Bike Rack for on top of a Trailer

[EL11SEG]

Hello biking humans, I own a company doing tours around the highlands in either a 6 or 15 seater minibus and last weekend I was asked to transport a bunch of guys and their mountain bikes for their homeward journey after completing lots of miles on the NC500. This was my first time doing bike transport and now looking into getting some bars welded onto the roof of my enclosed box trailer to hold as many bikes as it may take as I can get 6 bikes on the inside.

Now I do have a bike but I am certainly no expert when it comes to racks, I have a Thule tow bar mounted one for mine when required but as I am potentially putting someone's pride and joy on the roof of my trailer I would like to get the most secure rack out there, can anyone offer suggestions. I know there are trailers out there designed for this but currently out of my price range as my box trailer is new.

Cheers Av

[Scrump]

I have a couple of roof rack mount bike carriers which I fit to the top of my trailer. All you need are two raised bars running across the trailer and then fit these to the cross bars:

[shouldbworking]

E bikes could easily exceed the weight limits for those kind of racks, and would also be a massive pain to lift on top of a tall trailer.

The standard answer is a burtech trailer - https://www.burtechtrailers.co.uk/bike-trailers. Are you really talking a group of > 9 people at a time?? if you've got 6 bikes in the trailer and a 15 seat minibus you've easily got room for a few bikes in the minibus with the people.

[EL11SEG]

Scrump said:

I have a couple of roof rack mount bike carriers which I fit to the top of my trailer. All you need are two raised bars running across the trailer and then fit these to the cross bars:

Don’t suppose you have a picture for reference. Cheers.

[EL11SEG]

shouldbworking said:

E bikes could easily exceed the weight limits for those kind of racks, and would also be a massive pain to lift on top of a tall trailer.

The standard answer is a burtech trailer - https://www.burtechtrailers.co.uk/bike-trailers. Are you really talking a group of > 9 people at a time?? if you've got 6 bikes in the trailer and a 15 seat minibus you've easily got room for a few bikes in the minibus with the people.

Yes I would be watching out for the e bikes. Unfortunately my minibus has zero space for bikes and luggage. I was hoping to get the option of 12 bikes Max (need to check the weights first as the big bus is 750kg Max towing capacity. 12 bikes and 12 pax would give me the option to carry luggage.

[Scrump]

EL11SEG said:

Don’t suppose you have a picture for reference. Cheers.

Not of my trailer, but here is one very similar which gives you the idea

[240Cup]

That is exactly the set up I have although the high top version of the Ansemms and only two Thule bike carriers fitted onto two Thule aero bars - works a treat, I can put kids bikes and all the gear in the trailer and two roadies on the top. The top lid of the ansemms lifts up on gas struts, even when the road bikes are on the top.

I've also got the Thule Ski carriers and swap these for the bike carriers when we go to the Alps each year, trailer full of ski gear and food and booze and three sets of skis on the top.

See my other post though about concern about the bike carriers damaging the bike frames on longer trips..!!

[m5psm]

Mine uses the Thule clamp on type roof bars that I used to have on my E class estate which clamp perfectly onto the trailer bars. Have to remove the bikes to open the lid though.

[Dog Star]

Late to the party here - Thule bike carriers are pretty flimsy. The clamp won’t always get round the tubes and no way on an ebike; they’re too light duty for an ebike anyway.

What you need are INNO INA389 carriers; lot heavier, lot more secure, fairly decent locking system included. They hold the bike by locking over the wheels. 25kg on each so fine for ebikes, even with batteries on. Very sturdy and bikes are rock solid.

Here’s my mates last week…

[EL11SEG]

Cheers folks, a few bits to reference. My mate who worked at the trailer company I bought mine from has offered to weld a frame onto the top of my trailer so nice to see what’s out there. My only other issue is getting them up there as I’m 5 foot diddly squat

This is the trailer I will be using. I’m hoping if I get e bikes they will be loaded inside as I will definitely struggle lifting that weight.

[m5psm]

Can’t help with the weight, but for the height I use one of these to load our bikes onto the roof of the Honda CR-V. They’re about 16kg though, so not as heavy as e-bikes.