Tow Bar Bike Racks - choices

[Mike123]

Ok - so after last post about storing bikes in the MH when travelling, we have decided to go with Tow Bar / Cycle Rack as the better option for two bikes.

Had a look at Thule and they seem ok, are there any other makes that you would recommend ?

Don't need folding racks and can lift bikes as required onto the rack, just looking for other options to choose from.....

Thanks in advance

 

[Ivory55]

Atera rack is very good, we are happy with it and it’s ok for the extra weight of electric bikes

 

[Mikey RV]

Thule are good bits of kit. I have one, Thule easyfold XL and when not in use folds up like a suitcase for storage. Can be locked on to towball and bikes can be locked on to rack. Bit expensive but well made. Got mine from roof box.

 

[gradyp]

I use this one , but temp out of stock , very good rack

BUZZ RACK BuzzRacer 4 bike wheel support rack no. BRP334

A great all-rounder, the Racer offers fantastic value for money and the built quality is among the best we have found. This rack is also easy-to-use; loading your bikes is simple and it tilts to allow access to your tailgate.

www.roofbox.co.uk

This one is a little cheaper and in stock , but for lighter bikes

BUZZ RACK BB4 - 4 bike wheel support rack no. BRP324

An excellent value for money carrier that is way ahead of the competition in terms of build quality and ease of use. You will need to remove your bikes to access the tailgate but if you don't need a tilting rack this is the best we have seen.

www.roofbox.co.uk

 

[maison]

We have a Thule tow bar rack.

With one electric bike @ 23kgs + my road bike at 9kgs it has never moved, even at 85mph on German Autobahns. We have found it superb and one friend, and our Son-in-Law have also bought one as a result.

Highly recommended by us!

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[I2C]

Agree with others here, would recommend the Thule tow bar rack, worth the money Can get various models depending on the weight of your bikes.

 

[TM59]

Westfalia BC60. Folds up small also tilts. Have been using one with 2 e-bikes for approx 4 years. Well pleased.

 

[uzsnowdrop]

I’ve just been through this, ended up , after doing the forum to death, with Thule compact. Lovely bit of kit from Roofbox Company.
Easy to use ( youtube) and Roofbox Company khped me out with selection. Be aware its not just about weight but also wheelbase of bike.
Still cant fathom how it doesnt fall off, its rock solid .

 

[jumar]

Thule eMTB on our car, works for us perfectly, not cheap but secure, easy to load...

 

[carolyn]

We’ve had a Thule and now have the Atera Strada DL3 as we have a PVC with rear doors . The thule is much sturdier for two electric bikes and we’d go back to it tomorrow if we didn’t have a PVC.

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[Hagstrom]

We have a PVC, ebikes, and the Memo Vanstar swing away bike carrier works well for us.

 

[whiskyman]

I went for the economy version, Halfords own brand for 4 bikes. It has carried two electric bikes to Spain and back more than once, no problems at all great bit of kit for the money.

 

[Scully]

Pendle bike rack, had mine for nigh on 20 years. Not the lightest.

Bike Racks & Carriers Roof & Tow Bar Mounted

All our racks are engineered from high-quality materials with a tough, weather-resistant powder-coated finish. Shop online with a lifetime guarantee.

pbr.co.uk

 

[Sapper520]

We’ve got a PVC with a detachable tow hook. The standard tow bars allow spacer plates and it can be lowered, so allowing adjustments. There is nothing on the market that will allow us to mount our bikes on the detachable hook and be able to open the back doors.

Sent measurements to various companies and none have one to suit. Yes there are the expensive swing out arms etc, but then we’d have to get rid of our tow bar.

We’ve had to stick with our Thule rack, and have to remove it to access the rear of the van.

 

[Hamiltonclan]

Hi, has anyone used the Thule XT with an Autotrail mounted wheel cover. Will the wheel cover interfere with the bikes once on the rack? Thule say not suitable for rear mounted spare wheels.

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[bobandjanie]

We’ve got a PVC with a detachable tow hook. The standard tow bars allow spacer plates and it can be lowered, so allowing adjustments. There is nothing on the market that will allow us to mount our bikes on the detachable hook and be able to open the back doors.

Sent measurements to various companies and none have one to suit. Yes there are the expensive swing out arms etc, but then we’d have to get rid of our tow bar.

We’ve had to stick with our Thule rack, and have to remove it to access the rear of the van.

Our van has a detachable tow ball I got a longer one it's about 4" longer as would be fitted on a vehicle with the spare wheel on the rear like 4x4 have, and a Atera Strada DL3 and our doors open, when I take the rack off I put the standard ball back on. Bob.

 

[Sapper520]

Bob, liking that idea. I’ll see if my towbar manufacturer make a longer one, but the trouble with ours is the measurement between the top of the tow ball and the bottom of the door. Even with the extended tow ball the measurement will be the same. ……or am I missing something obvious…..not a surprise for me.

