Tow bar bike carrier.

Author
Discussion

RizzoTheRat

Original Poster:

26,703 posts

206 months

Tuesday 6th May
quotequote all
About to buy a new car and plan to get a tow bar on it, mainly to be able to use a bike rack.

Any recommendations for a rack to take 2 bikes, one of them electric so a reasonable weight.

It's for an SUV (Lexus NX) so I assume one that folds down to be able to open the boot is a good idea?

Lexus offer their own as an accessory, presumably the same as Toyota, anyone tried it?

ChocolateFrog

31,471 posts

187 months

Tuesday 6th May
quotequote all
Couldn't justify a Thule one so got the Halfords version. It folds down for access to the boot. Seems fairly decent for the money.

Hasn't fallen off.

Anastie

215 posts

172 months

Tuesday 6th May
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I have electric bikes and a Toyota RAV4. I have used 2 different bike carriers both from The Roof Box Company in UK. The cheaper rack was the Buzz Rack it worked fine. The Yakima rack had a better locking system in my opinion and felt better built.

mattvanders

345 posts

40 months

Tuesday 6th May
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I would say that thule does sell spare parts so if one part breaks the whole rack isn’t toast like cheaper options. I had my thule roof rack for over 15 years even if its triggers broom (used at least twice a week normally).

stevemcs

9,400 posts

107 months

Tuesday 6th May
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Why buy new ? Have you tried facebook marketplace ?

Dog Star

16,925 posts

182 months

Wednesday 7th May
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I carry two Canyon eMTBs (batteries removed) on a Thule Velocompact 2. It folds up and even goes in the boot of my SL (with the roof down). Been all over Europe with it, no problem.

Simes205

4,798 posts

242 months

Wednesday 7th May
quotequote all
Thule Velospace xt 3 bike carrier user here with the additional tray for the 4th bike.
Bought to take my plus bikes but designed to take E-bikes.

It can also take the Thule storage box.
Had it 7 years now, spares are widely available, I replaced the elastics on the hitch last week.

Bought it new with very minor damage for £280…..hunt around because they are a lot more now.

RizzoTheRat

Original Poster:

26,703 posts

206 months

Wednesday 7th May
quotequote all
stevemcs said:
Why buy new ? Have you tried facebook marketplace ?
I probably will, but still want to know which ones are good. I can't find anything about the Lexus one (I assume it's someone else's rebranded) though, which might be worth getting new if they'll do a good discount buying it with a new car

I like the idea of a folding one to take up less space in the shed too. I see Decathlon sell Thule so I assume there's loads of them out there, but also that they probably do a range from quite cheap to very good.

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Wednesday 7th May 08:34

curvature

476 posts

88 months

Wednesday 7th May
quotequote all
I bought one of these several years ago from the Rook Box Company.

Atera STRADA DL 3 to 4 bike carrier (UK lights) no. AR2603

Not cheap but it folds up nice and flat and is currently hanging on my garage wall.

justin220

5,581 posts

218 months

Wednesday 7th May
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I have a Buzz Rack and really happy with it (bought from Roof Box Company)

Similar to above, I couldnt' justify the additional cost for the Thule which didn't seem to offer any real advantages

dirtbiker

1,343 posts

180 months

Wednesday 7th May
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I've had an Atera Strada as per the post above, which was a good bit of kit but have recently upgraded to a Thule Easyfold XT. Yes, it's bloomin' expensive, but it's a great bit of kit. Loading a heavy e-bike is dead easy, and the detachable arms make the inevitable Tetris of carrying multiple bikes easy. It also folds up nicely to fit in the boot and is on wheels for moving it around. I'd buy it again, despite it costing more than some of my bikes!

https://www.thule.com/en-gb/bike-rack/towbar-bike-...

Barchettaman

6,844 posts

146 months

Wednesday 7th May
quotequote all
Another recommendation for the Thule folding one. Ours takes 3 bikes.

Remove the battery before loading up the e bike, if you can.

