What cycle carrier?

[mobi]

I need a carrier for carrying my bike in the car.

Can't decide whether a rear mounted or roof mounted carrier is better (personally interested in rear mounted as roof mounted ones look daunting to fit)

Just in case you wonder, I need to fit this to this car
http://www.tournal.com/cars/uploads/suzuki_ignis.jpg
It already has two roof rails - so wondering if that helps.

Budget is obviously a constraint. Cheaper the better (as long as safely carries the bike).

Will be using the carrier in weekends only, so should be easy to fit/unfit in the car.

I'm happy to buy from Ebay as well (if in good condition).

Thanx

 

[ChrisKH]

The car does lend itself towards roof mounted (which I have) but rear mounted tow ball carriers get a better write up on here.

See http://www.roofbox.co.uk/ for a selection.

 

[Chris James]

I have a Thule 591 that fits on the roof rails of a Mondeo estate. Don't have anything to compare it with but the bike fits securely and is easy enough to put up and take down (albeit I am almost 6 foot)

 

[Ivan Ardon]

Roof mounted eh? There are two types of roof mount bike carrier owner - those that have driven under a low barrier and knocked the bikes off, and those that are about to.

I've recently joined the first group.

 

[Chris James]

I have seen it happen outside the Stables Bar in Betws-y-Coed. Pretty embarrassing for the guy concerned to smash his mountain bike to bits in front of about 100 boozed up spectators.

 

[ELL]

I Have a high mount rear carrier for my 207 and that seems to do the job pretty well. obvious problem is not being able to get into the boot very easily but is very easy to take off.

I would say if you do get one for the rear make sure it is a high mount otherwise you will need to get a light block number plate holder.

 

[wafflycat]

If you can, get a towbar-mounted cycle carrier.

 

[Bromptonaut]

Always thought the bikes look precarious on the towball/tailgate mount types and that the rack itself needs to be removed and stowed while parked.

I'm only 5' 8'' and slight too but find roof bars pretty easy to use albeit on a Xantia on which the suspension can be lowered by a few inches for loading. Takes four bikes (you need to alternate the direction), no troubles with lighting and the better ones lock to the roof bars. Need to be careful about weight though, some cars have a roof load limit as low as 50kg.

 

[Scoosh]

Always thought the bikes look precarious on the towball/tailgate mount types and that the rack itself needs to be removed and stowed while parked.

I recently bough a towball mounted 3-bike carrier that locks on to the ball and can be tilted down (but doesn't hit the ground ) to enable access to the boot/tailgate - if I had a tail gate, which I don't - as I have a LR Disco, with a very large rear door !

Got it from Roofbox Co, in their sale - half price and the 3rd bike carrier cost 1p - really

Just need to remember not to reverse too close .....

 

[wafflycat]

Always thought the bikes look precarious on the towball/tailgate mount types and that the rack itself needs to be removed and stowed while parked.

In that case you're mistaken.

Towbar-mounted bike carriers are locked on to the towbar, so can be left on as required. Add on to that that, certainly in the case of the one I have, the bikes are secured at three points (each wheel and frame) on to the carrier, and that I've been to Italy, Germany, France... with the bikes on said carrier, plus it has a tilt mechanism so that I can still access the boot of the car when it's got a loaded bike carrier on it. It's the best thing I ever had done in terms of getting up to three bikes where I need them to be. The bike carrier I've got has been used several times a week for several years without hassle, taking bikes up and down the UK (my son competed in time trials) with no hassle, no damage to bikes, no security problems, no car access problems...

Putting the carrier on the towbar is easy, and removal when required is easy - plus when I want it on there, it is padlocked.

 

[wafflycat]

I recently bough a towball mounted 3-bike carrier that locks on to the ball and can be tilted down (but doesn't hit the ground ) to enable access to the boot/tailgate - if I had a tail gate, which I don't - as I have a LR Disco, with a very large rear door !

Got it from Roofbox Co, in their sale - half price and the 3rd bike carrier cost 1p - really

Just need to remember not to reverse too close .....

Did you get the TradeKar SilverBike II with third bike adapter?

 

[BMR]

I am 5ft 10", got roof bars mounted on the roof rails of my 2000 Mitsubishi Shogun SWB and carry a small pair of folding steps in the back so I can reach the bikes on the roof, I have 3 bike carriers on the roof bars the outer 2 lock onto the bikes. Its a mighty tall set up but at least nobody messes with the bikes. As has been mentioned before, you have to remember they are up there otherwise you end up with a pile of scrap metal.

 

[Danny]

Agree with wafflycat that toe bar mounted ones are best, and in addition to the reasons she mentioned, tests by Which magazine a few years ago showed they had the least affect on fuel consumption.

However fitting a tow bar is expensive if you haven't already got one, so for that reason I got a Sarif Bones which I think is a lot better than other rear mounted racks I've come across.

 

[Over The Hill]

I would not have one that clips onto a tailgate as it was not made to take the load. Some tailgates are plastic and it is madness to hang a bike on them.
I have settled on a roof option but got some really rubbish bike holders that take ages to put on (about eight bolts on each one) so if I have to I just lay them flat on norman roof bars, taking off the bottom pedal first.

That however may not be the ideal solution as your car is very tall. It is a bit of a job with a normal height car.

So that probably leaves you with the ball fitted rack. But if you have a towbar then will you not be towing at the same time?

When we used to go camping in France with a Pug 205 we used to put two bikes IN the boot. Wheels off and bars turned round. If you only have one bike it would be quicker just whipping the wheels off and bunging it in the back than it would strapping it on and off any rack.

 

[Scoosh]

Did you get the TradeKar SilverBike II with third bike adapter?

Yup It's a solid bit of kit which doesn't fold up for easy garage storage but otherwise a great deal