Auto Trail V-line 635 Sport - Bike Carrier

[Clivepin]

Hi we are very interested in purchasing a 2020 635 V-line. The layout seems very spacious compared to others, and as we are downsizing from a coachbuilt this ishelping us feel more comfortable about the decision. We travel with 2 x E bikes, presently on a tow bar carrier. Although we like the sport version lounge we feel that the bikes and rack will need to come off every time we need to open the boot.

Has anyone found a solution to this?
Alternative for us is to stick with the SE of course as the storage under the beds can be accessed if we leave the bikes on.
Also we are new to a van conversion, and maybe we might like the doors open in summer, but not sure?

Many thanks
Clive

 

[Masman]

I looked at same model.Came to the conclusion that the SE is a better bet if I wanted to take our e.bikes.Both have compromises you have to make .We will be downsizing in the future and this is one of the models that will be closets to what our needs are.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

E-bikes can weigh a substantial amount. I wouldn't want to have a pair on a rack that is mounted on doors, or worse the replacement fibreglass or whatever it is that the Sport rear end is made from. That means a tow bar mounted carrier.

There are mounting arms for tow bar systems that allow the whole thing to be swung away, an example:, but again watch the loading when you consider the combined weight of the bikes plus towbar mounted carrier.

 

[bobandjanie]

Probably the best but expensive.

Home

Pössl Centrum Nederland. Al 30 jaar buscamper specialist. Gelegen vlakbij Utrecht met 40 tot 50 buscampers op voorraad.

www.buscamper.nl

We have a altera dl 3 and with a couple of inches extended you can open the doors.
But I am not recommending them, because we have a small bracket broken, we contacted the company and it has to go back to the factory in Germany, I removed 3 screws and a spring sent a photo of the said bracket to them, can you sent one of these and we will pay............ NO, its has to come to the factory, €90 postage from Spain, so they will get some $#!t when it's done on our visit to the factory......... bloody German's. Bob.

 

[Clivepin]

Hi thanks very interesting, we have a similar carrier to this but from 'Whispbar' which also tilts. In fact they do a tilt & slide type now also - but ours doesn't slide.

Whispbar 2 bike tow bar carrier no. WBT21

This rack has been replaced by a Yakima branded version; the Yakima JustClick 2. It's exactly the same! Yakima initially sold these racks under their Whispbar brand but have now changed to branding them as Yakima.

www.roofbox.co.uk

Is the extension you describe on the tow bar?

Thanks

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[Clivepin]

The MEMO swing arm looks like the best solution, thanks for showing me this it really helps.

 

[Compactliner]

what did/are you downsizing from?
the 635 is 6.36m long and with a towbar type rack with two ebikes you will be about 7m or even a tad over...
whilst the van may be slimmer (youll notice this inside) and a bit easier to place on the road, you're still driving fairly long van...

 

[bobandjanie]

Yes on the towbar.

This was the old van.

The new van has a detached ball, so slightly longer, and obviously removed when the racks off of it. Bob.

 

[PeterE1947]

The swing-out tow -bar support does look good but oh! my so expensive.We thought about this but there is a cheaper one available in Norfolk. We have 2 electric bikes and without the batteries still weigh 40 kilos and then the wieght of the bike carrier itself. We bought a Thule Velocompact 925.Which is for 2 E bikes max 60kg.The tow bar wieghs 14.1kg.Add to that the wieght of the swing-out and that is a lot of wieght. Incidently the swing out bike rack is available here https://www.uk-towbars.net/security-products/. We bought the 50mm spacer and this enables us to leave the bikes on. Our van is a Moto-Trek Leisure EB which has a "boot" similer to the Autotrail 635 SE (I think).

 

[Dilwyn]

I have a 610 Sport with factory fitted towbar and use a Westfalia bikelander classic tilting towbar mounted cycle carrier for 2 bikes (suitable for eBikes – with maximum load of 60kg). With the towball fitted in the lower mounting holes with a 1.5" spacer the boot lid will open. Hope this is helpful.

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[Clivepin]

Thanks very much Dilwyn, we have ordered our 635 sport now and have it booked in at a specialist who will trial the bike rack tilted for us, but they stock the swing out bar also so we have the option at +£500 to have this if needed.

Out of interest do you find it heavy with the bikes on to tilt back up?

And is the access to the boot restricted much by the bikes?

 

[Chrisy]

We have a 634 Sport on order and carry two ebikes on our current coach built. Have been recommended an Atera Strada DL3 rack or the Thule both of which fold and have been told should allow boot clearance

 

[Clivepin]

Thanks Chrisy, we have had our first week away in ours all going well. We have managed quite well accessing the boot from the inside door. But may change our bike rack to atera one. Not heard about Thule working which model? Good luck with your new van.

 

[Riverbankannie]

E-bikes can weigh a substantial amount. I wouldn't want to have a pair on a rack that is mounted on doors, or worse the replacement fibreglass or whatever it is that the Sport rear end is made from. That means a tow bar mounted carrier.

There are mounting arms for tow bar systems that allow the whole thing to be swung away, an example:, but again watch the loading when you consider the combined weight of the bikes plus towbar mounted carrier.

