How to Transport 5 Bikes?

How to Transport 5 Bikes?

Author
Discussion

merlin-thewizard

Original Poster:

91 posts

218 months

Sunday 19th August 2007
quotequote all
Hi, what's the best way to transport 5 Mountain bikes using a car.

The family; Me, the misses and the three kids what to go to some of our local trails but are having problems getting the bikes there. Is the only answer two bikes on the roof and three hanging off the boot?

Ta
James

mat205125

17,790 posts

220 months

Sunday 19th August 2007
quotequote all
You can get four on a roof system.

With 4 on the roof, would the smallest bike fit in the boot with the wheels off? You don't say what car you have.

catso

14,851 posts

274 months

Sunday 19th August 2007
quotequote all
Don't do what Numpty on M42 a couple of weeks back did; I was driving on the M42 towards Birmingham and came up to a car with 3 bikes on a rear mounted carrier that were bouncing all over the place at 80mph+ in the 'fast' lane (and obscuring his no plate), didn't look right so I kept a safe distance back, a Truck pulled out into the outside lane behind the bike carrier and the next thing I know three mangled bikes were spat out from under the truck. Truck put on hazards and pulled over to the hard shoulder, I got past and the car previously carrying the bikes had gone! couldn't see it ahead or at the next junction, wherever he went he did it quickly.

Luckily the truck took the impact and survived with only a few scratches but it could have been a very nasty incident for someone having three MTB's through their windscreen.....

mat205125

17,790 posts

220 months

Sunday 19th August 2007
quotequote all
catso said:
Don't do what Numpty on M42 a couple of weeks back did; I was driving on the M42 towards Birmingham and came up to a car with 3 bikes on a rear mounted carrier that were bouncing all over the place at 80mph+ in the 'fast' lane (and obscuring his no plate), didn't look right so I kept a safe distance back, a Truck pulled out into the outside lane behind the bike carrier and the next thing I know three mangled bikes were spat out from under the truck. Truck put on hazards and pulled over to the hard shoulder, I got past and the car previously carrying the bikes had gone! couldn't see it ahead or at the next junction, wherever he went he did it quickly.

Luckily the truck took the impact and survived with only a few scratches but it could have been a very nasty incident for someone having three MTB's through their windscreen.....
What was the truck doing in the outside lane anyway?

Were they nice bikes? Numpty or not, would be a shame to see a trio of Oranges or Santa Cruz commited to death by truck.

I personally hate rear mounted carriers. They are unstable, wreck your paint (car and bike), kill your fuel economy, and don't fit modern full sus bikes properly.

merlin-thewizard

Original Poster:

91 posts

218 months

Sunday 19th August 2007
quotequote all
I like the idea of a roof carrier for the bikes, the only problem I can see is that I have a S-Max and I'm guessing it could be fun lifting four bikes onto the roof!

Trooper2

6,676 posts

238 months

Sunday 19th August 2007
quotequote all
Yakima Makes a 5 bike hitch mount:
http://www.yakima.com/Product.aspx?id=104#

As does Hollywood:
http://www.hollywoodracks.com/hitch-racks/roadrunn...

Thule can handle 4 bikes:
http://www.roofrackshop.co.uk/bike/thule-9708-hang...

or there is always the utility trailer:
http://www.towsure.com/bespoke.asp?pg=landing-cadd...

You will need to get a trailer hitch receiver/towbar mounted to your vehicle for any of these solutions (if you don't have one already) but I'm convinced that off the back is the best way to carry bikes. With a hitch mount/towbar mount nothing touches the vehicles finish.

merlin-thewizard

Original Poster:

91 posts

218 months

Sunday 19th August 2007
quotequote all
Thanks Trooper, I had seen the Thule solution but wasn't aware of the others, I'm off to do a bit of research. Thanks again.

Marcellus

7,163 posts

226 months

Sunday 19th August 2007
quotequote all
I would seriously advise against the roof option, having previously sworn by it!!

WHat made me change my mind was that the bike(s) is(are) so secure you forget they're their (ok I did) until you go through the height restriction....walking around picking up pieces of Carbon to this day is not one of my most treasured moments....

FunkyNige

9,133 posts

282 months

Sunday 19th August 2007
quotequote all
Take 2 cars?

merlin-thewizard

Original Poster:

91 posts

218 months

Sunday 19th August 2007
quotequote all
Take 2 cars.....erm.......I'm not sure I want muddy kids in mine; that's why I'm trying to get everyone in the wife's car. laugh

catso

14,851 posts

274 months

Sunday 19th August 2007
quotequote all
mat205125 said:
What was the truck doing in the outside lane anyway?

Were they nice bikes? Numpty or not, would be a shame to see a trio of Oranges or Santa Cruz commited to death by truck.

I personally hate rear mounted carriers. They are unstable, wreck your paint (car and bike), kill your fuel economy, and don't fit modern full sus bikes properly.
2 lane M'way between M1 and M6, trucks are in the outside lane all the time. But the bikes didn't look like anything special, couldn't really tell as the top one, a kid's bike, was blocking the view.

I agree about the rear carriers, I certainly wouldn't use one.

raceboy

13,270 posts

287 months

Tuesday 21st August 2007
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Only 5 bikes.......heres 7 in a Clio. rotate



So any small hatchback should be fine. wink

Ok only 1 is an MTB, the rest are BMXer's. smile

mk1fan

10,648 posts

232 months

Tuesday 21st August 2007
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I've got three mtb's, riding kit, spares and the riders into my Bora before. Without using a rack.

pistol pete

804 posts

270 months

Tuesday 21st August 2007
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Used to get 5 DH bikes, riding kit & toolbox & 2 people in my old pug 309.

Pete

GreatGranny

9,326 posts

233 months

Tuesday 28th August 2007
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You should be able to get the 2 smallest bikes in the boot of the S-Max with 1 wheel off each then 3 other bikes on a rack.
I can get 2 full size MTBs (front wheels removed) and a bike trailer in the back of my wifes Alhambra no problem.