Tow bar carrier / Nose weight etc

[stalagmike]

We are off the France this summer, and for the first time in our ‘new’ car (2019 plate Peugeot 5008). It came with a detachable tow-bar fitted, so I am considering a tow bar carrier for the first time.

Now the kids are older they have bigger bikes which means a combined weight of 4 bikes and carrier of 70.7kg. The nose weight I can find in the tow-bar paperwork states 72kg max.

My question is, will this be fine in real world use? Another consideration is that the car is small petrol engine (3 cylinder 1.2l) and will also have a roof bag and 5 people in it.

Should I be insisting that my partner has to leave her 17kg steel behemoth of a bike at home for all our sakes?

Any thoughts/ ideas much appreciated. I guess a borrowing it buying cheap alu bike for my partner might be an option.

 

[fossyant]

You are just going to have to trundle with a 1.2. That's a huge load. I assume no camping gear and just the usual baggage and bikes ?

That's a long way and it will hit the MPG, even if bikes are behind the car.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I carried 3 bikes - 2 adult and 2 kids - from North Wales (Bangor) to Manchester once

There was a headwind and my 1.2 Yaris was flat out at 60 mph - at times I had to use 4th gear as it would not cope with 5th

Air resistance made a huge difference - and affects mpg a lot as well

 

[stalagmike]

Hmmm I wondering if hanging them off the back and saving a few Kgs of carrier weight might help.

 

[fossyant]

Hmmm I wondering if hanging them off the back and saving a few Kgs of carrier weight might help.

Like a boot rack for that lot. erm, no.

 

[stalagmike]

Hmmm I wondering if hanging them off the back and saving a few Kgs of carrier weight might help.

Just checked and tailgate carriers aren’t even an option.

 

[bikingdad90]

70kg is hefty! Assuming each bike weights circa 15kg and the rack itself is 10kg and no electric bikes?

Couple of things from experience as I tow with a 1.5 diesel, 2 adult bikes and 2 kids bikes.:

1. Bike racks with 4 carriers are expensive new and not many to choose from as most popular ones max out at 3.

2. Weight will be on the rear and then when you add in baggage and people the suspension in the back will be on the floor and your braking distance will massively increase!

3. Two on the roof and two on the rear might be a better option for weight distribution and overall economy?

 

[CXRAndy]

It will likely be fine, just don't hoon it around, also pump up car tyres to recommended for fully loaded- normally 4-6psi higher than standard.

 

[oxoman]

Used to have a C3 with 1.2 3cyl engine and it was gutless when 3 up with cases and 1 bike. I really had to think about overtaking well beforehand. I did get a little erde trailer and fitted bike carriers on it with better results but car was still struggling.

 

[CXRAndy]

Used to have a C3 with 1.2 3cyl engine and it was gutless when 3 up with cases and 1 bike. I really had to think about overtaking well beforehand. I did get a little erde trailer and fitted bike carriers on it with better results but car was still struggling.

We've got a C3 1.2too . Yes they are lacking in power, but careful assessment of the traffic allows for overtaking and making good progress

 

[fossyant]

I think you might have to re-think the bikes. I've done four blokes, bike gear and four MTB's (check avatar) in North Wales getting over Ffestiniog, and it was fine in an old 1.8 saloon with VVTi if I kept it in the 'range'.

You've got to watch the weight on the rear with bikes out there.

 

[fossyant]

We've got a C3 1.2too . Yes they are lacking in power, but careful assessment of the traffic allows for overtaking and making good progress

Three weeks planning and booking in advance !

 

[CXRAndy]

My daughter takes this car to school along fast roads. Even though she's a learner, I explained that tear arsing along rarely gets you much further. We usually see the same vehicles when we leave the dual carriageway, that were around us at the start

 

[stalagmike]

70kg is hefty! Assuming each bike weights circa 15kg and the rack itself is 10kg and no electric bikes?

Couple of things from experience as I tow with a 1.5 diesel, 2 adult bikes and 2 kids bikes.:

1. Bike racks with 4 carriers are expensive new and not many to choose from as most popular ones max out at 3.

2. Weight will be on the rear and then when you add in baggage and people the suspension in the back will be on the floor and your braking distance will massively increase!

3. Two on the roof and two on the rear might be a better option for weight distribution and overall economy?

The bikes are 55kg total and the carrier (if I get a 3+1 Thule classic) is 20.7kg

 

[bikingdad90]

I forgot to mention how many pins do you have on the plug at the back as you may need to factor in a 7pin to 12 pin converter and possibly flip the right and left indicator wiring.