We were going to fit a busbiker swingout bike carrier to our 6.3m maxi chassis ducato but with bikes on would have taken us over 3500kg and we didn’t want to uprate.

 

[Clivepin]

Thanks, all the solutions are based on tow bar mounting, but observing max payload is vital I agree.

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[Darcy CV]

Hi, i know I’m late to the party but I found this thread as I was searching for info on bike racks for our Autotrail v line 635 sport and thought my info may be useful for anyone doing similar . We bought our 2019 van last year and love it having previously had a van conversion with barn doors, the boot is so useful for keeping mess out of the van. As for bike rack , I just bought a Pro-User Towingball2 bike carrier Diamant SG2 PLUS - it’s great , so easy to fit on the ball and boot opens fully no problem , folds neatly and comes with a carry bag - have only tried it on and not driven with bike on yet but so far v impressed, cost about £400 . NB it has to be the PLUS version , the normal won’t clear the boot . Before that I bought a Thule which I had to return as boot wouldn’t clear it. Hope this helps someone

 

[Compactliner]

We were going to fit a busbiker swingout bike carrier to our 6.3m maxi chassis ducato but with bikes on would have taken us over 3500kg and we didn’t want to uprate.

Annie makes a good point....weight.
XLWB versions of panel vans are not light things...the 635SE weighs 3080kg MIRO. souns OK on paper.....
fill the smallish 70ltr fresh water tank and add OH at nominal 75kg and you are now at 3225kg....add those bikes (50kg), rack (15kg) or towbar (15kg) fitted....now at 3305kg with nothing in the van at all...and only 195kg payload for all kit, tools, cutlery, pots, pans, crockery, books, maps, bedding, clothes, food, tins, liquids (wine, milk, juice, drinking water bottles) etc, etc....
notwithstanding electrical packs/kit/gadgets, any extras, auto box, twin leisure batteries, sat system, solar etc....

 

[Clivepin]

Thanks Darcy, it looks like there are 2 solutions now which is useful to know. I plan to get one in the new year. I would be interested in seeing photos if you have time. Thanks.

 

[Compactliner]

weight....too much of it, and payload....not enough are the Elephants in the room when buying a shiny new van....especially PVCs which, due to their smaller footprint are perceived to be light...
witness White Van Man chucking all and sundry into the back of theirs and it must have a great payload, right? No.
the XLWB (6.36m) panel vans are not light vehicles (MIRO around 3100kg) once a fridge/freezer, kitchen with cooker, microwave, hob etc and washroom furniture, truma heater are fitted.
then add driver, passenger, fresh water and, as i mentioned above, that is likely to leave just 250kg (or less) for all extras (towbars, racks, satellite, 2nd battery, solar panel, inverter etc) and all kit (bikes, tools, crockery, cutlery, books, maps, clothes, bedding, electrical gadgets, kettle, toaster, food, drink, wine, beer, outdoor table and chairs, walking kit, boots etc, etc....
running this size PVC is pretty darn tricky at 3.5t....yet salesmen are more than happy to help ticking the options/extras boxes....
good luck, be careful out there...

 

[Darcy CV]

Thanks Darcy, it looks like there are 2 solutions now which is useful to know. I plan to get one in the new year. I would be interested in seeing photos if you have time. Thanks.

Hi , here are some photos , hopefully I’m new to the forum softest time replying and putting pics on ! The Pic of the van only has one bike in but it would easily clear the two. Good luck , if you are buying the 635 sports version its fab, we love ours

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[Chrisy]

D'Arcy thanks for the info. We're awaiting a new 634 Sport and was going to get the Atera D3 but following your post have changed my mind and will opt for the Pro-user.

Could I ask what tow bar you have please? Did you have any spacers fitted to move the rack further away from the Vehicle?

I am a member of the Vline Facebook group but nobody has ever mentioned the Pro-user so this is really useful.

 

[Darcy CV]

Hi Chrisy, we had the witter towbar fitted, there was only one witter one recommended for our van so that’s the one we had. There are upper and lower holes for them to fit the bar on and it’s the two lower ones ours is on (I think that’s normal for bike racks and the upper holes are for towing ) it has one spacer fitted on it which I understand was supplied with the tow bar . The only issue with this rack I have found is that the locking arm clamp does not go all the way around the thicker bike frame where the battery on my electric bike is, it does however go far enough around to clamp and lock and hold it tho . The rack also comes with extra straps for securing, also I have only tried it in the van once and suspect if I rearrange the locking arms I could probably lock it around a thinner part of the frame -but I have yet to try it . Hope this helps , I bought it from carparts4less.com

 

[Chrisy]

Great help thank you. It looks well made. Their video shows it being connected to the down tube of the bike so that should be OK for our ebikes.

Thanks also for recommendations for the tow bar.

 

[Darcy CV]

Remember to make sure you buy the PLUS version

Great help thank you. It looks well made. Their video shows it being connected to the down tube of the bike so that should be OK for our ebikes.

Thanks also for recommendations for the tow bar.

Enjoy your van we love ours .bike rack v well made, comes fully made up too which is better than the Thule I will try the down tube ... obs my user error