Best four bike tow bar cycle carrier

[A900ss]

Hi,

I need to buy a 4 cycle carrier. All 4 bikes are adult MTB’s and a lot I’ve looked at seem a bit of a squeeze for 4 adult bikes.

I have a tow bar so would like to use that, I can’t use a roof mounted option as it’s to go behind a 2.9m tall Mercedes Sprinter.

Ideally, I’d like it to be able to swing away so I can open the rear doors but that’s a nice to rather than a need to.

Current favourite is the Atera Strada DL 3 with an adaptor for 4th line but I do wonder if an ‘adaptor’ is not ideal for adult bikes.

Thanks in advance.

[J886ATV]

Yeah a Strada DL with the 4th attachment will take 4 adult bikes (with a bit of jiggling)
If carrying 4 sometimes easier to remove pedals

Rock solid too, 4 trips to the South of France & 2 to Spain so far

[pete]

I have a BuzzRack Eazzy 4. It's one of the few racks that is a genuine 4 bike solution, not a 3 bike rack with an extension. Build quality isn't quite up there with Thule (but it's a lot cheaper), but it's very solid and easy to use, and the mounting system makes it easy for 4 bikes to coexist. It folds out of the way of my Cayenne's tailgate easily, even with 4 bikes on board. I'd recommend it as an alternative to the Atera and Thule options.

Here it is with the family's bikes loaded this summer:

[Mars]

I have the Thule version - tilts away but I'm not sure it'd tilt far enough away to open conventional van doors - a top-hinged single door, yes but double side-hinged ones I'm not so sure. Welcome to try mine - I'm in north Worcs.

[MattyD803]

Mars said:

I have the Thule version - tilts away but I'm not sure it'd tilt far enough away to open conventional van doors - a top-hinged single door, yes but double side-hinged ones I'm not so sure. Welcome to try mine - I'm in north Worcs.

I have a Thule 9403 and use it on my van with which has a single rear upwards opening door, and the tilt function whilst bikes are loaded is an absolutely no go. I'd suggest the exact same thing would be the case with twin doors.

Edited by MattyD803 on Thursday 2nd September 17:15

[SoliD]

I have a witter 4 bike rack on a Mondeo mk4 estate and it's been great, super solid on rough tracks which is necessary for mtb/cX, I suspect for you to open the boot you'd need to elevate the rear wheels to tilt and get the boot open so it can really drop down, or just not use the closest to the car mounting point.

[Cheburator mk2]

I have the Decathlon Mont Blanc 4 bikes rack. Superb build quality. Fits even my Nukeproof Mega XXL. Tilts away easily, even with 4 bikes. Trips to Scotland and the Alps - rock solid at 80mph on the motorway. About £210 from memory...

[Harpoon]

If you've not found it, worth keeping an eye on the returns page on Roofbox - chance to save a bit of cash if you don't mind a return

https://www.roofbox.co.uk/bargains-sale-clearance/...

[A900ss]

Harpoon said:

If you've not found it, worth keeping an eye on the returns page on Roofbox - chance to save a bit of cash if you don't mind a return

https://www.roofbox.co.uk/bargains-sale-clearance/...

That’s a great link. Thanks.

[Smitters]

A900ss said:

Hi,

I need to buy a 4 cycle carrier. All 4 bikes are adult MTB’s and a lot I’ve looked at seem a bit of a squeeze for 4 adult bikes.

I have a tow bar so would like to use that, I can’t use a roof mounted option as it’s to go behind a 2.9m tall Mercedes Sprinter.

Ideally, I’d like it to be able to swing away so I can open the rear doors but that’s a nice to rather than a need to.

Current favourite is the Atera Strada DL 3 with an adaptor for 4th line but I do wonder if an ‘adaptor’ is not ideal for adult bikes.

Thanks in advance.

I have the Atera Strada DL 3 and it swings away enough to clear the doors on my T5. Honestly, it's a massive bonus as unmounting four bikes just to get into the back would be a huge ballache. I have got, but haven't yet used the fourth line. I think it will still be a squeeze, but a lot of it is in the planning and order of bikes to ensure they don't tangle - and this is obviously down to individual bikes.

Two things I would say - when fully racked and tilted down, you need to be careful of:

1) the inner handlebar smacking the van door as you push it back into position

2) making sure it locks full into position from tilt - it's not that easy to get it to click fully sometimes.

I'm very pleased with ours and would recommend. It has nice touches, like a quick release plate holder, so it's easy to swap between vehicles.