Towball-mount carriers

[miniman]

I'm guessing a few people on here will have experience of these carriers? Are they really as secure as they appear from the Thule video which implies that they grip the towball with little more than a nip up of a single bolt?

[47p2]

Click

[miniman]

[Deerfoot]

I've got a Thule Euroclassic 903, I regularly get two adults and two kids bikes on it (you need the 9022 adapter for the forth bike) and it's very solid even at speed. I have a detachable tow bar so just keep the carrier on it and remove the whole thing when not needed. Fitting it is easy though so even if you have a fixed tow ball it can be fitted in seconds.

It's reasonably heavy on its own so you have to be careful with the vertical weight on the tow bar when loaded if you have heavy bikes.

It even folds up so I can put it in the boot while we go for a ride.

[clarkey]

I didn't want to spend too much, so I've just bought a Thule 9708. It seems really secure to me.

[miniman]

clarkey said:

I didn't want to spend too much, so I've just bought a Thule 9708. It seems really secure to me.

Yeah that's the one I'm looking at, just can't visualise how they clamp so strongly to a ball!

[RGambo]

miniman said:

clarkey said:

I didn't want to spend too much, so I've just bought a Thule 9708. It seems really secure to me.

Yeah that's the one I'm looking at, just can't visualise how they clamp so strongly to a ball!

Witchcraft !
But I assure you they don't move.

[clarkey]

It comes with a spanner about 9 inches long - just do it up nice and tight! I tried really hard to move it and couldn't.

[Watchman]

It doesn't just clamp to the ball - it clamps around the neck of the ball too, so it's not just friction holding in place in the up/down plane. Left/right, yes it's just friction but it's farkin' secure.

[47p2]

This is how to mount the Altera Strada

Click

[Paw]

I just got a Thule G6 929, super bit of kit. I mate has one that a followed across France for a few hundred miles. So stable even at 80+

There is a Volvo dealer in North Wales doing them at £325 a ver good price.

Paw

[ndg]

Paw said:

I just got a Thule G6 929, super bit of kit. I mate has one that a followed across France for a few hundred miles. So stable even at 80+

There is a Volvo dealer in North Wales doing them at £325 a ver good price.

Paw

I got the same, from Volvo in Coventry. Mate (who is an A1 negotiator) got us an amazing deal.....

[Watchman]

Paw said:

So stable even at 80+

They're good at speeds a great deal higher than that. I lost my rear mudguard to the wind...

... which leads to a more serious point. Stuff does get blown off roof racks and rear carriers. You'd be surprised.