Discussion
Hi - I'd like some opinions please, as I am trying to choose between getting a towbar mounted one or a roof rack.
I don't have a towbar, so that will obviously work out more expensive (around £250ish for a fitted towbar and £150ish for the bike rack - a Thule 2/3 bike holder).
My query is, is the towbar mounted holder better than the roofrack. It will be better in terms of fuel economy and probably ease of use - to get the bikes on and off. Is it more secure though, or are the roof mounted ones (also Thule) pretty good too?
Many thanks
I don't have a towbar, so that will obviously work out more expensive (around £250ish for a fitted towbar and £150ish for the bike rack - a Thule 2/3 bike holder).
My query is, is the towbar mounted holder better than the roofrack. It will be better in terms of fuel economy and probably ease of use - to get the bikes on and off. Is it more secure though, or are the roof mounted ones (also Thule) pretty good too?
Many thanks
Top Gear once worked out that it would be cheaper to courier one bike to your destination than to put it on top of the car and pay for extra fuel.
Much will depend on how far you're going, how many bikes etc, but one thing to bear in mind with the towbar ones is that you'll need to get a full light board made up too.
You can get towbar mounted ones that fold down, so you don't have to worry so much about access. I've been looking at putting ours in the roofbox as we've got a huge one - and I've been told you can get two frames in it. (With the wheels off.)
Much will depend on how far you're going, how many bikes etc, but one thing to bear in mind with the towbar ones is that you'll need to get a full light board made up too.
You can get towbar mounted ones that fold down, so you don't have to worry so much about access. I've been looking at putting ours in the roofbox as we've got a huge one - and I've been told you can get two frames in it. (With the wheels off.)
I've used both, the towbar ones are more faffy, the Thule one I had was annoyingly a little short for my FS MTB, it also took quite a bit of effort to stop either the bike rubbing together or hit the back of the car, and pedal pins make light work of paintwork. In regards to MPG, I drove to Loire with the Wife and got 600 miles from a tank at a pretty constant 130kph, but with 3 MTB's on the back I was getting 450, although I did have to put my foot down (right down) for a bit when we nearly missed our Channel Tunnel departure.
Roof bar ones are good if you use the type that you bolt to with the front axle - I don't know if you're a MTBer or Roadie, but the Thule roof carrier used with a 20mm bolt-through axle is as secure as it gets! The type with a ratchet grabbing arm on the downtube has failed on two friends cars and made a right mess of the roof when bikes fell over - so much so if we use that carrier now we'll only use it between two of the bolt through carriers or with lots of extra security from zip-ties. The MPG effect of these is even worse.
Roof bar ones are good if you use the type that you bolt to with the front axle - I don't know if you're a MTBer or Roadie, but the Thule roof carrier used with a 20mm bolt-through axle is as secure as it gets! The type with a ratchet grabbing arm on the downtube has failed on two friends cars and made a right mess of the roof when bikes fell over - so much so if we use that carrier now we'll only use it between two of the bolt through carriers or with lots of extra security from zip-ties. The MPG effect of these is even worse.
Thanks guys - I have one MTB and one roadbike. I wouldn't take them both at the same time and, to be fair, I probably wouldn't need to transport the bike more than a couple of times a year.
I took the MTB in the car (Audi A3) last time, by taking the front wheel off - that was fine, with the rear seats folded down. The trouble was that after the ride the bike was in a right state, so the car needed cleaning afterwards - not the end of the world by any means though. It didn't use extra fuel, but it did mean there wasn't much room to take anything else. Again, not really a problem as I'd be going on my own, but would mean I'd struggle to take it along if I went camping.
Also, after reading another thread, I'm tempted to take the road bike down in July 2014 to do the Dunwich Dynamo, as it sounds really neat. I live in Manchester - so that would be a fair trek, but again, I could put the bike in the car if needed - just remove one (or both) wheels.
In fact, reading that back, I guess I don't really need a carrier at all at present. I may even be able to take it along when I go camping, if I get creative with my packing.
thanks again and have a great weekend.
I took the MTB in the car (Audi A3) last time, by taking the front wheel off - that was fine, with the rear seats folded down. The trouble was that after the ride the bike was in a right state, so the car needed cleaning afterwards - not the end of the world by any means though. It didn't use extra fuel, but it did mean there wasn't much room to take anything else. Again, not really a problem as I'd be going on my own, but would mean I'd struggle to take it along if I went camping.
Also, after reading another thread, I'm tempted to take the road bike down in July 2014 to do the Dunwich Dynamo, as it sounds really neat. I live in Manchester - so that would be a fair trek, but again, I could put the bike in the car if needed - just remove one (or both) wheels.
