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Subject Topic: bike racks Post Reply Post New Topic
08/6/2012 at 4:46pm
 Location: Wigan Pier. Lancashire
 Outfit: Trackie bottoms and a T shirt.
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wonder if anyone can help here.

I used to have a towbar mounted bike rack when we used to take the kids bikes away with us. When they got bigger they didn't bother with their bikes so I got rid of the rack. Now they don't come at all we want to take our own bikes away with us so need a new rack.

I dont like roof mounted ones so have been looking at the witter tow bar mounted one which I'd almost decided on, then I thought about the Fiamma carrier that clamps to the caravan A frame now I can't decide. Has anyone got any experience with these. Obviously with either towbar or A frame mounted I'll have nose weight to consider and with the A frame one I'll have to remove the plastic/fibreglass cover from the caravan. If I finish up going for the A frame one I think I;ll get hold of another A frame cover and cut it to suit the carrier keeping the original in case I want to replace it in the future.

Any thoughts??

 

cheers



08/6/2012 at 6:09pm
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You may find you cannot fit an A frame carrier to a UK built caravan, there will be insufficient clearence on turns. Foreign caravans tend to have longer A frames. If you have a Swift I think you will find they have fitting points for rear end bike rack like motorhomes have. Most will disagree with rear mounted racks on caravans but the Dutch seem to use them successfully, the actual weight is not great compared with rest of caravan & those that use them mostly notice no difference in handling.


08/6/2012 at 8:33pm
 Location: fife
 Outfit: vw t5 adria isonzo
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you may have to check your nose weight.better on the roof of the car


09/6/2012 at 7:26pm
 Location: Wigan Pier. Lancashire
 Outfit: Trackie bottoms and a T shirt.
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couple of good point s there. didn't think about turning circle etc.

The info for the A frame mounted carrier suggests it will fit any modern ALKO chassis. I've thought about it a bit more myself and I'm now leaning back toward the towbar mounted one incase I want to take our bikes anywhere without the caravan..



09/6/2012 at 8:36pm
 Location: North Lincs
 Outfit: Self Build PVC
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I have a Fiamma rack fitted to the rear of our Swift and it works perfectly, Had no problems and have been to Spain and back twice with 2 bikes on it.

Mike



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12/6/2012 at 4:39pm
 Location: south staffordshire
 Outfit: Sterling Eccles Amethyst + santa fe
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Quote: Originally posted by Mike+Co on 09/6/2012

I have a Fiamma rack fitted to the rear of our Swift and it works perfectly, Had no problems and have been to Spain and back twice with 2 bikes on it.

Mike



Hi Mike, I normally carry the bikes on the roof but our new to us swift has the bike rack on the back like yours. i have only been away once but didn't fancy using the rear rack as i wondered if it would cause swing etc. Do you load the van slightly differently to allow for the extra 30kgs of bikes?


13/6/2012 at 10:56am
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram
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I would imagine having to put 30kg in the front to balance it.

But them you get a lot of weight at either end and when it does snake it will be difficult to recover.

Bailey stability test on youtube shows what happens when you put weight at extremes of the trailer.

Not quite the same as a caravan but gives an insight onto what it can do.



13/6/2012 at 12:23pm
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: ex Caravanner now Static.
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As the wheels are generally nearer the back of the caravan compared to the front, you won't need to put as much weight if you are putting at the front.

However, especially if you have a motor mover, with an extra 30 kg of bikes, you may be struggling within the caravan payload not withstanding any stability issues.

Granted the Dutch do it, but European caravans generally have less standard spec & higher payload allowances.

When I had an earlier caravan with a payload upgrade, I looked at the A frame carrier but the only UK available van at the time that was suitable was an Adrea.



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13/6/2012 at 12:34pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Swift charisma Skoda Scout 4x4
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Just turn the handle bars in line with the frame and put them inside, we have had 3 bikes inside no problem, wrap an old blanket around them


13/6/2012 at 1:18pm
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: ex Caravanner now Static.
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Quote: Originally posted by Skoda Bob on 13/6/2012
Just turn the handle bars in line with the frame and put them inside, we have had 3 bikes inside no problem, wrap an old blanket around them
Maybe so, but I am not one of the people who think that as long as the caravan door shuts then the van is not overloaded

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13/6/2012 at 2:09pm
 Location: south staffordshire
 Outfit: Sterling Eccles Amethyst + santa fe
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I do have a motor mover as well plus 20kg of kayak so very concious of not over weighing so will most likely stick bikes on roof as normal.


02/7/2012 at 9:44am
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: Bailey Pegasus Rimini
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We already had towbar rack redundant if towing. Because ofnose weight issue going to pop them o roof rack in transit and change to towbar rack once unhitched. You may be able to source 2nd hand to keep cost down, just a thought


02/7/2012 at 9:48am
 Location: south staffordshire
 Outfit: Sterling Eccles Amethyst + santa fe
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I too have a towbar mounted one to use when not towing but too bulky to carry when not in use. I don't mind sticking them on the roof as we will have the dog too and it is easier if the bikes are out the way.


02/7/2012 at 11:06am
 Location: Hatfield Peverel Essex
 Outfit: Ace Supreme Twinstar Disco 3
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I am very doubtful about tow-bar mounted racks

I used to have a TD5 Discovery with a 150kg tow ball load.  Towing a twin axle it felt as though the front wheels of the car were off the ground!

I ended up putting the bikes inside.

DaveS1



06/7/2012 at 10:53pm
 Location:  Scotland
 Outfit: Bailey & Mondeo
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Hi,

I looked at all the above options a few months ago, and the only real option was the car roof.
You can lock them up when on site.
You can get access to your boot
You don't need to remove items from your caravan to make room for bikes
They always end up scratching something inside the caravan
Nothing worse than opening the door and have to contend with removing bikes
You can put them on the roof and take the bikes somewhere, anytime, easier than hit hung up the caravan with the bikes on it.

That was my reason for the roof mounted thule carriers, and I am deleted with them.


06/7/2012 at 10:54pm
 Location:  Scotland
 Outfit: Bailey & Mondeo
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.



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