Thule tow bar cycle carrier

[jeegnesh]

[quote="jaynana"]
after a lot of consideration last year i went for the Mont Blanc (not from this seller i just did a google..)

criteria was as follows:
- bikes have the top 'bar' (whatever u call it) at various angles. kids bikes have insufficient space to hang from. this is not a problem for this 'platform' type carrier.
- can be easily lowered with teh bikes loaded to open the boot
- bikes are nicely sitting on their tyres on the 'platform' well guarded not 'hung' from the 'bar' so not prone to any damage
- carrying 4 bikes is a risk on the motorway. imagine if one falls off on the motorway!! so best to play safe and go for a reputed brand. i'd have prefered Thule but they didn't have a 4-bike platform type at that time.
- comes with the lights and plate holder, so no need to buy that extra.
- apart from bikes being on a platform, the vertical support for bikes on this model is rather solid, unlike some of the others..

i've done a couple of trips with this no issues at all.

said that, after it came home i realised that its not actually made by mont blanc, its just rebranded!!! so much for peace of mind with a brand..
[/quote]

Thanks dude. Considerations are much the same, adult bikes are Specialized and have slanted frames and 2 are kids bikes so smaller in size.

I do like the idea of that carrier just not sure about storing it.

Question so we often go for a week or weekend trip and normally bikes are taken off and secured elsewhere and carrier removed, but as this is a bulky carrier I wouldn't be able to store when away, do you think it's safe to leave the bikes on it full time whilst away???

[jaynana]

u nuts?? i don't even leave my bike locked up in public bike racks!! i've already lost 2 bikes that way!! so no chance keeping bikes on the rack locked up - locks can be worked through, depending onteh value of the bikes!  the rack itself is lockable onto the tow bar.


it folds flat so can stow away wherever u go, but still bulky and heavy bth...

[jeegnesh]

I'm siding with the maxraxx 5 due to portability, plus only need 4 bike but its alway tight hence the 5 should offer the extra room. But the 5 rarely comes up on eBay. Damn it.

[X5Sport]

[quote="jeegnesh"]
But the 5 rarely comes up on eBay. Damn it.
[/quote]

You could always break 'the Code' and buy one in......a shop.

R

[jeegnesh]

[quote="X5Sport"]
[quote="jeegnesh"]
But the 5 rarely comes up on eBay. Damn it.
[/quote]

You could always break 'the Code' and buy one in......a shop.

R
[/quote]

I have considered this, but it seems like cheating

[X5Sport]

) ) )

[jeegnesh]

Tow bar is on, now only rack to purchase, back on the case.

Was feeling the maxraxx 5 bike carrier, only carry 4 bikes but these 4 carriers always a squeeze so 5 would give the extra room, unfortunately it's not a common size that people buy, hence eBay is even more scarce. Also like that it will be easy to store away.

Not totally written of the big carriers as they are ultimately the most secure feeling and easiest to load, just storage being the pain.

[jaynana]

good. that opens a lot of new oppties


here's a recent photo, of course these are micro cycles lol but i think the space is sufficient for 4 bikes... i did over 300miles over easter. i really have no complain. this is the mont blonc on the label.

[jeegnesh]

[quote="jaynana"]
good. that opens a lot of new oppties


here's a recent photo, of course these are micro cycles lol but i think the space is sufficient for 4 bikes... i did over 300miles over easter. i really have no complain. this is the mont blonc on the label.



[/quote]

Like it and you got various size bikes on there too. Tell me something, how long does it take to put the carrier onto the tow bar? How long to load the bikes up?

[Sanj]

[quote="jeegnesh"]
Tell me something, how long does it take to put the carrier onto the tow bar? How long to load the bikes up?
[/quote]

It's OK buddy - I'll be here to put em on for you!  )  ::)

[jeegnesh]

[quote="Sanj"]
[quote="jeegnesh"]
Tell me something, how long does it take to put the carrier onto the tow bar? How long to load the bikes up?
[/quote]

It's OK buddy - I'll be here to put em on for you!  )  ::)
[/quote]
Stalker.

[jaynana]

what are friends for lol

fixing the rack onto the tow bar is a 5 min job. easy.

putting the bikes onto the rack is a blo0dy nightmare! was no fun in zero degrees over easter up north!

each cycle is secured by a strap on each wheel plus 2 straps on the frame. 4 staps per cycle. plus i'd put an additional ratchet strap like this one as a contingency..

one thing i don't like on this particular model by the way is that there's only one vertical bar. all the cycles are supported by it with spacers to keep em apart.

Thule in comparison comes with a vertical bar per cycle which i'd have preferred..

[jeegnesh]

Interesting being a lazy arse I was looking for something where the loading of bikes is quick and easy. Got me thinking twice now I thought loading that type of carrier was easy.

[Rusty]

So what is the situation with this story then Jeeg?

Without doing a search, did you fit the Witter or Westfalia and why?

I too am looking at putting bikes on the back and would only be fitting a towbar to enable this.  What does everyone else fit if not towing?

I know I should consider resale and future towing possibilities but is the extra £92.60 extravagant?  Also should I get the 13pin or old 7pin?  I'm just not sure which is the best solution?

[jeegnesh]

The story not altogether over.

I got the witter but that was because there was one available on here second hand for £150 so within my Indian budget. I think it came with the 7 pin but have not connected the wires as yet.

I think westfalia is better in that the electric kit is plug and play rather then what I have which needs to be wired in.

Actual towbar and fit the witter is solid no complaints there whatsoever.

Tow bar I want the maxxraxx 5 bike and have been watching eBay for months now, only 1 came up and I was too slow in snapping it up. Ill end up paying full price if I need the rack but as no planned trips am holding out.