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Subject Topic: Bikes on roofs Post Reply Post New Topic
Personnoobcamp
21/8/2015 at 10:09pm
 Location: Essex
 Outfit: None Entered View noobcamp's Profile View Profile   Reply to noobcamp Reply   Quote noobcamp Quote  
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Hello, does putting bikes on a car roof rack help towing due to the extra weight on the car, or hinder it due to extra turbulence ever?!??

Cheers

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I'm new to all this...be kind!


PersonWobbly Box
21/8/2015 at 10:55pm
 Location:  Scotland
 Outfit: Bailey & Mondeo View Wobbly Box's Profile View Profile   Reply to Wobbly Box Reply   Quote Wobbly Box Quote  
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i put bikes on the roof for a couple of reasons.

If you put them inside the caravan, they only get in the way when you arrive onsite and are trying to set up, also you risk damaging the inside of your caravan with them.
I then started to look at bike racks, if you use a hatch or boot mounted rack this hinders you as you have limited access into the boot.
Best option was on the roof, up out the way and you can keep them there when not in use.

You don't get any extra turbulence that I have noticed unless on a very windy day you can feel them slightly getting caught in a cross wind. but what you do get is 3 to 4 mpg less.




Personcheckley1973
22/8/2015 at 5:31pm
 Location: Sheffield
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It does help spread the load. If you have a full car, heavy nose weight and bikes hanging on your tailgate you are likely to be over the rear axle max. On the roof shares the load over both axles.

The other reason I like it is they can't get hit by another car. I have had a toe bar mounted rack but got rear ended with it on. Bill was huge, new toe bar, cycle rack and 4 new bikes plus the damage to the car itself.


PersonOctavia4x4
22/8/2015 at 7:00pm
 Location: Harrogate Yorkshire.
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Never noticed any difference when towing with 2 bikes on the car roof, just remember the car also has a maximum roof load, never noticed any increase in mpg also.

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Skoda Octavia Estate 2.0TDi 4x4 (2012) towing a Compass Omega 482 (2014)


PersonRay Clayton
22/8/2015 at 7:11pm
 Location: Ilkeston. Derbyshire
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Your towing a box anyway so not make any differance.

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Cheers
Ray

Discovery 4 & Bailey Barcelona 4







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PersonAlan Chilestone
23/8/2015 at 8:40am
 Location: Suffolk
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Used to carry bikes on top, but as we had an MPV it was getting a struggle to put them on. Final straw was when I lost balance a bit and nearly dropped bike onto car roof.
We now have a MaxxRaxx which mounts on the tow bar but allows you to fold it down to gain access to the boot, without removing the bikes.

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Alan

2016
February C&CC Theobalds Park
March C&CC Salisbury
May C&CC Adgestone IOW
July Le Clos Auroy, Auvergne France
August C&CC Polstead
August C&CC Oxford
October C&CC Lauder


PersonWobbly Box
23/8/2015 at 9:18am
 Location:  Scotland
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Yup there good but not so good when your towing your caravan.
There is also some fancy roof mounted rack that folds down for easy access. Can't remember the name of it though.


PersonHairywol
23/8/2015 at 11:51pm
 Location: Teesside
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It hinders - but probably hinders less than any other way except putting them in the 'van.

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Camping Gear expands so as to fill the space available for its transportation.


PersonWobbly Box
23/8/2015 at 11:57pm
 Location:  Scotland
 Outfit: Bailey & Mondeo View Wobbly Box's Profile View Profile   Reply to Wobbly Box Reply   Quote Wobbly Box Quote  
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If you put bikes on your tailgate when towing you adding additional weight where you least need it. Depending on type and number of bikes you also need to watch they don't hit the caravan if making a sharp turn.


PersonAlan Chilestone
24/8/2015 at 8:29am
 Location: Suffolk
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Appreciate the point about the weight on the tow bar, but the Maxxraxx comes with an extension to heighten the rack to keep clear of the jockey wheel handle. Although yes, tight corners can be a worry, but the long A frame on my Adria mitigates that.

-------------
Alan

2016
February C&CC Theobalds Park
March C&CC Salisbury
May C&CC Adgestone IOW
July Le Clos Auroy, Auvergne France
August C&CC Polstead
August C&CC Oxford
October C&CC Lauder


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Personcolinlob
24/8/2015 at 1:48pm
 Location: Cheshire
 Outfit: Swift Escape View colinlob's Profile View Profile   Reply to colinlob Reply   Quote colinlob Quote  
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We have bikes on the roof of the car, and also carry a small three step aluminium step ladder, only a few kg, in order to get the bikes on and off the car. It balances the car better. Also two bikes on the a-frame of the Adria, but we have to put the caravan spare wheel in the boot of the car to reduce the nose weight to a realistic level.



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