If anyone can help - we are looking at carrying 2 bikes with us together with a trailer, which we still need to buy and wonder is it best to carry the bikes on a tow bar rack or to buy bars to go on a trailer?
Quote: Originally posted by Dave + Yvonne on 25/7/2007
If anyone can help - we are looking at carrying 2 bikes with us together with a trailer, which we still need to buy and wonder is it best to carry the bikes on a tow bar rack or to buy bars to go on a trailer?
Yvonne
You can buy bars that sit on the hard top of the Dax/erde from that you attach your singular top loading bike rack,each costs about 20/25 quid,the bars themselves that go over the hardtop cost about 100 notes..
Have a look at the indespension showroom in Bolton.
i would recommend getting a cycle carrier that fits to the car not a trailer, otherwise you are still going to need another cycle carrier for the times that you want to transport your bikes but not the trailer...we have and can thoroughly recommend the cyclemaster supreme bike carrier from towsure, it is suitable for 3/4 bikes, we can carry all 4 bikes (2 adults,2kids) when not towing the trailer but carried 3 (2 adults & 1 kids) at the same time as pulling our trailer. the cyclemaster has a bracket which is fixed to the towing bracket on your car, then you put your towball back on - the cycle bracket stays in place, you just slot the carrier into the bracket when you need to use it. Our trailer also came from towsure - caddy 520 with high side kit. will try to put the links on here later but towsures website is down at the moment..
I bought the Thule Euroclassic for my Previa from Ebay (paid £199). My main reason for buying it was to avoid bikes slapping around behind the car (4 expensive bikes). Also, its a pain in the unmentionables hauling 4 bikes onto the roof of a Previa everytime you go out on a ride. A bit indulgent but set-up time is a couple of mins and the bikes are safe and solid. You'll need to spend £45 to get the 4th bike adaptor.
I'm sure somebody will say that a few bits of foam could have shielded the bikes from knocks but I can't be bothered with the grief and all teh tying up. Keep it simple I say.
I bought the Thule Euroclassic for my Previa from Ebay (paid £199). My main reason for buying it was to avoid bikes slapping around behind the car (4 expensive bikes). Also, its a pain in the unmentionables hauling 4 bikes onto the roof of a Previa everytime you go out on a ride. A bit indulgent but set-up time is a couple of mins and the bikes are safe and solid. You'll need to spend £45 to get the 4th bike adaptor.
I'm sure somebody will say that a few bits of foam could have shielded the bikes from knocks but I can't be bothered with the grief and all teh tying up. Keep it simple I say.
Please also remember that if you are fitting a towbar mountedbike rack that you should subtract the weight of the rack and bikes from the towball weight allowance before adding the weight of a trailer or caravan, the average saloon car will not be able to use both a rack and trailer/caravan as they will take you well over the average recommended 75kg towball weight limit. Saw far too many folks doing this and wondering why they are having problems with pitching. You can also be charged for not loading properly and it is finable and points added to your licence.
If you are going to tow a caravan or trailer then it is better to use a roof mounted bike rack or adapt your trailer to carry the bikes on a roof rack on that. For caravans there are racks available that can be used inside the caravan, if in doubt ask your car/caravan dealership for the correct specs for your vehicles.
Quote: Originally posted by Dave + Yvonne on 25/7/2007
If anyone can help - we are looking at carrying 2 bikes with us together with a trailer, which we still need to buy and wonder is it best to carry the bikes on a tow bar rack or to buy bars to go on a trailer?
Yvonne
This would be the best option as it will not affect the towball weight limit, if you use a towball mounted rack then you need to subtract the weight of that as well as the bikes from the standard 75kg limit on the towball. Most suppliers do not tell you about this as they would probably lose a sale!
Quote: Originally posted by Theclampits on 25/7/2007
Quote: Originally posted by Dave + Yvonne on 25/7/2007
If anyone can help - we are looking at carrying 2 bikes with us together with a trailer, which we still need to buy and wonder is it best to carry the bikes on a tow bar rack or to buy bars to go on a trailer?
Yvonne
You can buy bars that sit on the hard top of the Dax/erde from that you attach your singular top loading bike rack,each costs about 20/25 quid,the bars themselves that go over the hardtop cost about 100 notes..
Have a look at the indespension showroom in Bolton.
Hope that helps.. :)
Just don't buy from Indespension, the same kit is available elsewhere miles cheaper.
Also have a search of the forums, this question popped quite recently. HTH
Buy direct, it's cheaper and they have returned items on their website at reduced prices. I have just bought 2 roof mounted bike racks and saved a lot of money - the packaging was damaged slightly, the rack is as new.
For caravans there are racks available that can be used inside the caravan, if in doubt ask your car/caravan dealership for the correct specs for your vehicles.
papa,
I've been looking for one of these - any idea who makes them or where I can buy one? Nightmare trying to take four bikes with a van, roofbox, and a Freelander to lift them on top of!!
glyn w
------------- Glyn W.
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Topic: Bike racks - can anyone advise?
