Towbar Bike Rack - Wheel Support or Hanging?

andrewgturnbull

Hi folks.

Looking at getting a towbar mounted rack, now that the kids are growing up and a family trip involves lumping 4 bikes around.

My choice is between the design where the bikes hang:



Or where they sit on wheel mounts:



The hanging ones seem to be easier to fit and store (even in your boot while you're riding), and are roughly half the price of the wheel mounted racks, no matter which manufacturer I look at.

The wheel mounted racks look more secure, and look they they'll hold the bikes more securely so that they don't scrape up against each other when you're driving, but they are more expensive!

What do you guys/gals recommend?

Gary D

I would recommend the wheel mounted variety as that's what I bought (Thule RideOn 9403) for the wifes car . No direct experience, but when I was looking I really didn't consider the hanging type as I just didn't like the idea of the bikes knocking together. I also felt the bikes would be more secure on the wheel type as well.

The only problem is that this one only takes 3 bikes. You can get 4 bike versions but they tend to be much more expensive. Don't forget, for the hang on type, you need to factor in the cost of a lighting board if you want to stay legal - as your rear lights and number plate will porbably be obscured :oops: .

With regards to fitting they are very easy. Ours is for my wifes car and she manages fine with it and 3 bikes. It can be removed in a couple of minutes and stored in the boot if you want, although we generally leave it fiitted as it is locked to the towball.

There is a good choice of carriers here if you haven't already found the webisite:

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/bike-carriers/

Hope this helps,
Gary.

crankycrank

The hanging racks are more difficult to keep multiple bikes from rubbing against each other. The most valuble thing about the wheel rack is that it offers some minor protection against brain dead drivers running into your bikes. The brake lights on the rack can help said brain dead drivers to see you have a rack mounted. Well worth the extra price and inconvenience IMO.

alaric@epicmtb

The other problem with the hanging style is that they only work well on bikes of average to large size with a conventional top tube.

Smaller conventional frames came be difficult to fit due to the short top tube and steep top tube angle (puts the rear wheel very high making it difficult to match with the bars of the next bike.

Designs without a conventional top tube need a "false crossbar" fitted between the handlebars and seatpost.

Wheelmount is much easier and more secure for the bikes. As you say, sometimes more bulky to store.

Alaric.

johnbirkby46213

When I bought a hanging style rack several years ago, I was told to keep my speed down to 50mph.
I now have a Thule towbar 3 bke rack....and yes, I had to have a towbar fitted specially for the job and am sooooooo glad I did. Towbar fitted by "Towequipe" and they sold me the Thule cheaply at the same time.

JB

daniel_b

I would defo go the wheel support route.

I have 2 racks, both bought from ebay, one is a Thule 2 bike carrier, bought for a bargain £30, and one is a never used 3 bike carrier, but with the optional extra for the 4th bike included, that was the clincher, cost £155, but looked up the cost of a brand new equivalent, and it was around £300, so thought half price was still a good deal.

It's a big mutha though.

Skidrive are one of the cheapest websites for bikeracks, saw some 2nd hand ones on ebay going for more than they were new/delivered from the skidrive site - some people are bonkers!

These are the cheaper style ones, and a bit more compact:


Never used one like the above, as both of mine are the this kind of style, oh and you can also get them with locks which is useful, the dials you can see sticking out tighten onto the bikes, and then if they have a lock fitted, just means you can't undo them:


Dan