Bike carrier for 1980's Ford Econoline Dayvan?

How many bikes?

Personally I'd look at having a bracket manufactured that goes on behind the spare wheel, add some strengthening plates to the door, job done.

Maybe a bar that comes up and the goes across the rear with 2 arms for the bikes, that way you can still open the doors. Use a strap to tie it to the ladder for some extra stability.

Or you can get a towbar (which may come in handy for towing other purchases), and there are bike carriers that fit to them.

thanks all for your tips - its a bit of a tricky one because the position of the ladder and the spare wheel means bolting to either of them wont work as the bikes will stick too far outside the dimensions of the van width.

But towbar rack may be the answer - sadly the most expensive one of course!

<<< i've a GMC safari - it also has the ladder on the rear rhs door - like them all it's just for show as the roof is fibreglass

i just lay my bike inside the van on the bed. simples!

Remember that if you hang them off the back you'll probably need a light board etc anyway.

Depends on the number of bikes really it sounds like you might want to carry a few, a tow-bar mounted one is probably best for >2 bikes.

What about getting a roof bar carrier (the tray the bike sits on, or the bits that Bruce shows above) and mounting it vertically on the door ladder, you'd need to strap from the cross-bar to the ladder to prevent the bikes moving sideways. You'd be able to use the doors as well and wouldn't block the lights, number plate etc.

like this...