New bike rack

[SallyR]

Help - we have just purchased a short Thule elite to replace the rack on our lunar premier as we have electric bikes. The original rack wasn't big enough to take our two bikes or take the weight. Unfortunately now it's been delivered and we've checked through the new fittings there is no way we can use our original fittings and we just cannot see how we can access the body to put in the new fittings as we can't access the body shell as we have a corner shower in the position of one of the fixings. Any suggestions!!!

 

[Stealaway]

Are you happy hanging this much weight on the rear wall? Do you have enough spare payload for two electric bikes on the rear axle? Have you considered a tow bar and bike rack?

 

[SallyR]

The new bike rack is for electric bikes and helps distribute the weight in its design so presumably should be okay as they wouldn't sell many if the weight was an issue. As we don't have a tow bar it would be very expensive to have to have one fitted.

 

[jumar]

The new bike rack is for electric bikes and helps distribute the weight in its design so presumably should be okay as they wouldn't sell many if the weight was an issue. As we don't have a tow bar it would be very expensive to have to have one fitted.

The bike rack may be able to take a load of up to 60kg, but the question is did the manufacturer when building your motorhome expect a couple of ebikes to be carried.
My Hymer had mountings fitted from new, I bought the bike rack later....I also moved on from conventional bikes to eBikes...at no time have I carried my eBikes on the carrier, even if I could, I doubt I would have the strength to lift them or the nerve to carry two bikes that cost £4500 each....hope you can come up with a solution and let us all know what you did...

 

[Steve N Tracy]

If the shower has to come out to fit the rack then, it might come close to the price of a towbar.

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[SallyR]

Are you happy hanging this much weight on the rear wall? Do you have enough spare payload for two electric bikes on the rear axle? Have you considered a tow bar and bike rack?

 

[SallyR]

We will have too get a quote for a tow bar - oh well more months working before I can afford to retire

 

[Two on Tour]

Our problem was the strength of our back wall,so I fitted these Fiamma mounting bars as yo can then put your fixings through your back wall pretty much where you like.
The rack then mounts on the bars not through the back wall.

 

[SallyR]

That's interesting did you need to attach that bar through the back wall from the inside as we have a shower in the back lefthand corner

 

[hymerman]

I agree with all the previous comments regarding all the extra weight of the bikes.
I would however be equally concerned about them being stolen and would therefore require quite a substantial bracket and chains to attach them to with again all the ensuing extra weight.

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[Two on Tour]

That's interesting did you need to attach that bar through the back wall from the inside as we have a shower in the back lefthand corner

The problem we had was the way the back wall of our van deflected out with bikes on the rack and normal bike rack fixings through the back wall.
We have a wash basin against our back wall and when the bikes were on the rack the back wall moved away from the basin by about 3mm so you can imagine what that would be like with hitting bumps in the road.
I checked the construction of our van and there are timbers in the corner where the back and side walls meet, so I screwed the Fiamma mounting bars into the back corners and also used the original bike rack mounting holes. There is absolutely no flex in our back wall now.

 

[Two on Tour]

I agree with all the previous comments regarding all the extra weight of the bikes.
I would however be equally concerned about them being stolen and would therefore require quite a substantial bracket and chains to attach them to with again all the ensuing extra weight.

So what does the OP do then, as I think you will find their van does not have a garage.

 

[hymerman]

I have no idea what they should do, I was just stating my opinion and wouldn't risk very high value items sat on the back of my van.

 

[Stealaway]

So what does the OP do then, as I think you will find their van does not have a garage.

Take a pair of cheaper lighter mountain bikes? Most people do.

 

[Two on Tour]

Do they ?

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[SallyR]

Quite a difference of opinions being voiced here. We use electric bikes as we are getting older more arthritic and can still enjoy cycling and do the distance sadly not fit enough for normal bikes which is why we upgraded. Part of our holiday is too explore on our bikes.
Will check out our back wall fitting as this may be an answer as Two on Tour suggested picking up the corner frame.

 

[pandas]

apologies for stating something you have have done already but...
Our previous MH had two points on the back ready to provide the bike rack attachments.
There was a weight guide specifying the weight we could hang off these points.
The Fiamma bike rack gave a total weight the bikes it could accept it also gave the weight of the rack. They also made it clear that although they had provided the max weight the carrier could take it was our responsibility to factor in the weights provided by the manufacturer.
Travelled for a few years with 2 x normal bikes and then with 2 x electric bikes which were 23 kilos each. We did not need to change the Fiamma rails toe bike rails as they said they met the spec.
So relax, find out specifically what the individual criteria is of both the vehicle and the rack. They will have factored in the ‘dynamic’ aspect Ie bumps etc.
Security; we didn’t find an issue as long as you have a good cover, not plastic plus we used our D locks from the bikes to secure it to the rack when in transit. When at a camp site our insurance company insisted that we secure the bikes to an immovable object - in their opinion a bike rack wasn’t as you could dismantle it (their rules not ours).
Again don’t get stressed about it - ‘be guided by the science’ and not by a lot of speculation. Enjoy the bikes.

 

[jumar]

Quite a difference of opinions being voiced here. We use electric bikes as we are getting older more arthritic and can still enjoy cycling and do the distance sadly not fit enough for normal bikes which is why we upgraded. Part of our holiday is too explore on our bikes.
Will check out our back wall fitting as this may be an answer as Two on Tour suggested picking up the corner frame.

A totally different issue is why someone should or wants to use an eBike....we are fit healthly and full of life....nearly 70 but could pass for 68....on our second pair of ebikes....like you we prefer to carry and ride them....Judith has been known to do 800km a month more or less....off road...
We ride now as we did 20 years ago on an eBike.....100% fun....
Yours and others have the problem of storage and carrying....our Hymer has a garage, so in they go...out of sight....we carry both bikes from home on our Thule eBike rack mounted on the towbar... simple... good luck with finding whats best for you....

 

[Podney]

My brother put two electric bikes on his moho bike rack.................the bikes were fine,the rack was fine...
BUT.....the rear of the motorhome was WRECKED. I’m not shouting at you,but please be careful!
You may wish to reconsider your carrying method.