Hi. I have a Raclet Quickstop and tow it with a VW Transporter van. I have the bike rack that came with the Quickstop, but adding bikes to the top of the Quickstop kind of detracts from it's name and purpose. I want to use a towball mounted bike rack, possibly the Maxrax system, whilst towing, so I don't have to take everything off when stopping for a night.
Does anyone have experience with a similar outfit? Do you know if there will be sufficient clearance for 4 bikes, to tow with, and will I need to remove the front box?
Any advice, or tails of success / woe, would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Nicksy.
------------- Life in the fast lane only brings you to the end quicker!
I am considering something similar. I have looked at Maxxraxx as it seems to be a good strong system and was also recommended by teh guy who fitted out towbar (who is independent so may/may not get some commission)...anyway they have a diagram showing the clearance required for different numbers of bikes. (see link). I suspect you could get two but maybe not four.
I know you said you want a towbar bike carrier but have you considered something like this bike rack I use a similar one on our Alhambra and our TT swings under it no problem and when the TT isn't on the back as these are above my lights I don't need a lightboard. They aren't cheap though.
We have a towball bike rack. With our old trailer we could fit 2 adult bikes, 1 Childs bike and a tag-along.
We have just bought a new Raclet Quickstop, and for the same reason as you don't want the bikes on top of the trailer. We have a large front box which I think might stop us from getting anything more than a childs bike on the rack. Without the front storage box I reckon 2 adult bikes, with possibly 1 childs. I will be having a play around with the bike rack at the weekend, if you can wait till then I'll let you know what fits.
Thanks for the replies. Awedlock, I'll take a closer look at Maxrax - it would be ideal if they do an extension pole to raise them up above the trailer, then clearance for 4 bikes wouldn't be a problem.(Edited- *I now see they do a 300mm extension, I just need to find out how high that would make the top of the rack from the towball)
Thanks for the link ukbeano, looks good, but I'm a little put off on the strap-on racks as it's eays to cut them off.
Roamingraclet- I will await the results of your trials.If you find something that carries them so the bottom of the bike is above thetop of the trailer we are onto a winner.
(I currently have the Raclet luggage rack over the trailer and 4 bike racks fitted to that. It adds at least half an hour to setting up time, making it a 'Raclet-not-so-quickstop'!)
Post last edited on 27/03/2012 17:27:26
------------- Life in the fast lane only brings you to the end quicker!
We got a maxxraxx last year and were really pleased with it. We have since changed car and tt and now not sure how we can carry bikes. We bought the tt luggage rack to put the bikes on top but hadn't appreciated what a beast it would be and how much time it would add to set-up / set-down. Looking at the link from awedlock then with the big front box we can't take any bikes on the maxxraxx though the dimensions given weren't for kids bikes. Not sure what we'll do...
------------- From tents to trailer tents to a tin tent to an air tent to trailer tent and back to tin tent!
We do have one of those faffy strap on ones which will take 3 bikes, I wondering if we could get the smallest bike in the boot with the rest strapped on....
------------- From tents to trailer tents to a tin tent to an air tent to trailer tent and back to tin tent!
UKbeano -I looked at your link ta. They only offer a strap-on rack or maxrax for my T4, not the one pictured.
I think I'll be going with Maxrax and the extension bar. I have bang-on their recommended clearance for 4 bikes, but the extension may just lift my little ones bike above the tt.
(Greenhill- don't know if you've been to 'Le Letty' before, we went last August, best holiday ever. Look out for the firework display in Benodet if you are there when it's on, the best I've seen and totally free.)
------------- Life in the fast lane only brings you to the end quicker!