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We are looking at options for how we can carry our bikes while towing and are considering one of these a-frame racks.  Does anyone have any experience of these?  We have only seen one in use once, in France a couple of years ago.

http://www.fiammastore.com/Fiamma-Carry-Bikes-For-Caravans/Fiamma-Carry-Bike-XL-A

Our car is too high to put them on the roof, you can't fit a rear rack to it because of the material used for the tailgate, and I don't want them in the caravan as they will be dirty and cause damage.  Weight isn't an issue as we have a big car and a little teensy van, and the bikes are light aluminium ones. 

Thanks in advance for any comments.

Thanks both.  I didn't spot that other thread, Tich

But they seem to be rare as hens teeth as no-one over here seems to have one....

Quote: Originally posted by gemma1675 on 09/2/2010

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Thanks both.  I didn't spot that other thread, Tich

But they seem to be rare as hens teeth as no-one over here seems to have one....

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Thanks Bacchante.  We had to use the caravan step to get the bikes on the roof when we had a hatchback, now we have an SUV it's just too high.  I can only just reach the roof rails let alone the bike racks.  I am average height - maybe I have short arms??! 

You may still have an issue, even with a large car and a small caravan.  You need to check the specified noseweight for the caravan and for the towbar.  Bear in mind that it's the smaller of the two values you will have to achieve, and the bikes themselves may well turn out to take up most of that.  This would overload the A frame and hitch.

There's only one way to decide, and that's to look at the numbers.  Of course, you will also need the exact weight of the bikes.

Just off the cuff, I would be surprised if you can carry 4 bikes on there.

Jim

Sorry Gemma, I don't know where I got the  bikes from, I must be having delusions.  Old age strikes again!

I don't think it would overload the car, but if it's a light caravan the A frame and hitch will have been designed for whatever loading they impose, and may not stand another couple of bikes.

As always, it's the weakest link you have to find, and then work with that figure.

Best of luck

Jim

I was just thinking along the same lines as LlaniDavis.

We have the maxxraxx and it works a treat.  You still need to keep an eye on the weight applied to the towbar/mount though ! 

Do you guys mean something like this?

http://www.maxxraxx.co.uk/Help/tow_and_carry.html

I wasn't aware that you could use a towball rack whilst towing.  I am not sure there is any benefit over the a-frame carrier as all the weight is still on the back of the car, plus we won't be able to access the boot with bikes on.  And I am not sure about the strap that seems to go to the top of the boot lid on those pictures (sorry I am a bit precious about my new car!)  But if the a-frame maximum weight is an stopper for us then this is another option that we hadn't looked at so thanks for mentioning it.

Our a-frame doesn't have a plastic cover on so there is no problem there Tentz, although we do need to check the size.  Fiamma do various racks in different sizes, as you are correct that Continental vans often have longer a-frames.

Cycling is an important part of our holidays so we need to carry those bikes somehow!

Quote: Originally posted by gemma1675 on 10/2/2010

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Do you guys mean something like this?

http://www.maxxraxx.co.uk/Help/tow_and_carry.html

I wasn't aware that you could use a towball rack whilst towing.  I am not sure there is any benefit over the a-frame carrier as all the weight is still on the back of the car, plus we won't be able to access the boot with bikes on.  <IMG src="forum_images/smiley4.gif" align=absMiddle>

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