Member Since: 11 Aug 2008
Location: Teesside
Posts: 372
Bike Rack - leave on or take off?
I've just bought a set of roof bars (wingbars I think they are called) and a couple of Thule bike carriers (Proride 591). I was wondering if people take these off when not being used or if you just leave them on all the time. They lock in place so should be secure I guess. I'll probably only use the rack every few weeks so it's not like I need it all the time.
My thoughts are that I should remove it but since I haven't tried fitting it yet, I'm not sure if that's going to be too much hassle? Maybe removing the bike carriers and leaving the roof bars is the way to go?
What does everyone else do with these?Bri
D4 HSE Luxury
23rd Jan 2015 4:38 pm
LandRoverAnorak
Member Since: 06 Mar 2014
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1131
I take mine off. After fitting the first time, taking off and re-fitting is much easier. I did, however, colour code the keys with small cable ties, as they're all different (I have four of them!)Darren
"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Member Since: 06 Nov 2012
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 131
I have a mate with a Q7 who removes them all the time and only puts them on when he needs them. I have another mate with a 3 series Touring, who leaves them on. THink it's up to you.
For me, I'd only have them on when I needed them
23rd Jan 2015 4:43 pm
Beancounter_74
Member Since: 06 Nov 2012
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 131
LandRoverAnorak wrote:
I take mine off. After fitting the first time, taking off and re-fitting is much easier. I did, however, colour code the keys with small cable ties, as they're all different (I have four of them!)
I don't know the cost, but I know you can get the barrels, so you can ave them all keyed the same
23rd Jan 2015 4:45 pm
lynalldiscovery
Member Since: 22 Dec 2009
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 7274
Wind noise may a be a problem at speed
23rd Jan 2015 5:59 pm
discoteca
Member Since: 08 Mar 2010
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 1477
I remove mine even though I intended when I purchased them to leave the bars on and only routinely remove the carriers.
However even with the LR aero style bars I found the wind whistle they created too annoying when not carrying the bikes.
23rd Jan 2015 6:21 pm
Clubber
Member Since: 11 Aug 2008
Location: Teesside
Posts: 372
Thanks for the advice guys. I'll try fitting them this weekend and see how I get on. Bri
D4 HSE Luxury
23rd Jan 2015 6:23 pm
stick
Member Since: 13 Jan 2010
Location: hants
Posts: 592
I remove them. Noise, mpg, car parks are the reasons.d4 HSE
23rd Jan 2015 7:22 pm
Clubber
Member Since: 11 Aug 2008
Location: Teesside
Posts: 372
So I got the bike rack and roof bars fitted at the weekend. I decided to get it all fitted and then take the lot off in one go except the little feet that sit in the roof rails.
The Thule bike carriers are attached to the roof bars using a T track which were quite tough to get into place. I used some washing up liquid on the rubbers in the T Track to get them to slide in easier but it was still awkward; I didn't fancy having to do that each time!
So I unlocked the roof bars, undid the 4 bolts (1 on each foot) and then lifted it all off. I'll put it all back on as and when I need to use it but it should be a simple affair. I just need to be careful not to drop it all onto the glass roof!!
Anyhoo, for those interested, here are a couple of pics.
Apologies for the lighting; it was starting to get dark!
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
[/img]Bri
D4 HSE Luxury
26th Jan 2015 5:20 pm
Aggiec14
Member Since: 17 Jan 2015
Location: Liverpool
Posts: 365
Hi pal
Were did u get the bike rack from looks great also is tha a glass roof on ur disco.
I'm looking around myself now. I have a glass roof not sure wether to put bikes up there
Thanks matedefender 90 matt black 300tdi
Insa turbos
Snorkel to turbo
Breather on diffs/gear box
Engine rebuild which was fun
She a little mud slut
12th Apr 2015 5:01 pm
markthegad
Member Since: 06 Sep 2009
Location: Newcastle
Posts: 636
Click image to enlarge
Easy to put on take off and no wind noise not even with bikes on, I kept looking for a shadow/reflection first time I went out to make sure still there 😊😊😊
12th Apr 2015 5:49 pm
Aggiec14
Member Since: 17 Jan 2015
Location: Liverpool
Posts: 365
Great pics mate is it a glass roof on urs.. Thanks for the infodefender 90 matt black 300tdi
Insa turbos
Snorkel to turbo
Breather on diffs/gear box
Engine rebuild which was fun
She a little mud slut
12th Apr 2015 9:39 pm
markthegad
Member Since: 06 Sep 2009
Location: Newcastle
Posts: 636
No, just a poor man's se 😊😊😊
12th Apr 2015 9:50 pm
Aggiec14
Member Since: 17 Jan 2015
Location: Liverpool
Posts: 365
Hahah doesnt look like a poor mans car to me pal looks great.. On the silver D3 it looks like a glass roof.looks good without bikes toodefender 90 matt black 300tdi
Insa turbos
Snorkel to turbo
Breather on diffs/gear box
Engine rebuild which was fun
She a little mud slut
12th Apr 2015 9:55 pm
Clubber
Member Since: 11 Aug 2008
Location: Teesside
Posts: 372
Yep mine does have a glass roof. I try not to let the rack drop into the roof though when I'm putting it on the roof, but they go up there no problem. I am super cautious about dropping one of the bikes on the roof though; that would not be a good day!
I use wingbars with Thule carriers. Seems to do the job well! Bri
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