tow bar mounted bike racks

[Lanerboy]

Hi All

Do any of you use the tow bar mounted style bike racks I am looking at buying the Thule 933 2 bike rack which clips onto the tow ball and is suitable for 2 electric bikes. I have read good reviews about the product but I am just concerned about it moving / tilting with 50kg of bikes on it as it is only held there by gripping a 2 inch ball????

Does anyone use one and how sturdy are they as I don't want to be looking at the rear view camera every 2 minutes to check the bikes are still there

Thanks

LB

 

[SteveB123]

I have aThule 3/4 bike excellent product. Dont worry go and get one.

 

[John&Kate]

We bought a "cheaper" version fro Halfords last years to carry 4 bikes (up to 60kg), bolts onto towbar and extremley happy with it, drove down to west coast France with the bikes and no problems at all.

There was some movement in the overhang and was unsure as never used one, but really pleased with it.

 

[chatteris]

I have A thule and it seems very secure but i would always hook a bungee cord around it and hook to rear doors for peace of mind

 

[The Wino]

Use a thule one on our car only 2 bikes but very secure

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[Richard Stainthorpe]

Agree with previous posts we have the two bike version carrying one electric and one non electric mountain bike. Like all Thule products they are really good, bikes really secure while travelling.

 

[Ivory55]

If you’re at all worried take the batteries off when traveling.

 

[Reallyretired]

I have one which I have used with two bikes, heavy mountain bikes, which just grips the towball. This was on my Land rover but they seem secure.

 

[two]

From an engineering point of view it would appear madness to try and clamp something rigidly to a sphere, yet it works. Actually, there's a small flat on the top of my towball and the carrier may use that to prevent rotation.

 

[deleted-member02]

The Thule towball bike rack is a brilliant piece of engineering and as simple to operate as the videos suggest.
We have carried four mountain bikes (close to 50kg) for several thousand miles without issue.
There are big variations in price, so worth shopping around...

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[gus-lopez]

From an engineering point of view it would appear madness to try and clamp something rigidly to a sphere, yet it works. Actually, there's a small flat on the top of my towball and the carrier may use that to prevent rotation.

& it all relies on the person putting it on.

 

[RowleyBirkinQC]

We have one of these from Altera which is really good...

https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/r...rier_no_ar2686/Qx@w,6M42VAwp3@Rb{~cC4ure5xNYO

 

[carolyn]

We've been using the Thule easyfold 931 with 2 heavy electric bikes for the past 3 years up and down to Spain and in France with no problems. If you don't put it on properly you can't push the locking handle down. It doesn't seem to move at all. Much safer than those things we used to have on the back of the old estate car with 4 or 5 bikes that only seemed to be held on by a few straps pulled tight againgst the bumper, of course we were young and didn't seem to worry then!

 

[Allanm]

I have an Altea Strada 2 bike rack. It will carry 60kg
We had 2 electric bikes on it mounted on the tow ball of our old Winnebago with an 11 foot overhang and travelled a few thousand mikes with no problems.
I could stand on it and bounce up and down and it never moved.
Don’t worry about it, just buy one.

 

[paddymcc]

We are also v happy with the Atera Strada for 3 bikes. It grips very solidly and is easy to put on and take off in seconds. If I used the towbar for towing (so it was covered in grease) I might be worried about any of them slipping but have no personal experience of this as only ever used for the bike rack.

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[Pete5996]

I've had a Westfalia BC60 for about a year now and it's been fine. Carries up to 60kg total. At 18kg, it's no lightweight but once it's on, it stays put. I remove the battery from my bike when travelling.

The latest version has LED lighting and prices vary a lot, so worth shopping around.

 

[Jaws]

Hi All

Do any of you use the tow bar mounted style bike racks I am looking at buying the Thule 933 2 bike rack which clips onto the tow ball and is suitable for 2 electric bikes. I have read good reviews about the product but I am just concerned about it moving / tilting with 50kg of bikes on it as it is only held there by gripping a 2 inch ball????

Does anyone use one and how sturdy are they as I don't want to be looking at the rear view camera every 2 minutes to check the bikes are still there

Thanks

LB

Thats what we have.. bought from a member of Fun.
I swap between it between it and the motorcycle carrier depending on our needs

 

[danielf]

A vote for altera Strada.

