Recommend a bike rack for my car

rodhull

We have a Daihatsu Charade on a 56 plate...It doesn't have a towbar, or roof bars etc. (not that we couldn't fit them I guess? They'd be pricey, mind). The car's pretty "niche" and you never see them on the roads (God knows why - it's a cracking performer and well-specced for the price - brand-snobbery perhaps?! )

So, I'm really after a rear-mounted cycle rack that will enable us to carry two bikes (a small and medium Mongoose Tyax Elite to be precise).

Borrowed a cheapo Halfords two-bike rack, which didn't really fit that well, and the bikes didn't seem that stable on top of the bars...

The main prob. is the shape of the rear of the car - it's a small city-car with an almost vertical tailgate:
http://www.richandsam.net/charade_rear.jpg

That's an 05 model, but ours is almost identical...

Any ideas?

I've seen the Saris Bones racks touted as being quite good, and they look like they <i>might</i> fit well. They're not cheap, mind. Was really looking to spend not much upwards of œ50 or so, but safety and stability is the main concern, so will go higher to get a solid rack...

Can anyone help?

mrblonde

look at pendle they are the best ones you can buy. Fit very securely, strong and reliable. Personally though i just dont trust strap mounted ones anymore after having one come off the car with a few grands worth of bikes on the back

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littlemike

Thule does a range which is strong and adaptable. Choose a distributor who knows what he's selling.

Mr bump

Get a tow ball fitted. Much more options then. and you wont get in trouble with the police for having your rear lights obscured by the bikes.

jacktheoc

if you get a towbar fitted there are brand new witter bike racks which attach to the towbar i have on and is extremely sturdy and easy to fit

BJT

sell it and get a van.
Could probably easily get a mint vito on a Y or 51 for what you'd get for that daihatsu.


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Anonymous

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Mr bump</i>

Get a tow ball fitted. Much more options then. and you wont get in trouble with the police for having your rear lights obscured by the bikes.
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I know of someone that, was pulled with bikes on a towbar carrier.

Anonymous

I wish I had gone for the towbar option. They are the best way to prevent your car getting scratched.

My car has lovely marks on it now where the rack attaches.

rodhull

Well, I went for a Saris bones in the end - fitting a towbar+ball would cost too much. It arrived yesterday and seems to fit well - I think by just removing one of the wheels on one of the bikes that lights etc. aren't going to be too obscured...thanks for the input, guys.