Recomend me a 4 bike cycle carrier (tow bar hitched)
Discussion
Following on from this weekends first successful family outing with all members on their own bikes, as opposed to Mum & Dad sprinting after the little ones on foot, can anyone recommend a 4 bike carrier suitable for tow bar mounting?
Looking to fit to a Nissan Pathfinder(no rear mounted spare) so probably doesn't need to be 4x4 specific.
Need to be able to lower the carrier with bikes fitted out of the way to open the boot when required, as opposed to having to unload the bikes every time I need access etc.
Been looking at these: http://www.maxxraxx.co.uk/bike_racks_car_cycle_car...
Anyone got any experience of these, easy enough to fit / use?
Will the electrical fittings on my flange plate get in the way of fitting the carrier?
Being a tight-fisted Scotsman anyone flogging anything similar 2nd hand?
Looking to fit to a Nissan Pathfinder(no rear mounted spare) so probably doesn't need to be 4x4 specific.
Need to be able to lower the carrier with bikes fitted out of the way to open the boot when required, as opposed to having to unload the bikes every time I need access etc.
Been looking at these: http://www.maxxraxx.co.uk/bike_racks_car_cycle_car...
Anyone got any experience of these, easy enough to fit / use?
Will the electrical fittings on my flange plate get in the way of fitting the carrier?
Being a tight-fisted Scotsman anyone flogging anything similar 2nd hand?
I bought a 4-bike Mottez rack like this: http://shop.grahamgoode.com/4-bike-cycle-carrier-r...
I didn't like the look of the "hang off" type racks as they are really only suitable for men's adult road bikes. If you try and put a women's-framed bike, or a steeply raked MTB on there, they will hang off it some really odd angles.
Assembly and first fitting took a few hours. Fitting now takes about 2 mins as it just hooks over the towbar and one handle clamps it in place. Loading the bikes can take a little while as they are very close together (I now tend to take the pedals off, as it makes it quicker and helps reduce scratches)
It's very secure in transit. You can almost forget it is there. And it tips to allow boot access.
I didn't like the look of the "hang off" type racks as they are really only suitable for men's adult road bikes. If you try and put a women's-framed bike, or a steeply raked MTB on there, they will hang off it some really odd angles.
Assembly and first fitting took a few hours. Fitting now takes about 2 mins as it just hooks over the towbar and one handle clamps it in place. Loading the bikes can take a little while as they are very close together (I now tend to take the pedals off, as it makes it quicker and helps reduce scratches)
It's very secure in transit. You can almost forget it is there. And it tips to allow boot access.
I have a maxxraxx - on which I try to squeeze 5 bikes! (it is the 5 bike version though, so fair enough)
They have several issues - the armature really isn't long enough, the tightening straps aren't long enough, the bikes are a pain to get on and, as has been said, ladies/kids bikes hang at odd angles (meaning the pedals are bound to stick into one of the other bikes) or you need a bar that connects between the seat and the stem. Also, one of the tightening bolts broke after the first few uses meaning I now have to use an old screwdriver to tighten it all together.
If I only needed to carry 4 bikes I would get a platform mount, hands down.
The flange plate they supply should work with the electrical connections though.
They have several issues - the armature really isn't long enough, the tightening straps aren't long enough, the bikes are a pain to get on and, as has been said, ladies/kids bikes hang at odd angles (meaning the pedals are bound to stick into one of the other bikes) or you need a bar that connects between the seat and the stem. Also, one of the tightening bolts broke after the first few uses meaning I now have to use an old screwdriver to tighten it all together.
If I only needed to carry 4 bikes I would get a platform mount, hands down.
The flange plate they supply should work with the electrical connections though.
We are looking at the Atera Strada DL version, because it can pull away from the back of the car to allow the boot to open without having to remove the bikes or bracket.
Latches really well and easily on to the towbar, which means the wife will use it even when I am not around.
www.roofbox.co.uk
V.
Latches really well and easily on to the towbar, which means the wife will use it even when I am not around.
www.roofbox.co.uk
V.
VEX said:
We are looking at the Atera Strada DL version, because it can pull away from the back of the car to allow the boot to open without having to remove the bikes or bracket.
Latches really well and easily on to the towbar, which means the wife will use it even when I am not around.
www.roofbox.co.uk
V.