In fact, reading that back, I guess I don't really need a carrier at all at present. I may even be able to take it along when I go camping, if I get creative with my packing.
thanks again and have a great weekend.I use the Thule 591 (I think) roof-mounted racks on my car and it takes my carbon HT MTB and my mates full-sus Specialized Enduro with no problems. I've not had the rachet clamp fail on me...but now you've got me worried.
I always lock the mechanism with the key so hope that helps keep the mechanism secure.
I have an Audi RS6 so naturally, I've given up worrying about MPG at all, so added drag from a couple of bikes on the roof is completely irrelevant when your average MPG is in the early teens anyway!
Do tow-bar mounted racks allow access to the rear of your car when the bikes are fitted? You might want to factor that in if you can't get into the boot while the bikes are on?
If you care about your bike or car, try to get a bar-mounted carrier that seperates the bikes to stop them damaging each-other or the car.
My mate's parents used to have the cheap-o two-spike style carrier that attached to the rear door of their hatchback when we were kids. Loading 3 bikes onto that, they all leant against each-other and leant against the car, scratching themselves and the car to pieces!
Next time, we spent a good hour covering the frames of the bikes with plumber's pipe-lagging and unscrewing pedals etc of the bike which was closest to the car. Mega-hassle.
I did see one chap in the Forest Of Dean cycle centre almost completely strip his bike down to get it in the boot of his Ka. Literally took it all to pieces. Wheels off, handlebars off, forks off, seat-post out. He was getting in a right mess as the bike was wet and a bit muddy after a post-ride wash with the hose!
I smirked to myself as I lifted the bikes onto the roof and secured them in less than 2 minutes!
I always lock the mechanism with the key so hope that helps keep the mechanism secure.
I have an Audi RS6 so naturally, I've given up worrying about MPG at all, so added drag from a couple of bikes on the roof is completely irrelevant when your average MPG is in the early teens anyway!
Do tow-bar mounted racks allow access to the rear of your car when the bikes are fitted? You might want to factor that in if you can't get into the boot while the bikes are on?
If you care about your bike or car, try to get a bar-mounted carrier that seperates the bikes to stop them damaging each-other or the car.
My mate's parents used to have the cheap-o two-spike style carrier that attached to the rear door of their hatchback when we were kids. Loading 3 bikes onto that, they all leant against each-other and leant against the car, scratching themselves and the car to pieces!
Next time, we spent a good hour covering the frames of the bikes with plumber's pipe-lagging and unscrewing pedals etc of the bike which was closest to the car. Mega-hassle.
I did see one chap in the Forest Of Dean cycle centre almost completely strip his bike down to get it in the boot of his Ka. Literally took it all to pieces. Wheels off, handlebars off, forks off, seat-post out. He was getting in a right mess as the bike was wet and a bit muddy after a post-ride wash with the hose!
I smirked to myself as I lifted the bikes onto the roof and secured them in less than 2 minutes!
Given the option, I've always preferred carrying the bike in the car, but If I go mountain biking the roof carrier is a lot less hassle than getting the interior all muddy!
A mate recently messaged me about this company:
http://www.duffbag.com/
As he has just bought a road bike, and doesn't want to trash the leather in his 159.
I have no connection with the company, and don't know what the quality is like, but it's an option....
I also own a Dirtworker, which I got for a bargain £25 years ago - it's effectively a large jerry can with built in 12v pressure washer. Just runs off the car's cigarette lighter socket, and is powerful enough to get most of the mud off.
A mate recently messaged me about this company:
http://www.duffbag.com/
As he has just bought a road bike, and doesn't want to trash the leather in his 159.
I have no connection with the company, and don't know what the quality is like, but it's an option....
I also own a Dirtworker, which I got for a bargain £25 years ago - it's effectively a large jerry can with built in 12v pressure washer. Just runs off the car's cigarette lighter socket, and is powerful enough to get most of the mud off.
I have a single roof carrier (thule) for when i'm on my todd and a 4 bike bar mounted Atera rack when I have the kids and/or a full boot.
The only advantage the roof carrier has is it doesnt add to the length of the vehicle. I have an 05MY V70 which has the turning circle of an Nimitz Class carrier, with the bar rack its a total pain in the arse to park to the extent I park in in car & caravan spaces at motorway services. Using the car park at coed-y-brenin for example which is tight is a 200 point turn job.
In all other respects, the tow bar carrier is miles better. It takes 2 mins to fit, it slides rather than tilts so I have full boot access, I can use a monster motorbike cable and padlock to doubley secure the bikes, no wind noise. Economy is hard to tell, if i'm using the rear rack its invariably because the boot is jammed full, floor to roof, so not afair comparison against just having me in the car, but the changes are not noticable whereas using the roof one, you can knock a good 10% off i'd say.
