Transporting bikes!

lm_trek

Bit unsure where to go with this, just changed my car, used to have a little citroen c2 bikes on the roof no problem. But due to my laziness? or didn't realise i just left the roof bars on the car and didn't realise until i came to sell the car the amount of damage to the roof. 1 from the roof bars themselves and 2 from the dirt from the bikes, stones etc, loads of scratches and a couple of minor dents from dropping the bikes in the rain now and then. I had my c2 for 8 years so some of it due to age of car etc, well my oh has been quite vocal about actually looking after my new car in a much better way than than the old one. So to transport 1 bike no issue, in the boot a blanket etc but often i pickup a mate on the way or my oh comes biking.

Ive been looking at tow bar fitted anyone tell me the benefits? or concerns with this?

The other option is a boot rack? one of the saris range the rs is recommended for my new car which has a curved hatch and a mini spoiler, the new car is a c3 new shape.

Trying to weigh my options and any thoughts welcome!

danlikesbikes

Benefits of tow bar;

less drag, therefore better fuel economy
easy to fit/unfit from car
are pretty secure & easy to lock the bikes to
no extra charge for use of ferry/eurotunnel
some models tilt so can still access the boot

Personally didn't have any concerns myself when going down that route. Only downside I can see is the initial cost of getting a tow bar fitted if not already on new car & getting a quality rack. Plus where you then store the rack when not in use. Once I got over that part I had no real issues.

Huckfinn

You could just get a protective film put on the roof and then just use your old roof rack. But if you dont want to do that +1 for the tow bar rack. I have never trusted the boot mounted ones and that was before my bike almost came of one on the M5 (bike held on by two straps) when my mates rack collapsed. After that he bought a tow bar rack.

lm_trek

Part of me can't get over how a simple tow bar can hold a rack in place, feel there has to more to it.

Been looking at the saris rs 3 bike rack, got some great reviews. Also have an eye on the thule towbar rack as well.

Bikehawk

Got a Buzzrack towbar mounted rack, takes 2 bikes with no problems. Have travelled over some pretty bad roads with a bike on and it never moved. Would trust it more than my old roof mounted Thule rack. You can also get one that takes 3 or 4 bikes aswell. The rack cams closed effectively locking onto the ball, you set the amount using a tension adjusting dial on the rack. Took me about 30 mins to put it together and set it up for a standard towbar the first time, about 1 min after that to mount. Would recommend getting a licence plate for the rear to keep the police happy. Unit also tilts allowing access to the boot even with bikes mounted.

lm_trek

Spotted 2 thule racks look pretty smart, one is the express 970, seems to just lock into the towbar and tbh 2 is the most bikes i will take and atleast it will fit in the boot.

The other at the other scale of things is the thule easyfold 932, would def need to work some overtime for that one!!

On the towbar front whats the average price? and type? swan neck seems to be the one promoted online, does it matter?? i know i will need some electrics for the the thule easyfold, so guessing just the one socket?

jairaj

I've recently been looking into a fitting a tow bar for a bike rack. Average price seems to be around £300 for tow bar + fitting + a single electric socket.

From asking around here if going the tow bar route everyone recommended the type that hold your wheels. The ones where the bikes just hang are a false economy.

WindyG

I used to mount 3 bikes on the roof of my Navara but after having a few too many near miss incidents with dropping bikes after long knackering rides we decided a tow bar mount was a better option, fitted the towbar and electrics myself and use a 3 bike Buzzrack, each clamp has a lock as does the rack itself, did the whole lot for just over £300. Only problem is the Navara is around 19 foot long with it on the back.

stubs

Dont know where your based but I got my 1.6 Astra fitted with a tow ball + electrics and number plate for £212 all in at Motastyle, Eastbank st, Southport. I have had 3 bikes on the rack and bumped down a rutted track with no problem, it wobbles a bit which can be un nerving first time you look through rearview mirror but its well mounted and hasnt loosened off.

