Roof vs tow bar bike carrier
Discussion
Evening,
I’m due delivery of a BMW X5 shortly. I specced a tow bar with the intention of getting myself a Thule epos or something similar.
I currently have a couple of Thule 565 thru axle mount that I’ve hardly used.
So my plan was to sell the 565 and buy the epos. The epos is pretty expensive so I was wondering if anyone has any experience of roof vs tow bar mounted carriers.
Am I better off buying a set of roof bars and using the 565s which would likely be a cheaper option?
TIA
I’m due delivery of a BMW X5 shortly. I specced a tow bar with the intention of getting myself a Thule epos or something similar.
I currently have a couple of Thule 565 thru axle mount that I’ve hardly used.
So my plan was to sell the 565 and buy the epos. The epos is pretty expensive so I was wondering if anyone has any experience of roof vs tow bar mounted carriers.
Am I better off buying a set of roof bars and using the 565s which would likely be a cheaper option?
TIA
tow bar over roof all day long.
on anything taller than say a saloon it is a real pita to get bikes on and off the roof.
secondly sometimes you run into height restrictions - Windsor Great Park - nearly totalled two mtbs.
currently i have a full size SUV and a small SUV BEV. both with tow bars. then i have two bike racks - a single and a three.
the main thing with the bike rack is make sure it can fold down so that it can be stored easily in the boot.
on anything taller than say a saloon it is a real pita to get bikes on and off the roof.
secondly sometimes you run into height restrictions - Windsor Great Park - nearly totalled two mtbs.
currently i have a full size SUV and a small SUV BEV. both with tow bars. then i have two bike racks - a single and a three.
the main thing with the bike rack is make sure it can fold down so that it can be stored easily in the boot.
Personally I think it really depends on the type of bikes, how often you are carrying a bike, number of bikes and the type of car. I’ve had roof bike mounts (Thule) for 15 years for really long mtb. I’m only tooling at tow mount racks because of recent purchase of an ebike and not able to mount on the roof due to the weight. I have seen twice carbon wheels exploding due to hot exhaust gases being directed to the wheel
100% towbar.
It's easier to use, more fuel efficient, more convenient to load and unload, you don't have to worry about height restrictions and is more secure as you can lock the bikes to the towbar. I've done roof mounted and in-car before and towbar is definitely worth the extra initial cost. Look at Buzzracks (from Rookbox.com) as a cheaper alternative to Thule if you're worried about the pennies.
It's easier to use, more fuel efficient, more convenient to load and unload, you don't have to worry about height restrictions and is more secure as you can lock the bikes to the towbar. I've done roof mounted and in-car before and towbar is definitely worth the extra initial cost. Look at Buzzracks (from Rookbox.com) as a cheaper alternative to Thule if you're worried about the pennies.
For sheer convenience I’ve always used roof-mounted racks. I have one permanently installed on the roof of my car for the past 20 years, just cos I don’t know when I’ll need it (twice last week, but nothing for the three weeks before that) and I can’t be arsed with phaffing around storing or installing when I do/don’t need it.
Any increase in wind or fuel use has been negligible. Never had a problem with driving into places and I consider it a transportation device, not a security device.
If I went tow bar rack it would be for a vertical hanging jobbie.
Any increase in wind or fuel use has been negligible. Never had a problem with driving into places and I consider it a transportation device, not a security device.
If I went tow bar rack it would be for a vertical hanging jobbie.
I've used roof, towbar and hatchback mounted racks.
The hatchback mounted ones are terrifying, with feeble looking clamps, numerous ways to scratch your car, temptation to run without a lightboard etc. etc.
As others have pointed out, the biggest problem with roof mounted is actually getting the bikes up there - I used to carry a small stepladder when I had Freelanders.
We once went on a ride in rural Norfolk. After parking up and removing the bikes, we realised that there was a much better place to leave the car without any time limits. On returning to that new car park after the ride, we went through the tortuous procedure of putting the bikes on before driving up to the height restriction which we fortunately had just noticed. Off they came, under the restriction and then back on again. All very annoying, but more so because an elderly local had watched the entire process with great fascination and without saying a word.
