Tandem on MONDEO HATCHBACK?

[lescargo]

I need to take my blind stoker's tandem to Semaine Federal 2018.
Current car is Mk4 MONDEO hatchback.
Previous car was MONDEO estate with full length roof-rails; lots of scope to spread load
of tandem.
The fixing points on current car are 30"s apart.
Guessing, because he and tandem 8mile away, tandem W/base to be (42" +24" for his long top-tube =) 66"
then wheels and weight will be applied 18" for and aft beyond the roof bars?
Not a good idea?
Would appreciate any clues/ info/ experience of this problem?

[meic]

I carry the tandem in a rather novel way on top of my Passat estate.
Two pieces of timber across between the roof bars as far apart as possible, then lash the tandem lying on its side to those pieces of timber.
I remove pedals, pilot's seat assembly inc stoker's bars and wheels to reduce the weight (so I can lift it up) and aerodynamic drag and so it doesnt scratch the car roof. The handlebar stem is slackened and bars rotated inline with the forks.

Securely lashed in this way it will stand up to the twisting effect from wind drag even with your very short distance between the supporting timbers, or you could "extend" the roof bars for and aft with something like angle-iron or box section bars to get a greater separation.
You may find that you can no longer usefully open the tailgate once the tandem is on.

I do mostly restrain my speed to 60mph with the tandem on the roof, especially bearing in mind how it ruins the cars aerodynamics and hence fuel consumption.

[John1054]

Used to carry our tandem on a Mirit rack (I believe these are now being made by another engineer, try Googling Mirit rack?). The tandem was loaded on the side of the car, then once fixed to rack, slid along the roof bars to be fixed by U bolts laying on its side, as per above post. we carried ours on a Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa and Renault Scenic in this way. Rack was supplied with hooks to fix to roof bars to facilitate side of the car loading. Good luck.

[iandriver]

If it hasn't got mudguards, I simply took the wheels off and put mine in the back of my MK4. They're massive with the rear seats down.

[pjclinch]

Took a Thorn Triplet for sale on a Skoda Fabia with roof bars. Pedals off, all bars to 90 degrees, laid on its side, mucho strapping. As long as rapid deployment not the order of the day this isn't hard.

Pete.

[rjb]

I've carried my tandem on various cars by fixing the tandem to an aluminium ladder. Rear wheel between rungs strapped on with toe straps and the forks minus front wheel bolted to a scrap hub secured to a convenient rung. The ladder being then toe strapped to the roof bars. I carried a small step with me to increase my reach, you learn to park near a convenient pavement to enable loading / unloading.

[roubaixtuesday]

I've carried a tandem on a Pendle rack on a Mondeo using roof bars. It was a while ago, don't remember the roof bar details, but I think you'd be absolutely fine. The main problem is lifting the thing on, they're rather unwieldy.

Similarly used on three or four other cars, with up to four other bikes in addition.

Once for complicated reasons, ended up without the Pendle rack, and lashed the tandem to the roof bars after removing the pedals; I think you'd be fine like that too.

I've also had a friend take a tandem fixed to a rear carrier with the wheels off to restrict the width.

http://www.pendle-bike.co.uk/shopping/s ... m-rack.php

[reohn2]

A friend of mine carries a tandem regularly on a Pendle upright roof rack on a Focus h/back and has drive to Italy with two tandems on it,both on Pendle racks

[lescargo]

Thank you all for prompt reply.
Its a re-assuring reflection of the comradeship and fraternity of our world of wheels.
I will, in next few days(not tonight anyway), reply to all your suggestions.
Thank you all!!

[Vorpal]

I have carried a tandem on the roof of a Fiat Punto without roof bars. I laid an old, thick blanket on the roof of the car, hanging off the back, then put the tandem up and shoved them both on together. Once in place, I strapped it down securely with cargo straps and bungee cords.

I did this a few times; it was our only car at the time, and I didn't transport the tandem often enough to justify the cost of roof bars and a carrier, even if I could get one to fit the Punto.

[hoppy58]

I carry our tandem on a saris bones rear rack, with the wheels removed and forks turned 180 degrees - it doesn't project out significantly further than 2 solo bikes with wheels on...I think the ruling is that it mustn't project more than 300mm..and it doesn't. Without its wheels, it's also lighter than most solo bikes (with wheels). I put the wheels in a cheap folding bike bag, in the boot so that the interior doesn't get too messy.

In the third picture, although the rear mech looks vulnerable, it's the angle of the photo - it doesn't actually project out as far as the wing mirror.

IMG_4418 by hop58, on Flickr

IMG_4420 by hop58, on Flickr

IMG_4419 by hop58, on Flickr