Thread here. Heavy but very good if you need access to rear doors of van conversion.

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/foru...barn-doors-opening.118000/page-2#post-1813225

They do a lighter non tilting slide one

Daniel

 

[jdk62]

I've had a Westfalia BC60 for about a year now and it's been fine. Carries up to 60kg total. At 18kg, it's no lightweight but once it's on, it stays put. I remove the battery from my bike when travelling.

The latest version has LED lighting and prices vary a lot, so worth shopping around.

That’s potentially a significant impact on payload...the weight of a tow bar, bike rack and then up to 60kg of bikes....

 

[Cheshirecat57]

I used a Thule 925 last season (925 is the one with the sliding rails,smaller when storing,cheaper to buy)

Brilliant

Bikes( 2 electric) never moved

Get it bought

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[Gaston aires]

We use one which is tow ball mounted. Also a motor scooter rack which carries 110kg on the same tow ball. 50kgs is perfectly safe.
Phil

 

[two]

Be aware that any weight added behind the rear axle is reducing the weight on the front axle. The weight taken from the front will be added to the rear. The further back, the more the effect. You could easily be overloading the rear, especially if there is a large overhang.
You need to think moments...

 

[Lanerboy]

Hi and thanks for all the replies
I will go for it then as all your views and videos I have watched seem good

I am ok with payload as I have weighed it with the two bikes on the rack that is fitted to the rear panel so it will ok as I have some room to spare as long as I don't take all the carp with me I never use

 

[TM59]

I've had a Westfalia BC60 for about a year now and it's been fine. Carries up to 60kg total. At 18kg, it's no lightweight but once it's on, it stays put. I remove the battery from my bike when travelling.

The latest version has LED lighting and prices vary a lot, so worth shopping around.

I agree excellent rack.

 

[Pete5996]

That’s potentially a significant impact on payload...the weight of a tow bar, bike rack and then up to 60kg of bikes....

Indeed it is if you're marginal on payload, so you need to do your maths. When I'm in normal laden running order with bare towbar, I have about 300kg to spare on the rear axle load, so well within the limits for my outfit.

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[Lanerboy]

Only ever weighed it fully ramed with inflatable kayak and lots of other stuff inc the bikes I had 100kg to spare on rear axle so remove kayak 20kg I will be fine

 

[Mr Chrysalis]

I also have the Thule 2 heavy bike one which I bought at Decathlon. The only problem I had was that the key broke off in the lock when I was tilting it first time I used it ( shouldn’t have left the key in). Decathlon gave me a replace t bike rock as it was easier for them than replacing/fixing the lock

 

[Nostrovia]

We'd like one of these, maybe Thule or Altera 3-4 bikes.

The concerns I have are:
Payload.
Do you ever remove it when you arrive? If so, how to secure it? (I guess you can't)
If driving with no bikes on, it seems like it might be vulnerable to someone running into it (quite long but not very visible).
Extra length, regarding parking and ferries.

As ours is a PVC, we could fit a rear door mounted one. But then I worry about the weight being supported by the back door hinges.

Maybe I'm just a worrier!

 

[Ranger]

We have a Witter one on our PVC which tilts so we can open the back doors but it also folds up vertical when the bikes are off it so could reduce your ferry length temporarily by putting the bikes inside for the crossing.

 

[Allanm]

We'd like one of these, maybe Thule or Altera 3-4 bikes.

The concerns I have are:
Payload.
Do you ever remove it when you arrive? If so, how to secure it? (I guess you can't)
If driving with no bikes on, it seems like it might be vulnerable to someone running into it (quite long but not very visible).
Extra length, regarding parking and ferries.

As ours is a PVC, we could fit a rear door mounted one. But then I worry about the weight being supported by the back door hinges.

Maybe I'm just a worrier!

Our Altera rack has lights and number plate, so easy to see. We wouldn’t mount the rack if we didn’t have the bikes with us, but if we take the bikes, the rack stays on all the time. We don’t stay on sites more than two nights.
Our rack has locks on it to secure the bikes and one to secure the rack onto the tow ball. I usually leave the heavy duty chain and padlocks on that also wrap around the towbar.

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