Tow Bars and Cycle Carriers Help Please

[DJP]

Yeah, boring I know but I need to get a tow bar and 4 bicycle carrier fitted to a Mk4 Mondeo estate.

Not very PH, but family and encroaching middle age necessitate such things...

So, pitfalls, pratfalls, things to look out for and general recommendations please.

I thank you.

[vikingaero]

I've got a Witter detachable towbar on one of our cars with single 13 pin electrics.

For info on types of towbar: http://www.pfjones.co.uk/tow-bar-types-explained.h...

For info on towbar mounted bike racks: http://www.roofbox.co.uk/bike-carriers/bike-carrie...

Generally:
I went for a detachable to keep the lines of the car clean.
I went for a flange type for versatility on types of bike carriers and because I have a reversing camera and no reversing sensors.
If I had reversing sensors I may have considered the slimmer swan neck type.
I went for a simple wiring kit because I only use the towbar for a bike carrier and never intend to tow so I don't need dediciated wiring kits to connect to the CANBUS to override parking sensors and put the ESP into towing setting/default.
I went for a single 13 pin Euro socket rather than a 7 pin UK socket to avoid using an adapter and because most decent Euro bike carriers use 13 pin. The single 13 pin powers the lights only and I have no need for a twin socket to run say a fridge in the caravan.
I'm using an Atera Strada DL 3 bike carrier bought from roofbox as it has UK spec lights/foglight.

[DJP]

Very useful. Thank you.

[Deerfoot]

I went for a detachable swan-neck bar and a Thule Euroclassic 903. It's a good rack that folds up so that it takes up less space in the garage when not in use.

I can also fold it up and stick it in the boot while we're off riding. Downsides are it's pretty heavy.

[kambites]

I didn't know you could get racks that fitted onto swan neck tow-balls. That's useful to know.

We've got a witter swan neck on the wife's Octavia and it's OK. The bumper cut is invisible unless you lie on the ground behind the car and it's quite easy to fit and remove the ball bit. We haven't got the parking sensor over-ride electrics but interestingly the ball itself doesn't get picked up by the parking sensors, although obviously anything attached to it will.

Edited by kambites on Friday 5th September 08:32

[mdw]

Maxx Raxx http://www.maxxraxx.com/bike_racks_car_cycle_carri...

Flange mounting, still open the boot with the bikes on the rack and still tow with it in place. Had mine for 8 years and still going strong. Some frames are a little tricky to fit on it but all I have tried have gone on sofar.

[telecat]

Another vote for the detachable flange Witters. I am having one fitted this weekend for a MOTOR cycle carrier.