Bike Racks on PVCs (1 Viewer)

[Ed Scratcher]

Hi, new (to me) Ducato/Elddis CV40 PVC, I need to carry 2 bikes, and intend sometime in the future to get electric bikes, so thinking of a tow bar mount. Initially to use my Thule tiltable rack for standard bikes, until later getting a swing arm system to carry electric bikes.
Does anyone know if the Thule tilt rack will allow the rear doors to open? And does anyone know if the Elddis CV40 (2021) is pre-wired for a tow bar?
Thanks - Ed

 

[Riverbankannie]

Just as a heads up, we were booked to have a swing out rack attached but found that we didn’t have enough spare payload for it and whatever mounting required, we have no towbar, and bikes. Couldn’t up-plate because of C1 licence problems so had to go without. If you can up plate yours that may be the way to go.
Ours 6.3m on maxi chassis. We put it on a weighbridge.

 

[Just smiffy]

the Thule tilt rack Will not tilt enough, it does it enough to just open the one main door and you may get a hand in there to get something small out… it’s usually for cars so the hatchback can open..

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[scotjimland]

Does anyone know if the Thule tilt rack will allow the rear doors to open?

No it does not.. but for me, that is not a deal breaker.. there is no pressing need to open back doors when travelling ..

It's a great rack and highly recommend it ..

 

[busby]

Hi, new (to me) Ducato/Elddis CV40 PVC, I need to carry 2 bikes, and intend sometime in the future to get electric bikes, so thinking of a tow bar mount. Initially to use my Thule tiltable rack for standard bikes, until later getting a swing arm system to carry electric bikes.
Does anyone know if the Thule tilt rack will allow the rear doors to open? And does anyone know if the Elddis CV40 (2021) is pre-wired for a tow bar?
Thanks - Ed

My Halfords carrier does when you tilt it back and surprisingly it's easy with two e.bikes on to lift back into the upright position..and coincidently its for sale on Classified on here...Only used for 3 months last year..BUSBY.

 

[Ed Scratcher]

Hi folks and thanks for your replies. My question about ‘Thule’racks is because I have one. I am concerned about weight, not had the (6m) van on a weighbridge yet, so that might be crucial, gave up C1 licence a few years ago and don’t want to up plate. But I don’t really want to put a rack on the back door - particularly if we go electric, even with batteries off they are heavy.
Still interested to know if my van is pre-wired for a tow bar though?
Thanks again, Ed

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[carolyn]

Our Thule one didn’t on our IH even with a spacer. We now have an Atera Strada DL3, this slides out and drops down. The DL2 isn’t any good, you have to have the DL3 even for 2 bikes and use the outer 2 spaces. Quite a few of us have it.

 

[Fragle]

Just as a heads up, we were booked to have a swing out rack attached but found that we didn’t have enough spare payload for it and whatever mounting required, we have no towbar, and bikes. Couldn’t up-plate because of C1 licence problems so had to go without. If you can up plate yours that may be the way to go.
Ours 6.3m on maxi chassis. We put it on a weighbridge.

You also have to take into account each axle weight.

Putting the bikes overhanging the rear puts all the weight on the rear axle and lifts some of the weight off the front axle you could be within the total weight but over on the rear axle.

 

[TrudeandDall]

You also have to take into account each axle weight.

Putting the bikes overhanging the rear puts all the weight on the rear axle and lifts some of the weight off the front axle you could be within the total weight but over on the rear axle.

I weighed my 6.4 Ducati (Hobby Vantana) in touring order with driver, half a tank of diesel, 50 lts water, tables, chairs etc and two ebikes on a Thule rack with a memo van swing on the tow bar. 3400 gross and 1720 rear axle. I haven't up plated as 200 kg of extra payload, for Trude ( she's a lightweight) and food etc should be okay. Main thing for me is that both my axles were well within design and legal limits..

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[Soycd]

Our Adria PVC was not pre-wired (I don't think) and we had a Vanstar swing out rack fitted by LNB towbars last week. It weighs about 45kg plus bikes so a hefty piece of kit. The white wire is the alarm loop for the Vanbitz Raptor alarm.

 

[Ed Scratcher]

Thanks again for some great feedback ( I love this forum). Having decided I was reluctantly going down the door hung rack route, you have given me pause for thought.
Many comments re axle weights, but inevitably the weight is going to be on the rear one way or the other.
I suppose vehicle length affects rear and front axle weight balance too?
Maybe the idea of a tow bar mount first then adding a swing system arm would be more costly and weigh more than a swing arm from the start? Back to the drawing board!
Thanks yet again, Ed.

