Carrying bikes on cars - questions
Discussion
Sorry, I appreciate these have been asked before but the search function doesn't seem to like me.
I need to get a rack to carry the family's bikes (or at least two of them) on the family stbox, a VW Touran.
A trip to Halfords show two options, on top (on a sturdy looking rack) or behind (on a Heath Robinson contraption of staps and tubes). Any views on which is preferable?
Also, Halford stock their own brands or Thule. Is the latter worth the extra?
If I want to go the Thule route, are there any cheaper sources?
thanks
SS7
I need to get a rack to carry the family's bikes (or at least two of them) on the family stbox, a VW Touran.
A trip to Halfords show two options, on top (on a sturdy looking rack) or behind (on a Heath Robinson contraption of staps and tubes). Any views on which is preferable?
Also, Halford stock their own brands or Thule. Is the latter worth the extra?
If I want to go the Thule route, are there any cheaper sources?
thanks
SS7
How many bikes (2 or more) normally a max of 3 on the back?
One of the better brands is Thule, although when I was getting a roof box for the Golf a few websites mentioned it was more marketing gimmickery than actual quality products that got it its reputation. Thule stuff can be had cheaper on the net direct but you'll have to do some research.
The best rear carriers are the ones that attach to the trailer hitch and can flex down to allow acces to the boot, otherwise you have to take off the rear carrier everytime you open it.
The roof carriers are good but you have to factor in the cost of not only the bike holders but the mounting roof feet/bars and cross bars, being a touran you'll probably need a step to mount and dismount it all.
My neighbour has both for taking 5 bikes and a roof box on his hols. 3 on the back two up top + roof box all thule and works very well.
One more thing, if your family currently has small bikes you chuck in the boot, these will get bigger and muddier, so if you plan on keeping it for a long time get a combination that can meet your needs for a while.
One of the better brands is Thule, although when I was getting a roof box for the Golf a few websites mentioned it was more marketing gimmickery than actual quality products that got it its reputation. Thule stuff can be had cheaper on the net direct but you'll have to do some research.
The best rear carriers are the ones that attach to the trailer hitch and can flex down to allow acces to the boot, otherwise you have to take off the rear carrier everytime you open it.
The roof carriers are good but you have to factor in the cost of not only the bike holders but the mounting roof feet/bars and cross bars, being a touran you'll probably need a step to mount and dismount it all.
My neighbour has both for taking 5 bikes and a roof box on his hols. 3 on the back two up top + roof box all thule and works very well.
Edited by OneDs on Wednesday 28th July 10:42
One more thing, if your family currently has small bikes you chuck in the boot, these will get bigger and muddier, so if you plan on keeping it for a long time get a combination that can meet your needs for a while.
Edited by OneDs on Wednesday 28th July 10:46
I've just completed my research and bought a set of Thule aero bars/feet for my Scooby, and a pair of the 591 bike carriers. That lot was £260.
If I had a towbar I'd prefer the Thule G5 909 at £300 but the cost of the towbar itself takes that option out of my reach.
The third option, using a strap-on (ooer) rear carrier is a cheap option but you cannot use your boot/tailgate while the carrier is attached.
Find the system you like best and type it into Google. I found Towequipe.co.uk were the best price for the 591 bike carriers, CarRacks.co.uk the best price for the G5 909, and RoofRacks.co.uk the best price for the main roof rack.
Having had a non-Thule set in the past, and being able tojustify afford the Thule kit, I'd always go with the best now. this doesn't invalidate the cheaper kit but the easy of attaching the better kit to the car, and the bikes to the carriers, AND that you can lock them all down, makes it worthwhile to me.
If I had a towbar I'd prefer the Thule G5 909 at £300 but the cost of the towbar itself takes that option out of my reach.
The third option, using a strap-on (ooer) rear carrier is a cheap option but you cannot use your boot/tailgate while the carrier is attached.
Find the system you like best and type it into Google. I found Towequipe.co.uk were the best price for the 591 bike carriers, CarRacks.co.uk the best price for the G5 909, and RoofRacks.co.uk the best price for the main roof rack.
Having had a non-Thule set in the past, and being able to
Roofbars are definitely preferred for me. Strap-on rear racks are horrible things, far more likely to scratch paint, damage tailgates/bumpers and usually there's no way of opening the hatch either. At worst, the straps can loosen or fray and ultimately fail - I've seen it happen on the motorway, not nice.
