We've just bought a Raclet Quickstop which we should be receiving soon, and now I'm looking for some advice to my bike carrying problem.
When towing the TT I'd like to bring along a couple of bikes, one of which is a heavy electric bike (25kg). It's far to heavy to put on the roof of the car or on top of the TT (I'd never be able to lift it up).
Currently we have a fantastic Thule bike rack that's designed for heavy bikes. It attaches to the tow bar of the car. Obviously though I can't use both at the same time.
I'd wondering if it would be possible to add a tow ball to the back of the Quickstop in order to continue using our existing bike rack. The great advantage here is that once the tent is set up we can then put the bike rack on the car to go off biking. I don't suppose anyone here has ever tried such a thing?
Is it feasible?
Is the trailer chassis strong enough?
Would the extra weight at the back be a problem?
you can get a bike carrier that attaches to the bolts on your towbar so you can still tow the TT, much cheaper than custom fitting a towbar to attach a towball mounted bike carrier.
Before you decide if it can be done, it may be an idea to see how it tows with a weight on the back. Some Pennines had a bike rack that rested on the rear bed support,so it's not a new idea, but they would have been heavier than a qstop so maybe more stable?
surely if its a heavy bike it will alter the balance /noseweight of the trailer and if yours is a lightweight trailer already it will exerberate the problem and not only be illegal but dangerous to .
the only thing i can think of that may help is a channel to take the bike welded across the A frame ,that will push your nose weight down but packing the trailer differently i.e weight at rear could balance it out
Quote: Originally posted by the black fox on 24/4/2012
surely if its a heavy bike it will alter the balance /noseweight of the trailer and if yours is a lightweight trailer already it will exerberate the problem and not only be illegal but dangerous to .
That's really the thrust of my question. The point is I really don't know by how much the added weight will cause such issues. Will the added weight have relatively little consequence on the handling, or will it be dangerous?
I was just hoping that someone here had already tried to add bikes to the back of a small trailer :)
Quote: the only thing i can think of that may help is a channel to take the bike welded across the A frame ,that will push your nose weight down but packing the trailer differently i.e weight at rear could balance it out
I had seen a picture of a trailer tent with a bike rack on the A frame (taking up the place of the luggage box). I've no idea what bike frame they manager to fit.
Currently I don't know the nose weigh of the quickstep, but I suspect that the trailer's own nose weight + rack + bikes will be too much. Counter balancing with weight at the back sounds a bit iffy to me.
Not only that, but my turning circle will be significantly reduced.
i have fitted a plate to the rear of mine,to do just what you want to do.my bike rack clips into a frame which is mounted behind the towball.so i welded a frame to the fc to take another one of the plates.
i can carry 4 bikes on the back,and still get a good nose weight,but i had to remove our wardrobe so i could get weight down low inside the camper.
i have fitted a plate to the rear of mine,to do just what you want to do.my bike rack clips into a frame which is mounted behind the towball.so i welded a frame to the fc to take another one of the plates.
i can carry 4 bikes on the back,and still get a good nose weight,but i had to remove our wardrobe so i could get weight down low inside the camper.
Thanks for that info.
What's the weight of your trailer without the bikes? Is it as light as a Quickstop?
its not putting a bike on a rack at the rear thats the problem in this case ,if you read the original question ,its the fact the the bike before putting a rack on weighs 25kg ,as i said before that amount of weight on a small lightweight trailer i.e the raclet quickstop WILL affect the stability of the unit
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Topic: Adding a tow bar to a trailer tent
