Which Bike Rack?

[Darranna]

Hi Guys,

I was just wondering which type of Roof Mounted bike rack you would recommend based on your own personal experience.

My bike (pictured) has a tube mounted battery and nearly all the racks I've seen fix to that tube.

I can't use a Towbar mounted rack like the one I previously had, because I will also have a caravan attached.

 

[Ocsid]

Maxxraxx have an option that enables both towing a caravan and mounting a bike rack on the towbar. You will need to talk to them with specific vehicle details as they have various solutions.

https://maxxraxx.co.uk/

The thought of roof carrying most e-bikes is too much for me to cope with.
Having the bar mounted rack once on site would be a more practical solution.

Other rack makers have solutions if the towbar is the simple two bolt mounted type, whereas Maxxraxx can cope with swan necks; if you have the load carrying capacity.

 

[Darranna]

Maxxraxx have an option that enables both towing a caravan and mounting a bike rack on the towbar. You will need to talk to them with specific vehicle details as they have various solutions.

https://maxxraxx.co.uk/

The thought of roof carrying most e-bikes is too much for me to cope with.
Having the bar mounted rack once on site would be a more practical solution.

Other rack makers have solutions if the towbar is the simple two bolt mounted type, whereas Maxxraxx can cope with swan necks; if you have the load carrying capacity.

Hi Ocsid,

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I had considered that style of carrier, but we really wanted to retain access to the boot with the bikes mounted. Also that style of rack works better with European Caravans as they have a longer A frame, so there is less chance of catching the bikes on a tight turn.

 

[Ocsid]

The various roof rack accessories that feature front fork clamping, don't require the stabilising bar.
They slightly reduce the lift height. They need "quick release" spindles though if not there these can usually be retro fitted and adaptors are available if say 15 mm spindles are fitted.

Weight rating might be an issue?

https://www.thule.com/en-gb/gb/bike-rack/roof-bike-racks/thule-outride-_-561000

and for spindles:

https://www.thule.com/en-gb/gb/bike-rack/roof-bike-racks/thule-thruride-_-565000

I carry mine though in the car using home engineered fork clamps and it is a very solid method.

 

[Darranna]

The various roof rack accessories that feature front fork clamping, don't require the stabilising bar.
They slightly reduce the lift height. They need "quick release" spindles though if not there these can usually be retro fitted and adaptors are available if say 15 mm spindles are fitted.

Weight rating might be an issue?

https://www.thule.com/en-gb/gb/bike-rack/roof-bike-racks/thule-outride-_-561000

and for spindles:

https://www.thule.com/en-gb/gb/bike-rack/roof-bike-racks/thule-thruride-_-565000

I carry mine though in the car using home engineered fork clamps and it is a very solid method.

Weight would not be an issue as my car has a 100kg roof rack rating but we were ideally looking for a solution where we don’t have to dismantle the bikes, the wheels would still have go somewhere. I know it sounds like we are being pedantic, but there must be a solution out there. I did think I had found a rack but after ordering I was told it wouldn’t accept 29 inch wheels.

 

[Auxtail]

The only currently available roof versions that do not hold the down tube, I am aware of are the Yakima Frontloader, but it states 40Lbs limit. The Inno tyre holder states 23Kg. Not cheap.

 

[Charliefox]

Hi Guys,

I was just wondering which type of Roof Mounted bike rack you would recommend based on your own personal experience.

My bike (pictured) has a tube mounted battery and nearly all the racks I've seen fix to that tube.

I can't use a Towbar mounted rack like the one I previously had, because I will also have a caravan attached.

Well, you are obviously a lot younger and fitter than me! I gave up trying to lift a non electric touring bike onto a roof mounted rack on a Panda! It fell over and scratched the roof too!! I tow a caravan with a Peugeot Tepee and my ebike, or 2, go in the car. However, in the past I had put bikes, with front wheel removed,in my elderly caravan, on a wooden board fitted with angle pieces and threaded rod that the forks dropped onto and secured with wing nuts. It could hold 2 bikes in this way and was positioned on the caravan floor between fridge and heater. Put the bike through the door vertically with handlebars turned in line with frame. Not for the fainthearted if your caravan is new and shiny though! But it did mean I could tow the caravan with an old BX estate with canoe and 2 bikes on the car roof and another 2 in the caravan.Arrh! those were the days!