I have done some fuel economy tests and reckon the towball rack with 2 bikes on the car does 2 less miles per gallon 38 instead of 40mpg. The roof rack with no bikes on cost 2 mpg and with 2 bikes on cost 6 mpg. Managed 38.1 mpg on a 256 mile roundtrip to Whinlatter recently, using the roof rack would have used about a gallon more.

lm_trek

Birmingham based, going to give the local garage a ring tomorrow for a quote, see wha they can do it for. Only got 2 months before a trip to glentress.

stubs

I would google specialist companies first, garages often charge the earth for a tow ball fitting. Companies that deal with caravans and trailers are often the cheapest.

danlikesbikes

lm_trek wrote:

Spotted 2 thule racks look pretty smart, one is the express 970, seems to just lock into the towbar and tbh 2 is the most bikes i will take and atleast it will fit in the boot.

The other at the other scale of things is the thule easyfold 932, would def need to work some overtime for that one!!

On the towbar front whats the average price? and type? swan neck seems to be the one promoted online, does it matter?? i know i will need some electrics for the the thule easyfold, so guessing just the one socket?

Thule is a pretty good brand whichever one you go for. I have one & yes it does take some getting used to getting your head round it taking the weight & mine tilts so image the mind bending thoughts with 4 bikes on the rear the first time I tilted mine!

As for the tow bar would def go with a specialist who can sort it all out for you & will quote you to inc the power point(s) you only need 1 for a rear rack. Do a quick google search as there are some really good ones out there & in B'ham you might also find a dealer that specialises in fitting and the racks so you might get a deal from them for both

WindyG

For anybody looking for towbars and racks these 2 sites were the best I found price wise, fitting a towbar is pretty easy on most cars as long as you have the tools.

http://www.pfjones.co.uk/
http://www.roofbox.co.uk

ElliesDad

Most modern cars already have the slots/bolt holes already built in for a towbar. I fitted a towbar myself last year to a current shape Renault Megane, very easy. The hardest part was finding all the screw locations to remove the back bumber.

A new towbar cost me £100 and the elctrics kit was £40. To fit it was a simple of job of removing the bumber, bolting the towbar together, sliding into the slots already in the back of the car and bolting the towbar to the car through the boot well, again the bolt holes were already pre drilled by the manufacturer. Then the electrics kit spliced into the cars electrics, you need a circuit tester to make sure you get the right wires and you need to make sure the electrics kit is one of the ones with a bypass relay built in. The only other thing I needed was the number plate which was about £15.

The cycle carrier was a 3 bike Thule one from Halfords and cost me £130. Its one of the ones with the "gutters" to stand the bike wheels on and its very stable, easy to fit and gives total piece of mind.

lm_trek

Got a a quote from Citroen £450!, a mobile fitter £295, and my usual garage is getting bak to me tomorrow, so will see.

OH seems happy with the saris rs 3 bones, as its £220 and its only once a month the other half comes biking, and i should stop offering lifts is her advice!

sam-323

I recently brought a saris sentinel from the link below cheapest I could find and it fits well on my other halts Mini Cooper which has a spoiler as well as my TT.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330893040291? ... 26_rdc%3D1

But they also sell a variety of saris bike racks for cheap, hope this helps.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/m.html?_nkw=S ... sandpedals

jairaj

Using a boot mounted cycle carrier has the same issues as the OP is trying to avoid with using a roof mounted carrier.

The bikes are not as secure and can bang into the car body. Also where the rack touches the car, over time you will gets marks and scratches where grit has worked it way in between the contact points. A bit like cable rib on frames.

fat_homer

Car dependent, but I get two bikes and a weekends worth of kit in the boot of my Astra and it isn't really any hassle. Old duvet down, first bike on top, another old duvet, then second bike on top of that!

Levi_501

Stand on, tow bar mouted is the only way.

Whilst hang on designs are ok, they scratch the bikes all to pieces.

ElliesDad

Strap on carriers also put a lot of strain on the boot hatch hinges.

lm_trek

Contacted my local garage, use them all the time for servicing, mot, tyres etc they don't do towbars but have a sister garage that does, gave me a number quick call, mentioned the first garage and got a quote of £175 for the towbar and can fit it in tomorrow so first stage done!

Next to find a thule rack on the classifieds!