Audi A3 (8P) tow bar and bike rack wanted!
Discussion
Hi all
Is anyone selling or can anyone recommend where to get a towbar and bike rack for an Audi A3 8P?
I've been using a rack that sits on the rear window and boot lid but it's starting to damage the glass so looking to get a better solution.
Never had a towbar or bike rack that sits on one so any help would be great!
Thanks
Ps. Also considering a sea sucker - has anyone used these?
Is anyone selling or can anyone recommend where to get a towbar and bike rack for an Audi A3 8P?
I've been using a rack that sits on the rear window and boot lid but it's starting to damage the glass so looking to get a better solution.
Never had a towbar or bike rack that sits on one so any help would be great!
Thanks
Ps. Also considering a sea sucker - has anyone used these?
TomEP said:
What about roof rack and bike carrier, I have one and it is much better to carry bike on. Don't use mine anymore so would be happy to sell it. It only fits 3 dr though
Willing to consider it, mine is a 3 door too, but I don't have a roof rack or fittings to attach. Presume the roof would have to be drilled? Be careful what you go for on these. From memory, the bars differ between Quattro & 2WD because the boot floors are different heights, some 5dr bars will fit 3drs. The tidiest answer is a detachable one which uses a removable flap in the rear valance - which requires a new valence too. However, I've seen fixed bars that fit through the removed flap.
I was quite specific in the bar I wanted on my A3, I needed a flange fitting to mount a trials bike rack, but wanted it removeable albeit undoing a couple of bolts. Ended up with a Trust Towbar which I bought on-line & got my local fitter to fit. Was a little annoyed he used a circular hole drill to make the bumper cut, I've done neater, tighter cuts when fitting bars to old cars before but it still ended up being discrete when removed.
eta - flaps and flange in the same post fnarr fnarr.
I was quite specific in the bar I wanted on my A3, I needed a flange fitting to mount a trials bike rack, but wanted it removeable albeit undoing a couple of bolts. Ended up with a Trust Towbar which I bought on-line & got my local fitter to fit. Was a little annoyed he used a circular hole drill to make the bumper cut, I've done neater, tighter cuts when fitting bars to old cars before but it still ended up being discrete when removed.
eta - flaps and flange in the same post fnarr fnarr.
If you don't have roof rails I would definitely opt for a tow bar mounted carrier - I've used roof mounted for years on various estates and they're fine, assuming you can get them up on the roof! Aside from access issues to car parks etc they don't generally pose a problem but they do knock fuel economy like anything adding drag.
I'm exploring tow bar mounts for our S5 Sportback after using our newly bought roof rails twice and not liking the way they fit (genuine Audi at vast expense) and will probably buy the Audi retrofit kit, which comes in 2 parts - the mechanical bits and the wiring/fitting kit. Small amount of coding that anyone with VCDS can do to disable rear parking sensors when tow bar is in use and to enable trailer wiring is all that's required and no cutting of the bumper on the '5.
Thule do really good tow bar mounted bike carriers and they're scaleable if you need to add more.
I'm exploring tow bar mounts for our S5 Sportback after using our newly bought roof rails twice and not liking the way they fit (genuine Audi at vast expense) and will probably buy the Audi retrofit kit, which comes in 2 parts - the mechanical bits and the wiring/fitting kit. Small amount of coding that anyone with VCDS can do to disable rear parking sensors when tow bar is in use and to enable trailer wiring is all that's required and no cutting of the bumper on the '5.
Thule do really good tow bar mounted bike carriers and they're scaleable if you need to add more.
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