Towbar bike racks and carbon bikes - anybody used this type?

jig
jig Posts: 134
edited May 2011 in Road buying advice
My faithful car is on its last legs so time to get a new one - I have previously used thule 591's but when I got a carbon frame, simply put the seats down and put the bike in the back with the front wheel off.

With the new car, I'm thinking of getting a tow mount system but still worried about the issue of the clamp on carbon.

Anybody using this type of system?

Comments

  • danowat
    danowat Posts: 2,877
    Yup, I regularly take mine (and a couple of club mates) carbon TT bikes on my Thule 9503
  • jig
    jig Posts: 134
    many thanks - ill take a look.

    Does the thule model store away easily or is it bulky?
  • danowat
    danowat Posts: 2,877
    It's farily small, but pretty heavy, I just stored it in the garage
  • rdt
    rdt Posts: 869
    Maybe the best tow bar mounted rack is the German-made Atera Strada:-

    http://www.roofbox.co.uk/cgi-bin/bikeGe ... ery=AR2603

    It's about 1/4 lighter than an equivalent Thule, less bulky (for storage), and has an excellent tilt/slide mechanism for access into your hatch/boot without removing the bikes. Rack fits to the towbar in seconds, and bikes fit onto the rack very quickly, with the tyres sitting in slots, retained by wheel straps and large soft-ish frame clamps that cope well with different shaped/sized tubes.

    Did 3000 miles to and around France last summer with 2 bikes on without any issues. Cracking bit of kit.
  • dawebbo
    dawebbo Posts: 456
    I have a thule 9503 - great vfm and very quick and easy to use.

    Also regularly take my carbon road bike on it.

    It does have a tilt mechanism, though I've never used it - as I can access the boot via the arm rest flap in the middle of my car.

    Personally I can't see what you get for the extra £200+ that the top tube clamp versions cost.
  • danowat
    danowat Posts: 2,877
    dawebbo wrote:
    It does have a tilt mechanism, though I've never used it - as I can access the boot via the arm rest flap in the middle of my car.

    I have....a word of warning, remember to tighten the tilt restrictor hand wheels up before setting off, because seeing £4K worth of TT bikes tip up off the rack when pulling out of a the HQ carpack isn't a pleasant experiance!!.
  • tim_wand
    tim_wand Posts: 2,552
    Got the Thule 9503 as well. Love it takes 3 bikes really well. there a big u shaped arms that come up between the bikes which are foam padded all the way round so the bike frame is only ever in contact with this. The system of gutters/ sliders that holds the wheels is really adjustable and rock solid once set up so theres very little movement.

    The only issue is that the bikes hang a long way out from the car and create a bit of lever force which can cause bounce. Its totally secure and bounces as a complete unit so nothing crashes into one another just feels a bit un natrual until your used to it and trust it.

    If you want ultra protection get down the plumbers/ diy store and get some pipe lagging for top tubes and then nothing can go wrong with this system IMO.

    Mine was £125 with a number plate off E bay (Worth every penny)
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    if you are changing car, can't you look for a model which will allow you to keep on putting bikes inside the car itself? an estate car or SUV type perhaps? much more aero, less chance of theft, no hassle with carriers (or expensive towbars to begin with - have you seen how much the elctrical connections cost for modern CANbus cars!!??!!)

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