How To Build Your Own Bike to Van Axle Holder/Hitch | For Bolt Through Axle

If you are anything like me everything has to have a place, especially in the back of the van! I get so fed up when driving… You hit a corner and everything in the back of the van crashes together 🤬 This bike to van axle stand is the perfect solution to holding your bike safely in transit.

The axle stand or bike hitch is not a new invention, however I have found it really difficult to buy one at a sensible price that actually fits all of my various bikes, so have decided to make my own at a fraction of the cost. For those that are unfamiliar this stand basically replaces the front wheel of your bike and holds it in an upright position without the need for straps in the rear of your pick up, van or even shed.

You Need For Your Axle Stand

• Metal Pipe of the correct diameter of your axle (I have used copper pipe)

• Saddle Clamps x 2

• Screws x 4

• Screw Driver

• Hack Saw or Pipe Cutter

Optional

• Wood Block or Spacer

• Additional Spacers

• Smaller Diameter Pipe

• Finishing Trim

Building Your Axle Stand:

Firstly cut down your pipe to match the width of your forks (front hub size). As I have various bikes with different size forks I have cut it down to the smallest width I have and will use spacers for the bigger bikes.

I have used a block of wood as a spacer to lift my axle stand off the floor to allow space for the damping controls on the underside of my suspension forks. This should be no wider than the pipe you have cut down.

I have also covered my wood in matching rubber and black plastic trim to be in keeping with my van interior

Finally decide exactly where you need the stand and screw down through the saddle clamps and wooden spacer into the van floor, ensuring the pipe is sitting in the right position… This can be fiddly!

Then you are ready to go! Using a small bungee i found was the best way to keep the spare front wheel in check.

Troubleshooting and Tips:

• Double and triple check the positioning of the stand so that all doors can close etc with the bike in there!

• If like me you have several bikes, getting them to all fit the stand can take some engineering… For example I have a 20mm axle DH bike and a 15mm Axle enduro bike. I found an aluminium factory from ebay. They offered several options for aluminium tube inner and exterior diameters. I managed to find an aluminium insert to my copper pipe that was a 15mm inner diameter but a 20mm outer diameter so I could just add this in when using a different bike.

Thanks for reading and happy axle standing! Feel free to get in touch via the contact page with any queries.