caravan bike rack

[paulwrigley]

Does anybody have an 2007 or 2008 Abbey Spectrum 535 with a rear mounted cycle rack fitted?

I've been trying to get one fitted but niether my dealer nor Swift have been helpfull on the phone.

Consequently, I've just used the online contact form on the Swift group website to see if something in writing will help any better!

Dear Sir/Madam.

I have just purchased a 2008 Abbey Spectrum 535 from Moorlands Leisure in Stoke On Trent.

The Swift group web site clearly states that this model is equiped with cycle rack mounting points.

When i asked Moorlands Leisure to fit a rack to my caravan ( to carry ONE only, lightweight road racing cycle) they refused. The reason given was that they had terrible difficulties with the bed headboard and had caused damage on the last 'van they worked on which Swift group would not cover. I cannot believe that drilling 4 holes through the rear wall and bolting on a rack, especially one where you, the manufacture, has taken the trouble to provide strong points, can be so difficult. I asked them for a cycle rack model number and dimensions to allow myself (a time served Aircraft Fitter-now Aircraft Design Engineer of some 25 years experience) to fit the rack. They refused point blank and suggested I contact yourselves directly!

Would you please supply me the correct dimensions for the fixing points and state which rack these dimensions have been based around.

Yours Sincerely

Paul T Wrigley

 

[Roy_374368554]

I wanted to fit cycle rack to the rear of my Abbey 418. Local dealer would not recommend it as they said in the past the weight has pulled the rear panel away. I contacted Swift who replyed that they had fitted strong points to the rear to take a cycle rack and they could supply details to the dealer who would reccommend a make of rack to fit. They did not comment on the dealers comment of unsuitability of this method of carring cycles for a caravan. With no gaurentee I am reluctant to try it.

 

[Chrissylizzie]

We got talking to a caravanner on the docks recently as he had an Abbey caravan with a rear mounted bike carrier. He said this had been fitted when ordering the caravan and that it had made no difference to stability at all. He was a long time caravanner and had had different types of rack in the past.

 

[Reg]

I had a similar experience with a Bailey. I emailed Bailey who said it was OK and they could retro fit them..... (at a price) but to contact the dealer. When the van went in for a service I asked the dealer who didn't seem to have a clue and gave me a copy of the Fiamma catalogue. However when I saw the damage done to the van after the service I decided that I wouldn't want them touching it again.

I fitted one myself in the end. As for all the tales you hear about the stability. Using a common sense approach is best.

My outfit is extremely well matched i.e. the car in theory could tow a much heavier van than mine so adding two lightweight bikes on the rear makes no difference to the stability.