Bike carrier for Focus Estate... any recommendations??

dynamis_dk

it'll be first time i've looked at buying a carrier so i'm not sure exactly what i'm looking for. I don't have a tow ball fitted and would like a boot mounted one rather than a roof rack.

Needs to be able to carry 2 bikes, so maybe 60lbs total carrying weight??

What do i need to look for?? What kind of price am i looking at??

Surf-Matt

Any reason for not wanting a roof mounted rack?

We have two Thule 591s on our Astra Estate and they are utterly brilliant.

Roof carriers have several advantages:

The bike stays much cleaner.
You can still open the boot.
No reg plate/light board needed.
No bike sticking out of the sides.
Easier to reverse.
Nothing obscuring the rear window.
MUCH easier to fit the bike(s)

dynamis_dk

Main reason as most roof carriers kill MPG from what i'm told and i don't really like the idea of sitting a mucky bike on my shiney car roof

I'm open to the idea tho... I've seen a Thule one which allows boot to be open and seems pretty easy to take on/off. Do the Thule 591 need buying one per bike?? (i.e each Thule 591s an hold one bike??)

Surf-Matt

Dynamic - you do need one per bike (ours were £70 each - we have two).

I am a proper car geek and have recorded the mpg with an without the bikes on - almost no difference (1-2mpg drop at the worst - I have a trip computer that tells me everything) - the bikes aren't exactly blocky sofas! Even surfboards are MUCH worse for drag.

I do know what you mean about mucky bikes - I tend to try and give mine a quick blast before sticking them on but it's no hassle and the tyres sit in a "track" so dirt falls into this rather than on the roof. Rooves are easy to clean anyway!

passout

I've got the same car. I got a Ford Focus Estate specific roof rack and then fitted Thule bike carriers (as above). This way your roof rack fits perfectly and you've got quality Thule gear. Went to my local Ford dealership for all of this and they were competively priced much to my suprise.

The only other option that works well on this car is a towbar mounted system (again think Thule) but only if you have Tow bar & electrics for a light board or whatever its called....this option will cost more overall.

The roof system works better though IMO

dynamis_dk

I'll have to take a look at the roof option... to be honest most of what i've use it for it settings a few miles out of the town centre so i'm not riding as much road to start with. Won't be used heavily so didn't want to spend too much but might as the other chap i ride with to chip in as i'll only need one rack for mine so if hes gonna be coming might get him to put to

Mines already got the roof racks fitted (came with it) so would i only need the bike holder or does the beams which go across the roof bars come as a seperate item?

Surf-Matt

Are you sure you don't mean roof rails already fitted?

You'll still need roofbars and the "feet" that connect to the rails.

Most estates have some form of roof rails these days. They make fitting a roof rack MUCH easier!

thelawnet

Thule sell two kinds of bars, 'aero' and square. The aero ones are very noisy (wind noise), not sure about the other ones. But they are more versatile and look better, some of the Thule accessories don't work with the square ones.

dynamis_dk

Surf-Matt wrote:

Are you sure you don't mean roof rails already fitted?!

oh yeah, doh!! The rails on the roof are there, just need the bit which attaches across them and then the bike holding bit

nicklouse

roof mounted or tow bar mounted are the only options i will consider.







bikes are secure and do not move.

the type that have the bike hanging cause TOO much damage in my opinion.

Surf-Matt

Flipping 'eck Nick - like a pair of motorbikes on the back!

I think the roof carrier weight limit is quite low - something like 14kg? Not sure how the "clamp" would grip your downtube either - it's too fat!

Thelaw - the aero bars are quieter but I think they are less versatile. I use my bars for surfboard carrying - it's harder to lash boards to the roof with aero bars.
Mine make very little noise (I have the square one) - just a slight whistling when the bikes are on the roof.

A fine set of products by Thule.

dynamis_dk

how do the tow bar mounted one work??

I don't have a tow ball at the moment but i'm sure they can get got as something extra and fitted. I'd prefer a tow type one rather then the strappy type. How do the tow ones fasten down?? Just on the ball alone??

thelawnet

Surf-Matt wrote:

Thelaw - the aero bars are quieter but I think they are less versatile. I use my bars for surfboard carrying - it's harder to lash boards to the roof with aero bars.
Mine make very little noise (I have the square one) - just a slight whistling when the bikes are on the roof.

Well my aero bars are noisy and I've heard the same complaint before.

Surf-Matt

Thelaw - really?! Half the reason for having them is that they are meant to be quieter and more aerodynamic!
Glad I got the square bars then!

nicklouse

dynamis_dk wrote:

how do the tow bar mounted one work??

I don't have a tow ball at the moment but i'm sure they can get got as something extra and fitted. I'd prefer a tow type one rather then the strappy type. How do the tow ones fasten down?? Just on the ball alone??

they clamp on the towbar ball.

dynamis_dk

must be on hell of a clamp to hold the weight off 2 bikes on the ball itself.

Are there no other supports but the ball??

I might go round a few places incase i can find somewhere which has one fitted i can take a look at.

Dowse40

Thule bacpac.........Simples.

nicklouse

dynamis_dk wrote:

must be on hell of a clamp to hold the weight off 2 bikes on the ball itself.

Are there no other supports but the ball??

I might go round a few places incase i can find somewhere which has one fitted i can take a look at.

well there is the great big threaded angle of dangle adjuster/clamp.

I have had 70 plus Kg of bike on mine. Oh and i have sood on mine.

had a 14kg bike on my roof mounted on the Swift doing speeds faster than the UK motor limit with no probs.