most rides super sweaty and gross and the last thing I want to do is pull on clean clothes over that mess. Having a shower, or at least a way to shower, in your van is key to keeping things clean and the van smelling decent.
If you don’t have a built-it shower in your van, there are a number of other options. Solar showers can be installed on the roof or you can get a portable shower.
2) Storage Boxes For Mountain Bike Gear
Whether you’re heading out on the road for a weekend or a week, having gear boxes to store smelly mountain bike gear is essential. We use the storage trunks, which are heavy-duty, waterproof, and stackable. We each have our own Plano box to store our helmets, shoes, kneepads, gloves, and other pieces of mountain biking gear.
Tip: try not to store mountain bike gear in the van when it’s wet to avoid nasty smells. If you need to pack up and leave quickly post-ride, be sure to take your gear out at your next camp spot to air out and dry.
3) A Swing-Away Rear Hitch
Unless you plan on storing your bikes inside your mountain bike van (which really cuts down on space, especially if you plan on spending extended amounts of time in your van), a swing-away rear hitch is essential in order to access the rear of your van. We use the Kuat 2 Pivot Swing Away Hitch Extender and it works great. The extender attaches to most bike racks and allows you to swing both rack and bikes to the side so that you can access the rear of your van. Without a swing-away hitch, it’s a struggle to load gear in and out of the rear doors.
4) Airtight and Waterproof Stuff Sack for Dirty Clothes
In an effort to prevent our van from smelling like a teenage boy’s room, we use an airtight and waterproof dry bag for dirty clothes. It works great for keeping odors contained and separating clean clothes from dirty laundry.
New to mountain biking? Here’s exactly what you need to wear on every ride.
However, it’s important to note that since the bag is airtight and waterproof, clothes won’t dry and will just get stinkier as the days wear on, so don’t wait too long to do laundry.
5) A Bike Security System
This is kind of a no-brainer, but definitely a mountain bike van essential. Unless your bikes are stored inside (which again, takes up a lot of valuable space), having a secure lock system is vital. You don’t want to risk having a thief pluck your most prized possession of the back of your van, do you?
The best bike security system is a big heavy chain that is secured to a fixed point on the vehicle like the bumper or tow point. Make sure the chain is long enough to secure all bikes.
If you’re looking to spend a little less, opt for two different types of locks like a thick cable lock paired with a U lock.
Other tips for keeping your bikes safe and secure on the back of your van are:
- Park on busy streets in urban areas
- If possible, have one person stay in the van while the other does grocery shopping or errands
- Keep the bikes on the rack when you’re sleeping rather than locked to a tree or fence
- Register your bike on the manufacturer’s website in case it does get stolen
Important note: It’s important to not drive with the locks on the bikes because the chain or cable can damage bike frame material, especially if your bikes are carbon. Only lock them up when you are parked or camping.
6) A Comprehensive Bike Tool Kit and the Knowledge of How To Use It
I’m lucky enough to be partnered with a bike mechanic who does most (ok, all…) of our bike maintenance, but I still recognize the importance of owning bike tools and knowing how to use them. You don’t want to be camped miles away from a bike mechanic with epic weekend mountain biking plans only to realize that your brakes need a serious bleed.
A solid set of mountain bike tools is essential for mountain bike van life. There are lots of tool kits available, but if you’re just looking for the true essentials, here’s what to bring:
- Brake bleed kit (specific for Sram or Shimano)
- A pump that will seat tubeless tires + extra sealant
- Hex and torx wrench sets
- Rubbing alcohol to clean rotors of road grime
- Chain lube and cloths
- Waterproof grease
- Loctite in case bolts rattle loose
7) A Spare Parts Box
When it comes to bike parts, the saying “if you don’t have it, you don’t need it” doesn’t exactly apply. Tire walls get slashed, derailleur hangers break, and brake pads get worn down to nothing. If you’re not prepared, your mountain bike road trip could be sidelined real quick.
So it’s important to have a box of spare parts tucked away in your mountain bike van for ‘just in case’. Of course, the best thing to do is make sure your bike is in tip-top shape before you head out on the road.
We always like to carry:
- 1-2 spare tires
- Spare brake pads
- Derailleur hanger for each bike (they’re bike-specific)
- A full derailleur if you have one
- Master chain links
- Shift cable and housing
- Extra grips
- An old spare saddle if you have one
- And if you have the space, a spare wheel set
As I mentioned above, there is no one right way to set up your mountain bike van, but we have found that these seven essentials make our road trips smooth, easy, and most importantly fun!
Do you live the a mountain bike van life? If so what are your essential tips and strategies while on the road?
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