Thule Ride On Carrier

[Cyclezee]

Wishing to venture further afield with my wife and a couple of electric bikes, I have just bought a Thule towbar mounted carrier for my car.
I decided on a towbar mounted version because of the weight of the bikes.
I choose a 3 bike carrier Thule RideOn 9402/9403 - Thule Web because of the increased weight carrying capicity, but will never carry more than 2 bikes at a time and I will remove the batteries whilst in transit.
The price wasn't bad, £87.50, + £8 for delivery from eBay My World - towbarman01

John

 

[frank9755]

Very sensible choice, John. I've got one of those too! Had it a year and it has caried various permutations of pairs of bikes from (by your standards) modest fleet of electrics and non-electrics - including an old full-fat Powabyke (ex-battery but still 20+ kg).

Previously we had one of the Halfords straps-and-clips carriers which had given good service for about 8 years - then we set off and it started to rain, the straps expanded, and the thing came off with two bikes attached on a roundabout! When we finally got home I asked in a couple of shops what was the safest carrier, and everyone said that one, so that is what I got!

Frank

 

[Bikerbob]

Another problem with the straps and clips type is that with the very sloping crossbar (if any) on many electric bikes they hang from the carrier arms at an alarming angle, with the weight not properly distributed. Must see about getting a tow bar for my car.

 

[BrizzleBoy]

That looks a nice bit of kit.

For lesser budgets I have had one of these

Cyclemaster 2-3 Cycle Carrier & Accessories from Towsure

for a decade or so and still going strong. Clips on to a plate behind the towbar in seconds and as it doesnt use the towball can still tow a trailer at the same time

Lives in the boot of the car - very handy when the wife picks me up from the pub after stopping for a quick 'half' on my cycle ride home from work

 

[Cyclezee]

BrizzleBoy,

I looked at the Cyclemaster before getting a Thule carrier as it is reasonably priced, but as I have detachable Westfalia towbar, it wouldn't fit my car, also the Thule has a higher load capacity which I definitely need for electric bikes.

Frank,
that roundabout incident sounds scary and expensive
Did you get a security lock for your Thule carrier, they are not cheap?
But neither is the carrier with up to 3 bikes on it I suppose, so I will have to invest in one if I can't work out a DIY option

John

 

[frank9755]

Yes, the roundabout episode will stay with me for a long time! I saw the bikes slide off in what seemed to be slow motion through my rear view mirror...
Although they fell off and got dragged along behind the car for a hundred yards as I slowed down from about 30 mph, both bikes were fine! All I needed was a new skewer for the back wheel of one, where it had been rubbed down by the road. I would not want that to happen to anyone's electric bike as, never mind the danger, the damage would be likely to be much greater.

My carrier came with two locks, one to stop someone taking the carrier off the car and another to prevent the outermost bike from being removed. I think it is actually a slightly different model, the 902 (after my experience I went for the strongest looking one!). What I also do is put a thick cable lock round both crossbars and the hoop of the carrier.

 

[Cyclezee]

Frank

Just found and ordered a Thule 957 lock for my carrier which locks the carrier to the towbar. £12 including delivery, worth it for the peace of mind.

John

 

[JamesC]

My carrier came with two locks, one to stop someone taking the carrier off the car and another to prevent the outermost bike from being removed. I think it is actually a slightly different model, the 902 (after my experience I went for the strongest looking one!). What I also do is put a thick cable lock round both crossbars and the hoop of the carrier.

I also use the Thule 902 (2 bikes) like yours, Frank. Also have the optional extension to change it to 3 bikes on the rare occasion that a third bike is needed.

I found that it was a nuisance that Thule only provided a lockable knob for the outermost bike. I always put the heavier ebike nearest the car, and if only carrying the one bike on that occasion, then the lockable knob was in the wrong place.

Thule sell a pack of 4 knobs, all using the same key - good price on ebay, and all bikes locked on now.

James