Towbar Mounted Bike Racks (2 adult & 1 child size bikes)

[Chaps]

Been thinking how we're going to transport the kids' bikes when we go away in our caravan. We have a Vauxhall Zafira and don't fancy lifting the bikes onto the roof as our friends have caused damage to their car in the past doing this. Have thought about putting the bikes in the caravan but we're worried about them moving about, damaging the inside of the van or, even worse, causing instability.

We used to use a rack that strapped to the car when we were tent campers but didn't like that as it was very fiddly and never felt totally secure.

Latest thoughts are for a towbar mounted bike rack as they seem quite straight forward to use and it would come in handy when visiting our local country park too. Few questions please:-

Does anyone have any experience of using one of these?

We're assuming that noseweight isn't affected as the weight is on the car not the caravan - are we right in thinking this?

Also concerned about undoing and reattaching the towbar bolts - will this loosen them? We could always approach the towbar fitting company to fit the holding plate especially as we'll probably buy the bike rack from them anyway (Towsure).

Any comments gratefully received.

Cheers, Claire & Rob

 

[Dave_374330759]

Have a look at your tow ball weight rating, if its about 75kg like most cars, then if you stick a bike rack plus several bikes on it you will reduce the allowable nose weight for your caravan. eg if the bikes, plus rack weigh 35kg then you'll only have 40kg left for the van, which isn't sufficient for safe towing (the recommendation is something like 4-7% which is 48 to 84kg for a 1200kg van). You are probably safer wrapping them in a blanket and putting them inside the van (over the axle of course)asumming that you don't exceed the van's MTPLM

 

[Thorpedo]

We've used one for years, although since towing a caravan I try to keep the weight down.

Like you I dislike putting stuff on the roof, I must be ham handed because in the past I've also caused damage this way.

We find then sturdy safe and stable.

In theory if you remove the tow ball bolts to fit the bike bracket you should replace them with new bolts anyway, but you may find that like me you will need longer bolts. They should also be tightened to the correct torque setting, so it may be a quick job for the towing centre if your not confident.

 

[Lutz]

The legal minimum noseweight for the caravan is 4% or 25kg, whichever is the lower. However, it would be folly to be forced to go so low because the bikes were already taking up so much of the available 75kg noseweight for the car.

 

[Chaps]

Thanks for your replies.

Think we'll go back to Plan A and put them inside the van. At least the kids will have them as soon as we get there that way.

Cheers.

Claire & Rob