4 bike carrier - tow bar

winlikefin

Hi

I am looking for views on a 4 bike tow bar mounted bike rack - http://www.carracks.co.uk/487000.html

It seems to have all the features I want and is lower priced than some of the competitors.

Has anyone here used this rack? Any problems/concerns?

Any alternatives?

The rack will be mounted on a Grand Scenic and will be used to carry both MTB and Road bikes.

I will also be posting this in the MTB Buying Advice forum!

Thanks

F.

mikeabanks

Check the max "nose weight" or "ball weight" for your car.
I found this was very low (50kg) on our C4 Grand Picasso 1.6 (very light engine I suppose).
So the combined weight of 4 bikes and the carrier could easily exceed it.
This link was useful.

http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/kerbweights.htm

winlikefin

OK - worth looking at.

I had said to the dealer that I was looking at a rack with a 90kg load limit & he replied that it would be much more than that.

Now I realise that neither of us knew what we were talking about! I have seen the nose weight for the Grand Scenic as both 65kg & 75kg - which is less than the wieght required for this rack.

What issues would be caused by running too heavy a rack on the towbar?

t4tomo

winlikefin wrote:

What issues would be caused by running too heavy a rack on the towbar?

Grand scenic wheelie popping time?

mikeabanks

I would assume very light steering and invalid insurance.

The differing weights are probably the different engines.
In the end I got roof bars and mounts (and a small step ladder).
Even then there is a weight limit to what you can load on there.

winlikefin

http://www.towequipe.co.uk/products/bik ... ottez.html

this might be a better option then - if I have the right towbar!!!

Only getting the car today so a bit vague on that detail!

mikeabanks

This is a hanging rack for tow bars. A lot lighter - 10kg

http://www.rutlandcycling.com/7077/Thul ... rrier.html

winlikefin

Thanks - I will be using the rack for kids bikes and have had problems getting them on the hanging type racks in the past.
That was why I was looking at the platform style racks.

The handbook gives a nose weight of 75kg so the first one is definitely out!

mikeabanks

This rack is lighter but is only for 3 bikes but there is an optional part to add a 4th.
It is expensive and I can't find out the weight of that though.

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehs ... e5K%7BW%7D

winlikefin

I saw that and discounted it on price.

The same site has one for £225 which seems to tick a lot of boxes although the actual rack itself is quite heavy at 23kg. I suppose this does give me 50kg to divide among 4 bikes...

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehs ... ure5Jvj%60

hazychris

The Atera bike rack is absolutely fantastic - light, the sliding design is superb, bikes are held on very well. I'm hugely pleased with mine.

rando

hazychris wrote:

The Atera bike rack is absolutely fantastic - light, the sliding design is superb, bikes are held on very well. I'm hugely pleased with mine.

+1 for the Atera. Expensive but well worth it.

alphacharlie

rando wrote:

hazychris wrote:

The Atera bike rack is absolutely fantastic - light, the sliding design is superb, bikes are held on very well. I'm hugely pleased with mine.

+1 for the Atera. Expensive but well worth it.

+2, v happy with ours and the ease of use