VW Crafter e-bike carrier - advice please

[bladerunner]

Your thoughts invited:
Now Mr trucky and his garage has headed West, I need a solution to carrying two electric mountain bikes on the back of the VW Crafter.
They are heavy at 25Kg each and obviously I want a secure system.
I could install a tow hook, but do want to be able to open the rear doors.

Not over keen on a trailer as that defeats some of the object of downsizing to mini me.

Ta in advance

 

[CAB96]

There's a few swinging towbar carriers.

Memo I think is one? There's a few of them for the Sevel vans but not sure about the Crafter.

Bit pricey but solves the problem.

Is it carolyn that has one on their Consort?

 

[Nanniemate]

Very pricy and very heavy you could consider a slide out still need towhook https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/r...rier_no_ar2707/Qx@w,6M42VAwp3@Rb{~cC4ure9JWfh

 

[Orion]

There’s a sliding cycle carrier that fits to a tow ball by EUFAB. It’s their SD260 model and can be found on eBay with the seller U.K. Leisure Parts Limited.

Not cheap but does the job for vans with opening rear doors, and means a tow ball can be kept for other usage when required. Available a bit less expensive from EU suppliers:

Bike carrier Eufab SD260 - for 2 bicycles, expandable to 3 bicycles mounting on the towbar load capacity: 60 kg at Rameder

Are you looking for a Bike carrier Eufab SD260 for your vehicle? At Rameder, you will find the product Bike carrier Eufab SD260 at the best price! Visit Rameder and take advantage of the great Bike carrier range.

www.rameder.eu

 

[Mikeco]

To carry that weight you may well have to resort to a tow all mounted one unless you go for one of the more expensive ones that swing out.
As it happens I have a tow ball one on classifieds that will carry 60 kg

 

[carolyn]

There's a few swinging towbar carriers.

Memo I think is one? There's a few of them for the Sevel vans but not sure about the Crafter.

Bit pricey but solves the problem.

Is it carolyn that has one on their Consort?

Not us yet but that is what we’re going to get! We’ve finally changed the van from a Panel van to a Motor caravan so we can now Up plate it with SVTech. We are then going to get the Memo Vanstar fitted by Armitages. We have a 16 inch underslung spare wheel on our long wheelbase PVC which can cause problems. Armitages seem to be the experts so we’re going to them.

On our previous vans we had a tow bar with the Atera Strada DL3 but although it works it is a bit “waggly”. I’m sure it has nothing to do with our increasing ages but pushing it back up with 2 heavy e-bikes does seem to get harder every year

 

[WillH]

Altea sliding tow ball mount carrier, just got one and it's great.

 

[Nanniemate]

To carry that weight you may well have to resort to a tow all mounted one unless you go for one of the more expensive ones that swing out.
As it happens I have a tow ball one on classifieds that will carry 60 kg

Is this a slide out rack .I have not found one at Halfords

 

[Nanniemate]

Altea sliding tow ball mount carrier, just got one and it's great.

That's the one I've been looking at who was the supplier the nearest one I've found is Bury way

 

[Nanniemate]

Not us yet but that is what we’re going to get! We’ve finally changed the van from a Panel van to a Motor caravan so we can now Up plate it with SVTech. We are then going to get the Memo Vanstar fitted by Armitages. We have a 16 inch underslung spare wheel on our long wheelbase PVC which can cause problems. Armitages seem to be the experts so we’re going to them.

On our previous vans we had a tow bar with the Atera Strada DL3 but although it works it is a bit “waggly”. I’m sure it has nothing to do with our increasing ages but pushing it back up with 2 heavy e-bikes does seem to get harder every year

Please let me know if your looking to sell on the bike rack

 

[WillH]

That's the one I've been looking at who was the supplier the nearest one I've found is Bury way

The Roof Box Company (TRBC) Ltd,
Unit 4 Station Yard, Station Road,
Sedbergh,
Cumbria,
LA10 5HP

Car Roof Boxes | Bike Racks | Roof Bars - The Roof Box Company

Ordered mine on line, good service, quick delivery.

