Cycle Carriers

[CRAIG_5077026]

Hi, just wondered how best to take our bikes with us when caravaning. Our little girl who is 3 has just started to ride and my wife and I would love to take our bikes but we are unsure which method of carrier to use. At the moment we just take our daughters bike which goes in the boot, I've thought about putting them in the caravan but worried if they become loose they might damage something in the van plus the weight issue. I do have a rack which clamps on the rear of the car but unsure when turning tight corners if this will catch the van, so how do you carry yours? any advice would be much appreciated, many thanks, Craig.

 

[butler1]

Hi Craig, I am considering getting a cycle carrier myself. I haven't given it serious thought yet, but I do recall 'Which?' reporting that they could only recommend those fitted to the bars on the roof of the car. Those attached to the back had possible dangers as I recall. I'll see if I can track the information down on their website. Best Wishes, George T.

 

[Lutz]

Yes, on the roof of the car is best. Second best is inside the caravan, if you find ways of anchoring the bikes securely. (I know of people who have fitted anchorage bolts through the floor of the caravan in an area where they're not easily visible or where you could trip over them.) A carrier on the towbar is no good when towing at the same time as the noseweight available for the caravan will be reduced by the same amount as the gross weight of the carrier and all the bikes. A proper bike carrier on the A-frame is a possibility but it means discarding the fairing, if fitted. A particularly bad solution is a cycle carrier on the back of the caravan as this can be detrimental to stability of the outfit.

 

[CRAIG_5077026]

Hi Craig, I am considering getting a cycle carrier myself. I haven't given it serious thought yet, but I do recall 'Which?' reporting that they could only recommend those fitted to the bars on the roof of the car. Those attached to the back had possible dangers as I recall. I'll see if I can track the information down on their website. Best Wishes, George T.

Hi George, thanks for your reply, I have thought of the roof bars but it would be interesting to hear what the report says, many thanks, Craig.

 

[CRAIG_5077026]

Yes, on the roof of the car is best. Second best is inside the caravan, if you find ways of anchoring the bikes securely. (I know of people who have fitted anchorage bolts through the floor of the caravan in an area where they're not easily visible or where you could trip over them.) A carrier on the towbar is no good when towing at the same time as the noseweight available for the caravan will be reduced by the same amount as the gross weight of the carrier and all the bikes. A proper bike carrier on the A-frame is a possibility but it means discarding the fairing, if fitted. A particularly bad solution is a cycle carrier on the back of the caravan as this can be detrimental to stability of the outfit.

Hi Lutz, I have seen the carriers on the back of motor homes and once before on a caravan and thought the same as you regards the weight on the back end of the van, I think the roof bars and rack is the option I will take. Thanks for the advice, Craig.

 

[Moonstone1]

I can certainly recommend this company

http://www.skidrive.co.uk/index.php
for roof bars/cycle carriers etc. They were much cheaper than elsewhere and the service was great. Ordered online on Monday night, arrived 10.00am Wednesday morning. Now fitted on car and ready to go.

Have used Thule bars for a while now and certainly more solid that Paddy Hopkirk ones.

 

[RichardS1]

I endorse the reply from Lutz, I use roof mounted cycle carriers on a regular basis and having previously transported bikes in the caravan it is far more convenient with them on the roof of the car. Halfords have regular offers on roof mounted bike carriers, recently they were offering two Thule carriers for

 

[TripHazard]

Hi I use a maxxraxx Premier attached to my tow hitch as I usually have a top box on the roof of the car as well to carry two full size adult bikes its a great system very stable tho not the cheapest I looked at.

here's the url for any one interested

http://www.maxxraxx.co.uk/

 

[Lutz]

The Maxxraxx has the same disadvantage as any other towbar mounted cycle carrier in that it reduces the available noseweight for the caravan and is therefore only suitable for vehicles with very high permissible noseweights such as the bigger 4x4's. It is rather irresponsible for Maxxraxx not to point this out in their website as the blurb suggests that their cycle carrier can be fitted universally even when towing.

 

[Lutz]

The Maxxraxx has the same disadvantage as any other towbar mounted cycle carrier in that it reduces the available noseweight for the caravan and is therefore only suitable for vehicles with very high permissible noseweights such as the bigger 4x4's. It is rather irresponsible for Maxxraxx not to point this out in their website as the blurb suggests that their cycle carrier can be fitted universally even when towing.

I apologise and withdraw my statement about not pointing out the effect of reduction of noseweight for the caravan. After having a look at the Maxxraxx website a second time, I did actually find reference to the issue but it wasn't very predominant and can be easily overlooked.