Adria Twin 640 owners / cycle racks?

[colyboy]

Adria Twin 640 owners re cycle racks. We need a cycle rack to take two E bikes.
What do you use.

1. Was thinking of a rear door fitted one, but have heard deferent reports about them damaging the door with E bikes
2. Looked at “swing out”racks but with the tow bar and rack they very heavy. (But you can still open the doors)
3. Or should I get a tow bar mounted one which folds down then whip the bikes off and open the rear doors

Your suggestions would be most welcome.

Colyboy

 

[TM59]

I use option 3 on the rear of a rapido V55. Use a Westfalia BC60 rack for e bikes mounted on a tow bar. With the rack folded back I can access the back doors to switch of the gas or remove small items. Not totally ideal but works for me.

 

[colyboy]

TM59. Thanks for your prompt reply.

 

[Phill D]

If I was in the market for a bike rack for a PVC then I would save my pennies up until I could afford the Van star 2 bike rack.
Expensive but the dogs bits.

 

[dipsie]

I thought the idea of a van with the raised fixed beds was so that one can put your bikes and other larger bits under them in exchange for a useless kitchen and very small lounging area. Am I missing something ?
We downsized as we wanted to be off site with a van that would be able to get to places that would be difficult with an A or coachbuid.
In nearly four years of “ van life “ has the size of our 6.34 camper stopped us getting anywhere we wanted to go, parking has led to being a bit inventive but never been beaten, yet !
Last year due to the Covid distancing we have used a toad ( Aygo ) instead of catching the odd bus, as soon as the situation allows it will be advertised on here .

BernieT

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[rosalan]

It may not be too much of a problem but do check your payload with two electric bikes on the back.

 

[Phill D]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=393104389007

 

[carolyn]

Atera strada dl3 is an option that allows you to slide the bike rack out and drop it down and open the doors. It mounts on the tow bar. It has to be a bolt on tow bar, not the swan neck type and on the lower holes. We still need a one inch spacer. I must admit it’s not as solid feeling as the Thule but that’s not surprising as it sticks out more. It has to be the dl3 and not the dl2 even though you are only using it for 2 bikes.
Roofbox company sell it. There are loads of youtube videos. Lots of us have them .

 

[Howard B]

Atera strada dl3 is an option that allows you to slide the bike rack out and drop it down and open the doors. It mounts on the tow bar. It has to be a bolt on tow bar, not the swan neck type and on the lower holes. We still need a one inch spacer. I must admit it’s not as solid feeling as the Thule but that’s not surprising as it sticks out more. It has to be the dl3 and not the dl2 even though you are only using it for 2 bikes.
Roofbox company sell it. There are loads of youtube videos. Lots of us have them .

I also have the DL3. Not used in anger yet but I have fitted it on the van and can confirm it does fold down enough to open the rear doors fully with a mountbike fitted. The BC 60 does fold smaller and looks better, but I wanted to be able to open the doors fully.

 

[Skez]

Memo Vanstar - Can't recommend it too highly.

Not the cheapest option but really good. Carries up to 65kg I think and the low load height makes it perfect for eBikes.

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[Viennese]

If I was in the market for a bike rack for a PVC then I would save my pennies up until I could afford the Van star 2 bike rack.
Expensive but the dogs bits.

That's what I have and apart from regretting that it wasn't left hinged, I am happy with it

 

[69473]

Anyone used a bike carrier on a PVC with a rear door mounted spare wheel?

 

[Nasher]

Have a look at MaxxRaxx

 

[Sapper520]

As said before, if you’ve got a detachable Swan Neck type tow ball, there’s no way any tilting racks that I’ve come across will allow you to open the back doors.

We’re going to have to lift the rack and bikes off to get in the back doors.

 

[69473]

Thanks Nasher Maxx Raxx Explorer looks ideal.

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[Nasher]

Thanks Nasher Maxx Raxx Explorer looks ideal.

The reason I bought one, is that it is perfect for securing my Mountain Unicycle (Muni for short)

 

[SpeedyDux]

I use option 3 on the rear of a rapido V55. Use a Westfalia BC60 rack for e bikes mounted on a tow bar. With the rack folded back I can access the back doors to switch of the gas or remove small items. Not totally ideal but works for me.

View attachment 467188 View attachment 467189

I like that option. Would cause a slight problem with mine because it has reversing sensors in the bumper.

 

[dodfloss]

Adria Twin 640 owners re cycle racks. We need a cycle rack to take two E bikes.
What do you use.

1. Was thinking of a rear door fitted one, but have heard deferent reports about them damaging the door with E bikes
2. Looked at “swing out”racks but with the tow bar and rack they very heavy. (But you can still open the doors)
3. Or should I get a tow bar mounted one which folds down then whip the bikes off and open the rear doors

Your suggestions would be most welcome.

Colyboy

Which Adria twin do you have ?

 

[Sapper520]

The reason I bought one, is that it is perfect for securing my Mountain Unicycle (Muni for short)

I’ve looked at their website, the 2 bike Voyager looks promising.

What type of tow ball do you use, and does it tilt far enough down and away from the van to open the back doors?

 

[colyboy]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=393104389007

I thought the idea of a van with the raised fixed beds was so that one can put your bikes and other larger bits under them in exchange for a useless kitchen and very small lounging area. Am I missing something ?
We downsized as we wanted to be off site with a van that would be able to get to places that would be difficult with an A or coachbuid.
In nearly four years of “ van life “ has the size of our 6.34 camper stopped us getting anywhere we wanted to go, parking has led to being a bit inventive but never been beaten, yet !
Last year due to the Covid distancing we have used a toad ( Aygo ) instead of catching the odd bus, as soon as the situation allows it will be advertised on here .

