Tow bar bike carrier

[Jonnyb416]

Has anyone used one of these? There is a cheap option available as pictured. Thule do a more expensive version but I only need it to carry 2 kids bikes. I would also need to make sure the registration plate is on show.

Using it on my camper.


Any thoughts welcome. Cheers, Jon.

[Marcsnapon]

I use one of these all the time, it is fine and very simple to use. Recommend

[tforturton]

I've got one I bought from Halfords years ago. Carries three or four bikes with ease. Useful thing, but heavy and difficult to store. Don't leave the spanner at home....

[Jonnyb416]

Cheers both. Do you need to put an extra reg plate on? Maybe even a light board?

[itchyfeet]

Cheers both. Do you need to put an extra reg plate on? Maybe even a light board?

If when bikes are on the lights and number plate are obscured then yes you should have a light board.
Doubt you will get pulled over without one, you see loads of people not bothering but if somebody rear ends you they will say they could not see your brakelights.

[Jonnyb416]

Thanks. I've ummed and ahhed for a while about getting one. Thinking if I need a light board and it's more hassle than your average door attached bike rack then I might just save for one.

Suppose I'll never know till I fit one and try the bikes. Light boards don't seem expensive just wonder if one could be fitted to the dodgy electrics on my van!!

[tforturton]

The Halfords one I have has the lights and number plate built in. It comes as part of the unit. You have plug on a lead, which plugs in alongside the tow ball. If you don't have a socket here, then you're going to need one, whichever type you buy. The only thing you need to do is get a copy number plate made, and then fit it in place. Easy.

[Mr Bean]

From an engineering point of view I am assuming the cross member is attached in some way to the vehicle otherwise the whole thing is cantilevered of the ball coupling area. Am I right in that and if so where would that be on your vehicle? Anyone fitted one?
CS

[Jonnyb416]

Some have these attachments that seem to help keep it steady/balanced.... Wonder what the one pictured uses?


Thanks for the info about the towbar electrics socket. Was looking today and saw that and kinda figured that's what would be used. I'm not convinced mine will work. But there's only one way to find out!

[bhpdub]

I've had various vans that have arrived with these on the back.
They function ok, and do what's printed on the tin.
However, they are a pain to live with, as you can't open the rear door without removing the rack/bikes.
Not such a bad thing on a van with the engine at the front, but with our engine being at the back, any stop to check things, means unloading the rack/bikes at the side of the road... Pain!

The Fiamma style racks, that can be lifted with the rear door are a lot easier to live with.

[tforturton]

From an engineering point of view I am assuming the cross member is attached in some way to the vehicle otherwise the whole thing is cantilevered of the ball coupling area. Am I right in that and if so where would that be on your vehicle? Anyone fitted one?
CS

Ours is simply one fitting, that wraps around the tow bar ball, and is tightened up using a spanner. I must admit, I thought "that's not going to work", but it does. My bike rack doesn't go upright, like the ones you've shown, but is horizontal, with uprights that pivot to fit between the bikes. The platform that the bikes rest on has wheel grooves. I've carried four bikes on this, and it doesn't move. I've even stood on it, and it's as solid as a rock. Not sure how it works, but it does. A bit like this, but heavy duty. I've used it loads of times, including a few runs to France, and it's fine.
http://www.tweekscycles.com/Product.do? ... GwodZv0Kxw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[itchyfeet]

From an engineering point of view I am assuming the cross member is attached in some way to the vehicle otherwise the whole thing is cantilevered of the ball coupling area. Am I right in that and if so where would that be on your vehicle? Anyone fitted one?
CS

Ours is simply one fitting, that wraps around the tow bar ball, and is tightened up using a spanner. I must admit, I thought "that's not going to work", but it does. My bike rack doesn't go upright, like the ones you've shown, but is horizontal, with uprights that pivot to fit between the bikes. The platform that the bikes rest on has wheel grooves. I've carried four bikes on this, and it doesn't move. I've even stood on it, and it's as solid as a rock. Not sure how it works, but it does. A bit like this, but heavy duty. I've used it loads of times, including a few runs to France, and it's fine.
http://www.tweekscycles.com/Product.do? ... GwodZv0Kxw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yep mine is a Thule one like you describe, a three bike one and I don't use the position closest to the tailgate, it has a quick release pivot system so you can open the tailgate with bikes on by hinging the bikes away from the tailgate but I never used it. Comes with light bar.

The Fiamma bike racks squeak on the tailgate and ruin your paintwork, you can open the tailgate but unless you have very light bikes it's heavy to lift the tailgate and needs supporting the whole time.

[Tomtom101]

I use one of these all the time, it is fine and very simple to use. Recommend

Hi mark can you reply to the message I've pm'd you

[Jonnyb416]

I've only just recently bought a tow bar bike carrier off ebay for about £16 delivered. Very securely fastens to the towbar. Carried my kids bikes nicely. Ended up taking the front wheel off one bike so I didn't need a light bar as you could still see the lights. Stuck an extra registration plate in the rear window as travelled through the day. Overall belting piece of kit for the price.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[Ian and Lins]

From an engineering point of view I am assuming the cross member is attached in some way to the vehicle otherwise the whole thing is cantilevered of the ball coupling area. Am I right in that and if so where would that be on your vehicle? Anyone fitted one?
CS

I thought this too. Swapped a tailgate mounted one for a tow-ball clip on and it's been fine; very solid. This is us outside Wirksworth with two adult bikes on the rack. The only place it mounts is on the tow ball.