Thule bars and racks are great - all lockable too, bars to the car, racks to the bars and bikes on the racks. Very easy to use too. If they'll get fairly regular use, worth paying the extra for the aluminium aero bars - the ones I had on my Alfa made no buffeting noise at all and seemed to make no difference to mpg so I just left them on most of the time.
If you want all-new kit, www.roofbox.co.uk are pretty good. However, keep an eye on ebay as mint secondhand sets come up pretty regularly. The bars are almost universal (they come in a few widths though), then there are foot packs which will fit a variety of cars, and a fitting pack specific to a particular car. If you dig around the Thule site you can easily find part numbers and potentially a rack from a completely different car will fit yours with only a £10 fitting pack.
edit: consider others like Atera - they can be just as nicely made, and on my Civic their mounting mechanism is a much cleaner design than the Thules.
Thule bars and racks are great - all lockable too, bars to the car, racks to the bars and bikes on the racks. Very easy to use too. If they'll get fairly regular use, worth paying the extra for the aluminium aero bars - the ones I had on my Alfa made no buffeting noise at all and seemed to make no difference to mpg so I just left them on most of the time.
If you want all-new kit, www.roofbox.co.uk are pretty good. However, keep an eye on ebay as mint secondhand sets come up pretty regularly. The bars are almost universal (they come in a few widths though), then there are foot packs which will fit a variety of cars, and a fitting pack specific to a particular car. If you dig around the Thule site you can easily find part numbers and potentially a rack from a completely different car will fit yours with only a £10 fitting pack.
edit: consider others like Atera - they can be just as nicely made, and on my Civic their mounting mechanism is a much cleaner design than the Thules.
Edited by sjg on Wednesday 28th July 10:59
shoestring7 said:
Thanks guys.
I've gone for a roof system; the Thule Freeride 530 from Towequipe. Painless process over the phone, lets hope they can deliver for the weekend!
SS7
Ordered mine from them yesterday afternoon. Apparently they've delivered them this morning (just had a call).I've gone for a roof system; the Thule Freeride 530 from Towequipe. Painless process over the phone, lets hope they can deliver for the weekend!
SS7
Mars said:
shoestring7 said:
Thanks guys.
I've gone for a roof system; the Thule Freeride 530 from Towequipe. Painless process over the phone, lets hope they can deliver for the weekend!
SS7
Ordered mine from them yesterday afternoon. Apparently they've delivered them this morning (just had a call).I've gone for a roof system; the Thule Freeride 530 from Towequipe. Painless process over the phone, lets hope they can deliver for the weekend!
SS7
Rather irksome is that they have sent my two 591 carriers each with a different key number, which in turn is different again from the key numbers I received for the roof rack (although from a different company so no blame there).
I suppose it could be considered more secure to have different key numbers. Any views? It's only £18.50 to change them to all the same barrels and keys. Or I suppose I could have a moan but that doesn't seem very British.
Mars said:
Mars said:
shoestring7 said:
Thanks guys.
I've gone for a roof system; the Thule Freeride 530 from Towequipe. Painless process over the phone, lets hope they can deliver for the weekend!
SS7
Ordered mine from them yesterday afternoon. Apparently they've delivered them this morning (just had a call).I've gone for a roof system; the Thule Freeride 530 from Towequipe. Painless process over the phone, lets hope they can deliver for the weekend!
SS7
Rather irksome is that they have sent my two 591 carriers each with a different key number, which in turn is different again from the key numbers I received for the roof rack (although from a different company so no blame there).
I suppose it could be considered more secure to have different key numbers. Any views? It's only £18.50 to change them to all the same barrels and keys. Or I suppose I could have a moan but that doesn't seem very British.
I noticed a big difference in fuel consumption with a rear mounted and roof rack type. The rear must act as a parachute I picked up a brand called Cruz probably not as flash as the Thule but much cheaper as does the job perfectly.
Also my rear mount wouldn't mount on my 166 as the panel gaps are too close on the boot lid to get the side restraints on.
Also my rear mount wouldn't mount on my 166 as the panel gaps are too close on the boot lid to get the side restraints on.
Mars said:
shoestring7 said:
Thanks guys.
I've gone for a roof system; the Thule Freeride 530 from Towequipe. Painless process over the phone, lets hope they can deliver for the weekend!