BernieT

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[Nasher]

I’ve looked at their website, the 2 bike Voyager looks promising.

What type of tow ball do you use, and does it tilt far enough down and away from the van to open the back doors?

Pic attached of my towbar

From memory, you can open the RH door, enough to open the LH door fully - if I'm sounding a bit vague it's because I have used the MaxxRaxx on 2 different vans.....
In addition, I rarely use the rear doors, preferring the sliding door

They do offer one rack with a 25cm offset which normally used for vehicles with a door mounted spare wheel - that would give more clearance

Have a word with MaxxRaxx and if they don't know, let me know and I'll set mine up and check (provided the rain stops)

 

[colyboy]

I thought the idea of a van with the raised fixed beds was so that one can put your bikes and other larger bits under them in exchange for a useless kitchen and very small lounging area. Am I missing something ?
We downsized as we wanted to be off site with a van that would be able to get to places that would be difficult with an A or coachbuid.
In nearly four years of “ van life “ has the size of our 6.34 camper stopped us getting anywhere we wanted to go, parking has led to being a bit inventive but never been beaten, yet !
Last year due to the Covid distancing we have used a toad ( Aygo ) instead of catching the odd bus, as soon as the situation allows it will be advertised on here .

BernieT

Hi Dipsie. We knew when we ordered the van that there would not be enough room for our bikes; one folding and one normal. We don't want to drive the van every where, we love our bikes and the freedom it gives us, particular in Europe where there are miles of cycle paths and they often end up in out of the way places where you would never get with a car. We would not like to tow anything as some one suggested we have a small trailer with bikes on top. if we towed anything it would be no difference than having a car and caravan and over all a car and caravan would work out cheaper! Hope you got my answer to you regarding the skillet.

Paul

 

[Sapper520]

Pic attached of my towbar

From memory, you can open the RH door, enough to open the LH door fully - if I'm sounding a bit vague it's because I have used the MaxxRaxx on 2 different vans.....
In addition, I rarely use the rear doors, preferring the sliding door

They do offer one rack with a 25cm offset which normally used for vehicles with a door mounted spare wheel - that would give more clearance

Have a word with MaxxRaxx and if they don't know, let me know and I'll set mine up and check (provided the rain stops

View attachment 467517

Thanks Nasher, but I’ve got a removable Swan Neck so don’t have the ability to fit a spacer plate etc in order to move it away from the back of the van.

I’ve sent MAXXRAXX an email.

 

[dipsie]

Hi Paul, yes I did see the message.
Ah, I see that the bikes won’t both go in, the Adria looks a good bet, lovely build quality.
I have a tow bar mount twin bike carrier I bought from the Roof Box Co a while ago, very nicely made, I think it’s German made. Unfortunately it is not one of the folding type, it can be lifted off the ball by just loosening one bolt on top of the mount on the ball. I’v used it on the back of our V Line a few times until I sold our bikes, used to take about 60 secs to I mount.

BernieT

 

[Steve Travelvan]

I have a Thule bike rack mounted on the rear door of my Adria 600SP Fiat van and have used this to carry two non electric bikes since 2014. We have had increasing problems with the door closed alarm and I have to lift the door and close it with some force to get it to shut properly. This problem has got worse and last summer I removed the bike rack. It was a pleasure to have a door that closed properly without the usual struggle but we did miss the bikes. The Fiat van rear door is not designed to carry the weight of the rack and two bikes. The 8.2kg in weight saved meant that we could bring a little more wine back from France before the new restrictions came into force as we escaped from a locked down Europe in December.

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[carolyn]

I think why those of us who travel abroad wanted something that allowed access to the rear doors with the bikes still on is because of being stopped and searched at customs. With the Atera Strada DL3 you can fully access the boot . The last thing you want if you are stopped is to have to remove bike covers, your bikes and then the bike rack, especially in the pouring rain, then get searched and then have to put it all back on again.

It also means if you are just stopping frequently for just a night ot two you can easily get stuff out of the boot. With our Thule, which I admit was very solid , we could drop the bikes down and open the right hand door just enough to reach in and get buckets out perhaps or other small items packed on the right but it was awkward. The Thule was fine for a single destination in the UK. We did always pad the handlebar nearest the van as we always worried it would bounce and hit the rear window, that might have been us being neurotic but better safe than sorry.

 

[ED O'DARAC]

Hi all. We have an Adria Twin 640 SLB, and , just to stir the pot a little, we changed our e-bikes so that they easily fit inside under the bed.
We have bought two Brompton folding bikes and added the excellent Swytch e-system to each one.
We had a Thule door-mounted rack on our previous van, and I was concerned about bike security, as even the cheapest bikes would be £2-2.5k on the back rack.
That probably doesn't help. I would have gone for the Van Star in theory, but would have ended up getting the Thule again in reality.

 

[colyboy]

MEMO VAN STAR . Thanks for your replies. I like the Memo Van Star but its the weight that worries me. Must say I have been thinking of uprating as I have the right driving licence. But my second choice was the DL3 and will i think be my first choice. Still have a couple of months to make my mind up.

Colyboy

 

[Sapper520]

MEMO VAN STAR . Thanks for your replies. I like the Memo Van Star but its the weight that worries me. Must say I have been thinking of uprating as I have the right driving licence. But my second choice was the DL3 and will i think be my first choice. Still have a couple of months to make my mind up.

Colyboy

The DL3 doesn’t work if you have a removable Swan Neck tow ball.

 

[Howard B]

here is my van with the Altera DL3 tilted. Only one bike on at the moment but I have checked it works with 2. The folding bikes can be stored inside the van if needed, depends on how long we are away for and how much crap we have in the boot.

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