Advice required on Car Cycle Carrier Please

noonoosdad · Post by **noonoosdad** » 24 Feb 2008, 11:14am

I am thinking about buying a cycle carrier for my car which is a Renault Laguna Hatchback and already fitted with a tow bar. Having looked on the internet there seem to be two sorts, those which hang off the back of your boot with straps etc and ones which clamp onto the tow ball. I favour the latter which looks like it will cause less damage to the boot. Can anyone recommend a cycle carrier - probably need one for carrying a maximum of two cycles.

Biscuit · Post by **Biscuit** » 24 Feb 2008, 11:39am

Reconsider the 'halfords' item, I bought one to hang off the back door of an Espace. Halfords items seem (like so many other's) to be built down to a price rather than up to a standard. The various fixtures and fittings did not last long e.g. the 'tensioner' was a mixture of plastic and metal engineered to last for about 3 - 6 cycles of use......... With the carrier hanging off the 'boot' the back door/hatch is rendered unusable. With a carrier on the tow hitch it may still be so without 'expensivo' hitch mount that swivels or folds.

I would go for a 'roof mounted jobbie' but then you've poss' got issues with car parks and height restricitons......

Good luck and you may not need reminding that you pays your money and you takes your choice..........

Post by **Mick F** » 24 Feb 2008, 11:45am

I couldn't recommend mine highly enough. Fits easily on the tow ball, tips when you want to open the boot, even with two bikes on.

I found that when two bikes are on, they rub against each other, so padding and extra straps are required.

http://www.leisureshack.co.uk/osb/itemd ... 079/Cat/18

It comes complete with everything, spanner, electrical fittings and lights, number plate mounting board. All you need is a number plate!

(We picked up a polly bag en-route!)

noonoosdad · Post by **noonoosdad** » 24 Feb 2008, 11:52am

Mick F wrote:I couldn't recommend mine highly enough. Fits easily on the tow ball, tips when you want to open the boot, even with two bikes on.

I found that when two bikes are on, they rub against each other, so padding and extra straps are required.

http://www.leisureshack.co.uk/osb/itemd ... 079/Cat/18

It comes complete with everything, spanner, electrical fittings and lights, number plate mounting board. All you need is a number plate!

(We picked up a polly bag en-route!)

That looks really quite good - I take it, it just clamps straight onto the tow ball itself or does it need any kind of special adaptor. Also, do you need to buy any extra accessories for different makes etc ?

wrangler_rover · Post by **wrangler_rover** » 24 Feb 2008, 12:02pm

If you choose one that hangs from the hatchback, go for the "Hollywood" brand, they are built like a battleship, quick & easy to fold, the tubes are like scaffold poles.
They're not cheap, mine for 4 bikes (yes, I've carried 2 x adult & 2 childrens bikes on the boot of a cavalier) cost me £65 in 1996 but it's paid for itself & saves me having to fit towbars to my cars.
I recommend that you look on ebay.

Post by **Mick F** » 24 Feb 2008, 12:15pm

noonoosdad wrote:That looks really quite good - I take it, it just clamps straight onto the tow ball itself or does it need any kind of special adaptor. Also, do you need to buy any extra accessories for different makes etc ?

Yes, it clamps straight onto a standard tow ball. No accessories needed.

The rack is light enough to carry with one hand, just sit the fitting onto the ball, square it up and finger tighten the bolt. Finish off with the spanner supplied.

It won't "droop" as the fitting is specially shaped to support it. Providing the bolt is tight, it doesn't twist or move in any way. I stood on it and bounced around. Solid as a rock.

Nothing else is needed, only a number plate.

Just done a search to find my posts about it:
http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t ... ht=carrier
http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t ... ht=carrier

Good luck!

hamster · Post by **hamster** » 24 Feb 2008, 10:28pm

I'd second Mick F. I have a similar one (Dutch origin) and it's absolutely solid. It's also easy to lock the thing onto the back of the car, so preventing theft.

I've had a strap-on one slide sideways and cause 500 quid's worth of damage to a bootlid.

I do like the San Remo type roof racks, but they are probably worse on fuel consumption and it's harder to lock the bike.

thirdcrank · Post by **thirdcrank** » 24 Feb 2008, 10:41pm

This is one type of equipment where a trip to Halfords can be useful. They do quality stuff as well as the cheaper, and even if you don'y buy there you can get a good look at what is available.

Just to be thread to needle over accessories, to be legal you do need a proper lighting board (as illustrated in the pic above) for number plates etc.,so that nothing on the car is masked by the bikes. A tied on number plate or worse won't do. I'm not sure how much this gets enforced in the UK but they do say that the French police sit by the road out of Calais waiting for UK drivers with number plates partly hidden.

Halit Osis · Post by **Halit Osis** » 26 Apr 2008, 3:44pm

Thule 9403 carries 3 bikes, available from halfords

thirdcrank · Post by **thirdcrank** » 27 Apr 2008, 11:54am

One for sale here

byegad · Post by **byegad** » 27 Apr 2008, 3:51pm

Halit Osis wrote:Thule 9403 carries 3 bikes, available from halfords

I've got one and can't recommend it enough.

gilesjuk · Post by **gilesjuk** » 27 Apr 2008, 4:30pm

I have a Thule as well, I'm considering replacing it with the Pendle equivalent for a couple of reasons.

1. The Thule requires you to hold your bike while attaching the straps, which is easy with a lightweight bike on an even surface. With a MTB on a slope it's fiddly.

2. If one of the wheel straps fails the bike will move around a lot.

The Pendle carriers have adjustable wheel holders that hold the bike in place while you fit the straps.

james01 · Post by **james01** » 28 Apr 2008, 9:01am

Just a quick word of warning, ref towbar carriers: the standard 2 bolt towball seems to be being replaced by the swan-neck type. The older design was easier for fitting accessories & it's worth confirming that whatever you buy will be compatible with your vehicle's towing system.

byegad · Post by **byegad** » 28 Apr 2008, 4:10pm

james01 wrote:Just a quick word of warning, ref towbar carriers: the standard 2 bolt towball seems to be being replaced by the swan-neck type. The older design was easier for fitting accessories & it's worth confirming that whatever you buy will be compatible with your vehicle's towing system.

Good pint. My Thule 9403 fits a Swan neck. I can't remember if they offered a 2 bolt option.