Tail door max load for bycicle holders

[Yaroooo]

Hello guys,

I'd like to ask if anyone has some information about the maximum load that can be attached to tailgates to transport bicycles.

There are several bike rack models that attach only to the tailgate (two hook points on the upper edge and two on the lower edge). These are rated for up to 45 kg of load (three bikes) and speeds of up to 130 km/h.

But is this applicable to all cars? I mean, the product itself is rated for that load, but are car tailgates actually designed to handle it?

I have a Seat Arona, which according to the vehicle registration is not allowed to have a tow bar. Unfortunately, my back doesn’t allow me to lift bicycles onto the roof.

So the only solution is mounting a rack on tailgate but I don't have any specifics from Seat.

Thanks!

[kambites]

As far as I know, there's no such thing as a car which isn't allowed a tow bar. There are cars which aren't allowed to tow, but you can still fit a tow bar for a bike rack (if anyone makes one).

I'd imagine anything with a steel tailgate will be structurally fine with a 50kg bike rack on the back; they're not great for the paintwork where they hook onto the car, though.

Can you not put bikes on the roof? The Arona has roof bars doesn't it?

[Yaroooo]

By law, the car registration document must indicate whether it is allowed to install a tow hook. My car runs on methane, and the Arona TGI model is not permitted to have one installed.

Unfortunately, I cannot install it even just to use for bikes, because the law requires that after installing a tow hook it must be certified and added to the car s registration document withing 30 days. Since I cannot have it certified, if I were caught using it, I would risk a fine and the car being impounded.

I can use upper bars, but due to my physical limitations, I cannot lift 20kg ++ of e-bike on roof.

Edited by Yaroooo on Friday 17th October 11:04

[SuperPav]

Car manufacturers in 99% won't be testing the tailgate for mounting bikes onto it. However, other than some exotic stuff or cars with "glass-only" tailgates such as an old Aygo (and VW Up maybe?) I suspect most tailgates will be fine with a 20kg e-bike on the back. I've used these in the past on a fairly wide range of cars without any issue even with 3 bikes on the back (not e-bikes)

To avoid paint damage, get some heavy duty clear vinyl helicopter tape patches, and put them under the areas where you're putting hte hooks, or where the rubber pads land.

Most incompatibility with tailgate mounted bike racks comes down to them not fitting due to big protruding spoilers, or the mounting pads land directly on a feature like a plastic numberplate light housing or similar.


It sounds like you're not in the UK, but here i'd absolutely be looking at getting a towbar installed, as you'd only get done for towing with an un-homologated car. You absolutely can fit a "towbar" for bike mounting to a car that hasn't been type-approved for towing.

[mobile chicane22]

Re the roof thing I m sure there was a company t did a cantilever device for ease of roof loading

https://www.dropracks.com/

Edit here you go