Interior mounted mountain bike

I plan to take a mountain bike centric trip out west this fall to UT and CO from MD, and hitting trails along the way. I have a hitch mounted 1up rack, but there will be times when I will want to secure the bike inside the 4R. Additionally, I hope to sleep inside the 4R as often as possible. I have just seen some pictures with a floor mount for the front fork with the front tire removed. Which makes this most feasible for trying to sleep inside with the bike inside. Looks like one could orient the floor mount in line with the bike frame (or angled slightly) and therefore the wide handlebars would be inline with the frame instead of perpendicular with the frame and conserve space. Does anyone here have experience with this type of interior setup? Thanks!

 

Sleeping in the back with a bike? That may be a challenge.
You’d probably be better off with a minivan or a Transit.

 

I have a couple of Kuat Dirtbag fork mounts on a piece of 80/20 channel that works well for keeping the bikes inside. I've never slept in back with a bike, but the bars are up and out of the way. I think the pedal is more in the way than the bar.

 

I did not think about the sleep side pedal, but having it up and forward should leave ample room for my legs. I have had the bike in the back once before laying down with the front tire off and it pretty much took up the entire rear. Definitely a much smaller space than my Suburban. I would gladly take the Suburban, but it is a 2002 with 230,000 miles on it and I don't know if I can trust it for a 5,000 mile round trip at this point.

 

It’s not like the width of the fork gives a lot of triangulation but it’s something. I worry that if you install the fork mount parallel to the frame the bike will fall over in a turn. Instead why not install the fork mount the normal way and when you put the bike inside, loosen the stem and spin the handlebar so it’s parallel to the frame. Only takes 10 seconds.

 

I was also wondering about the stability of having the fork parallel. I like your idea of just loosening the stem if the width of the handle bars present a problem. I just thought about the possibility of mounting the bike internally late last night and have not given it much thought. Looks like a great option to secure the bike. But it may be a challenge to sleep in there with bike inside. I will check the spacing this evening. Thanks!

 

I’ve utilized your setup for years while biking in Moab. Driving a 99 4Runner and now a 2013 4Runner trail. No need for a fork mount. Do like you said, align the handle bars with the frame, drop the seat. I use a strap around the bike frame and through the latch for the seat, and cinch it tight. Use a rag under the fork to keep from wearing into the carpet. I place the bike on the passenger side to keep the drive train away from my sleeping bag. Plenty of room , but I’m only 5’6”. If in Moab be sure to ride Captain Ahab, Porcupine Rim, & the Whole Enchilada.

 

Awesome! Glad to hear from someone that has done this! So, you have the fork forward in the 4R! I will have to check that out! I would think it would be easier to roll the bike in and out with the rear tire forward. I plan to keep the bike on the 1up rack when possible, but for security at times to have it inside. Thanks!

I am 5' 11" and plan to remove the lower rear seats for this trip. I should have plenty of space. I'm not overlanding! Town to town, trailhead to trailhead, and grub to pub!

With the lower rear seats removed, it looks like it might be possible to drop the front fork down to the floor board with the handlebar flush with the rear of the front passenger seat. Possible options!

I plan to hit all of those mentioned trails, plus Fruita and possibly down to St George / Hurricane. Some trails in AR / Bentonville I want to hit either to or from MD. Really looking forward to this trip!

 

When I built my storage drawers for the 4R, I deliberately built them in two pieces so that I could remove the left hand side drawer and use a fork mount to carry my bike inside the 4R. I also built a fork mount carrier for hauling my bike on the roof of the 4R. Both systems are pretty solid and I have carried my bikes with no issues on each.

 

Well done! Looks good!

 

What are you guys riding?

Children’s bikes?

There is no way in hell my 29er would fit in the back with enough room for me to sleep next to it.

 

Ha! I have not tried to put it in there in a upright position with the front tire off and the seat dropper down. My bike also is a 29er / large frame - Yeti SB130. If it does fit in there upright, a bike is not very wide to potentially sleep in there!

 

I sleep in my truck with my bike 2 - 3 nights a week.

I have a 2023 4Runner and I keep my 58 cm 2003 Trek 5500 full carbon bike in US Postal livery in the back of my truck. I have lots of experience with this. There is no need for any sort of bike rack. Remove the front wheel of the bike, lower the saddle if necessary, and back it into the truck with the rear seats folded down. The rear tire will abut the back of the bottom of the folded seat and the front forks will come to rest on the floor. There is a tie-down metal hoop on the floor of the corner of the truck near the forks. Attach a bungee cord to it and wrap it around the handlebars of the bike. Then take another bungee cord and it goes around the rear seat passenger grab handle and then down to the frame of the bike. Voilà. Add a couple of cloths between the saddle and the roof and the forks and the floor if you like. That's it.

For sleeping I have a roll-up futon from Dan's Futons on Ebay. I am 6' 3" tall and 200 pounds and I sleep very comfortably next to my bike. I removed the bottom of the driver's side rear seat (two 14 mm bolts) and stick it on the front passenger's floor when I'm sleeping. I put down a couple of yoga mats beneath the futon for added comfort. I have plenty of room next to the bike.

I probably have 40 nights sleeping like this in this truck and in fact I'm going to sleep in the back of my 4Runner tonight!

Again, there's no need for a bike rack. I've been doing this for years and have never used one.

