4 bike car carrier advice pls

[Puggit]

My kids (6 and 7) have finally started mastering their 2 wheel bikes - unfortunately we don't live in a great place to let them get out and about so have been using areas that require the car to get to.

So it's time to get a bike carrier for the car. I've got a 12 plate Octavia Estate with roof bars and without towbar if that helps. The rack will be used to take bikes to France as well, so ferry costs are a consideration.

It will need to carry 2 adult hybrid bikes and 2 kids mountain bikes (24").

Any recommendations?

Thanks

[Rolls]

Better to put them on the back (although that will require a tow bar to do safely IMO) - means you'll still have access to the boot, can put a roof box on the top if needed for your trips to France, and also means you don't need to pay extra for over height transport on the ferry / train?

[DocJH]

I have a Thule 973 which takes 4 bikes. It's a very solid, if a bit heavy, piece of kit.

[twazzock]

Apparently Witter is a good brand for the tow bar racks too.

Looking at tow bar racks as seems less of a ballache getting them on/off compared to roof racks, but my car already had a tow bar on it so not got to factor in that cost. Roof racks also mean loads of extra drag so potentially higher fuel consumption.

Although the tow bar carriers mean no extra height (ferry/car park considerations) remember that they add length and most ferries seem to have max length of 5m before you pay extra. The 4-bike tow bar racks I have seen add about 700mm, which would put my car (406 estate - same sort of size as Octavia I guess) over the 5m limit. Not looked into the extra charges yet.

[Barchettaman]

I got a genuine Mont Blanc tailgate carrier for my Zafira that works well:



I have put 4 on it, minus wheels, in the past, but it works best with 3.

It works well and cost €1 (got to love local pickup only)

[TedMaul]

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

This every time, ive had mine 3 years and its awesome. Its an investment yes, but its brilliant. I note there is now a sport version, but not looked into differences

[rpm1969]

I bought 4 Cruz bike carriers to go on roof bars for my mk1 Octavia hatch. Got them from roofbox.co.uk

[jamiebae]

Barchettaman said:

I got a genuine Mont Blanc tailgate carrier for my Zafira that works well:



I have put 4 on it, minus wheels, in the past, but it works best with 3.

It works well and cost €1 (got to love local pickup only)

Jeder popel fährt nen Opel

That certainly was a bit of a bargain though