Rear rack to take 3 bikes, and not obstruct lights\No plate

daniel_b

Evening all,

my parents have for reasons best know to themselves, bought a towbarless 2006 Nissan X-Trail - one of these beauties:



And I am now hunting for a rear rack that can take 3 bikes.

Looking to spend less than £70 if at all possible.

Is this the best kind of option?
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-racks/rear-mounted-bike-racks/halfords-rear-high-mount-3-cycle-carrier

Any specific recommendations through personal experience?

Won't be in heavy use.

Thanks!

roger_merriman

Wouldn't 3 bikes fit in the back? I can take 3 bikes and riders with just front wheels off in a old Volvo.

The X trail doesn't look much different in size? Which would save in the bother with bike racks.

DrLex

I can only recommend a seasucker rack, but I would think that what you've linked to won't work, as the lights on an X-trail are high on the D pillar and thus will be obscured.
I'd try Roger's suggestion if the rear seat folds 40:60.

cougie

Good luck putting a rear rack on that that doesn't obscure things. Basically you'd need invisible bikes.

cjcp

Saris Bones 3, cardboard number plate, wheels only in the boot.

Alternatively, bikes in the boot, with back seats down, and buy train tickets for your parents?

UndercoverElephant

cjcp wrote:

Saris Bones 3, cardboard number plate, wheels only in the boot.

Alternatively, bikes in the boot, with back seats down, and buy train tickets for your parents?

The fine is actually heavier for having a non-official number plate than for not displaying one at all, apparently. For the sake of five quid off eBay, get an official-looking one.

daniel_b

Thankyou for all the replies - sorry this, was a hurried post on my phone, should have put more background.

My parents are now living in Mauritius, and I have two bikes here - first time we have visited their place, and although it is 5 minutes from the beach, and great for running, due to it's virtual peninsula positioning (The roads make it seem like it is) all of the roads out are busy, and not that wide - the driving here is not ideal.

So my next plan is to borrow their car, lump 2 or 3 bikes on the back, and find some better roads elsewhere on the island.

However, as it would only be 2 or 3 of us going out, of course taking the front wheels, and saddles off is the simpler and cheaper option - I do this in my own Volvo as was mentioned further up the thread :oops:

Bizarrely, even though it's allegedly an SUV, it has a shorter load bay than my Volvo :evil:
Nuts.

DrLex

Pffft - I'd assume that there, you'd be unlucky to get stopped, and a few hundred rupees would smooth any claimed transgression of the local Highway Code.

daniel_b

You could well be correct!

They are pretty hot on speeding here though, mobile and fixed cameras are common.

porlyworly

I had this model of x trail four or five years ago and had a similar contraption on the back to carry three bikes, it's probably still in the shed.

It was easy to install and always did the job but never filled me with great confidence, was forever checking the mirrors to see if the bikes were still there!