Message Forums

I Am looking to buy a bike rack or trailer to carry 4 bikes (2 adults & 2 childrens) We have a Skoda Octavia estate and I am very tempted by the  Tradekar TAKE FOUR 4 bike carrier. I was wondering if anybody  has experience of this trailer or can recommend anything that might be more suitable

Cheers

Zoog

I don't have this bike rack, but have just brought the Thule euro classic 903 with 4th bike adapter, and I would highly reccomend it, it folds down when not in use, and clamps on the towball so no damage to the car. also tilts down so you can get in the tailgate whilst fitted. 

Julie

I had a similar problem - the need to carry 2 adult bikes, a 5 year old's bike, and a trailer bike.   I've gone for the Atera Duro XL from www.roofbox.co.uk.   It's not cheap at nearly £300 but it's absolutely fantastic.   I had real problems finding something which would cope with my wide variety of bikes.

The Duro XL is towball mounted, and it just looks like it's been really well designed.   The actual process of fitting the bikes ensures that they are all locked, for example.   The promotional literature boasts that there is no combination of sizes of bikes that it won't take - and I can believe that - I was a bit doubtful that I could fit our trailer bike on, but it does fit, and it's all really secure.

You can't tow with this fitted, but we fit the bikes on top of the trailer when we tow, so this isn't a problem for us.  

This is quite a similar design to the Thule model mentioned in the last post.  They're more expensive but they're the most secure type I've found.

Also, wind resistance is virtually nil, as the bikes are at the back of the vehicle, and the manufacturer's instructions say it is fine for speeds of up to 120Km/h - 75mph.  Many bike racks I have had in the past have advise a maximum of 50mph.

Hope this is useful info.