JQ

6,332 posts

193 months

Wednesday 7th May
quotequote all
curvature said:
I bought one of these several years ago from the Rook Box Company.

Atera STRADA DL 3 to 4 bike carrier (UK lights) no. AR2603

Not cheap but it folds up nice and flat and is currently hanging on my garage wall.
We also have the Strada DL and it's great. Also bought from Roofbox, who are great company to deal with. We've bought lots of stuff from them over the years and they've always been fantastic. OP - if you want some professional advice, give them a call, they're proper old school retailers, happy to chat over the phone and make recommendations without a commitment to buy from them or a hard sell.

missing the VR6

2,417 posts

203 months

Wednesday 7th May
quotequote all
RizzoTheRat said:
About to buy a new car and plan to get a tow bar on it, mainly to be able to use a bike rack.

Any recommendations for a rack to take 2 bikes, one of them electric so a reasonable weight.

It's for an SUV (Lexus NX) so I assume one that folds down to be able to open the boot is a good idea?

Lexus offer their own as an accessory, presumably the same as Toyota, anyone tried it?
Chances are the Lexus/Toyotas one is a rebranded made by someone else job which will be more expensive. For example, when I was selling Volvo's we bought a Thule 3 bike fold down one for £400, the Volvo one seemed identical and was £450, just had a Volvo badge.

paulrockliffe

16,140 posts

241 months

Wednesday 7th May
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I have the Yakima one, I bought it because although it's a bit more expensive than the others, it looked a lot better thought out and easier to use.

I like the idea that it's small and light for two bikes, but you can get an extension for a third, usually I want one or two bikes, occasionally three, if I need 4 I won't want them all hung off the back anyway, so two on the roof or one in the boot.

Anyway, it's great, really impressed with it, but it's the only one I've used.

RizzoTheRat

Original Poster:

26,703 posts

206 months

Wednesday 7th May
quotequote all
missing the VR6 said:
Chances are the Lexus/Toyotas one is a rebranded made by someone else job which will be more expensive. For example, when I was selling Volvo's we bought a Thule 3 bike fold down one for £400, the Volvo one seemed identical and was £450, just had a Volvo badge.
I'm pretty sure the Volvo ones are rebranded Thule, but I can't even find a decent photo of the Lexus one online let alone find out who makes it. If it's a decent brand one it may be worth going for as I can get a pretty discount from Lexus. Otherwise several options mentioned here that people are happy with so worth a look.

POIDH

1,689 posts

79 months

Wednesday 7th May
quotequote all
Facebook or Gumtree for a second hand one. Amazing how many folk buy one and then change cars or never use it.

I bought a Thule one with moderate use about 12 years ago - it has been to France 3x, and up and down the Highlands with 4x bikes on it. Finally I am about to give it away as it is on last legs - I have ziptied a new reg plate holder and lights over the top of the old ones which have leaked and stopped working, and I have a couple of the arms not so happy, and three of the wheel 'zip ties' are also less than secure at times. But it cost me £100 and I have probably had 600 days+/15k miles of use...

emicen

8,872 posts

232 months

Thursday 8th May
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I got a Thule one, lightly used, from Facebook marketplace for less than a new Halfords one.

Nothing against the Halfords one, but the Thule is definitely better if you can get one.

Dog Star

16,925 posts

182 months

Thursday 8th May
quotequote all
I bought my fist Thule Velocompact 2 back in 2018, brand new in box. £200.

I just bought another from FB, the newer, latest model - brand spanking new, boxed etc. it does have Volvo badges though. £200. Bargain.

Sold the old one on eBay £265. Get in!

Dog Star

16,925 posts

182 months

Thursday 8th May
quotequote all
I bought my fist Thule Velocompact 2 back in 2018, brand new in box. £200.

I just bought another from FB, the newer, latest model - brand spanking new, boxed etc. it does have Volvo badges though. £200. Bargain.

Sold the old one on eBay £265. Get in!