Carrier for 4 bikes

[southgate]

Guys,

I'm a bit confused with what to buy to carry the family bikes.

Car is a BMW 3 series tourer. It will have a roof box on. Will need to carry 2 adult MTBs, one BMX and a 'princess' bike (tiny).

I don't have a tow bar on the car.


What would you buy?

Are there any decent tailgate carriers that don't vibrate like a bd, damage paintwork and need adjusting all the time. Is fitting a tow bar just for a bike carrier overkill?

[Watchman]

Having used all types of bike carriers, fitting a towbar specifically to haul bikes around is without doubt worth both the hassle and money.

[Fastpedeller]

southgate said:

Guys,

I'm a bit confused with what to buy to carry the family bikes.

Car is a BMW 3 series tourer. It will have a roof box on. Will need to carry 2 adult MTBs, one BMX and a 'princess' bike (tiny).

I don't have a tow bar on the car.


What would you buy?

Are there any decent tailgate carriers that don't vibrate like a bd, damage paintwork and need adjusting all the time. Is fitting a tow bar just for a bike carrier overkill?

Lets work out the weight.... 2 Adult MTB's could be from say 11kg each to 16 kgs depending on suspension, etc. One BMX say 8- 10kg, and bike for the princess another 7kg, so maybe anything from 37kg to 49kg cantilevered off the tailgate! Think I'd opt for the towbar (and maybe a small trailer for convenience)

[anonymous-user]

I have 1 of these, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/290418009137?hlpht=...

never had a problem and you can still tow a trailer etc with bikes.

Search witter bike carrier and they do other options.

My worst fear would be looking in the mirror and seeing a bike in the road behind me, bks to all that lifting it onto the roof lark

[Fastpedeller]

speedyguy said:

My worst fear would be looking in the mirror and seeing a bike in the road behind me, bks to all that lifting it onto the roof lark

Agree entirely - I was once in a car where the roofrack came off with 4 bikes (I had questioned the fittings but the (ex) mate didn't respect my judgement). A very frightening experience and by the grace of God or good fortune nobody was behind us.
The roof is not a good place for bikes - In too much air!

[southgate]

speedyguy said:

I have 1 of these, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/290418009137?hlpht=...

never had a problem and you can still tow a trailer etc with bikes.

Search witter bike carrier and they do other options.

My worst fear would be looking in the mirror and seeing a bike in the road behind me, bks to all that lifting it onto the roof lark

That looks like a nice simple effective design. Will check it out, thanks. Do these obscure the tail lights of the car?

Fastpedeller said:

Agree entirely - I was once in a car where the roofrack came off with 4 bikes (I had questioned the fittings but the (ex) mate didn't respect my judgement). A very frightening experience and by the grace of God or good fortune nobody was behind us.
The roof is not a good place for bikes - In too much air!

Christ, that sounds like a 'moment'. I'll have a roof box anyway.

Fastpedeller said:

Lets work out the weight.... 2 Adult MTB's could be from say 11kg each to 16 kgs depending on suspension, etc. One BMX say 8- 10kg, and bike for the princess another 7kg, so maybe anything from 37kg to 49kg cantilevered off the tailgate! Think I'd opt for the towbar (and maybe a small trailer for convenience)

No suspension here (retro 90's ally framed Cannondale here ), but yeah, hear what you're saying. It does sound a bit mad to have that sort of weight pressing on the tailgate / bumper.



Wonder if I can get a lighter duty/weight tow bar just for the carrier. Would rather not have the hassle of attaching electrics too. That sounds like trouble.

[southgate]

Meant to say anything available from Halfrauds would be good, as I have a load of vouchers that need spending

[Watchman]

southgate said:

Meant to say anything available from Halfrauds would be good, as I have a load of vouchers that need spending

They sell Thule and I believe they can order any towbar. Towbars aren't difficult to fit but you'll need a day if you're not a regular spannerer.

[bigdom]

southgate said:

Would rather not have the hassle of attaching electrics too. That sounds like trouble.

Its all plug and play nowadays no cutting of wires required, if you have parking sensors when the electrics are connected the car, the ECU will cut them out to avoid false warnings.

[anonymous-user]

southgate said:

speedyguy said:

I have 1 of these, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/290418009137?hlpht=...

never had a problem and you can still tow a trailer etc with bikes.

Search witter bike carrier and they do other options.

My worst fear would be looking in the mirror and seeing a bike in the road behind me, bks to all that lifting it onto the roof lark

That looks like a nice simple effective design. Will check it out, thanks. Do these obscure the tail lights of the car?

Fastpedeller said:

Agree entirely - I was once in a car where the roofrack came off with 4 bikes (I had questioned the fittings but the (ex) mate didn't respect my judgement). A very frightening experience and by the grace of God or good fortune nobody was behind us.
The roof is not a good place for bikes - In too much air!

Christ, that sounds like a 'moment'. I'll have a roof box anyway.

Fastpedeller said:

Lets work out the weight.... 2 Adult MTB's could be from say 11kg each to 16 kgs depending on suspension, etc. One BMX say 8- 10kg, and bike for the princess another 7kg, so maybe anything from 37kg to 49kg cantilevered off the tailgate! Think I'd opt for the towbar (and maybe a small trailer for convenience)

No suspension here (retro 90's ally framed Cannondale here ), but yeah, hear what you're saying. It does sound a bit mad to have that sort of weight pressing on the tailgate / bumper.



Wonder if I can get a lighter duty/weight tow bar just for the carrier. Would rather not have the hassle of attaching electrics too. That sounds like trouble.

Lights were obscured, trying not to be the typical bellend I bought a lighted trailer board/number plate only a few quid.

I have seen someones new thousand pound bike come off his new 'roof' carrier when the wheel strap snapped, he was as unimpressed as the guy behind in the new mondeo who lost his sump at Motorway speed.
Also met someone who just had a roofrack that was fitted as Halfords and came off before they had done a mile on the motorway leaving a right scrape across the roof.
Roofs are for one thing, keeping the rain out

Electrics were no issue.