Cycling UK Forum

I would like a carrier to fit onto the towball of our Clio. I want it to be of the sort that the bikes stand on by their wheels. I don't like the idea of "hanging" bikes! I only want it for two bikes, and I've found this one on the web:
http://www.leisureshack.co.uk/osb/itemd ... 079/Cat/18

I took a ride down into Plymouth today, (and home a different route to bump up the mileage to 40+) and called in at a trailer place in the town. They quoted for a similar one £168 plus VAT !!!

I said I'd think about it ...

Anyway, what do you good people think about the Thule 9402 if found for £67.95? (a much better price, I think!)

I know a few that have this carrier, and they absolutely rave about it's sturdiness and ease of use. And at that price....
As for Thule kit, I have a set of 20-y-o handed-down roof bars with a new bike kit for the roof - the build quality is tremendous!

See if you can check the length of bike wheelbase that it will adjust to. I could not find this info on their web site.
Looks very good I have a Pendle 4 wheel and find it heavy this cuold be nicer to use.

Hi there,

I have this one here:
http://www.skidrive.co.uk/cycle/cyclefo ... tno=THL971

Bought it of ebay for £30! And it had the optional extra locking 'arms' so you have some security when you leave the bikes on the rack.

Ski drive also have a slightly better price for the 9402 your looking at, not sure about postage though.

Bear in mind because it sits on the round towbar, it isn't rock solid, on mine the seller provided 2 ratchet straps he bought to use with it, and I use them to secure the rack left and right to the bottom of the car, and then ratchet it tight, otherwise it alarmingly rotates on the ball.

EDIT: Skidrive appear to have free delivery!

Cheers

Dan

Hi Mick,

Don't know if you have thought about this but in the past I have mounted bikes on the back of the car until somebody ran into the back of us when we were off on our annual cycling holiday. It trashed the bikes and the holiday. If the bikes were on the roof we would have ended up with a dent in the car bumper but would have been able to continue with our holiday. Subsquently I always 'top' the bikes now.

Cheers

Baldric

Thanks for all the replies and advice. I've ordered one, and struck whilst the iron was hot, so to speak. Wish I'd waited, coz the Skidrive one is cheaper! Oh well. Anyway it should be with us on Monday.

It's a very good point about being hit from the back. I never thought about that. I have a hatred of roof bars since we had a full roof-rack going on holiday and went over a hump-back bridge a little too fast, the rack came adrift and badly dented the roof! That's the trouble with 'modern' cars - no guttering to mount one securely. (That is unless you have the bars already there by design)

As for security on the ball - we'll see. I have ratchet straps if required.

Thanks again, and I'll report back with a update on it's first outing!