Spare Wheel Mounted Bike Rack

[brad1]

We have recently been given a bike rack to fit onto the spare wheel of our Discovery. Does anyone know if it is against the law to use this whilst towing and also has anyone ever done this? I haven't tried yet as i am unsure as to whether it is safe. any advice please as we go away next weekend, thanks

 

[RogerL]

It's not against the law but there are laws requiring that any load is safely secured.

If the rack or the bikes obscure the lights (excluding central high level brake light) or the number plate then a trailer board should be used which simply plugs into the 12N socket.

The law does require that the towcar lights are not obscured even when towing. So if you're towing with bikes on a rack which obscure the towcar's lights or number plate you should, in theory, use a trailer board although it's extremely unlikely that you'd get stopped or prosecuted for that.