 

I totally missed this thread when it was new.

Sounds like an epic trip, how was it??

 

I set my 4R up for the bike to be stowed inside for a 20 day trip out west from MD to Grand Junction, CO & Moab, UT with stops and rides along the way. I have a 1UP rack, but wanted to be able to secure the bike inside for theft prevention primarily and be able to sleep inside. I will upload some pictures in a bit, uploading the pictures from the phone to the computer is very slow for some reason.

I completely removed the rear seats which also creates a perfect well for the rear tire to drop down. Take off the front tire, drop the seat, and roll it in backwards behind the drivers seat, bungee cord the rear tire to the headrest, placed the front fork in a floor mount fork holder. I cut a hole in two tennis balls to put on the end of the handlebars (really only needed on the window side plus a rag) to protect the window if contacted. I mounted the fork mount on a 2"x4" which did not work well because it would pitch rearward a little bit (the 2"x4" was not fixed to the floor). There is no forward movement since the rear tire is abutting the back of the front drivers seat. For the next trip I will mount the fork mount on a 1'x1' piece of plywood (like a plate) to keep it from moving. Ironically after all of this trouble I only kept the bike inside the 4R for the first drive and first campsite sleep. Otherwise it was on the bike rack for the remainder of the 20 day trip.

The interior set up works well, but does compromise space and if really muddy or wet would be an additional inconvenience. When in town and frequenting the local bike shops I would ask if the bikes were safe on the racks and the response was "yes, if they are locked they will be fine". My rack has 3 locking devices (I lost one) that go thru the wheels and bike rack. I would probably get a cable or chain lock in the future for additional security. I was going to purchase a cheap fork mount, but my local bike shop owner recommended a top of the line (Rocky Mount - I think) because of fork damage caused by cheaper versions. Another thought would be a molle for the window to protect it from the handlebar if contacted, but I really don't think is necessary. I have read where some have angled the fork / handlebar while inside.

A great option to fully secure the bike and not buy a $730 bike rack, and still sleep inside! But, if not necessary my preference was to use the bike rack and have the additional space inside. I had plenty of space for my stuff, but definitely required more reshuffling of everything with the bike inside. The only time we had security concerns were while in the various towns grabbing a bite and a beer for a couple of hours. No problems encountered.

 

I loved the car camping mountain biking experience. I am 60 - 5'11" 180 lbs and slept great! I slept in the 4R for 17 of the 20 day trip and regretted sleeping in a house for three nights. Hell, I wanted to sleep in my driveway the day I returned home!

 

It was an epic trip! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it! 20 days & 5,400 miles. Car camping is so easy and flexible. Hit mountain bike trails in TN, AR, NM, CO & UT. I biked 16 of the 20 days. Fantastic scenery, cool towns, some hiking, hit some National Parks, good food, cold beer, good company and good weather fortunately (09/18 - 10/08).

A buddy from SC with a Revel Sprinter van (the mothership) joined me in VA. Then another buddy in a mini van from CA joined us a week later in Durango, CO. Then a week later five other buddies flew into Grand Junction, CO for six days of riding in Fruita, CO and Moab, UT. Plus two friends that reside in CO joined in for two days. I loved the randomness of our drive out. No real plan, no schedule, not knowing what day it was, pulling into a pitch black campsite at night and not knowing what the sunrise would bring - a very liberating experience. I have been busting my ass for 40 years (like we all have), raised three boys and it felt great to taste the possibilities! The ride back kinda sucked since I drove from Moab, UT to Frederick, MD in approximately 37 hours.

The 4R was great and a trip like this was one of my reasons for wanting a 4R. I did 4W up a jeep trail outside of Crested Butte, CO, but did not have the time to 4W in Moab at all - next time!

I am planning to repeat this journey again next September to the MT, ID, OR, WY area. My son will be a junior at Montana State in Bozeman this Fall and my wife wants to spend a week out there (she will fly). I am already excited about that trip. The mountain bike trails are further apart in this region, but that is the beauty of car camping - putting rubber and boots on the ground to see and experience this great country of ours!

 

Sounds like a great trip.
Thoughts on just using your 1Up with a Kryptonite Forgettaboutit chain lock??

 

Yes - definitely! Some extra added security would help with the peace of mind. Mountain bikes are very expensive!

I don't ski as often I use to and have become intrigued with making a winter mtn bike trip to AZ to escape the cold. Although it has been a mild winter here in MD this year. Where is the best place to ride during the winter in AZ?

 

Yes, they are.
I have the 1Up rack and 1Up's through the wheel lock. Will probably get the Kryptonite as well.

 

#1 - Bed consisted of a piece of plywood for leveling, 1/2" exercise pad, and a Better Habitat foam mattress. #2 - Bike & mattress! Rear seats completely removed!

 

I think Phoenix or Tucson. There are numerous other places in the state but I think Phoenix or Tucson are warmest. Tucson has an extensive trail system with many of them linked. A person could ride for days. Temp yesterday was 70.
I have a friend in Sedona who bikes. Beautiful area but 10- 20 degrees cooler. Flagstaff is another option but again, cooler.

 

The wife and I did a Fall trip to Prescott and Sedona approximately five years ago. I did a good ride in Prescott one day and short ride in Sedona with my wife so it was pretty tame! Beautiful area!

 

Great!