on an x3 you'll easily get 3, with some judicious moving you should get 4 ( I know getting the middle ones in is a faf)
I'm putting 4 on the roof and one on the back of a Sedona hang on type (front wheels off all on hang on, handlebars rotated though 90 degrees )
have got a witter towbar mounted ( like the pendle above ) which used on trailer tent but cant 't get it to work weight wise with the van noseweight needing to be about 75 K and the hitch limit being 85 )
you could be ok for a couple of bikes there if vans light, as I belive the X3 has a 100kg limit
------------- 2022
North and West wales grand tour (in T5)
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2023
Cotswolds
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Quote: Originally posted by checkley1973 on 25/3/2015
Towbar mounted not feasible for 4 bikes and a van, you will end up overloading the nose weight of your car.
Not necessarily ... I've carried 3 adult bikes with the MaxxRaxx whilst towing.
Just depends on your noseweight calculations.
As I said earlier ... MaxxRaxx will advise accurately for your rig.
For most 4 bikes in or on the caravan will take a massive chunk of payload away. Don't forget if they are on the A frame, on the back of van or inside the van with the carabike, all of that weight comes out of your caravan payload.
If on the tow bar don;t forget the turning circle may be reduced
As for putting 60 kilos+ on the far back of a caravan then i guess you would need to ensure the structural capability of any UK caravan would take that plus loading of your van elsewhere would need to be spot on. I certainly wouldn't want any hint of a snake with that much weight that high and that far away from the pivot points personally!
Quote: Originally posted by ryandlo on 26/3/2015
Thanks Checkley - how many can you get on a roof adults / kids ? Also did you have BMW fitted bars or just thule ?
Hi, we can easily get all 4 on roof, 2 adults and 2 kids. Our kids are similar ages to yours at 6 and 9. We had an X3 before the X5 and we got 4 on that too no problem. Best advice I can give form experience is to place the two kids bikes in the middle ( lighter to lift and lean over with ) and place the adult bikes on the outside. This also means you can get the bikes close to each other and its tall against small so handlebars don't clash.
We use the Thule wing bars with x4 591 cycle carriers, the wing bars are great as no whistling from them and we like to have the pana roof open sometimes too weather permitting.
When travelling we use the caravan step to help with reaching the bikes ;-)
Quote: Originally posted by checkley1973 on 25/3/2015
Towbar mounted not feasible for 4 bikes and a van, you will end up overloading the nose weight of your car.
Not necessarily ... I've carried 3 adult bikes with the MaxxRaxx whilst towing.
Just depends on your noseweight calculations.
As I said earlier ... MaxxRaxx will advise accurately for your rig.
I don't need maxxraxx to advise me, I can add up all on my own.
The rack weighs in at 12.3KG
Average adult bike is 15KG x2
Average kids bike is 11KG x2
Average nose weight for a van is 75KG
Total = 139.3KG
Max nose weight for an X3 is 75/80KG depending on model.
Quote: Originally posted by checkley1973 on 26/3/2015
We use the Thule wing bars with x4 591 cycle carriers, the wing bars are great as no whistling from them
Just to add to some entirely useless information I got whilst out on my bike, and a user of roof bars. Aero or square bars only make a noticeable noise from inside the car when there is nothing else on the car (bike racks/bikes/roof box). It's all about the airflow and what and how it disturbs it, IMO.
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Quote: Originally posted by katycymru on 27/3/2015
Quote: Originally posted by checkley1973 on 26/3/2015We use the Thule wing bars with x4 591 cycle carriers, the wing bars are great as no whistling from them
Just to add to some entirely useless information I got whilst out on my bike, and a user of roof bars. Aero or square bars only make a noticeable noise from inside the car when there is nothing else on the car (bike racks/bikes/roof box). It's all about the airflow and what and how it disturbs it, IMO.
You are right in that although I had an issue with aerobars whistling on the x5, even with the bikes on. What you said re airflow was spot on, it's a bit hit and miss as the car has an input too.
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Topic: Bike Racks
