Towbar carrier for 4 bikes, 2 of which are kids bikes...

Towbar carrier for 4 bikes, 2 of which are kids bikes...

Author
Discussion

TedMaul

Original Poster:

2,092 posts

212 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
As per title (kids bikes are 12" and 16" wheel so v small), plenty of 2&3 bike carriers, not that many 4. Thule G6 928 looks the business, but not exactly cheap, especially when you add in cost of towbar and 4th rack, but not much deaere than buying 3 new racks for the roof (I have a single one for my bike) but am wanting to take all 4 bikes now and need all the boot space for other gear.

Any recommendations/experiances appreciated.

Ta

Mike

(apologies I wont answer any replies for a while, i'm not being rude, just one of those weeks)

Catchme

168 posts

212 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
The Thule is heavy, expensive, and very good. You don't see many second-hand ones on ebay either. I wanted a platform-type carrier (i.e. the bikes stand on their wheels), so didn't look at the hanger-type. Seen plenty of hangers around with 4 bikes (Saris do a good one).

I like my Thule....

R6dug

342 posts

190 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
My Dad has the Halfords 4 bike carrier and is pretty good

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

Kermit power

28,635 posts

212 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
There are loads on Ebay second hand.

Unless you've got a 4x4 with a protruding spare wheel on the door, in which case you're very severely limited!

TedMaul

Original Poster:

2,092 posts

212 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
Know what you mean about hang ons, I dont think it would work for my daughters 12" wheel bike either.

That Halfords one is stonking good value. It doesnt tilt by the looks of it so i'd have to put some thought into packing the car but its about 1/2 the price of the Thule. But i do have Thule gear for the roof. 10 Years old and its as good as the day I bought it and its survived 3 different cars....

Decisions, decisions!

Kermit power

28,635 posts

212 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
There's also Pendle, who are designed and made in the UK, if you're inclined to support our economy. smile

I'm waiting on a bonus (I hope) before I get one, not least because they seem to be the only manufacturer who also produce a version which accommodates the aforementioned 4x4 spare wheel.

djone101

942 posts

283 months

Friday 18th May 2012
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I have the Mottez one which is now available from Tesco here it's very solid, good build quality though it is pretty heavy - It says you can tilt it with the bikes on. I don't see any normal human being able to handle that though. I hang it on the back of our Pathfinder which has opening upper glass on the back door so access isn't such a problem.

CoolC

4,213 posts

213 months

Friday 18th May 2012
quotequote all
The Atera Strada is seen as the dog's danglies of rear ball mounted racks.

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php...

Light, tilts, adjustable etc. but VERY expensive.

TedMaul

Original Poster:

2,092 posts

212 months

Friday 18th May 2012
quotequote all
CoolC said:
The Atera Strada is seen as the dog's danglies of rear ball mounted racks.

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php...

Light, tilts, adjustable etc. but VERY expensive.
That does look the business and cheaper than the thule, but can only carry 3 bikes max, even with an adaptor.

I think its between the halfords one and the Thule (tho the thule one is a few quid cheaper from roofbox)

CoolC

4,213 posts

213 months

Friday 18th May 2012
quotequote all
TedMaul said:
CoolC said:
The Atera Strada is seen as the dog's danglies of rear ball mounted racks.

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php...

Light, tilts, adjustable etc. but VERY expensive.
That does look the business and cheaper than the thule, but can only carry 3 bikes max, even with an adaptor.

I think its between the halfords one and the Thule (tho the thule one is a few quid cheaper from roofbox)
Sorry I linked to the wrong one. Here is the 3 - 4 bike version: http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php...

TedMaul

Original Poster:

2,092 posts

212 months

Friday 18th May 2012
quotequote all
CoolC said:
Sorry I linked to the wrong one. Here is the 3 - 4 bike version: http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php...
Blimey, that looks neat, especially the sliding access mechanism and £100 cheaper than the thule. Now top of the list, thank you!

superlightr

12,842 posts

262 months

Friday 18th May 2012
quotequote all
TedMaul said:
Know what you mean about hang ons, I dont think it would work for my daughters 12" wheel bike either.

That Halfords one is stonking good value. It doesnt tilt by the looks of it so i'd have to put some thought into packing the car but its about 1/2 the price of the Thule. But i do have Thule gear for the roof. 10 Years old and its as good as the day I bought it and its survived 3 different cars....

Decisions, decisions!
we went with the Halfords one in the end. Couldnt justify the cost of the Thule for the amount of use. We have 4 bikes 2 adult and 2 children and they fit fine. East to fit not had any hassle with it.

Silver940

3,961 posts

226 months

Monday 21st May 2012
quotequote all
superlightr said:
TedMaul said:
Know what you mean about hang ons, I dont think it would work for my daughters 12" wheel bike either.