 

[Mikeco]

Is this a slide out rack .I have not found one at Halfords

Just a tow ball mounted one

 

[StillGoing]

The Roof Box Company (TRBC) Ltd,
Unit 4 Station Yard, Station Road,
Sedbergh,
Cumbria,
LA10 5HP

Car Roof Boxes | Bike Racks | Roof Bars - The Roof Box Company

Ordered mine on line, good service, quick delivery.

Another vote for The Roof Box Company. I have found them to be very helpful if you contact them.

 

[Nanniemate]

Just a tow ball mounted one

I've got one of those not Halford but it gets in the way of the doors when I have all the locking cables on it

 

[Mikeco]

I've got one of those not Halford but it gets in the way of the doors when I have all the locking cables on it

I believe that any tow ball mounted one will not allow you to open the doors, however if it’s use is just for bikes then you could use a drop plate to lower it.
Saw this one below last Winter in Spain which slides out backwards when parked up.

 

[Orion]

I believe that any tow ball mounted one will not allow you to open the doors, however if it’s use is just for bikes then you could use a drop plate to lower it.
Saw this one below last Winter in Spain which slides out backwards when parked up.
View attachment 1252278

See my post #4 above. The Eufab SD260 tow ball mounted rack will allow the rear doors to be opened with the bikes in situ. Guy next to us in Marocco had one and demonstrated it it for me.

 

[Nanniemate]

See my post #4 above. The Eufab SD260 tow ball mounted rack will allow the rear doors to be opened with the bikes in situ. Guy next to us in Marocco had one and demonstrated it it for me.

I've been looking at these are are underconsideration lighter than a swing out tow bar

 

[Mikeco]

See my post #4 above. The Eufab SD260 tow ball mounted rack will allow the rear doors to be opened with the bikes in situ. Guy next to us in Marocco had one and demonstrated it it for me.

It depends how high the tow ball has been set at, if it’s at the correct height for a trailer then as soon as you put anything onto the tow ball the doors will catch, if you use a drop plate and make it lower then it’s possible but that’s the only way.
,

 

[rod_vw]

Here is a good place to ask that question. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2041044692822878/
The Crafter TGE Selfbuild page.

 

[bladerunner]

It looks like this will be the solution from VWT5 *near Aber. Expensive, but seems well made and does the job.
Anyone have experience?

* I know - I have a crafter.

 

[TGL]

Your thoughts invited:
Now Mr trucky and his garage has headed West, I need a solution to carrying two electric mountain bikes on the back of the VW Crafter.
They are heavy at 25Kg each and obviously I want a secure system.
I could install a tow hook, but do want to be able to open the rear doors.

Not over keen on a trailer as that defeats some of the object of downsizing to mini me.

Ta in advance

I would remove your batteries before mounting on any bike rack, should save you 5-8kg total for both bikes.

 

[bladerunner]

If you mean the e-mtb batteries ( ;-) - I always do. Also less to steal.

 

[MitchF]

There’s a sliding cycle carrier that fits to a tow ball by EUFAB. It’s their SD260 model and can be found on eBay with the seller U.K. Leisure Parts Limited.

Not cheap but does the job for vans with opening rear doors, and means a tow ball can be kept for other usage when required. Available a bit less expensive from EU suppliers:

Bike carrier Eufab SD260 - for 2 bicycles, expandable to 3 bicycles mounting on the towbar load capacity: 60 kg at Rameder

Are you looking for a Bike carrier Eufab SD260 for your vehicle? At Rameder, you will find the product Bike carrier Eufab SD260 at the best price! Visit Rameder and take advantage of the great Bike carrier range.

www.rameder.eu

We used one of these on a towbar with 2x E’s. Never a problem