Towbar carrier for 4 bikes, 2 of which are kids bikes...
Discussion
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)
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)
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....
I like my Thule....
My Dad has the Halfords 4 bike carrier and is pretty good
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
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!
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!
There's also Pendle, who are designed and made in the UK, if you're inclined to support our economy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php...
Light, tilts, adjustable etc. but VERY expensive.
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.http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php...
Light, tilts, adjustable etc. but VERY expensive.
I think its between the halfords one and the Thule (tho the thule one is a few quid cheaper from roofbox)
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.http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php...
Light, tilts, adjustable etc. but VERY expensive.
I think its between the halfords one and the Thule (tho the thule one is a few quid cheaper from roofbox)
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!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.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!
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.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!
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
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 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!!!
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 thanksVery 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!!!
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