Carrying bikes with the vehicle once on site.

[JTQ]

I asked this question elsewhere but have not found people with the experience I need to tap; can anybody here help please?

Whilst we can carry our bikes in the van getting to the site we need a solution to transport them using our vehicle once staying on site.

Putting them in the car or on the roof is un-attractive; too cluttered and too high.

The vehicle has a detachable 150kg swan-neck towbar, and I have a lighting board.

Has anybody got actual experience of either Thule's Xpress 970 ? http://www.thule.com/Thule/ProductPage____33605.aspx

Or Hang-On 970-3

http://www.thule.com/Thule/ProductPage____33599.aspx
The lighter weight Xpress that folds up and neatly stores in its bag is attractive; less hassle when not in use and easy to put in car when off cycling but I feel a bit frightened how secure it might be and cant find a dealer prepared to let me try it out.

Thanks JTQ

 

[Andrew4]

We've got a high level rear mounted cycle rack from Halfords. It folds up neatly and is easy to put up and on the back of the car. Being high level it doesn't obstruct the number plate. Would never carry bikes inside the caravan.

 

[Clubman1]

Faced with the same problem I asked my local cyccle shop for advice. They come up with a very simple solution. A bike carrier that clamps on to the towball. In its most simplistic form it consists of two bars, joined in the middle with a "bolt" that allows the bars to move; at the bottom of the bars there is "half a cup" on each, similar to half a tennis ball, these are placed over the tow ball and the bars brought together to tighten on the tow ball. The bars are then locked in place with a locking bar. 2 straps then attached to the boot, or tailgate in my case, and tightened. 2 arms are then lifted and tightened to take the bikes. I have had 2 adult and 1 child's bike on the carrier. Simple to fit and remove and to finish off I have a "clip on" car number plate that attaches to the bikes. Cost about

 

[JTQ]

Clubman,

Thank you for your reply, the unit you have described is of the same generic design as the Thule Xpress 970 that I have been looking at. http://www.thule.com/Thule/ProductPage____33605.aspx

I have found two others sharing that concept.

I would very much like some guidance so can I ask three questions based on your experience please?

1) Does it in anyway damage or mark the ball surface? I ask because the dealer of an alternative design warned me off buying his for that reason, and any bruising or burring will in turn damage my Alko 2004 friction pads.

2) Does it hold the bikes firmly? I can see they cant fall down or to the sides but it looks like the bike might be able to rotate till they touch the vehicle unless the cups are very tightly forced onto the ball. [Then its back to the worry in question1]

3) Have you found it a wholly satisfactory solution?

Thanks John

 

[MalcolmL]

Clubman,

Thank you for your reply, the unit you have described is of the same generic design as the Thule Xpress 970 that I have been looking at. http://www.thule.com/Thule/ProductPage____33605.aspx

I have found two others sharing that concept.

I would very much like some guidance so can I ask three questions based on your experience please?

1) Does it in anyway damage or mark the ball surface? I ask because the dealer of an alternative design warned me off buying his for that reason, and any bruising or burring will in turn damage my Alko 2004 friction pads.

2) Does it hold the bikes firmly? I can see they cant fall down or to the sides but it looks like the bike might be able to rotate till they touch the vehicle unless the cups are very tightly forced onto the ball. [Then its back to the worry in question1]

3) Have you found it a wholly satisfactory solution?

Thanks John

I used this style of bike rack a number of years ago, prior to having a hitch-type stabiliser. In fact I didn't use any type of stabilser until it came fitted to the caravan as standard! But back to the bike rack! At the time, I transported two cycles on a rack mounted on the rear wall of the caravan. I always took the scissors-type rack and found it very effective and convenient if we wanted to do cycle runs some distance from the site. I wasn't aware of any damage being done to the ball but it would be possible to put a folded cloth over the ball before clamping the rack. Be aware that if you overload the rack, as I did one day, the whole unit tilts rearwards until the furthest back cycle tyre is rubbing on the ground! I had put three bikes on a two-bike rack and didn't get away with it! If I carry bikes in the 'van (very rarely), I remove all pedals. Nowadays, I can get the bikes inside the 4*4 but I still remove the pedals and front wheels.

 

[Clubman1]

John

I have had no problems with my carrier. The cup(s) are "squeezed" very firmly onto the tow ball by virtue of the locking bar, I have not noticed any burring of the ball. Once on the carrier I strap the bikes firmly onto the "handles" and then also tie the wheels to the carried uprights, in my experience there is little,if any, movement once the bikes are strapped. I have a V70 and the bikes protrude marginally beyond the width of the car but inside the door mirror width. Hope this helps.

Dan

 

[JTQ]

Clubman and Malcolm, Thank you both, your experiences are reassuring.

John

 

[Clubman1]

Just had a look at the Thule web site. The 970 Xpress is basically the same design as the carrier I have, except I have additional straps to secure the carrier to the the tail gate which prevents the bikes falling forward when loaded. I note the price for the 970 is approx