I have this and its simply awesome. The Thule equivalent just tilts so whilst you can still access the boot of your car, its very awkward. With the Strada, you can properly access the boot. You have to buy the 4th bike adapter separately but in total, its the best couple of hundred quid i've spent, its superbly engineered. There are some decent videos of it on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6spSWoezqc) 2m46s in shows you what I mean.Latches really well and easily on to the towbar, which means the wife will use it even when I am not around.
www.roofbox.co.uk
V.
Also ordered mine from roofbox.co.uk and they were spot on
djone101 said:
I've got a Mottez 4 bike tow-bar carrier in the shed - we had it on the back of our Pathfinder (now sold) but only used it a few times (lazy kids) - I think we paid around £200 for it - I can ship it via work fairly cheaply so drop me a pm if you're interested.
Dave
Dave,Dave
Sounds good, id be interested, tried to PM but got:
"Oops...
Sorry - the recipient doesn't permit emails"
Mike.
I got one from Halfords a couple of weeks ago for £229 iirc. It's under their own Exodus brand, but actually appears to be a rebranded Mottez rack.
It fits to the tow ball very easily, and comfortably takes (at present) my FS MTB, my wife's shopper bike and two 20" kids' bikes, although as has been mentioned, it would be easier to pop the pedals off. The straps are rather fiddly, although plenty long enough, and oddly far more of them than you would ever use!
It does tilt easily out of the way of the boot, even with the opening radius of the rear hatch on an S-Max. Annoyingly, it creaks somewhat. I can't work out why, but it's perfectly solid and sturdy, even at motorway speeds. Just a bit annoying if you've got the radio off and the window open. I may take it back for Halfords to look at after my holiday.
The other annoyance is that there's no way of locking it to your car, so in theory a couple of thieves could just lift it and any attached bikes off your car and onto their own. Particularly annoying is that these racks have a picture of a padlock on the side by a hole that seems to be for a locking pin of some sort. I just made a steel bracket to go round it and lock that via a chain to the mounting hole for a second electrical socket on the tow bar. It's not perfect, but it will certainly discourage opportunists, and also satisfy my insurers!
Despite the weaknesses, I'd still definitely recommend it, but only at the sake price I paid.
It fits to the tow ball very easily, and comfortably takes (at present) my FS MTB, my wife's shopper bike and two 20" kids' bikes, although as has been mentioned, it would be easier to pop the pedals off. The straps are rather fiddly, although plenty long enough, and oddly far more of them than you would ever use!
It does tilt easily out of the way of the boot, even with the opening radius of the rear hatch on an S-Max. Annoyingly, it creaks somewhat. I can't work out why, but it's perfectly solid and sturdy, even at motorway speeds. Just a bit annoying if you've got the radio off and the window open. I may take it back for Halfords to look at after my holiday.
The other annoyance is that there's no way of locking it to your car, so in theory a couple of thieves could just lift it and any attached bikes off your car and onto their own. Particularly annoying is that these racks have a picture of a padlock on the side by a hole that seems to be for a locking pin of some sort. I just made a steel bracket to go round it and lock that via a chain to the mounting hole for a second electrical socket on the tow bar. It's not perfect, but it will certainly discourage opportunists, and also satisfy my insurers!
Despite the weaknesses, I'd still definitely recommend it, but only at the sake price I paid.
BurblingBrownOne said:
djone101 said:
I've got a Mottez 4 bike tow-bar carrier in the shed - we had it on the back of our Pathfinder (now sold) but only used it a few times (lazy kids) - I think we paid around £200 for it - I can ship it via work fairly cheaply so drop me a pm if you're interested.
Dave
Dave,Dave
Sounds good, id be interested, tried to PM but got:
"Oops...
Sorry - the recipient doesn't permit emails"
Mike.
Kermit power said:
The other annoyance is that there's no way of locking it to your car, so in theory a couple of thieves could just lift it and any attached bikes off your car and onto their own. Particularly annoying is that these racks have a picture of a padlock on the side by a hole that seems to be for a locking pin of some sort.
Sounds like it might be for a Kensington Lock?TedMaul said:
VEX said:
We are looking at the Atera Strada DL version, because it can pull away from the back of the car to allow the boot to open without having to remove the bikes or bracket.
Latches really well and easily on to the towbar, which means the wife will use it even when I am not around.
www.roofbox.co.uk
V.
