Member Since: 12 Aug 2011
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 1286
Tow bar mounted bicycle carriers
Who uses which type of carrier, to carrier their bikes. I'm looking to purchase a 2 mountain bike carrier, but I have a rear wheel carrier fitted. So what's the measurement from the rear door to the bike carrier, so I can see if it will miss my rear wheel carrier?
Thanks
John
31st Jan 2017 5:21 pm
LaserTam
Member Since: 31 Aug 2015
Location: Essex
Posts: 832
I have a MaxTrax (I think) 4 bike job (although I defy anyone who can actually fit 4 bikes on).
Can't give you exact measurements because its not on the car, but to give some guidance from memory, the first bike loaded on i.e. closest to the car, the end of the handle bar is roughly 15cm from the tailgate window. Its a mans mountain bike with standard straight handle bars. Hope that makes sense and helps.MY2012 D4 HSE Nara Bronze with some extra stuff
31st Jan 2017 6:19 pm
Davethegeo
Member Since: 01 Oct 2015
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 919
I also use a MaxxRaxx carrier for 5 bikes. I can just get 5 bikes on but there is a lot of swivelling of handlebars and saddles to enable that. It's very solid and well built. It is meant to hinge downwards to let the upper tailgate open and it does if you are man enough to take the weight of 5 bikes while hinging it. I'm not. The pedal of the bike closest to the car clears the taligate with about 2 inches to spare if that gives you enough of an idea about clearance. failing that, the maxxraxx website and help line is pretty good.D1 300Tdi - gone
D2 Td5 ES (Alive remapped...mmm) - sadly gone
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I have a Pendle straight 4 bike rack and it works well.2018 1.5Ti Skoda Octavia - dull as f&ck
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2010 D4 TDV6 HSE - Nara Bronze with black - now gone!!
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1st Feb 2017 9:12 am
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10361
I have the angled version of the Witter one shown above. The base is angled out (as you can see in the pic below), then the upright pole is angled to straighten back up. Its purposely designed for cars with wheels mounted on the back door. I first used it on my D2 and whilst dont need the same clearence on the D3 or D4 have kept it and still use it.
Click image to enlarge
AlVolvo XC90 B5 Plus Dark
Gone - MY18 D5 HSE - Corris on 22's with Black Pack
Now gone - MY16 D4 SE Tech, Loire Blue, Almond Leather, Privacy, plus some other goodies.
Old - MY12 D4 SDV6 XS Auto - Ipanema Sand with Almond Leather - Plus other niceties, and D4.com sticker
Older - D3 TDV6 XS Auto - Lugano Teal with Almond Leather, 20" Stormers, Shiny Tailpipes, DVD/TV - and obligatory D3 sticker
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1st Feb 2017 11:33 am
DavidSally
Member Since: 31 Oct 2012
Location: Chesterfield
Posts: 565
I have a Thule. Great bit of kit. Takes 2 pedelec bikes. Up to 60kg if I remember ok. I believe they do a version that will accommodate a spare wheel on the back.
1st Feb 2017 1:03 pm
kimmea
Member Since: 30 Nov 2015
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 290
Rack
Thule Hang On 972 with tilt
Great piece of kit and can be fitted & removed in minutes.
1st Feb 2017 2:15 pm
Ocsid
Member Since: 29 Nov 2005
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 255
I also have the Thule Hang-on 972 and agree it is excellent but it does not stand far off the vehicle's rear, certainly not by a wheel's thickness. It rises vertically from the ball, but the loading bar comes a bit closer.
See photo of product:
Member Since: 12 Aug 2011
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 1286
Thanks for all the replies, and suggestions. I finally found a spare wheel mounted carrier, which is great, as it does not impede the departure angle when off roading. So we can take the bikes with us when we go over landing. On the plus side, we have full access to the rear of the car when the spare wheel carrier is opened, unlike the tow bar mounted ones.
7th Feb 2017 5:04 pm
Ocsid
Member Since: 29 Nov 2005
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 255
The Thule Hang-on 972, whilst being towball mounted does fold down, bikes and all to rest on the ground. Obviously the weight is not taken as with a swing-away wheel carrier, but it can be done to access the top tailgate, I cant recall if the lower can be accessed and with the weight involved I was not into using the feature myself.
9th Feb 2017 4:17 pm
John P
Member Since: 12 Aug 2011
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 1286
Yes I looked at the fold down, but the rear of our D3 is our kitchen, so when stopping for lunch etc. the tailgate needs to fold down. The fold down rack would get in the way, and could be a trip hazard. Plus the lower towball impedes the departure angle, so I didn't really want a tow bar on the car.
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