 

[sb1957]

Ribble electric bikes seem to be lighter than most. I have the hybrid and it weighs 13 kg including built-in battery. Their electric road bikes are even lighter.

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[Margaux2]

Hi, new (to me) Ducato/Elddis CV40 PVC, I need to carry 2 bikes, and intend sometime in the future to get electric bikes, so thinking of a tow bar mount. Initially to use my Thule tiltable rack for standard bikes, until later getting a swing arm system to carry electric bikes.
Does anyone know if the Thule tilt rack will allow the rear doors to open? And does anyone know if the Elddis CV40 (2021) is pre-wired for a tow bar?
Thanks - Ed

You will need a good cover which I found hard to come by plus some serious bike chains. Always travel with the batteries in your garage or motorhome to move the weight between the 2 axles. Electric bikes are a real target for thieves.
I have the tilting Thule on the Landrover and the tailgate works fine but not familiar with the back door you mention. However I envisage it will be fairly impossible to get in when 2 bikes are in the way horizontally unless you are very fit and a contortionist!

 

[Guigsy]

but inevitably the weight is going to be on the rear one way or the other.

As Fragle mentioned, you might be adding 70kg dead weight, but because it's quite a long way behind the rear axle, there's the seesaw effect. It might take 20kg off the front axle and add 90kg to the rear. With a PVC, you're probably ok. But it can catch out long coachbuilds with long garages.

 

[treblid]

The white wire is the alarm loop for the Vanbitz Raptor alarm.

We also have a Van swing (towbar version) on our PVC. I extended the alarm cable to the other side of the van so it comes out the left door the same side as the VanSwing hinges. This saves having to disconnect it each time you want to get into the back.
(Obviously not an issue if you have chosen a VanSwing with right handed hinge).

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[Soycd]

We also have a Van swing (towbar version) on our PVC. I extended the alarm cable to the other side of the van so it comes out the left door the same side as the VanSwing hinges. This saves having to disconnect it each time you want to get into the back.
(Obviously not an issue if you have chosen a VanSwing with right handed hinge).

Never thought of that! I'll see if the cable will reach the left side. If not I'll contact Vanbitz for a longer cable.

 

[Skinboy]

Our Thule one didn’t on our IH even with a spacer. We now have an Atera Strada DL3, this slides out and drops down. The DL2 isn’t any good, you have to have the DL3 even for 2 bikes and use the outer 2 spaces. Quite a few of us have it.

As Carolyn says, the Atera Strada DL3 is absolutely a great solution if you want low weight, 2 x ebike carriage and the easy ability to open barn doors. I did months of research for our VW Crafter MK2 self build and after getting a door mounted carrier first with two dreadful mini ebikes (wife fell off on first ride and without helmet would have been hospitalised), decided to dump the lot and fit a towbar with the Atera. It's a brilliant system and much easier to lift bikes onto (now proper standard size) and slide back to own rear doors. You do have to watch axle weights but I upgraded to 3900kgs anyway and fitted rear air suspension, so it works brilliantly for us. It is also far cheaper than any of the 4 or 5 swing away options I looked at (and lighter).

 

[G30rge]

Hi, new (to me) Ducato/Elddis CV40 PVC, I need to carry 2 bikes, and intend sometime in the future to get electric bikes, so thinking of a tow bar mount. Initially to use my Thule tiltable rack for standard bikes, until later getting a swing arm system to carry electric bikes.
Does anyone know if the Thule tilt rack will allow the rear doors to open? And does anyone know if the Elddis CV40 (2021) is pre-wired for a tow bar?
Thanks - Ed

I have a CV20 (2020) and had a Witter towbar fitted via CAMHC discount code.
As far as I am aware none of the CV range are pre wired for towbars.
I had a Thule easy fold 2 bike carrier I used on the towbar and as others have said it doesn’t tilt sufficient to allow full opening of doors.

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[busby]

You will need a good cover which I found hard to come by plus some serious bike chains. Always travel with the batteries in your garage or motorhome to move the weight between the 2 axles. Electric bikes are a real target for thieves.
I have the tilting Thule on the Landrover and the tailgate works fine but not familiar with the back door you mention. However I envisage it will be fairly impossible to get in when 2 bikes are in the way horizontally unless you are very fit and a contortionist!

Regarding chains and locks it is where to fasten them..Bike thieves use angle grinders..takes them seconds to cut through an aluminium cycle carrier..BUSBY.

 

[Mr.Tango]

My Halfords carrier does when you tilt it back and surprisingly it's easy with two e.bikes on to lift back into the upright position..and coincidently its for sale on Classified on here...Only used for 3 months last year..BUSBY.

Confirmed, I have just purchased the Halfords bike rack and was pleasantly surprised. Before I had used Thule bike racks but due to the availability of the Thule product I purchased the Halfords one. The Halfords product does tilt back. all the way, it locks both bikes, independently to the rack and tow bar and has handy wheel runners along the length of the rack and clips to tidy the wheel straps. The quality also appears to be very good although it is early days.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

For the Ducato, Boxer and Relay PVCs Thule now do a Velo Swing. Allows the tow bar mounted rack to swing away to the side for door opening, and the towbar (sans rack) can be used for towing purposes. They also do wiring kit and alternative bumper with cut out to suit it. May be an alternative to other swing devices out there?

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[Jeffr3y]

Our Adria PVC was not pre-wired (I don't think) and we had a Vanstar swing out rack fitted by LNB towbars last week. It weighs about 45kg plus bikes so a hefty piece of kit. The white wire is the alarm loop for the Vanbitz Raptor alarm.
View attachment 876746View attachment 876747
View attachment 876748View attachment 876749

Hia could you do me a favour and measure the folded up extension distance from the rear doors please?
It looks nicely compact I have a rear door mounted at the moment and it just fits in my garage folded up, only trouble is it's 35kg max capacity, I'm assuming your one is 60kg.
Cheers Jeff

 

[BlackIce]

Hi,
I also have a CV40 and fitted a towbar and Thule tiltable bike rack for our 2 ebikes. I can confirm it doesn't tilt enough to open rear doors but is still a great bit of kit. The van is not pre wired for a towbar but is quite easy if you buy the ducatto wiring kit. Incidentally we weighed the van with rack,bikes and full diesel and water it came in at 3200kg.

 

[Camperchris]

There is another option which is the Fiamma rack that bolts through the door hinges so does not load the door and allows doors to open even with bikes loaded. It’s rated up to 50kg. So ok for two e-bikes. I do like it for simplicity. Mind you it’s probably no cheaper than a tow bar and swing out arm. And the big advantage of a tow bar rack is the low load height.

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[Soycd]

Hia could you do me a favour and measure the folded up extension distance from the rear doors please?
It looks nicely compact I have a rear door mounted at the moment and it just fits in my garage folded up, only trouble is it's 35kg max capacity, I'm assuming your one is 60kg.
Cheers Jeff

Jeff, it's 50cm from the doors to the lighting bar. From the rubber bumpers to the lighting bar its about 13cm less. Image below explains it better. It's max load is 75kg. It may be that we get electric bikes eventually so wanted to take that into account. I may end up up plating to 3900kg, which I can do as a paper exercise, we have C1 licences.

 

[busby]

Confirmed, I have just purchased the Halfords bike rack and was pleasantly surprised. Before I had used Thule bike racks but due to the availability of the Thule product I purchased the Halfords one. The Halfords product does tilt back. all the way, it locks both bikes, independently to the rack and tow bar and has handy wheel runners along the length of the rack and clips to tidy the wheel straps. The quality also appears to be very good although it is early days.

Could have saved you £200 there..BUSBY

 

[Ed Scratcher]

My Halfords carrier does when you tilt it back and surprisingly it's easy with two e.bikes on to lift back into the upright position..and coincidently its for sale on Classified on here...Only used for 3 months last year..BUSBY.

Hi, tow bar and rack seem to be my best economical choice, but as seen my Thule rack gets in the way - so interested in your Halfords one if it does allow the barn doors on my Ducato to open, watched their video and the latest model seems to.

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[Jeffr3y]

There is another option which is the Fiamma rack that bolts through the door hinges so does not load the door and allows doors to open even with bikes loaded. It’s rated up to 50kg. So ok for two e-bikes. I do like it for simplicity. Mind you it’s probably no cheaper than a tow bar and swing out arm. And the big advantage of a tow bar rack is the low load height.



View attachment 877636

Looks good do you have a product number please?

 

[treblid]

I think this is it?:

 

[Soycd]

I think this is it?:

We had something similar on last van. Problem with that style is you have to fix it to the door and it's a long way up to lift a bike, let alone an electric bike. A bike rack for youngsters I reckon!

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