Towbar mounted bike rack
Discussion
I've recently bought a NEW car and so don't really fancy putting my bike rack on the back as it doesn't seem to matter how tightly you adjust the straps it will always mark the paint. The option of having a roof rack to mount the bikes is an expensive one as the car is so new you have to buy the parts from Vauxhaul and they are ridiculous.
Just seen http://www.just-tow.co.uk/clipper-bike-carrier-2-b... seems very good value and can possibly tow my boat behind at the same time (depending on the mast and mast support).
What do people think, have people tried this product or anything similar? Thanks in advance!
Just seen http://www.just-tow.co.uk/clipper-bike-carrier-2-b... seems very good value and can possibly tow my boat behind at the same time (depending on the mast and mast support).
What do people think, have people tried this product or anything similar? Thanks in advance!
Try www.aistoncycleracks.co.uk or something along those lines. Very well made.
Thule are great too but £££.
Thule are great too but £££.
Guessing you already have a towbar, otherwise a towbar rack is a VERY expensive method of carrying bikes!
I used a Thule Euroway towbar-mounted rack for a year on my Ibiza Cupra. Would recommend it, built like the proverbial brick toilet, easy to attach and remove (but locks on) and not daftly priced. It does clamp over the towball itself though, so won't be any use if you want to tow something at the same time. Mine was fitted to a detachable towbar, so couldn't use anything that involved a permanenetly attached bracket.
Only thing to bear in mind with any type of rear-mounted rack is that the bikes will get pounded with road salt throughout winter - in some ways it's better having the bikes up high on the roof for that reason.
I used a Thule Euroway towbar-mounted rack for a year on my Ibiza Cupra. Would recommend it, built like the proverbial brick toilet, easy to attach and remove (but locks on) and not daftly priced. It does clamp over the towball itself though, so won't be any use if you want to tow something at the same time. Mine was fitted to a detachable towbar, so couldn't use anything that involved a permanenetly attached bracket.
Only thing to bear in mind with any type of rear-mounted rack is that the bikes will get pounded with road salt throughout winter - in some ways it's better having the bikes up high on the roof for that reason.
a11y_m said:
Guessing you already have a towbar, otherwise a towbar rack is a VERY expensive method of carrying bikes!
I used a Thule Euroway towbar-mounted rack for a year on my Ibiza Cupra. Would recommend it, built like the proverbial brick toilet, easy to attach and remove (but locks on) and not daftly priced. It does clamp over the towball itself though, so won't be any use if you want to tow something at the same time. Mine was fitted to a detachable towbar, so couldn't use anything that involved a permanenetly attached bracket.
Only thing to bear in mind with any type of rear-mounted rack is that the bikes will get pounded with road salt throughout winter - in some ways it's better having the bikes up high on the roof for that reason.
I know this probably a daft question, but with the rack in place and the bikes attached, does that mean you can't access the boot (aside from inside)?I used a Thule Euroway towbar-mounted rack for a year on my Ibiza Cupra. Would recommend it, built like the proverbial brick toilet, easy to attach and remove (but locks on) and not daftly priced. It does clamp over the towball itself though, so won't be any use if you want to tow something at the same time. Mine was fitted to a detachable towbar, so couldn't use anything that involved a permanenetly attached bracket.
Only thing to bear in mind with any type of rear-mounted rack is that the bikes will get pounded with road salt throughout winter - in some ways it's better having the bikes up high on the roof for that reason.
I've got an Aiston rack as well and would certainly recommend one.
I had Pendle and Thule racks before and the Ainston is much better.
Personally I'd avoid any rack where the bikes are hanging, go for a wheel support rack instead.
I guess it depends on the value of bikes you are carrying. If they are cheap bikes, then a cheap rack may be a better idea.
I had Pendle and Thule racks before and the Ainston is much better.
Personally I'd avoid any rack where the bikes are hanging, go for a wheel support rack instead.
I guess it depends on the value of bikes you are carrying. If they are cheap bikes, then a cheap rack may be a better idea.
Well, its a long story. I have recently bought a new car and am yet to buy a tow bar (which I need to tow my boat to open meetings) and so am just looking at the options. I would ideally want to tow my boat and also take my bikes places so this model of rack would be ideal for this as it doesnt actually attach to the ball. I looked at getting a roof rack to mount the bikes but that is costly as it is a new Corsa and the bars are Vauxhall only at the moment as its a new model and I dont want to pay for that on top of the tow bar.
With my old car it was all a lot cheaper as I fitted the tow bar myself for £60, and you could pick up budget universal roof bars for £20! I don't really fancy mucking about with the new car as I'm no mechanic.