I have this and its simply awesome. The Thule equivalent just tilts so whilst you can still access the boot of your car, its very awkward. With the Strada, you can properly access the boot. You have to buy the 4th bike adapter separately but in total, its the best couple of hundred quid i've spent, its superbly engineered. There are some decent videos of it on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6spSWoezqc) 2m46s in shows you what I mean.Latches really well and easily on to the towbar, which means the wife will use it even when I am not around.
www.roofbox.co.uk
V.
Also ordered mine from roofbox.co.uk and they were spot on
Took it on a 750 mile each way holiday trip this month with 4 on the back - was faultless, and the tilt mechanism is so easy. I did add a couple of D-locks to secure bikes to each other for the journey as extra security
BalhamBadger said:
Sounds like it might be for a Kensington Lock?
No, it's bigger than that. Basically if you could secure a 4" rod in the hole, you'd prevent the safety catch from being disengaged, thus locking the rack to the ball, but there's no obvious way of doing so, as you can't fit a padlock through it, and there's no space anywhere for a D lock out anything similar.j3ffers said:
TedMaul said:
VEX said:
We are looking at the Atera Strada DL version, because it can pull away from the back of the car to allow the boot to open without having to remove the bikes or bracket.
Latches really well and easily on to the towbar, which means the wife will use it even when I am not around.
www.roofbox.co.uk
V.
I have this and its simply awesome. The Thule equivalent just tilts so whilst you can still access the boot of your car, its very awkward. With the Strada, you can properly access the boot. You have to buy the 4th bike adapter separately but in total, its the best couple of hundred quid i've spent, its superbly engineered. There are some decent videos of it on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6spSWoezqc) 2m46s in shows you what I mean.Latches really well and easily on to the towbar, which means the wife will use it even when I am not around.
www.roofbox.co.uk
V.
Also ordered mine from roofbox.co.uk and they were spot on
Took it on a 750 mile each way holiday trip this month with 4 on the back - was faultless, and the tilt mechanism is so easy. I did add a couple of D-locks to secure bikes to each other for the journey as extra security
Hi there,
I'm still looking.Anyone have any experience of these 4 bike towbar mounted carriers?
Saffier IV?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saffier-IV-Towbar-Mounte...
There doesn't seem to be any reviews of them online., bit Half the price of those Altera Strada units (I am Scottish).
I'm still looking.Anyone have any experience of these 4 bike towbar mounted carriers?
Saffier IV?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saffier-IV-Towbar-Mounte...
There doesn't seem to be any reviews of them online., bit Half the price of those Altera Strada units (I am Scottish).
BurblingBrownOne said:
Hi there,
I'm still looking.Anyone have any experience of these 4 bike towbar mounted carriers?
Saffier IV?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saffier-IV-Towbar-Mounte...
There doesn't seem to be any reviews of them online., bit Half the price of those Altera Strada units (I am Scottish).
You dont say how old your kids are or what size bikes they have. Although this carrier adjusts for different frame sizes, if you look at the places where the wheels rest, these are not adjustable and seem set, understandably for adult wheelbases. The Strada has adjustable wheel chocks in two ways. They move along the bars of the carrier so you can slide the chocks out to meet the wheels, but you can also take them out and put them in backwards so they push inwards against the wheels for smaller wheelbased kids bikes, if that makes sense?I'm still looking.Anyone have any experience of these 4 bike towbar mounted carriers?
Saffier IV?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saffier-IV-Towbar-Mounte...
There doesn't seem to be any reviews of them online., bit Half the price of those Altera Strada units (I am Scottish).
If anyone is interested I went with the Saffier IV Towbar Mounted Tilting 4 Bike Rack / Four Cycle Carrier.
So far so good, 2 x adults Mt Bikes and 2 x kids bikes fit on well.
Tilts as required to get access to boot, can get access re opening rear window on Pathfinder without tilting if clever where I position the bikes.
No squeaks or rattles, seems secure and has survived first trip well.
Its is a heavy B*****d though and takes up a fair bit of room in the garage when not fitted.
So far so good, 2 x adults Mt Bikes and 2 x kids bikes fit on well.
Tilts as required to get access to boot, can get access re opening rear window on Pathfinder without tilting if clever where I position the bikes.
No squeaks or rattles, seems secure and has survived first trip well.
Its is a heavy B*****d though and takes up a fair bit of room in the garage when not fitted.
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