Towbar Bike Carriers

[carinatauk]

I am hoping to get some advice on a good choice and reasonable price. I am just restarting my riding experience after motorcycle accident 5 years ago and I need to get rid of some flab, along with getting fitter of course.

The choice of carrier style is restricted because I have a BMW X5, so rear mounting carriers [like my Saris Bones] are out. I am not even going to try and mount them on the roof, I would have nightmares thinking about how I would destroy them entering places with height restrictions. Plus I am not tall enough!

I am looking for a 3 bike carrier, with 13 pin [needing it for Europe]. It will need to take an electric MTB, a HT MTB and a child's bike. The 3rd bike space will be used infrequently, so maybe a 2 bike carrier would suffice.

There seems to be a huge choice of carriers but very few 13 pin, the ones I have seen are Atera Strada Sport M3 and Thule Velospace XT.

Having never used a towbar carrier before, apart from price differentials what do I need to consider?

I have seen the Thule and it's a solid bit of kit but at £474 it's expensive however it will be carrying costly bikes and needs to be strong and secure. There is more space between the bikes on the Thule, other than that I am not sure what to consider.

Thanks in advance

[option click]

Have you looked here yet?
https://www.roofbox.co.uk/bike-carriers/

I have this version for four bikes - its very solid and has some nice touches such as an integrated cable lock.
https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.ph...

You can get a 13-pin adaptor for the lighting board.

[boxedin]

Get a BMW one? They're made by: https://www.uebler.com/en/products/

[idiotgap]

Do you really need to worry about the 13pin bit?
I'm pretty sure there are cheap adaptors which will connect a 7pin lighting board to a 13pin car.
http://www.hammersleys.com/13-7pin-adaptor-mp601.h...

They go the other way round, 13pin electrics to 7 pin car if needed too.

[carinatauk]

option click said:

Have you looked here yet?
https://www.roofbox.co.uk/bike-carriers/

I have this version for four bikes - its very solid and has some nice touches such as an integrated cable lock.
https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.ph...

You can get a 13-pin adaptor for the lighting board.

I have been looking at both Roofbox and Rutland Cycles. I would prefer a carrier that has wheel support [electric MTB].

Thanks for your input

[carinatauk]

idiotgap said:

Do you really need to worry about the 13pin bit?
I'm pretty sure there are cheap adaptors which will connect a 7pin lighting board to a 13pin car.
http://www.hammersleys.com/13-7pin-adaptor-mp601.h...

They go the other way round, 13pin electrics to 7 pin car if needed too.

The 7 pin is really any use in the UK, 13 pin is needed for Europe [ie fog light, reversing light etc]

[TwistingMyMelon]

I've got a Thule twin bike rack with a 13 pin adapter, its actually a BMW rack, but they just stick BMW stickers on and sell them as a BMW bike rack for double the price of a Thule one.

As above you can get 13 pin adapters for either way, as my rack is 13 pin, but only have 7 on the tow bar. You can also get adapters the other way round, Apapters are a tenner from halfords or screwfix

I have found 13 pin ones a bit of a pain, as its 6 more pins to bend and once I couldn't get the socket into the adapter so now just leave the adapter on there all the time with no issues .

Impressed with my Thule rack though , works really well, cruised up to 90 abroad with it on the back and you dont need to worry about height restrictions. Bikes are easy to put on and off. You dont get the fuel consumption or noise hit either.

Downside to boot racks is you cant open the boot, but you can get tilting racks that fix this , although mine goes on my van that has a side door .

[TwistingMyMelon]

TwistingMyMelon said:

I've got a Thule twin bike rack with a 13 pin adapter, its actually a BMW rack, but they just stick BMW stickers on and sell them as a BMW bike rack for double the price of a Thule one.

As above you can get 13 pin adapters for either way, as my rack is 13 pin, but only have 7 on the tow bar. You can also get adapters the other way round, Apapters are a tenner from halfords or screwfix

I have found 13 pin ones a bit of a pain, as its 6 more pins to bend and once I couldn't get the socket into the adapter so now just leave the adapter on there all the time with no issues .

Impressed with my Thule rack though , works really well, cruised up to 90 abroad with it on the back and you dont need to worry about height restrictions. Bikes are easy to put on and off. You dont get the fuel consumption or noise hit either.

Downside to boot racks is you cant open the boot, but you can get tilting racks that fix this , although mine goes on my van that has a side door .

EDIT - Just released my BMW one isnt a Thule one at all and made by the company above!!!!