 

[cmcardle75]

We’ve got a PVC with a detachable tow hook. The standard tow bars allow spacer plates and it can be lowered, so allowing adjustments. There is nothing on the market that will allow us to mount our bikes on the detachable hook and be able to open the back doors.

Sent measurements to various companies and none have one to suit. Yes there are the expensive swing out arms etc, but then we’d have to get rid of our tow bar.

We’ve had to stick with our Thule rack, and have to remove it to access the rear of the van.

If you have barn doors, there are versions that attach to just one of the doors, so you can open them even with bikes attached, let alone just the rack. However, most are only good for 2 bikes.

 

[phillipsheila]

Just seen this on here https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/classifieds/thule-easyfold-xt3-tow-bar-mount-bike-rack.2403/

 

[Sapper520]

If you have barn doors, there are versions that attach to just one of the doors, so you can open them even with bikes attached, let alone just the rack. However, most are only good for 2 bikes.

We don’t want a door mounted rack. We want a rack that goes on our removable tow ball, but because of lack of clearance between the lower door and the top of the tow bar, there is nothing on the market that will allow us to open the back doors whilst rack fitted.

There’s a couple of threads about it. I’ve contacted various suppliers and manufacturers and they all say not enough clearance.

The detachable tow bars don’t allow for spacer plates etc like conventional tow bars.

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[SteveRallye]

We used to have the Thule cargo carrier box on the Fiama bike rack and the e bikes on the towball mounted folding thule type rack as it was easier to lift bikes on and off. The trouble was on the PVC was getting thru the back doors. The beat solution but expensive was the swinging arm attached to van chassis, it swings out on a jockey wheel.

 

[Sapper520]

Current set up, but it as to come off to open the doors.

 

[cmcardle75]

We don’t want a door mounted rack. We want a rack that goes on our removable tow ball...

Yes, but it is another solution to consider if you want a cycle rack that enables you to open the doors. Obviously there are disadvantages that you need to drill the doors, can typically only take two bikes, aren't as portable between vans and it is very easy to close them on the back of your head! However, these disadvantages may or might not be important to you, and the search for a suitable towball mounted rack doesn't seem to be going well, so it is a potential alternative path to consider.

 

[Essgeebee]

I bought an Atera Strada E-Bike M when my wife and I got ebikes. I like the way it tilts back to allow my Freelander's tailgate to be opened when the rack is loaded. It's able to take two e-bikes and is solid, easy to mount and demount from the towball. I'm going to use it on our Auto-trail moho shortly.

 

[carolyn]

Bob, liking that idea. I’ll see if my towbar manufacturer make a longer one, but the trouble with ours is the measurement between the top of the tow ball and the bottom of the door. Even with the extended tow ball the measurement will be the same. ……or am I missing something obvious…..not a surprise for me.

View attachment 549065

I don’t think it works with the swan neck type at all. Even with the other type you have to fix it to the lower two holes to make it low enough. This would be illegal for towing I think. We have the Atera Strada DL3.

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[Sapper520]

Yes, but it is another solution to consider if you want a cycle rack that enables you to open the doors. Obviously there are disadvantages that you need to drill the doors, can typically only take two bikes, aren't as portable between vans and it is very easy to close them on the back of your head! However, these disadvantages may or might not be important to you, and the search for a suitable towball mounted rack doesn't seem to be going well, so it is a potential alternative path to consider.

Door mounted isn’t an option for us. We’d rather keep our present set up, pain that it is.

We’re also looking into getting bikes, so not great for door mounting.

 

[pappajohn]

Thule are good bits of kit. I have one, Thule easyfold XL and when not in use folds up like a suitcase for storage. Can be locked on to towball and bikes can be locked on to rack. Bit expensive but well made. Got mine from roof box.

Got my Thule 2 bike rack 'used' for £50.
Bit of modification to take a slightly longer wheelbase electric bike... Just drilling the rivet from the plastic wheel carrier and moved outboard a few inches then self tapper and pop rivet.

 

[TDub49]

+1 for the Buzz rack. The version I have (on the car, we have a fixed Fiamma rack on the moho) locks on to the tow bar and can be tilted (with bikes in situ) to open the tailgate. Folds reasonably compactly when not in use.

 

[the1andonly]

An alternative to ball mounted rack the Witter zx88
The mainrack is added to the bolted on bit. The extention allows use of a thule rack 937?

 

[Sapper520]

I don’t think it works with the swan neck type at all. Even with the other type you have to fix it to the lower two holes to make it low enough. This would be illegal for towing I think. We have the Atera Strada DL3.

I contacted Roof Box with measurements…….not enough clearance from ball to door. The DL3 would be our choice, but even that doesn’t work, so we May as well keep our current set up and hope something arrives on the market.

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