Best way to transport bike by car? & child seat/trailer?

[Bikesman]

Hi all does anyone know the best way to carry bikes by car, I was going to get the standard rack that fits on the boot from half odds as I do not have tow bar etc but a few people have told be to avoid like the plague as it damages the car & bike which I don't want to do as I have just had new car (and ebike ) also I have told the weight might be an issue so any suggestions or am I going to have to fit a tow bar?

Secondly I would like to take my 4yr old 20kg daughter with me on mtb rides light trails and road etc and was wondering out of the following which would be the best also the safest:

a.) rear seat attachment although I think she might be getting to big as most have a max of 22kg.
b.) get her a trail gator to attach to her bike (my preferred option but is it secure?)
c.) just get her the full trail along attachment which has the built on wheel & handlebars etc?

Advice please guys

Thanks

 

[jackhandy]

Poisonally, I'd vote for a decent used tagalong.

 

[Alan Quay]

Transport: I have a towbar and a cheap eBay towbar carrier. It works perfectly, and only cost £15. Obviously a towbar will cost some Money.

Carrying Nippers: a Trail Gator, when properly setup is pretty secure. It's main advantage is that you can un-hitch the little one and let her ride on her own for a bit. My son loves riding with me this way, and we have covered a fair few miles.

 

[Black Dog]

In my pre-ebike days I carried the bikes on a rack that strapped to the rear hatch (Vauxhall Cavalier). It worked surprisingly well, very solid if a bit fiddly to put on the car. Protip: cut an old inner tube into 2" squares to protect the panel edges where the clips go. No damage to the car's paintwork when I did this. Remember in 1992 when Brittany Ferries had a fire and all the ferries had to be re-routed? We had to do a dash to Cherbourg from St Malo to catch the rescheduled ferry and did some highly illegal speeds with the bikes on the back. Fuel consumption went down to about 10 mpg, but the bikes were fine.

 

[Bikesman]

Cheers folks, I have purchased a Raleigh avenir 100 tag along ghost it for decent price and looks solid plus my daughter lives it. And thanks for advice on bike carries also will be liking into that shortly.

 

[jackhandy]

Nice one!

Now come the "quality time" father/daughter discourses...

"Faster Dad!"...
" Will you Please stop pedalling when I'm trying to slow down?!"

 

[TinKitten]

I opted to fit a towball to my car as I wasn't happy about the weight of the ebike hanging off my boot lid. It cost me £275 in total with fitting at my home. Luckily I'm able to borrow my parent's Thule bike carrier until I save up for my own as a good one is quite pricey after having paid for the towbar. Hope the towbar cost information is useful to you.