That Halfords one is stonking good value. It doesnt tilt by the looks of it so i'd have to put some thought into packing the car but its about 1/2 the price of the Thule. But i do have Thule gear for the roof. 10 Years old and its as good as the day I bought it and its survived 3 different cars....

Decisions, decisions!
we went with the Halfords one in the end. Couldnt justify the cost of the Thule for the amount of use. We have 4 bikes 2 adult and 2 children and they fit fine. East to fit not had any hassle with it.
Does the halfords one clamp to the tow ball?

superlightr

12,842 posts

262 months

Monday 21st May 2012
quotequote all
Yes - its a hex bolt head that tightens and locks it to the tow ball.

TedMaul

Original Poster:

2,092 posts

212 months

Friday 25th May 2012
quotequote all
So towsure offering a discount on mobile towbar fitting and roofbox offering £70 quid of the Atera DL means I get the 4th bike expansion for free effectively, so have ordered the lot. £600 all in which I think is actually very good value given it should last until i'm too old to pedal. Plus its so much lessle hassle to fit to the car compared to 2 roof bars and 4 bike carriers. So the video makes it seem anyway..

Hope its all done & turns up before Friday as we are off to N wales for the long weekend!

Cheers for the advice and i'll post some feedback once we've used it

CoolC

4,213 posts

213 months

Monday 28th May 2012
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TedMaul said:
Cheers for the advice and i'll post some feedback once we've used it
Please do. I've been concidering getting a towball fitted to my next company car and using one. It's easier than having to get the right bars for each car for the roof carriers.


TedMaul

Original Poster:

2,092 posts

212 months

Monday 28th May 2012
quotequote all
CoolC said:
Please do. I've been concidering getting a towball fitted to my next company car and using one. It's easier than having to get the right bars for each car for the roof carriers.
Ordered it 12pm Friday, arrived 12pm today, well done roofbox and well done TNT. Got home later than planned, but had it set up in 5 mins flat, just like the video. The 4th bike extention took about 5 mins too, would have been less if i'd read the instructions properly about which washer to use where (the biggest washers go on the shortest bolts not the longest)

Very good quality piece of kit, couple of extra features not documented. Number plate retainer is made of 2 small plastic clips, no screws, so you can swap plates in 10 secs, useful if swapping carrier between cars. Wheel chocks that sit in the aluminium tray are reversible - in all the pics they face outwards, which they need to on a 26" wheel bike, but you can knock them out and put them in the other way round which suits smaller wheeled bikes.

I have my Mount Vision, which is an awkward shape frame (2003 model, unsure if its changed) Mrs Mauls WSD Giant, my sons 16" bike, a BMX style kids bike and my daughters 12" 1st bike, all on in no time. Common sense said to put heavier bikes near towball, but it means feeding the arms through the frames of the two bigger bikes to reach the smaller ones. Logisticall, its easier to put the small bikes near the towbar, but its pitch dark now, so I will experiment later.

All in all, great product, great service. Will experiment with bike layout tomorrow if I get time, otherwise I will have to wait until Friday for its maiden voyage to North Wales!!!

CoolC

4,213 posts

213 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
quotequote all
Sounds like the rave reviews were indeed real then wink

It has certainly pricked my ears up as an alternative for when I get my next car.

TedMaul

Original Poster:

2,092 posts

212 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
quotequote all
Sadly, was told today that the 5 day install time for the towbar was optimistic so I wont have it for this weekend, will be June 11th, but summer is here, my youngest has just learnt to ride so its all good!

stuttieboy

1 posts

114 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
quotequote all
TedMaul said:
Ordered it 12pm Friday, arrived 12pm today, well done roofbox and well done TNT. Got home later than planned, but had it set up in 5 mins flat, just like the video. The 4th bike extention took about 5 mins too, would have been less if i'd read the instructions properly about which washer to use where (the biggest washers go on the shortest bolts not the longest)

Very good quality piece of kit, couple of extra features not documented. Number plate retainer is made of 2 small plastic clips, no screws, so you can swap plates in 10 secs, useful if swapping carrier between cars. Wheel chocks that sit in the aluminium tray are reversible - in all the pics they face outwards, which they need to on a 26" wheel bike, but you can knock them out and put them in the other way round which suits smaller wheeled bikes.

I have my Mount Vision, which is an awkward shape frame (2003 model, unsure if its changed) Mrs Mauls WSD Giant, my sons 16" bike, a BMX style kids bike and my daughters 12" 1st bike, all on in no time. Common sense said to put heavier bikes near towball, but it means feeding the arms through the frames of the two bigger bikes to reach the smaller ones. Logisticall, its easier to put the small bikes near the towbar, but its pitch dark now, so I will experiment later.

All in all, great product, great service. Will experiment with bike layout tomorrow if I get time, otherwise I will have to wait until Friday for its maiden voyage to North Wales!!!
Have you got any pictures with the smaller bikes loaded ? On the verge of buying but just want to make sure the kids bikes ( both 16" wheels) will fit,many thanks