Long term, i'm going to get a swb double cab van as 99% of the time, I take the wheels off the Norco and put it in the boot which is destroying the interior (too much agg to fold back seats down as have to remove and store child seats
The only advantage the roof carrier has is it doesnt add to the length of the vehicle. I have an 05MY V70 which has the turning circle of an Nimitz Class carrier, with the bar rack its a total pain in the arse to park to the extent I park in in car & caravan spaces at motorway services. Using the car park at coed-y-brenin for example which is tight is a 200 point turn job.
In all other respects, the tow bar carrier is miles better. It takes 2 mins to fit, it slides rather than tilts so I have full boot access, I can use a monster motorbike cable and padlock to doubley secure the bikes, no wind noise. Economy is hard to tell, if i'm using the rear rack its invariably because the boot is jammed full, floor to roof, so not afair comparison against just having me in the car, but the changes are not noticable whereas using the roof one, you can knock a good 10% off i'd say.
Long term, i'm going to get a swb double cab van as 99% of the time, I take the wheels off the Norco and put it in the boot which is destroying the interior (too much agg to fold back seats down as have to remove and store child seats
Kell said:
Top Gear once worked out that it would be cheaper to courier one bike to your destination than to put it on top of the car and pay for extra fuel.
There is noticeable drag when the bikes are atop the roof. I've a set of 3x 591 roof rack carriers and a towball mounted "Euroclassic" for different occasion.Kell said:
Much will depend on how far you're going, how many bikes etc, but one thing to bear in mind with the towbar ones is that you'll need to get a full light board made up too.
Most come with lightbar. You just supply a reg plate.Kell said:
You can get towbar mounted ones that fold down, so you don't have to worry so much about access.
This is a very useful feature, allowing you to open the boot/tailgate without removing the bikes.HereBeMonsters said:
How do the towball ones work? Where else do they secure to on the car?
Nothing. Honestly I was as skeptical as you sound but I went with it slightly on "faith" because I wanted something that didn't otherwise touch the car, and I admit I wanted to see how it worked.It clamps the towball AND about an inch of the neck. There is no way at all that it can tilt downwards. It's not held in that direction by friction - the ball/neck offers a genuinely solid mounting.
If you are brutal, you can move it left to right - that *is* only held by the friction but by GOD you would have to push hard. I reversed mine into a post, slightly breaking the carrier but it didn't rotate at all.
If you happen to have a tow bar then I'd go for a tow bar type. Thule and Pendle do good ones.
I'd not pay to specifically have a tow bar fitted for bikes though.
Roof bars - aero bars with a t shape - and Thule 591s or Mont Blanc Barracudas. These guys are good http://www.skidrive.co.uk/bars/
I've got two cars and two sets of roof bars. One car has a tow bar carrier and I have a Pendle two bike carrier. I go for roof bars every time. Less effort and faff to get it all going. Haven't noticed much difference in mpg between either type.
Also if it rains your bikes get a free clean. Doesn't work out so well for the car, mind.
I'd not pay to specifically have a tow bar fitted for bikes though.
Roof bars - aero bars with a t shape - and Thule 591s or Mont Blanc Barracudas. These guys are good http://www.skidrive.co.uk/bars/
I've got two cars and two sets of roof bars. One car has a tow bar carrier and I have a Pendle two bike carrier. I go for roof bars every time. Less effort and faff to get it all going. Haven't noticed much difference in mpg between either type.
Also if it rains your bikes get a free clean. Doesn't work out so well for the car, mind.
Watchman said:
If you are brutal, you can move it left to right - that *is* only held by the friction but by GOD you would have to push hard. I reversed mine into a post, slightly breaking the carrier but it didn't rotate at all.
Thanks for that. Now off to look for a towball for either of my cars.I'm guessing there's probably one that will fit a 205 GTI more readily available than one for an Elise.
I have a towbar, so went for a tow bar mounted thurle. Very secure, though I do have to use another numberplate, as the original is obscured (though not the lights)...
Its on a 5 series touring, so if I remove the saddle I can still access the hatch via the rear glass. Can't open the boot properly though.
Good bit of kit. Costs me about 3-4 mpg on average (last used it from Norwich to Cornwall).
Its on a 5 series touring, so if I remove the saddle I can still access the hatch via the rear glass. Can't open the boot properly though.
Good bit of kit. Costs me about 3-4 mpg on average (last used it from Norwich to Cornwall).
HereBeMonsters said:
Watchman said:
If you are brutal, you can move it left to right - that *is* only held by the friction but by GOD you would have to push hard. I reversed mine into a post, slightly breaking the carrier but it didn't rotate at all.
Thanks for that. Now off to look for a towball for either of my cars.I'm guessing there's probably one that will fit a 205 GTI more readily available than one for an Elise.
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