SS7
Ordered mine from them yesterday afternoon. Apparently they've delivered them this morning (just had a call).I've gone for a roof system; the Thule Freeride 530 from Towequipe. Painless process over the phone, lets hope they can deliver for the weekend!
SS7
Excellent service from Towequipe.
SS7
We are thinking about this very question for my wife's Qashqai.
I have a mark 5 golf GTI and I have roof mounted Thule bars (non-aero) and the fancy bike carrier which work flawlessly. I love them. But, I loose 3mpg and the wind noise is considerable!
So we thought using a rear mounted system on the Qashqai might be quieter and better for MPG.
What is better,
1) getting a system that fits to the tail gate? I assume this means the bikes lift up with the hatch? Are the bikes locked on with a set of keys like my roof mounted system?
or 2) getting a tow bar mounted system? These strike me as sturdier, but can you open the tailgate with the bike on?
I have a mark 5 golf GTI and I have roof mounted Thule bars (non-aero) and the fancy bike carrier which work flawlessly. I love them. But, I loose 3mpg and the wind noise is considerable!
So we thought using a rear mounted system on the Qashqai might be quieter and better for MPG.
What is better,
1) getting a system that fits to the tail gate? I assume this means the bikes lift up with the hatch? Are the bikes locked on with a set of keys like my roof mounted system?
or 2) getting a tow bar mounted system? These strike me as sturdier, but can you open the tailgate with the bike on?
I have roof rails, so I bought the Halfords value roof bars - £40 ish, and two sets of 'san remo' style carriers - the front wheel comes off and the forks quick release fit into the carrier. I dont personally like the ones where you can put the complete bike on top, prefer taking teh front wheel off.
With this method, provideing you have enough attachments, you can carry four bikes on top.
I found with the tailgate carriers, they move and the mounting points can scratch the paint..
With this method, provideing you have enough attachments, you can carry four bikes on top.
I found with the tailgate carriers, they move and the mounting points can scratch the paint..
This might sound obvious but;
IF CARRYING YOUR BIKES ON THE ROOF DO NOT FORGET THAT THEY'RE THERE!!!!
I used to carry my TT bike on the roof, I was communting London to Birmingham for work and then racing at Thame in the evening... on the roof was a really great way to carrying the bike, really secure and hardly noticed it was there!
One week popped to the Local Sainsburys for lunch....... the only thing that reminded me the bike was on the roof was the "thwang/crunch" as I went under the height restriction..... result, one really nice TT bike completely trashed... and insurance wouldn't cover it ;(
After the event speak to a lot of other riders I've discovered it's not that uncommon... some even put a sticker on the windscreen with a bloody great arrow saying "Bikes"
IF CARRYING YOUR BIKES ON THE ROOF DO NOT FORGET THAT THEY'RE THERE!!!!
I used to carry my TT bike on the roof, I was communting London to Birmingham for work and then racing at Thame in the evening... on the roof was a really great way to carrying the bike, really secure and hardly noticed it was there!
One week popped to the Local Sainsburys for lunch....... the only thing that reminded me the bike was on the roof was the "thwang/crunch" as I went under the height restriction..... result, one really nice TT bike completely trashed... and insurance wouldn't cover it ;(
After the event speak to a lot of other riders I've discovered it's not that uncommon... some even put a sticker on the windscreen with a bloody great arrow saying "Bikes"
Edited by Marcellus on Monday 2nd August 10:00
Towbar mounted racks are definitely the best option if you can't put bikes inside - a solid, mechanical connection, to the cars chassis, not the body panels.
Decent ones have inbult lightboard, plate etc etc. The best also support the bikes by the wheels so are much kinder to the bikes.
Especially for a larger/taller car like a Qashqai, a towbar mounted rack would be ideal.
Also note - you dont neccessarily have to have the ugle swan-neck/ball fitted to the car either, jsut the actual receiver in some cases which often doesnt look too bad and is hidden under the rear of the car.
Try these guys -
http://www.aistoncycleracks.co.uk/
snotrag said:
Also note - you dont neccessarily have to have the ugle swan-neck/ball fitted to the car either, jsut the actual receiver in some cases which often doesnt look too bad and is hidden under the rear of the car.
+1 you wouldn't know my car has the mountings until I put the bike rack on, everything is totally hidden away under/behind the rear bumper.Edited by Marcellus on Monday 2nd August 16:47
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff