Bike rack bolts through shower unit (1 Viewer)

[Ckanddk]

hi funsters, we are thinking of putting a bike rack on back of MH but in a quandary as to where is best for bolts. Auto sleeper advise that there are two vertical wooden batons to which a bike rack can be fitted, albeit off centre, but bike rails can be set off centre to the rack thus centralizing against the MH. Our other option is the local dealer who advocates putting rack in centre which results in two bolts entering the shower unit. Should the later worry me, I'm assured that this method is no way a threat as far as damp is concerned.....do you know differently.

 

[chaser]

Think I'd rather manage without bikes than have two bolts through the shower, absolutely asking for damp.

 

[Ckanddk]

Hi Chaser thank you for your reply, Well that's what I thought, but apparently they fit these every day without incident. I think we may well go to Auto sleeper. Jury still out

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

 

[funflair]

I would not fancy bolting to the shower wall myself but the other problem with this plan is that the rack will not be supported by any batons in the wall only the foam sandwich panel, it might come down to how spaced the rack supports are vertically. The off centre option sounds the best.

 

[Forestboy]

Rather trust Autosleeper than a dealer as for bolts through shower wall rather walk I think. Showers are fragile enough without doing that.
Safer to fit a towbar maybe and cheaper if you wreck the shower.

 

[scotjimland]

local dealer who advocates putting rack in centre which results in two bolts entering the shower unit.

find another dealer.. fast ..

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

 

[Judge Mental]

They can fit cross supports externally fixed off centre and fit rack centrally to that. How heavy are the bikes

 

[Ckanddk]

I think the tow bar option is prob best then we can put bikes or box on that....thank you for feedback, much appreciated

 

[scotjimland]

I think the tow bar option is prob best then we can put bikes or box on that....thank you for feedback, much appreciated

good option.. it is also much lower, so easier to lift bikes onto.. and when not required .. leave at home..

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

 

[eddie]

The shower cubicle "wall" will not be bonded to the motorhome rear wall consequently it would be virtually impossible to seal effectively.

I always go down the towbar option where possible the bike racks far superior, cheaper, easier to load the bikes on and off and frankly, I don't mind taking the bikes off for an hour or so to use, but when they were on the rear wall mounted bracket I couldn't be bothered, too many straps and clips.

If you are determined that you want to mount a cycle carrier on the rear wall of the motorcaravan, I would advise that you use the fixing method recommended and fabricated for by AutoSleeper.

Can you imagine but the shower cubicle would look like with bolts, nuts and spreader plates in it?

 

[jockaneezer]

Can you imagine but the shower cubicle would look like with bolts, nuts and spreader plates in it?

Somewhere to hang your soap on a rope ?

 

[robnchris]

Looking at how ineffective motorhome builders are at keeping damp from seeping through their designed joints I wouldn`t be drilling any holes in the bodywork.

As for drilling into a shower cubicle that has to be a no no, I`m not convinced drilling through a wooden battern is the way to go either, how much is all this going to compress when you tighten the bolts, surely an inner sleeve is required to prevent crushing the bodywork.

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

 

[Neilfg]

We have a garage currently, but new vehicle does not so we are considering bike rack options at the moment. We went to NEC to look at some towbar mounted options, really surprised how good/solid they were.

I think if you are considering a towbar then the bike rack makes sense on the towbar no concerns on stressing your back wall. If back wall mounted then unless you completely trust fitter I would go with manufacturer fit. Putting anything through a shower wall sounds risky, especially if it will be stressed over time.

The towbar is not a cheap option if you are not going to get a towbar for other reasons. Also depends on what you are putting on the rack, single road bike or 2 ebikes are very different weights.

 

[chaser]

What sort of a dealer would even think of putting bolts through the shower wall, is he some sort of back street guy or a registered dealer, if the latter think he should be named and shamed , if he can come up with this , whatever else is he doing to them, come to think of it if he is the former as well. Crazy.

 

[Kevc]

I too would also go with a tow bar, and maybe a cycle rack that clips on to that

Kev

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

 

[Reallyretired]

Bolting through shower is a bad idea as already stated. We have a fiamma rack which was on the van when we got it, I don't think I'd fit one if it wasn't already there.

I have a towball mounted on on my landy for occasional use, but on an earlier van I had one that mounted on the towbar so you could still tow with it on. Both types were pretty inexpensive, but not so good if you don't already have a towbar.

 

[Gaston aires]

Dont do that eek ! Better off putting bikes in the shower.
Phil

 

[Lenny HB]

No way would a dealer with any common sense mount a bike rack with fixing in the shower. I would give that dealer a very wide birth.
If going the tow bar route bear in mind tow bars weigh up to 75kg and all that weight is behind the rear axle.

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

 

[Wombles]

Thule tow bar bike carriers http://www.thule.com/en/gb/products/carriers-and-racks/bike-carriers/towbar-mounted-bike-carriers

 

[mike mcglynn]

I think your local dealer should have 2 bolts through his neck what a plonker

 

[Gorse Hill]

I had the same issue wanted to take the bikes decided on drilling ANY holes not matter where they are they will eventually leak will all the movement encounted with a M/H
Had a towbar fitted by Mike Parkinson near Preston ( look on here lots of reviews about him) think it was £350 very competitive and a Thule bike rack for 2 bikes £120.00 and can now use it to tow a toad
Used it in france throu the Summer, excellent dead easy to get bikes on and off plus we were traveling with a couple who had a bike rack fitted and it snapped off during the trip (going over speed bumps quite a few on the trip) he bought a towbar one whilst there rather than put a bike rack back on

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

 

[jezport]

Adding a towbar and bike rack full of bikes should be considered with care. The weight is far back so will ad a lot of weight beyond the rear axle.

Towbar 50kg Rack 20kg bikes 70kg to 120kg plus extra weight depending on how far back from rear axle

 

[Judge Mental]

They can fit cross supports externally fixed off centre and fit rack centrally to that. How heavy are the bikes

something like this
http://www.thule.com/en/gb/products...tom-mounting-rail-for-blind-mounting-_-308954

 

[Wickolad]

Hi Chaser thank you for your reply, Well that's what I thought, but apparently they fit these every day without incident. I think we may well go to Auto sleeper. Jury still out

I Would, Autosleeper as any other manufacturer include the timber reinforcing to the back panel in order to offer sufficient support for bike racks or roof ladders etc and that is exactly where it should be fitted. What dealer in their right mind would bolt through a shower wall? Ridiculous! Asking for trouble. Go with what Autosleeper have designed, stability and just offset the carrier to centralise it to back wall. Email Autosleeper with model/year, as i did Autotrail, they sent me a plan of the rear wall that gave specific dimensions of where the support beams were constructed in order to secure my ladder . Bike rack already fitted in correct place as could be seen with the wall plan. You could also ask their advice re shower wall for a laugh.

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

 

[Wickolad]

Well that's what I thought, but apparently they fit these every day without incident

Really?? In the shower?? Can't imagine there are that many Idiots with motorhomes willing to allow that. Sounds like they are talking bo@@ocks!

 

[Allanm]

Nice smooth shower wall, slippery soapy floor, skin and two sharp steel bolts. Not a good combination.