Which tow bar mounted bike carrier
Discussion
Having a tow bar fitted to my new car so I can use a mount to carry four bikes - two adult, two children’s.
I’ve previously had a Thule roof rack and very happy with that although never put bikes on it. However Thule comes at a price.
Halfords have a circa £100 one and a £320 one (for which the only negative reviews for are about it not fitting adult MTBs. We don’t have MTBs)
Any recommendations?
I’ve previously had a Thule roof rack and very happy with that although never put bikes on it. However Thule comes at a price.
Halfords have a circa £100 one and a £320 one (for which the only negative reviews for are about it not fitting adult MTBs. We don’t have MTBs)
Any recommendations?
We have the Atera Strada DL3 from roofbox.co.uk. It's fine over several years of almost weekly use.
It slides backwards, which you may well need to open your tailgate.
You can get an extension bracket that will let you put the 4th bike on. I found this pretty fiddly - we don't need it because mostly we have 3 bikes. Proper 4-bike racks are pretty rare.
If you've got bikes with racks, or as the children grow to bigger bikes, it can be an absolutely pain trying to get everything lined up so it doesn't rub. I think you'll be OK if 2 of the bikes are kids bikes.
It slides backwards, which you may well need to open your tailgate.
You can get an extension bracket that will let you put the 4th bike on. I found this pretty fiddly - we don't need it because mostly we have 3 bikes. Proper 4-bike racks are pretty rare.
If you've got bikes with racks, or as the children grow to bigger bikes, it can be an absolutely pain trying to get everything lined up so it doesn't rub. I think you'll be OK if 2 of the bikes are kids bikes.
We've had the Atera Strada DL3 with the 4th bike extension for around 8 years and it's been brilliant and the bikes have been all over Europe and the UK.
4 adult bikes is fiddly as you need to remove pedals off the last bike, but we carry 3 adult full suspension mountain bikes with ease and carried 2 adult and 2 kids bikes with ease for a number of years. It's a solid piece of kit and tilts out to provide access to the boot, which is essential if you're going to be using it regularly.
With bike carriers it's worth paying the extra for quality as the cheap ones are a pain to use. We bought ours 2nd hand off Facebook Marketplace, just keep your eyes peeled they come up for sale quite regularly.
4 adult bikes is fiddly as you need to remove pedals off the last bike, but we carry 3 adult full suspension mountain bikes with ease and carried 2 adult and 2 kids bikes with ease for a number of years. It's a solid piece of kit and tilts out to provide access to the boot, which is essential if you're going to be using it regularly.
With bike carriers it's worth paying the extra for quality as the cheap ones are a pain to use. We bought ours 2nd hand off Facebook Marketplace, just keep your eyes peeled they come up for sale quite regularly.
We used MAXXRAXX towbar mounted carriers. No longer made, but they appear on secondhand market from time to time. We "towed" many times across Europe, including Alps, Pyrenees, mid Italy and long way into Spain.. I would imagine with second hand you would want to make sure ratchet straps were good / available for replacement, and of course you will need tow bar and light board. One thing to be wary of from experience is coming on and off ferry ramps as the plug which goes into the electric socket at the back of the bar can get caught in the ground . Carry a spare !!.
We probably did 15k+ miles with bikes on back
Hope that helps - otherwise it's Thule
We probably did 15k+ miles with bikes on back
Hope that helps - otherwise it's Thule
Curlyvizsla said:
We used MAXXRAXX towbar mounted carriers. No longer made, but they appear on secondhand market from time to time. We "towed" many times across Europe, including Alps, Pyrenees, mid Italy and long way into Spain.. I would imagine with second hand you would want to make sure ratchet straps were good / available for replacement, and of course you will need tow bar and light board. One thing to be wary of from experience is coming on and off ferry ramps as the plug which goes into the electric socket at the back of the bar can get caught in the ground . Carry a spare !!.
We probably did 15k+ miles with bikes on back
Hope that helps - otherwise it's Thule
Check your kids bikes fit on this type of carrier, many don't and you have to then purchase an adaptor - all a bit of a pain and hence why we ended up with the Atera.We probably did 15k+ miles with bikes on back
Hope that helps - otherwise it's Thule
I've used an Atera Strada DL3 for the past six years or so and got on very well with it.
Recently upgraded to a Thule EasyFold XT 3 because I was struggling to get my eMTB onto the Strada given it's weight.
The Thule rack is a lovely bit of kit (as it should be for the price) - not used it yet but have test-fitted it.
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-racks/towbar...
Recently upgraded to a Thule EasyFold XT 3 because I was struggling to get my eMTB onto the Strada given it's weight.
The Thule rack is a lovely bit of kit (as it should be for the price) - not used it yet but have test-fitted it.
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-racks/towbar...
drmotorsport said:
walm said:
JQ said:
We've had the Atera Strada DL3 with the 4th bike extension for around 8 years and it's been brilliant and the bikes have been all over Europe and the UK.
Likewise. Great bit of kit.Hackney said:
Having a tow bar fitted to my new car so I can use a mount to carry four bikes - two adult, two children’s.
I’ve previously had a Thule roof rack and very happy with that although never put bikes on it. However Thule comes at a price.
Halfords have a circa £100 one and a £320 one (for which the only negative reviews for are about it not fitting adult MTBs. We don’t have MTBs)
Any recommendations?
If only you were closer. I'm in Edinburgh and have a 4-bike Thule towbar mounted rack that is gathering dust. Brand new, but we changed the car that used to have a tow hook, for one without. So it's currently surplus to requirements. No box unfortunately.I’ve previously had a Thule roof rack and very happy with that although never put bikes on it. However Thule comes at a price.
Halfords have a circa £100 one and a £320 one (for which the only negative reviews for are about it not fitting adult MTBs. We don’t have MTBs)
Any recommendations?
Could have 'come to an agreement' I'm sure.
I had an Atera Strada DL3 and it was the most hateful thing although I must be wrong because everyone else who has paid hundreds of quid on the back of decent reviews seems pretty happy with them 
Friend had a Thule equivalent at the same time and it was head and shoulders above the Strada. Lighter, easier to use and folded up half the size of the Strada.
Friend had a Thule equivalent at the same time and it was head and shoulders above the Strada. Lighter, easier to use and folded up half the size of the Strada.
I have the Thule carrier. It's a few years old now and came only as a 3-bike carrier. You have to buy a separate item to convert it to a 4-bike carrier. I haven't checked their latest products - they might do a 4-bike one now.
It's really solid, and tilts away from the car with all the bikes still attached to give you access to the boot.
However it is a really heavy hector. Installing and removing it takes strength.
It's really solid, and tilts away from the car with all the bikes still attached to give you access to the boot.
However it is a really heavy hector. Installing and removing it takes strength.
DaveyBoyWonder said:
I had an Atera Strada DL3 and it was the most hateful thing although I must be wrong because everyone else who has paid hundreds of quid on the back of decent reviews seems pretty happy with them
Friend had a Thule equivalent at the same time and it was head and shoulders above the Strada. Lighter, easier to use and folded up half the size of the Strada.
The Thule one which folds is extremely expensive! The equivalent priced Thule model to the Strada is bigger when in storage.Friend had a Thule equivalent at the same time and it was head and shoulders above the Strada. Lighter, easier to use and folded up half the size of the Strada.
A pal of mine has the Buzz Rack Eazzy 4, it's an impressive bit of kit, am in the market for one myself.
https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.ph...
These come up lightly used on eBay from time to time, so you can get a bit of a bargain.
https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.ph...
These come up lightly used on eBay from time to time, so you can get a bit of a bargain.
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