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HI does anybody know if i can buy a cycle carry rack for the back of my 2002 abbey aventura 318. It doesnt have a window a back. Does anybody have any experience of towing with bikes on the back of their caravan? Is  fiamma any good at this sort of thing and how easy are they to fit?

hope someone can advise, thanks.

Hi

The only advice  I was given was to roof mount the bikes, I have just got a pair of roof bars of ebay and went to Argos for the roof mounted bike carriers to suit, Not cheap though total cost for three carriers and the rack £104!!!  I drive HGV's and have seen many people towing and using a tow bar mounted bike carrier, I didnt want to go down that route due to affecting the nose weight as it is only 75kg on our car.

Regards - David

Yes the noseweight is an issue, i've thiought about roof mounted but when i change the car i'll have to replace unless i buy exactly the same car. No worries.

Roof rack on the car or you can get a fitting for putting bikes inside the van when on the road. Put down a rubber mat underneath them for the tyres to save marking the floor. Rear mounted racks seem to be more popular these days and IMHO the Fiamma is the one to go for as it has been in use for many years on motorhomes before starting on the caravan route, if you go for this option remember that it will affect the noseweight as this is based on a pendulum type effect, add a rack at the back and you will need to rethink the weight at the front to keep the noseweight heavier, best to check with the caravan manufacturer before adding one of these.

I am still very amazed to see cars with rear bike racks hooked up to a caravan, the fact that there is a massive dip in the middle of the unit is instantly recognisable as being a major problem, with modern front wheel drive it is also taking the weight off the drive wheels which must make forward movement uphill very hard going. On the roof or in the van or if your van is one that allows it fit a rack at the back, any bike rack that goes on the rear of the vehicle will cause problems unless you have a 4x4 which has a much higher rating on the back of the car.

Dirty Disco, the problem with the A-frame type rack is an old idea but unfortunately it has the same effect on the towbar limit (not including yor Disco of course which should take the extra weight but the caravan most probably won't. One day they will work out that a lot of caravanners want to take bikes etc and work out a way to do this that makes life easy for all! We can but wait! lol