Bike rack on door or tow ball? (1 Viewer)

[mark and sharon]

Hi guys

Loving the forum. We have just bought a fiat ducato van conversion and would like some advice on bike racks.

We can buy a door mounted bike rack, or have a tow ball fitted and fit a bike rack to that.???

Sharon and mark

 

[taffybloke]

If you have it on the tow ball can you open the rear doors if you need to?


Mike

 

[mark and sharon]

Hi mike

Good point that would be the down side. Concerned about lifting our old heavy bikes high. Also will the door take the strain?

Regards Sharon and mark

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[mitzimad]

you can get a fold down one to go on the tow bar my bike rack which is on the door is definitely bending the door

 

[DBK]

Tow ball mounted every time for me. Unless you have very light bikes it will be a struggle to lift them up otherwise. And mechanically the tow bar mount is much better. Doors can be bent with the alternative especially if you hit a sleeping policeman at speed.

 

[Mikeco]

I have the door mounted one but I have bolted both rails on through the door. I also have the bike channels on the lower position and fitted extra lights at a lower level.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[mark and sharon]

Hi guys

Thank you. Wow, we thought bike. Well there you go!

 

[mark and sharon]

Rack! Husband drunk!!! Lol

 

[Ranger]

We have a door mounted rack on our current PVC but due to the problems of lifting heavy e-bikes up high we are going to use a towbar one on the new van. We have found that the Witter rack tilts almost horizontal which most do not and should allow the back doors to at least partially open.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Murphy]

We had bike rack fitted to our PVC on rear door for carrying our 2 mountain bikes, seems to
carry them well, but would not carry any more than 2 bikes, the rear doors open fully with bikes on but you have to be careful closing the door with the rack loaded,

 

[Carol]

My thoughts would be if your fit and strong go for eigher, but for a easier lift go for the tow ball.

 

[Ranger]

Our door mounted rack didn't seem too high when I fitted it eight years ago but it seems to be getting higher year on year.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Riverbankannie]

We were advised not to have door mounted rack on our new Ducato by converter.
I Did have a fitting for a swing out towball mounted rack by Busbiker in holland. Cancelled it when I weighed van and found that tow bar plus rack plus electric bikes would take us over weight.

 

[The Old Man]

I always worried about the strain on the door hinges! Even on my Freelander, Land Rover advised against door mounted bike racks, it's not the standing weight, it's the 'shock' loading when you hit a pothole, even though the doors are closed there is a 'peeling off' effect.

Land Rover supplied a bike rack that mounted on the tow bar plate. This meant I could still tow the caravan with bikes on board.

Link Removed

My Thule tow hitch bike rake is designed so that, with a bit of spannering and effort you can 'drop' the bikes back to gain extra access space.

Either type did require a plate and lights board.

 

[John.]

Slightly off topic

We have a Witter 3 bike rack.
I'd like to carry our 20kg awning on it in France/Spain would we have any legal issues ? Also would we need a reflective board?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[The Old Man]

Slightly off topic

We have a Witter 3 bike rack.
I'd like to carry our 20kg awning on it in France/Spain would we have any legal issues ? Also would we need a reflective board?

I would imagine that as long as;

It is secured.
Not flapping about.
Does not exceed the weight limits of the rack.
Doesn't obscure the lights, number plate, number plate lights.

No one will care, but how nickable will it be?

 

[Geo]

Our door mounted rack didn't seem too high when I fitted it eight years ago but it seems to be getting higher year on year.

Check your tyre pressures

 

[Geo]

I prefer um up high out of harms way in case of a rear shunt, also when you make it easier for yourself you make it easier for the tea leafs too

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[busby]

Our door mounted rack didn't seem too high when I fitted it eight years ago but it seems to be getting higher year on year.

Or are you getting shorter,,,,, BUSBY,,,,

 

[TheBig1]

I would recommend you fit a towbar and take a good look at the dutch bike racks. they unclip from one end and pivot out of the way of the doors

 

[Nigeltheparrot]

Try these https://www.buscamper.nl/busbiker expensive I know but you can open doors on van without dropping racks, no dealers in UK so a trip to The Netherlands would need to be taken
John

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[mark and sharon]

Hi john

That is amazing. That's what we need (want that one!) We puck up our new van end October. Adria sun living. Shame they do not have a UK supplier. Expensive like you say but design perfect.

Thanks for sending link. Sharon

 

[rich g]

I have just had a tow bar fitted to my PVC, and bought a Thule bike rack,i was advised not to attach a rack to the door.

 

[gus-lopez]

Slightly off topic

We have a Witter 3 bike rack.
I'd like to carry our 20kg awning on it in France/Spain would we have any legal issues ? Also would we need a reflective board?

& yes you'll need a marker board.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Peter & Elaine]

We have on rear mounted rack and it's getting hard work lifting bikes so now we have a tow ball rack much easier to roll bikes on

 

[Riverbankannie]

This is the person to contact at Busbiker
theo@buscamper.nl
I came to the conclusion that even the witter rack that tilted would not allow any useful access to the Ducato rear door so the Busbiker rack was the way to go. It was recommended

 

[mark and sharon]

Thank you riverbank it's so good to have a contact person. Will let you know how it goes.

Regards Sharon Mark

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[danielf]

Hi

We have a tow bar one , strada alters.

Thread
http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum...barn-doors-opening.118000/page-2#post-1813225

Daniel

 

[teensvan99]

tow ball mounted every time

 

[Ranger]

Check your tyre pressures

Don't think its the tyres but perhaps I need a bit of pumping up.