tow bar cycle carrier

[sandman77]

Has anybody had any experience of the cheap tow bar mounted cycle carriers that are available on ebay?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/UNIVERSAL-TOW...isure_Cycling_Bags_Panniers_SR#ht_2496wt_1137

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CAR-TOWBAR-TO...eisure_Cycling_Bags_Panniers_SR#ht_2095wt_911

Are they any good or a complete waste of money?

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

DO NOT..repeat NOT touch either of those with a bargepole if you plan to use it anything like regularly

The type that you link to, the cheapies that clamp around the ball, sway side to side, tilt back and forth, swivel around and are invariably spot-welded badly enough that the tension of the clamp can break the welds dumping your bikes on the outside lane of the M1

Not all are bad though, the budget ones which clamp to a plate fastened behind the towball are fine.

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...em=260656184415

or from the same company but with free delivery (though the free delivery is on a "lowest priority" dispatch so can take up to 10 working days, the ebay option is a fiver delivery but quicker)
http://www.discount-...Mounted_Carrier

It's only fair to disclose my interest in the listing as I manage the online sales channels for this company so by all means look around for similar. This is the rack I use and it had all the advantages of folding up compact, but clamps firmly and doesn't move. As an extra, I pass one long strap up to my tailgate, around the tailgate hinga and back down to the rack framework to give upper stability and reduce any flex on the plate (though that's probably overengineering and down to the fact that I had the original incarnation of this that wasn't reinforced on the plate, thus the plate had a tendency to bend (the plates are now reinforced and profiled to prevent bending)

These types sometimes need a spacer plate for some profiled bumpers (you can see on the mk1 Avensis pictured how close the rack sits to the top of the bumper)

I've had it some time and it's reliable and sturdy enough - mostly use it for one bike but have also carried two bikes plenty of times without issue.

If you don't have a bolt-on towball they you will need some kind of clamp-around rack...I'd recommend looking at the Thule and Pendle options if that is the case

 

[Evilcat]

Usual quick recommendation for www.roofbox.co.uk. I have an Atera Strada which clamps onto the towing ball and is absolutely steady.

EC

 

[e-rider]

Thule make tow ball racks from about £75

 

[wafflycat]

Usual quick recommendation for www.roofbox.co.uk. I have an Atera Strada which clamps onto the towing ball and is absolutely steady.

EC

Another recommendation for www.roofbox.co.uk from me.

I have a Tradekar Silverbike II with third bike adapter bought from roofbox.co.uk and it is brilliant. Tilt function so you can access boot of car when carrier & bikes are on the towball and it is rock steady. It's been used when on the car and we've driven to Italy & back, inlcuding on potholed, lumpy, bumpy, hilly, cobbled Italian roads. It has never let us down in years of regular use week-in, week-out during the time trial season (Feb/Nov each year). And roofbox.co.uk were helpful in making our choice of carrier.

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4.php?query=TR245&vptype=&emulate=accgen&qty=1

 

[jay clock]

Was reading about these last night. The Atera Strada seems fantastic. Video of it in action here. http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rb...603/njNA_v1HqTo9~w7HCO3kxz3uBtkB,~4RYoJEYzTmI Straight out of the box and clamped on in seconds. Pricey but worth it in my view.

 

[Rando]

Was reading about these last night. The Atera Strada seems fantastic. Video of it in action here. http://www.roofbox.c...%2C~4RYoJEYzTmI Straight out of the box and clamped on in seconds. Pricey but worth it in my view.

+1 for the atera strada. used mine for the first time today to transport 3 bikes. have bought the 4th bike adapter for when youngest daughter's bike needs to go on the rack. Strada is really easy to fit and rock solid with the bikes on. Yes it was very very expensive but hopefully you get what you pay for !! Also fully recommend roofbox who were very helpfull.

 

[rookienjules]

Just to add one more option that sits in the middle, in terms of price, is the MaxxRaxx http://maxxraxx.co.uk/Racks/racks.html I have one of these and it is excellent, very quick and easy to fit, tilts back from the tailgate, is easy to store when off the car and rock solid (took 4 adult bikes from Lincolnshire to Scotland and back). It also allows you to still use the tow ball for a trailer or caravan (just got to watch the noseweight).

 

[byegad]

I have a Thule three bike carrier which clamps to the ball. Worked well over a 900 mile round trip to The Gironde. No sway and rock solid Thule are a reputable maker and cannot afford to make a bad product.

 

[sandman77]

Thanks for all the advice, I just won this cycle carrier on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....671026&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1154

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Thanks for all the advice, I just won this cycle carrier on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...T#ht_500wt_1154

Can't go too far wrong with those, used to sell that model and they are pretty sturdy. Though the upright will have a "dog leg" in it to move the bikes further back (to account for a spare wheel on something like a Discovery with the spare wheel on the back door) that shouldn't be a problem.

They sell new for about £100-ish so that's not a bad price

 

[sandman77]

Can't go too far wrong with those, used to sell that model and they are pretty sturdy. Though the upright will have a "dog leg" in it to move the bikes further back (to account for a spare wheel on something like a Discovery with the spare wheel on the back door) that shouldn't be a problem.

They sell new for about £100-ish so that's not a bad price

Thanks, I should have mentioned that I drive a Discovery.