Does anyone know if there's different light boards for different purposes? Would need one to put on the back of a bike carrier and looking on www.roofbox.co.uk there's 2 different ones, a 3' white one and a 4' yellow one, is there a reason to have a yellow one as opposed to a white one?
Hi Kate W
I think you'll find that the main thing is if your fitting to a trailer, some have 3ft or 4ft tailgates, but for bikerack just measure to see which is the best fit. The wiring on both is the same, the colour of the board doesn't matter.
Hope you have got a socket to plug it into? if you have ignore the next bit, if not be careful as a lot of modern cars you cannot just wire to the loom you need a bypass relay so the cars computer cannot detect the extra lights.
macaw
Hi Kate, I use a white one fixed to my scooter rack, I think that is the usual colour. I can't recall ever seeing a yellow one on the road. It may be just to match the number plate.
Thanks both, macaw, I do have a socket to plug into so will ignore the bit you told me to ignore. Phil, I can't recall ever seeing a yellow one either, just thought it was a bit weird and perhaps had a specific purpose. Thanks for the replies.
I beleive the yellow ones are reccommended for bike racks, as they act as a warning of the protrusion from the back of your car (like the yelow/black or white/black flags on vans/truck etc)
I cant remember what it is, but there should be some sort of hi-vis warning, although not many people bother with a lighting board for a bike rack, let alone a flag!
The problem with the basic light boards, during the day time you will find that your brake lights and indicators are not to visiable anyway, then with the glare off the sun they are useless. Although they do keep you on the right side of the law. The 4ft one would be better as it is nearer to the width of your car.
Is there anything different needed when you go to France with bikes on the back, do they have different regulations or anything I should know about if I take the bikes with us next summer?
Were going to France next year with bikes. I was also wondering what the French Law is, as I usually just attach an additional number plate to the back of the 4x4, as its already got high up brake and indicator lights.
In general bikes should not extend beyond the width of the car (car, not mirrors). This is difficult to achieve with a standard car so some people carry bikes without front wheel but most ignore this law.
In Spain, I believe, you need to have one of those large square signs with diagonal stripes and circular reflectors.