[Ranger 6]

I've got one of these which I use on my X3 - bought an adaptor for the electrics and it's fine. No issues with three adult bikes either, as you'd expect from a company like Thule.

[bigdom]

I have an Atera Strada, works well, and secure at continental speeds on the back of a 5 Series.

https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.ph...

I picked mine up a few years back on ebay

[rastapasta]

Ranger 6 said:

I've got one of these which I use on my X3 - bought an adaptor for the electrics and it's fine. No issues with three adult bikes either, as you'd expect from a company like Thule.

i have this also and can recommend.

[CraigBroadbent]

I note you are worried about the width between the bikes which can be a problem as bikes are only ever getting bigger.

We offer a 2 bike rack with 280mm between the bikes. Others are usually 250mm at most.
It is a platform type, supporting the wheels, and grips the front wheel, not the frame, so it is carbon bike approved too.
With ratchets at both ends loading is really fast and simple.

[Bill]

bigdom said:

I have an Atera Strada, works well, and secure at continental speeds on the back of a 5 Series.

https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.ph...

I picked mine up a few years back on ebay

So have I. It's very easy to fit with no tools needed and comes as standard with a 13 pin plug that you need an adapter (free from roofbox.co.uk) for a 7 pin UK car.

I don't see why the OP wants 13 pins though. Presumably his UK car has a 7pin socket??

[tuffer]

I have a Thule 3 bike towball carrier and its brilliant, also have a 4th bike extension for it, again, faultless.

[CraigBroadbent]

Forgot to mention. Towbars all have to be approved, so there isn't a lot to choose between the manufacturers apart from paint quality.
Basically 3 types;
Flange has a flat plate and bolted on separate towball, or other attachment possibilities.
Swan neck is a fixed ball
Removable detaches under the buper to stop you bumping into it.

13 pin is a good idea as better seals better and less likely to corrode up
You want vehicle specific electrics. These clip in rather than cutting into wires, which can be expensive if things go wrong.

[Notreallymeeither]

We have the 3 bike Thule one which can be pivoted to allow access to the boot and it is v good.

One word of warning - the pivot on the lowering mechanism works in a funny way. The first time I tried it I was stepping v hard on the pedal to try and release it - I thought it would lower to the floor pivoting from the tow bar end, but it actually pivots from the back of the carrier by the number plate.

Anyway, as I was applying more and more pressure to try and get it to release, it suddenly released causing the support post at the front to lever up and smash me very hard in the face. Mike Tyson couldn’t have hit me any harder!!! There was a lot of blood and a trip to the dentist, so be careful of this.

[BurblingBrownOne]

I got an own brand "Cyclemaster Premier 4" from Towsure a good few years back and it's been brilliant, was the most economical one I could find at the time but regularly carries all 4 x bikes without any problem, pivot's to allow you to open the boot fully and came with dual connections for both 7-pin and 13-pin plugs.
Don’t see it available on their website anymore www.towsure.com but the Streetwize Titan 3 seems like a decent alternative to Thule at £224

[russy01]

Official bmw one on a 2018 X5 here. Pivots downwards so you can access the boot. Folds up nicely.

£500, but negotiated it into purchase of the car.

[boxedin]

russy01 said:

Official bmw one on a 2018 X5 here. Pivots downwards so you can access the boot. Folds up nicely.

£500, but negotiated it into purchase of the car.

The fuss free nature of the setup is worth any additional cost.

Additionally, replacement parts are available direct from germany.

These guys are very good:
https://www.autoteile-schork.de/index.html?search=...

You could buy the BMW carrier from Leeberman if you're wanting to avoid a dealer.

[tuffer]

Notreallymeeither said:

We have the 3 bike Thule one which can be pivoted to allow access to the boot and it is v good.

One word of warning - the pivot on the lowering mechanism works in a funny way. The first time I tried it I was stepping v hard on the pedal to try and release it - I thought it would lower to the floor pivoting from the tow bar end, but it actually pivots from the back of the carrier by the number plate.

Anyway, as I was applying more and more pressure to try and get it to release, it suddenly released causing the support post at the front to lever up and smash me very hard in the face. Mike Tyson couldn’t have hit me any harder!!! There was a lot of blood and a trip to the dentist, so be careful of this.

Yep, when putting your foot on the release lever you almost have to push the carrier towards the car first so that it releases and then tilts back towards you. One other word of caution, whist the carrier is rock solid in the support position, it will fold up the other way even when clamped on the towball, I discovered this when I failed to spot a speedbump and the whole lot nearly came through the rear screen.