Message Forums

Quote: Originally posted by madders331 on 14/6/2009

---

....... I's four bikes I need to carry, Mum's Dad's and the two girls bikes.....

---

Tow bar monted carriers count as nose weight.  As Kabbes says, you are likely to overload most cars with a trailer & a bike rack.  Roof ones, unless you get one with a hydraulic lift,  are a disaster waiting to happen (dropping a bike).  Rear mounted car racks are a pain as they block the boot & still put the load on the rear wheels.  What about a rack on the back of the van?

Steve.

You can't put a bike rack on the back of a caravan.  The panels aren't strong enough for it, unlike a motorhome.  Also, that much weight so far back will have a tremendous pendulum effect and make the outfit very unstable.

Best bet is to put them in the caravan if you have enough payload allowance. Plenty of padding will save damage.

Jim

Quote: Originally posted by Greendemon315 on 16/6/2009[

---

You can't put a bike rack on the back of a caravan.

---

Funnily enough, I was talking to my dealer about this the other day, although I have no intention of getting a bike.  There may be some make of caravan that will stand this, but most will not.

In any event, the pendulum effect alone is enough to make it unsafe.

If that's what they do in Holland, I won't be going.

Jim

Quote: Originally posted by Greendemon315 on 16/6/2009

---

If that's what they do in Holland, I won't be going.

---

Avoid NE England too then.  We get loads off the ferry from Amsterdam.  What about the Canary Isles - that's about the furthest Ive seen them.  They do like their caravans those Dutch.

Steve.

What make of caravans are these?  Although these people do it, are you saying it's a good idea?  Let's say a bike is 20kg.  If you have a couple of them plus a rack, you must be looking at 50kg.  Try putting that much weight inside the back of your caravan.  See what it does to the noseweight, and the stability when towing.

Not a good idea.

Jim