CAR RACK FOR 2 E-BIKES?

[oldpeddler]

I have a Toyota Prius (hatchback) 20212. Despite trawling I cannot find a rack which would take the weight of 2 e-bikes. This Prius does not have provision for a tow bar so that's out.Chatting with Wiggle they were of the same opinion. Has anyone found one?

 

[Laser Man]

Have a look at the Pendle standard strap-on rack.
I have one and it is really sturdy.

According to their web site the load rating is 15kg, but that must be per bike as it takes up to three giving a total of 45kg

 

[Andy-Mat]

I have a Toyota Prius (hatchback) 20212. Despite trawling I cannot find a rack which would take the weight of 2 e-bikes. This Prius does not have provision for a tow bar so that's out.Chatting with Wiggle they were of the same opinion. Has anyone found one?

Two things you need to do:-
1) What is the allowed roof load on your car? Many cars have 50Kilos or less as a design max.
2) Even with the battery removed, 2 of almost any e-bike could exceed the load possibly allowed.
3) I personally found over 10 years ago (2004), that placing two normal bikes on a special bike roof rack, was very tiring. A small slip and paint would easily get damaged.
After one holiday, I sold it!!
Both my caravan and a small trailer I own, have better methods of carrying bike(s), without the need to place/hold them over my head....but both need a Tow Hitch!
If you are very tall, very strong and relatively young, (and new dents & scratches are unimportant) then it could be OK.
The car handbook should help further with regard to load. But roof loads are often FAR lower than you might think....especially on small cars.
On some cars, the high load, combined maybe with holiday luggage and the family, can affect the car's general stability...
Roof racks also present a extra high wind resistance, increasing fuel consumption, often dramatically.
Many bikes fall off for some reason, and the owner may even be held responsible for damage to dozens of following vehicles, or for causing an accident. Especially if people are injured or worse.....
I do think that a car that cannot take a tow hitch, it is wise to find such things out before purchase.
To me personally, a car without a tow hitch is as good as useless.
Do think this through carefully, and make sure that the bikes are really strongly mounted and can come loose maybe, but never, ever fall off.
Perhaps sending the bikes to your destination via say a rail or lorry delivery service, though not cheap, may still be a "cheaper" alternative in the long run....
Regards
Andy

 

[oldpeddler]

Have a look at the Pendle standard strap-on rack.
I have one and it is really sturdy.

According to their web site the load rating is 15kg, but that must be per bike as it takes up to three giving a total of 45kg

I've noted several like that but have thought that the load is per set of straps . Not many (if any) e-bikes that weigh 15Kg even without battery. If it was overall load for the carrier then I agree that would be good

 

[oldpeddler]

Two things you need to do:-
1) What is the allowed roof load on your car? Many cars have 50Kilos or less as a design max.
2) Even with the battery removed, 2 of almost any e-bike could exceed the load possibly allowed.
3) I personally found over 10 years ago (2004), that placing two normal bikes on a special bike roof rack, was very tiring. A small slip and paint would easily get damaged.
After one holiday, I sold it!!
Both my caravan and a small trailer I own, have better methods of carrying bike(s), without the need to place/hold them over my head....but both need a Tow Hitch!
If you are very tall, very strong and relatively young, (and new dents & scratches are unimportant) then it could be OK.
The car handbook should help further with regard to load. But roof loads are often FAR lower than you might think....especially on small cars.
On some cars, the high load, combined maybe with holiday luggage and the family, can affect the car's general stability...
Roof racks also present a extra high wind resistance, increasing fuel consumption, often dramatically.
Many bikes fall off for some reason, and the owner may even be held responsible for damage to dozens of following vehicles, or for causing an accident. Especially if people are injured or worse.....
I do think that a car that cannot take a tow hitch, it is wise to find such things out before purchase.
To me personally, a car without a tow hitch is as good as useless.
Do think this through carefully, and make sure that the bikes are really strongly mounted and can come loose maybe, but never, ever fall off.
Perhaps sending the bikes to your destination via say a rail or lorry delivery service, though not cheap, may still be a "cheaper" alternative in the long run....
Regards
Andy

Never considered a roof rack, I should have qualified my request by stating I required a rack for the rear hatch.

 

[Andy-Mat]

Never considered a roof rack, I should have qualified my request by stating I required a rack for the rear hatch.

That makes a significant difference, but I am completely unaware of what such a device can weight wise handle, including the rear door of course.....
Overloading the rear door and damaging it, would be a hugely expensive repair.
A friend of mine who bought one for normal luggage, not bikes, hated it, because every time he needed something from the rear of the car, it was a pain in the butt to get at....His thoughts only.
I must admit that going on holiday with my wife and our dog, often without a bike, it is really nice to have everything we need, neatly packed away in the caravan, and the car is basically empty, except for us and one small travel fridge, for cold drinks only.
I looked up some examples of what you are interested in, but seeing this one and how the whole weight is basically on either the rear door hinges and the plastic bumper, you will never get me trying one out! Supposedly for 3 bikes! See picture.
The bikes appear to be only supported by their wheel rims, and still high enough to cause wind resistance. I am unimpressed.

But I wish you well and hopefully success!
Andy

 

[Slartibartfast]

I would mount them on an approved roof rack from Toyota, or Thule of course. I carried many kayaks and canoes on my Prius with no issues using a Thule rack, often driving hundreds of miles. It is a bit of a pain, but you will damage the car or even break the rear screen with the hatch mounts. Roof rack mounted bikes are very secure, I had two ebikes on my roof rack last month on a 150 mile journey and apart from the appalling fuel consumption they were fine - although I did keep it at 60mph or below.

 

[Laser Man]

I've noted several like that but have thought that the load is per set of straps . Not many (if any) e-bikes that weigh 15Kg even without battery. If it was overall load for the carrier then I agree that would be good

Best to check with Pendle, but there aren't many 5kg bikes around so it must be 15kg per bike x 3 = 45.
If the top of the hatch is glass or plastic, then they do special thingies to replace the hooks on the top straps so that the load is taken by the inside of the hatch frame.

Just done 400+ miles with one ebike ~22kg and one hybrid ~16kg on the back. Absolutely stable - neither the bikes nor the rack moved at all.