Carrying 4 bikes and back box on our Hymer

[HymerDai]

Hey
After some advice and thoughts
So we have a Carryall Back Box which sits on the Fiama bike rack on the back of our Hymer.
The Hymer also has a Tow Ball.
So my Plan was to Raise the Back Box to sit higher and fit a TowBall based Bike rack on the Towball underneath.

I've bought a BuzzRack Racer which feels solid and is great value for money.

However, what's happening is that the bike that would sit closes to the motorhome will foul on the bottom fixing bit of the Fiama rack. See pictures.

So I have a few options.

1 Reduce the size of the Fiama Bike Rack and raise the fitting bit, This will mean that the internal fixings will sit much higher and at headboard level for the back bed. not ideal.

2 Keep the Fiama Bike rack and use it as a bike rack and get a ladder and top box for the van as the stuff we carry in the Carryall Box is flattish stuff like chairs and a camping table so it wouldn't need a super high top box. See picture for what's already on the roof, How likely is it I'll be able to fit a top box with everything that's going on up there? (Excuse the dirt cleaning next week)

Any other thoughts/suggestions welcome

Thanks Dai

 

[Otter Spotter]

I am sure you will need to check your axle weights and ensure that you don’t exceed them or the payload weights, also will your suspension be up to all that after weigh At the back end ? Otherwise no reason why you shouldn’t try it

 

[hymersRbest]

Personally I would avoid a top box.
Pita to get up and down with chairs and such.
I would look at cutting and sleeving the uprights on the fiamma to raise shelf or do away with it and mount box direct to coach ,if possible using existing holes/fixings.
Otherwise look at belly storage boxes that strap to chassis.

 

[hymersRbest]

Could the table be stored inside on wardrobe door?

 

[hymersRbest]

Use fiamma for bikes and put a top box on the black bike rack. Access win win

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[HymerDai]

I did think that we could do away with the Carrybox altogether but for our next trip, we are going to the South of France as it will take us a few days to get to the end destination so the stuff that we store inside on the back bed would need to go somewhere when we need to sleep on the stop-offs. ummm

 

[HymerDai]

Use fiamma for bikes and put a top box on the black bike rack. Access win win

So like this. Umm, that could work. I'd need to remove the bikes and fold the bike rack up in order to open it but as long as I keep the Weight in the box to under 60kg which is max load for the Tow ball bike rack We should be golden.

 

[hymersRbest]

Good now try lying the box on its big side

 

[Manic]

Could you change the tow bar bike rack for a cargo rack and put a roof box on that and then bikes on Fiamma rack
Or have a chassis mounted box made that
Could take the bikes on it.

Box with bikes on top

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[Aireworth]

Have you considered anything Broken Link Removed? From Armitage Trailers in Pontefract. Never used them but they keep posting their work on their Facebook page. Bike rack and A frame porn.

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[scotzsue]

I did think that we could do away with the Carrybox altogether but for our next trip, we are going to the South of France as it will take us a few days to get to the end destination so the stuff that we store inside on the back bed would need to go somewhere when we need to sleep on the stop-offs. ummm

or years we stored chairs in the loo and table on overcab bed, when we stopped we just deposited under the van.
Later discovered chairs bungeed quite nicely behind the drivers and passenger seats, so only table to fid a home for as seats didn't swivel we could have put it in front of them when parked up.
Please dont ask where the mahoosive solar panel and golf clubs went

 

[suavecarve]

If you go with the plan of bikes and box on the rear, as others have said, check your weights, as if a Gendarme/police officer were to see that and know anything about weights, then with all that visible weight on the back you are more or less driving with your hand up in the air asking to be stopped.
Think about moving things forward in the van to try to even the weight out a bit to counter and good luck with whatever decision you come to

 

[busby]

Could you change the tow bar bike rack for a cargo rack and put a roof box on that and then bikes on Fiamma rack
Or have a chassis mounted box made that
Could take the bikes on it.
View attachment 643086
Box with bikes on top

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Got two of these on rear of my van.One bolted to each door..Cycle rack is above and my two deck chairs enclosed in a bag sit on top of nearside box between cycle wheel and rear of the van.Been working we for 6 years.BUSBY.