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I'm considering buying an Erde 142 trailer and want to put an extension on the trailer that increases the volume the trailer can hold.  This is the straightforward bit.

What I want to do is carry my 3 bikes.  With the Erde you can buy a plastic cover and then put load bars over the top and then place your cycle carriers on top of the load bars.  However, the extension that I'm talking about does not let you use the loadbars.

So, what I want to do is use a cycle carrier that bolts on to the hitch of the car.  I'm a bit concerned that the distance between the bikes on the cycle carrier will be a bit tight.  Has anyone else got an Erde 142 (or any other trailer) and got this set up?  I'd be very interested to know how you may have done it.

Jason

Hi

We have bought the erde 142 trailer this year but are hoping to not use the roof box and put all 4 bikes on the roof.

BUT, I was looking about online tonight and saw this

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_751061_langId_-1_categoryId_165515

Not sure if any use - read the reviews and maybe look for some more.

Think someone has previously pointed out the issue of weight on the tow bar (i.e. the rack and bikes plus the weight of towing the trailer maybe an issue but as i am new to this, I am not fully up (or remotely some may say) so really giving you some leads to follow up.

Will be interested to see what people can advise.

Can't yoiu just use the load bars that fix to the trailer  sides not the ABS lid? Though of course you can't carryi them without the trailer.

If you search the forums (esp the towing, van and trailer tent ones) you will find previous threads on this.

Ir obviously depends on various things, such the trailer drawbar length, the carrier and the bikes. But mostly people seem to manage 2 bikes, 3 might well be pushing it. You might also find it pushes up the noseweight on the towbar above the cars limit

We have a Franc trailer with extended sides. I am pondering a similar situation. Up till now we have carried 3 bikes on a  rear door mounted carrier on the estate with one on the roof. Though one is only small kiddie sbike and will go anywhere really. This will still work ok, but the rear carrier annoys me and am looking to use a towbar carrier

   A cheap optioon is just to load the 3rd bike laying down on top of the trailer, but that offends me somehow, esp for more than one bike. I have some old load bars from wifes old car. I'm planning on making some sort of wooden lid/top for the trilaer and fixing these to the lid and a couple of carriers on that. 2 bikes hopdefull on the rear carrier, 2 on trailer, all travel on the car once on site.

This is the franc trailer, only warning is the gas struts on the ABS need extra support when the bike racks or top box are on.  Locking struts work well.