Bike Racks

[PaulT]

I've asked Thule the following question but haven't had the courtesy of a reply. Can any forum members enlighten me?

I’ve been looking at the Thule cycle racks and note that the 9502 and 9503 are rated to carry 2 or 3 bikes to a maximum weight of 15kg per bike. I need to carry 2 electric bikes weighing a total of 40kgs (21.5kg + 19.5kg). Obviously the 9502 would not be suitable but could I use the 9503 which has a total capacity of 45kg but only carry 2 bikes?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Damian]

I would imagine that the supports for the bikes are rated at a max of 15Kg, so putting more on two even though not using the three may very well end up with your bikes breaking the supports and dumping them on the ground.

 

[Raywood]

I am not sure what the disabled bikes weigh but if they are more than the 15 kg you quote you may have more problems with a rear mounted bike rack. These are tow bar mounted and assuming you are towing then you are losing most or a large proportion of the towbar capacity. The nose weight of any caravan would have to be very low to accommodate this.

 

[PaulT]

I am not sure what the disabled bikes weigh but if they are more than the 15 kg you quote you may have more problems with a rear mounted bike rack. These are tow bar mounted and assuming you are towing then you are losing most or a large proportion of the towbar capacity. The nose weight of any caravan would have to be very low to accommodate this.

Who said anything about disabled bikes? They are electric bikes and weigh the amounts I've quoted.

The bike rack would only be used when I'm not towing - when I'm towing, the bikes are in the caravan. I have to use a towbar mounted rack because Volvo advise not to use a boot mounted one as the tailgate on the XC90 is fibreglass.

 

[martindf3]

Hi Paul . My wife and I have electric bikes that we want to carry them in the van . I was thinking of taking pedals off and lying them down . We also have a tow bar bike rack (Thule 9502 ) which is great and I have pictures in my phone to remember where to position the centre support I must get round to weighing them sometime . Where do you place the bikes in your van and how do you secure them ?

 

[emmerson]

Horrible dangerous bl**dy things! Should be banned!

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Horrible dangerous bl**dy things! Should be banned!

Which should be banned?
a. bikes manual
b. bikes electric
c. bike racks

or all of them?

 

[Hutch]

Horrible dangerous bl**dy things! Should be banned!

Bikes, always walk mine back from the public house,

 

[Dustydog]

Could you reduce the weight if you removed the batteries and put them in the car?

 

[Hutch]

PaulT, just looked at the specs for the Thule 9503, it says that you can carry , up to three bikes max weight of 45 kilos, and almost all the fixing are adjustable. So your two bikes should be ok. I would have thought that putting the heaviest bike closest to the tow hitch, would be best, even though there is not much in it anyway, the pictures look as though you can remove the third bike rack and move the tracks back and forward.
Safe rideing.
Surel

 

[Dustydog]

Have I missed something?
They say each of the three bikes must not exceed 15kgs.
But it does not say one bike at 45kgs.

 

[Hutch]

Maybe we both have, Thules manual for the ride on rack 9503 , no, 950300, states, max bike weight, 20 kg. With max of three bikes, combined weight of 45kg. My previous quote was from Trendz bike website, which quoted wrongly .
PaulT, maybe chase Thule, or fill the tyres with helium to get a lighter weight with the bikes.

 

[Hutch]

PaulT, I went to Thules website and on search punched in 9503, found the down load for , user manual for the ride on 9503, which gave me the results I have put on the thread, I hope this helps you.
Hutch.

 

[ProfJohnL]

.......................... I would have thought that putting the heaviest bike closest to the tow hitch, would be best, .....................

Why?

 

[Hutch]

Ok Prof, give you a reply in the morning , about weignt and balance, mostly Helicopter c. OF g but applicable to all fulcrums and weights. . To many cidersrs to reply.

 

[Dustydog]

Paul T

Just how heavy are the batteries?

 

[PaulT]

I did eventually get a reply from Thule and thaye said that it was the individual weight of the bikes that counted, therefore I couldn't use the 3 bike rack to carry 2 heavier cycles. They recommended the EuroPower 916 as being suitable.

I really don't want to get into removing the batteries or pedals or whatever to get the weight down. When I put the bikes in the 'van, they go over the axles and I secure them with bungee cords with siutable padding to stop them damaging the furniture.

 

[Hutch]

PaulT, glad you got it sorted out.
Prof as requested,
If you have one bike of 44 lbs mounted at 30 " from the tow hitch, and a second bike at 33 lbs, 45" from the hitch. The moments would be 44 x 30= 1320" lbs + 33 x45 =1485 total moment of 2850" lbs
If the other way round 33 x30 = 990 " lbs + 45 ×45 = 1980 total moment of 2970.
Therefore giving a difference of 120 " lbs of torque from the tow hitch.
Which in the long run is only 1 ft lbs of torque, , not allowing for the vertical accelaration forces, during motion.
Hutch.

 

[Dustydog]

Well done Paul;
An answer from Thule.

However if you use their system to carry your bikes at a total of 40kgs and allow for the Thule weight wont that leave you with less than 50kgs nose weight for your Bailey? Is that enough for a safe tow? Just wondered

 

[ProfJohnL]

post=407163.....................
If you have one bike of 44 lbs mounted at 30 " from the tow hitch, and a second bike at 33 lbs, 45" from the hitch. The moments would be 44 x 30= 1320" lbs + 33 x45 =1485 total moment of 2850" lbs
If the other way round 33 x30 = 990 " lbs + 45 ×45 = 1980 total moment of 2970.
Therefore giving a difference of 120 " lbs of torque from the tow hitch.
Which in the long run is only 1 ft lbs of torque, , not allowing for the vertical accelaration forces, during motion.
Hutch.

Hello Hutch,

My mistake, I thought the bike rack was attached to the caravan, but I now see its a car mounted one, so I agree with your suggestion.

 

[PaulT]

Well done Paul;
An answer from Thule.

However if you use their system to carry your bikes at a total of 40kgs and allow for the Thule weight wont that leave you with less than 50kgs nose weight for your Bailey? Is that enough for a safe tow? Just wondered

No, the bike racks only used when I haven't got the 'van. When I'm with the 'van, the bikes go inside.