Hatchback boot bike rack!

[E65Ross]

Hi everyone. Can you please recommend me a decent, secure. Ut easy to use bike rack which will fit using the hatch of a hatchback?

Don't mind spending the extra because it'll be carrying £6-7k worth of bike. Ideally want something that's really a piece of cake to set up, and is easy to use and secure the bike(s) in place. I've seen cheap ones where if you had a few bikes in, sometimes the paint would rub!

Thanks in advance

Ross

[lufbramatt]

Is a tow bar mounted rack an option? They seem so much more secure than hanging something off a body panel.

[R1gtr]

Have a look here, bought my aerobars and Thule cycle carriers from them. First class service, very knowledgeable.

https://www.roofbox.co.uk/bike-carriers/
Put your number plate in and you will get all the available options for your car.

[E65Ross]

Thanks to the both of you. Food for thought. Not sure about tow bar, car doesn't currently have one!

[Fastpedeller]

E65Ross said:

I've seen cheap ones where if you had a few bikes in, sometimes the paint would rub!

Thanks in advance

Ross

Be less worried about your paint and more worried about the wreckage of 7k of bikes (and maybe more importantly) the innocent ones who'll be hit by teh debris - seriously DON'T use a hatchback mounted rack, they are rubbish!
ps. for the safety of yourself and others........If you choose to ignore the above, then make sure you have some ratchet straps around the whole lot and joined in a 'complete loop' if that makes sense, so that the only way it can let go is if it takes the tailgate with it! relying on right-angled clips hanging on the lip of a tailgate just doesn't cut it.

[Watchman]

Is a roof rack an option? Probably cheaper to setup if you don't already have a towbar and definitely the 2nd best way to carry bikes (after the towbar type).

[gazza285]

Fastpedeller said:

Be less worried about your paint and more worried about the wreckage of 7k of bikes (and maybe more importantly) the innocent ones who'll be hit by teh debris - seriously DON'T use a hatchback mounted rack, they are rubbish!
ps. for the safety of yourself and others........If you choose to ignore the above, then make sure you have some ratchet straps around the whole lot and joined in a 'complete loop' if that makes sense, so that the only way it can let go is if it takes the tailgate with it! relying on right-angled clips hanging on the lip of a tailgate just doesn't cut it.

My Saris Bones three bike rack has not fallen off in the five years I have been using it.

[Barchettaman]

Our €2 Mont Blanc hatchback carrier worked flawlessly for many 100s of kms.



Bought second hand and ‘retired’ this year. I’ll get another one!

[E65Ross]

Am looking to go away with a mate to the Peak District in Spring time, and I had planned on driving separately as there's no way I can fit my bike and luggage and him and his luggage in my car (or his car), and he said he can borrow a boot rack thing from a mate and when I said I'm not sure if I'm too happy leaving a £6-7k bike on the back he said it's a waste of money taking 2 cars....but it'd work out about £50 between the 2 of us

[leyorkie]

Mate has a Saris that works well, I have a tow bar but I’d use the Saris if there’s no tow bar.
If it’s just for a weekend how about hiring a van carry the lot and secure when left alone.

[Watchman]

Barchettaman said:

Our €2 Mont Blanc hatchback carrier worked flawlessly for many 100s of kms.



Bought second hand and ‘retired’ this year. I’ll get another one!

I think I can see a gap where you could stick another bike if it's a world record you're aiming for... no, my mistake.

[SixtySpeedTwin]

I've got a Saris and its secure on some hatchbacks.

But if you have an aero lip or spoiler on the top edge of your hatch you're knackered as thats where the hook attaches. Hanging bikes off a plastic spoiler can only end badly i recon.....

Plan B - rent a van if your not planning on using the rack regularly, chuck everything inside.

[g7jhp]

We invested in a Thule Velo Compact bike rack which will take 4 bikes with the additional adaptor.

It's not cheap, but:

1) The bikes are secure and locked
2) It saves the car paintwork
3) Sits on a detachable 'swan neck' towbar
4) Can be tilted away from the car so you can still access the boot

You do have to store it and they all take a little time to put on and get the bikes in place.

We use a Mk5 Golf GTI which we got a special lower spoiler (circa £30) which has a tow bar flap.

There are some good solutions around!

Not my car but same set-up.

[dodgyviper]

Used a Halfords one for years - best buy for it were two extra straps that each attach to a plastic roller that sits inside the tailgate between the roof and the tail gate - these will keep the rack on if all else fails.

However, it all depends on the hatchback, if you have one with an integrated wing at the top, then forget it - these can't take the load of fully tightened straps running over them.

Roof bars are your second best option, with the tow bar being best of all - I had a removable tow bar fitted and bought an Atera - cracking bit of kit (from Roofbox).

Pricing does go in line with best options here

[Biggles delivers the goods]

I used to have a landrover which was great. That went and now I have an Abarth. I couldn't get a traditional bike rack over the hatch because of the spoiler and I don't like how roof racks looked so I bought a sea-sucker which is excellent. I was a little scared the first few outings but I've never had a problem. Bike is carbon so not too heavy but it is big.

[g7jhp]

Biggles delivers the goods said:

That rear wheel looks too close to the ground for comfort e.g. speed bump.

[Biggles delivers the goods]

g7jhp said:

That rear wheel looks too close to the ground for comfort e.g. speed bump.

It does look close but actually it sits above the bumper, just funny perspective. That being said, I tend to have it roof mounted, it's just easier.

[klootzak]

Seasucker works for me too.

A bit weird at first, but it has never let me down with either the Stumpy or my road bikes.

If I were buying again I'd get the Talon or Bomber multi-bike versions which hold the bike using its drop-outs. But they're all easy to use, don't bugger-up your paint and are amazingly secure.

k

[E65Ross]

gazza285 said:

Fastpedeller said:

Be less worried about your paint and more worried about the wreckage of 7k of bikes (and maybe more importantly) the innocent ones who'll be hit by teh debris - seriously DON'T use a hatchback mounted rack, they are rubbish!
ps. for the safety of yourself and others........If you choose to ignore the above, then make sure you have some ratchet straps around the whole lot and joined in a 'complete loop' if that makes sense, so that the only way it can let go is if it takes the tailgate with it! relying on right-angled clips hanging on the lip of a tailgate just doesn't cut it.

My Saris Bones three bike rack has not fallen off in the five years I have been using it.

I am tempted by a Saris Bones. You have found yours OK? What's the security like? Just weary about pulling into a service station for a pee, coming back, and finding it's been nabbed...!

[Daveyraveygravey]

Fastpedeller said:

Be less worried about your paint and more worried about the wreckage of 7k of bikes (and maybe more importantly) the innocent ones who'll be hit by teh debris - seriously DON'T use a hatchback mounted rack, they are rubbish!
ps. for the safety of yourself and others........If you choose to ignore the above, then make sure you have some ratchet straps around the whole lot and joined in a 'complete loop' if that makes sense, so that the only way it can let go is if it takes the tailgate with it! relying on right-angled clips hanging on the lip of a tailgate just doesn't cut it.

What a total crock of st! My Saris Bones on the back of an Octavia Hatch has been fine. Brighton to Pescara and back at least 3 times, 1200 miles each way. I might be anal about how I put the rack on the car, and then the bike/bikes on the rack, but if you are going to put your pride and joy on your pride and joy, you need to take a bit of care.