I imagine with the towbar mounted as well as the normal strap on rack you can't access the boot without removing the bikes. A little bit annoying, but you can always drop a seat from inside.
With my old car it was all a lot cheaper as I fitted the tow bar myself for £60, and you could pick up budget universal roof bars for £20! I don't really fancy mucking about with the new car as I'm no mechanic.
I imagine with the towbar mounted as well as the normal strap on rack you can't access the boot without removing the bikes. A little bit annoying, but you can always drop a seat from inside.
hondafanatic said:
I know this probably a daft question, but with the rack in place and the bikes attached, does that mean you can't access the boot (aside from inside)?
Thankfully no - the rack had a mechanism to tilt it backwards and allow acess into the boot. Don't have a pic of it tilted, but it was a 2 sec movement. Just beware the cheaper Thule racks don't have that mechanism, but can still tilt but requiring a lot more work.This was mine:
Used something very similar to what is shown i your original link and used to tow a 505 whilst it was on with bikes loaded. It consisted of a block that bolted onto the bar between the bar and the ball. The rack part just dropped into 2 holes was secrured by a slipt pin. Took seconds to fit. although simple it did mean that whether the boot/hatch opened depeded ont he car. With a saloon car it was just possible but with a hatch or estate there was no way.
As for towing aswell, our boat trailor had a reasonable length from the mast supprt to the hitch so it didn't foul, this could be a problem depending on trailor layout.
One thing to bear in mnd. Most modern tow bars tend to come with detatchable balls and hence don't have the plate that this type of rack fits on. Hence despite having a bar on the car the rack is now useless to me at the moment.
As for towing aswell, our boat trailor had a reasonable length from the mast supprt to the hitch so it didn't foul, this could be a problem depending on trailor layout.
One thing to bear in mnd. Most modern tow bars tend to come with detatchable balls and hence don't have the plate that this type of rack fits on. Hence despite having a bar on the car the rack is now useless to me at the moment.
Cool. That is good news. I don't have my boat locally at the moment so I might just go for it and then worry about getting the bike and boat combo to work as it might take a bit of re-jigging on one or other part.
I'm hoping to get a good old fashioned fixed tow bar as I'm not really a fan of the tucked up hidden ones. They tend to be more expensive as well from experience.
I'm hoping to get a good old fashioned fixed tow bar as I'm not really a fan of the tucked up hidden ones. They tend to be more expensive as well from experience.
My girlfriend is paying for half of it so I can't argue as I get to use it every day for the commute! It's 1.3 litres of smoke producing mayhem. Although, in reality it actually has more torque than the Vi did so it doesn't feel too slow for every day use. I do miss the 7,200rpm redline though 
Ah, right. Welcome to the oil burning dark side!
Re bike racks, I've never had a trailer that has a big enough gap between the mast cradle and the car to get a bike in, always a bit worried about the mast hitting it or similar. If I do take my bike to an event, I'll tend to just stand it up in the boat and lash it upright...works fine for me.
Don't underestimate the drag you get off a bike up high on the back...obviously not an issue if you are towing, but if you are taking a bike on the back on it's own it makes quite a difference.
Also, I have a Saris on the Beemer, also keen not to scratch that, and seems fine so far...just make sure the rack and the car are clean before you attach!
Wiggle have got this on offer if you want to go "proper" towbar mounted...
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/PriceDrop/12/Twinny_Load...
Cheers
Re bike racks, I've never had a trailer that has a big enough gap between the mast cradle and the car to get a bike in, always a bit worried about the mast hitting it or similar. If I do take my bike to an event, I'll tend to just stand it up in the boat and lash it upright...works fine for me.
Don't underestimate the drag you get off a bike up high on the back...obviously not an issue if you are towing, but if you are taking a bike on the back on it's own it makes quite a difference.
Also, I have a Saris on the Beemer, also keen not to scratch that, and seems fine so far...just make sure the rack and the car are clean before you attach!
Wiggle have got this on offer if you want to go "proper" towbar mounted...
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/PriceDrop/12/Twinny_Load...
Cheers
I have the Witter bike rack, the ZX98 I think. Basically there is a socket which bolts on behind the towball. You then drop a tube with the bars into it. I have a 4x4 and cant access the boot with it on, but can and do tow a trailer with it in position.
With my Impreza I had a roof mounted bars, very good until the bike fell over one day putting a nice dent in the roof!
With my Impreza I had a roof mounted bars, very good until the bike fell over one day putting a nice dent in the roof!
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