The towbar carrier I now have (and greatly prefer to the the above options) is a (relatively) cheap Halfords 4 bike carrier. It does the job and I am happy with it, but there are two caveats if money is not limited. The first is that it doesn't tilt, so you need to to get all the opening and closing of the rear door done before putting the bikes on. The second is that it is extremely heavy.
The hatchback mounted ones are terrifying, with feeble looking clamps, numerous ways to scratch your car, temptation to run without a lightboard etc. etc.
As others have pointed out, the biggest problem with roof mounted is actually getting the bikes up there - I used to carry a small stepladder when I had Freelanders.
We once went on a ride in rural Norfolk. After parking up and removing the bikes, we realised that there was a much better place to leave the car without any time limits. On returning to that new car park after the ride, we went through the tortuous procedure of putting the bikes on before driving up to the height restriction which we fortunately had just noticed. Off they came, under the restriction and then back on again. All very annoying, but more so because an elderly local had watched the entire process with great fascination and without saying a word.
The towbar carrier I now have (and greatly prefer to the the above options) is a (relatively) cheap Halfords 4 bike carrier. It does the job and I am happy with it, but there are two caveats if money is not limited. The first is that it doesn't tilt, so you need to to get all the opening and closing of the rear door done before putting the bikes on. The second is that it is extremely heavy.
I've got a cheap, one bike tow bar mounted rack in the boot at all times. It takes up very little space and can be fitted literally in seconds. I use it 2-3 times a week, infact just now, collecting the car via the back from a pub car park.
I also have a proper rack for carrying more than one bike, it's much more of a faff than the one in the boot. I've had roof racks before, the tow bar ones are much easier to use.
I also have a proper rack for carrying more than one bike, it's much more of a faff than the one in the boot. I've had roof racks before, the tow bar ones are much easier to use.
I'm almost 6ft 5, and had roof bars on my Volvo XC60 and that was pretty much at the limit of what I could reach. OK for road / gravel bikes, but hard work to get my hardtail up there without scratching anything. Roof bars are fine on normal estates I've had but were a pain on an SUV.
On an X5, a tow-bar carrier sounds like a far better idea unless you want to carry a step ladder around with you and spend time wrestling bikes above your head.
On an X5, a tow-bar carrier sounds like a far better idea unless you want to carry a step ladder around with you and spend time wrestling bikes above your head.
Had a towbar for a bike carrier on my previous three cars and have a quote to put a 'bar on my current car.
I got put off the roof bar option many years ago. Somebody drove into the car park before the Dyfi Enduro and demonstrated how the quickest way to get the bikes off the roof was to go under the height restriction barrier...
I got put off the roof bar option many years ago. Somebody drove into the car park before the Dyfi Enduro and demonstrated how the quickest way to get the bikes off the roof was to go under the height restriction barrier...
We bought a discounted but still expensive 2 bike tow bar unit as part of the deal to buy our GLC. We‘ve never actually used it with the GLC as we‘ve always put them in the back with seats down.
It has been used with my friend‘s A6 and I can confirm that the max. rated speed of 120km/H is very conservative. We were running late for a triathlon check in due to flight delays and were wizzing along at 180km/h much to the surprise of a Portofino we were to-ing and fro-ing with!
It has been used with my friend‘s A6 and I can confirm that the max. rated speed of 120km/H is very conservative. We were running late for a triathlon check in due to flight delays and were wizzing along at 180km/h much to the surprise of a Portofino we were to-ing and fro-ing with!
If you can swallow the cost of a tow bar plus the rack go for this option
Easier to mount, much less wind noise and better mpg
I occasionally use a roof mounted system on my 530d and mpg drops from 50 to high 30's on the motorway with a slightly more modest cruising speed on account of wind noise and my paranoia of the bikes being blown away (irrational probs)
Safety and stability is a moot point. I have taken bikes to the Alps many times using a roof mounted system without incident however they definitely flap around in a slightly alarming manner. 4 bikes on a tow bar rack on the other hand have never given me grief, ever
Disadvantages of towbar:
Cost as from my first line
Bulky when you get to your destination, you need somewhere to safely store in in a holiday rental for example
Vulnerability when parking on a day trip, if a clumsy tw4t nudges it in a car park as its sticking out you have a major problem getting home - never been an issue for me however a mate was left stranded in the Lakes once
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