A van for the river: canoes, rafts and paddling gear

A van for the river is mainly about volume

A paddling trip has two parts: the boats and everything else. It is the everything else that tends to be the problem — waterproof barrels, paddles, buoyancy aids, tents, food for a few days, water containers and a box of cookware. A van for the river comes in handy even when you hire the boats on site and only need to transport a group's worth of gear.

Inflatable rafts and canoes

Inflatable boats are the ideal cargo. A packed raft or inflatable canoe takes up less space than two large travel bags and hardly matters in terms of weight. Several of them will fit in the van's cargo area, along with pumps and paddles.

Fibreglass and plastic boats

A rigid canoe won't fit inside; it is around five metres long. These are carried on roof racks or on a trailer. In that case you use the van to carry the trip's base camp — the gear, food and barrels — and deal with the boats separately. Even that usually saves one whole extra trip.

Paddleboards and smaller craft

A deflated paddleboard in a backpack is as easy to carry as a sleeping bag. An inflated board, however, is over three metres long and will only fit in the cargo area lying flat and without any other load on top. If you are carrying inflated boards, take this into account when choosing the size of the van.

How many people and how many things

A van is a goods vehicle, not a bus. The number of seats in the cab varies by model. For a larger group, one vehicle for the gear and cars for the crew works well.

What to prepare in advance

Pack the barrels and dry bags at home, not on the riverbank. On site it always turns out that something is missing, and the nearest shop tends to be a few kilometres away. Go through the list with the whole crew.

Agree on transport between the put-in and the take-out. The classic paddler's problem: the vehicle stays at the start and you finish thirty kilometres downstream. Plan in advance who will move the vehicle and when.

Mileage within the Czech Republic is unlimited, so you don't have to keep an eye on the drives between the put-in and take-out points. The vehicles are driven only within the Czech Republic and include a valid Czech motorway vignette in the price.

All you need at pick-up is two valid identity documents, one of which is a category B driving licence. You don't pay a deposit and nothing is blocked on your card, which comes in handy when you have already spent money on your campsite stay. You can browse the vans in our fleet.

The wet return is the main task

Don't put anything wet directly on the floor

After the trip, absolutely everything is wet. Buoyancy aids, shoes, packed boats and tents. Take a waterproof tarpaulin or an old rubberised groundsheet and spread it over the load floor before you start loading. It will save you cleaning and you will return the vehicle in good order.

Sand and mud

Sand from the riverbank gets everywhere and is hard to vacuum up. Pack shoes and wetsuits in a bag or a crate, not loose among the other things. The vehicle is returned in the same condition in which you picked it up, and it is easier to clean as you go than all at once.

Let it dry as soon as possible

A wet tent and buoyancy aids shut in the cargo area overnight will smell. If you are not returning until the next day, open the van and spread the things out. Ideally, take them out as soon as you get home and let them dry.

Loading and driving

Heavy things at the bottom and at the front

Barrels of food and water containers belong against the front wall and on the floor. Packed boats and soft bags go on top. Secure the load with straps so it doesn't slide forward when you brake — a full barrel weighs enough to do damage.

Carry paddles and poles along the wall

Long items must not roll around freely. Lay paddles, poles and oars along the side wall and tie them down. A loose paddle can force its way forward into the cab under full braking.

Deal with water protection in the cab too

A wet wetsuit leaves a mark on the seat. Before you sit down, change into something dry or put a towel on the seat. Wet buoyancy aids and shoes don't belong in the cab; their place is in the back on the tarpaulin.

Stand the drinking water container on the floor and tie it down. A full twenty-litre container weighs over twenty kilos and will slide when you brake. Carry containers upright with the cap at the top so they don't leak.

Walk the track down to the water first

Tracks to the riverbank tend to be narrow, soft and without space to turn. Before you drive down, walk over and see how you will get back up. A van stuck in a waterlogged meadow can ruin the whole weekend.

The van is returned with a full tank to the same location where you picked it up, at any time — we operate non-stop. You can leave your own car parked at the location free of charge for the duration of the rental. You will find more answers in the FAQ section.