This is our bike, size S at the back and M in the front.

This is our bike, size S at the back and M in the front.

This is our bike, size S at the back and M in the front.

I would suggest saving some chunks of polystyrene packing from computer boxes or similar and making some wedges. Then try to identify some potential fixing points for long bungees going both sides. Also chocks front and back to stop it rolling forwards or back. May indeed need to take pedals off.

Hello Janice,

It looks like there's room to turn the front where through 90 degrees. This will shorten the length overall. You can also turn stoker bars to lie along the frame. If you can manage it, try putting it in tail first. Much easier to take out front wheel first. You might turn the pilot bars once the wheel is at 90. This might depend on door clearance at the back, but give it a try.
A tape measure will save a lot of pointless tinkering. We get our tandem in a SWB Vito by doing this, so you might be ok on length. You could slip back wheel between front seats to gain a few inches, unless you've pannier racks etc. Attaching pannier rack is less bother than the full S&S decoupling though, especially as you have your home with you, and should have time to do it.

Good luck! Being able to transport your tandem opens up many opportunities that can be hard to access without a van, especially if riding from home is unappealing for whatever reason. You could even take it to Orkney, our favourite place. 
 

Have you considered how to secure it overnight? Have a look at the towing loops: they might make a secure attachment with a decent cable and a D Lock.

 

Best wishes,

Neil

We put our tandem in the back of our MPV (Kia Sedona) which I think is a similar size to your Transit.  We can remove the third row seats and the 2nd row middle seat for bike transportation.  I made up a bracket for the forks from some wood and bits of angle iron so that we can take off the front wheel and let the bike rest on the bracket, secured via the quick release.  Sorry I don't have any photos, but can take some if you want to see our arrangement.

 

We use a length of floorboard secured to the bumper to just wheel the bike up and then use straps on the stoker handlebars to fix the bike to the two outer middle row seat headrests.

 

Keeping the bike in more or less one piece makes it very quick and simple to load / unload and it is kept dry and secure inside the vehicle.  If you have space to do this, it would be my preferred option.

 

We did originally have a Helton rack on our Ford Fiesta which was actually very good, but we found loading the MPV a much simpler process, particularly after we converted the bike to electric assist.  This added a fair bit of weight and for my ageing body, it's definitely easier to wheel the machine up a ramp than lift it on to a carrier!

Hi, assuming the length of your tandem is short enough to fit in the van, a simple idea that means no strap or tie down points needed, just front wheel removal.  It has the benefit of using an EU tested and approved system so in the unfortunate event of a bump you won't be wearing your tandem as a necklace, and insurance not invalidated by home made fixings.

We use a Saris rail and front wheel clamp which is designed to bolt transversely to the floor of a pickup or van.  By using QR fittings (pic 3 - my old roofrack carrier) the clamp can be removed quickly and easily so no trip hazard when camping!

Pic 2 shows a section of rail bolted to our motorhome floor, not a trip hazard so left in situ.

I have my main tandem carrier mounted on a raised plywood frame, pic 1, but this is because we have a tubus low rider front rack, so the fork dropouts don't get near the floor so our mounting needed raising.

Hi, assuming the length of your tandem is short enough to fit in the van, a simple idea that means no strap or tie down points needed, just front wheel removal.  It has the benefit of using an EU tested and approved system so in the unfortunate event of a bump you won't be wearing your tandem as a necklace, and insurance not invalidated by home made fixings.

We use a Saris rail and front wheel clamp which is designed to bolt transversely to the floor of a pickup or van.  By using QR fittings (pic 3 - my old roofrack carrier) the clamp can be removed quickly and easily so no trip hazard when camping!

Pic 2 shows a section of rail bolted to our motorhome floor, not a trip hazard so left in situ.

I have my main tandem carrier mounted on a raised plywood frame, pic 1, but this is because we have a tubus low rider front rack, so the fork dropouts don't get near the floor so our mounting needed raising.

Pics out of sync.  Before anyone asks our tandem is carried transversely in the sealed boot "GARAGE" of a motorhome along with a motorbike, so no risk to passengers when mounted 90 degrees off it's intended and tested configuration.