Towbar mounted Cycle Racks.

[lazybloke]

My tow-bar mounted carrier was a cheaper alternative to Thule, from "Atera".

Carries 4 bikes. Has lights and number plate, and does the clever fold-down thing at Calais customs so you can show the armed chaps that no-one's hiding on the boot.

 

[Saracenlad]

Having read this thread very carefully I decided to contact my Insurance company as I have a TowBar fitted and use A Thule Easy Fold for our two bikes. My company amended my policy as the TowBar is an acceptable modification. They also gave me a £2.40 refund. Result or what.

 

[Sixmile]

Having read this thread very carefully I decided to contact my Insurance company as I have a TowBar fitted and use A Thule Easy Fold for our two bikes. My company amended my policy as the TowBar is an acceptable modification. They also gave me a £2.40 refund. Result or what.

That's cos if someone rear ends you, the tow bar stands a fair chance of protecting your bumper from a respray.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

That's cos if someone rear ends you, the tow bar stands a fair chance of protecting your bumper from a respray.

I crashed into a car with a towbar once
(there was a load of gravel on the road and he was stationary and - well it was complicated)

anyway - my car was almost written off - bumper, radiator and a chassis member were wrecked

his car needed some paint on the rear bumper

so they can be useful for things other than towing!!!

 

[Sixmile]

Do you need a trailer license to tow a trailer or is that only for over 3.5 tonne?

 

[Saracenlad]

That's cos if someone rear ends you, the tow bar stands a fair chance of protecting your bumper from a respray.

My thoughts too.

 

[bikingdad90]

Do you need a trailer license to tow a trailer or is that only for over 3.5 tonne?

It depends on when you got your license. Pre 1997 you can tow as long as MAM of car and trailer is below 8.25T after that date the trailer weight is limited to 3.5T and a length of 7m. Both require a braked trailer if weight exceeds 750kg on the trailer.

You may need to apply for a license category amendment if you don’t have it.

 

[figbat]

That's cos if someone rear ends you, the tow bar stands a fair chance of protecting your bumper from a respray.

The flip side is that the towbar can transfer the crash forces directly to the chassis or monocoque rather than let the bumper and crumple zone absorb it.

 

[lazybloke]

The flip side is that the towbar can transfer the crash forces directly to the chassis or monocoque rather than let the bumper and crumple zone absorb it.

I still think a car with a protective 360 degree perimeter of circa 30 tow bars sounds a good idea.

 

[Alex321]

The fold thing is amazing, such a simple idea but well worth it.

Years back my dads carrier he bought was nothing more sophistictaed than 2 Y shaped bars that latch onto a plate over the towbar (could still be used). It never failed but I remember it did wobble a lot which always made me laugh (and my dad worry I suppose!).

I used to have one of those. Towed a caravan all the way across France to Annecy with it on, with 4 bikes attached, with no problems, except for losing the key to the lock we had attached through the other hole in the plate. Had to find a local garage to cut the lock off before we could get the bikes free.

Unfortunately, when I sold that car in part-ex for my next one, I forgot to remove the plate until it was at the dealers, and at that point neither he nor I could get the bolts loose to remove it, so I lost the plate and couldn't get a replacement. So we now have the type that clamps to the towball, and cannot be used while towing. Next car won't have a towbar, so we'll need something else.

 

[Alex321]

Foiled!

I need to rethink this. With 2 ebikes theres too much weight hanging off the back of the car, it being a lowish slung long estate does not help. But a couple speed humps were problematic and I hit the bottom of the towbar on them, even at 5mph. If I add camping gear in there it's not going to work. I did strip the bikes too of everything easily removable.

So back up plan I have my roof bars still, so I can put the bikes up top at least but the rack is going to have to be benched for now.

I'd get the rear suspension checked if it is doing that. Though I would also check the manufacturer's noseweight limit for towing, because that is what the weight of the rack and bikes effectively is.

 

[Alex321]

I can get the suspension checked if needed, but the car is recently serviced and mot'd. I need to add up the weight I had first but I don't have the specs to hand right now. I was doing some reading on nose weights and understand it doesnt mean the weight of the nose of my car, but the weight of the nose of the towed item or in this case my rack and 2 bikes.

Yes, it is the weight that goes through the towball.