As the title really. We are going camping in June with the kids and were wondering the best to carry two adult and three kids bikes. I have had a look at the rear mounted bike racks but don't want to end up with my tailgate scratched to hell.

Anybody have any suggestions as to my best option? Don't know if this is relevant but probably I will use for a week camping and then remove and then 6months later might do the same. So I will be fully removing any mountings in the interim.

Many thanks, Bruce

You might be best off putting 2/3 on the roof, then hang the other two off the back. Get a bike rack that fits onto/over the towbar ball. You might need to get a "proper" towbar hitch where you bolt the ball on, and not use the default detachable swan neck type. .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Towbar mounted rack with a number plate + lights. Cover the bikes using a large plastic sheet, some bungee cords and some foam pipe lagging. Done this many times in many cars and it keeps the bikes from getting covered in road crud too. If the kids bikes are small enough just take the wheels off and they should fit in the boot.

Hire/purchase cheap bikes when you get where your going... Maybe not as daft as it sounds! by the time you have purchased a towbar, a towbar bike rack, a roofbar system, mounts locks and god knows what else...

£20/30 per week to hire sometimes works out better if they will also deliver/collect afterwards...




Craig

Depends how much your bikes are worth? I wouldn't want to use a hire bike instead of one of my bikes. It'd be like hiring a van for the holiday instead of taking the RR.

as the 'bike' season is nearly upon us i'll move this the the appropriate section.. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
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TheAllSeeingPie wrote:

Depends how much your bikes are worth? I wouldn't want to use a hire bike instead of one of my bikes. It'd be like hiring a van for the holiday instead of taking the RR.

Yes but if i wanted to move a large item ide hire a van for the day rather than risk wrecking my FF moving it! Same applies here...



Craig

Goatboy1972 wrote:

As the title really. We are going camping in June with the kids and were wondering the best to carry two adult and three kids bikes. I have had a look at the rear mounted bike racks but don't want to end up with my tailgate scratched to hell.

Anybody have any suggestions as to my best option? Don't know if this is relevant but probably I will use for a week camping and then remove and then 6months later might do the same. So I will be fully removing any mountings in the interim.

Many thanks, Bruce

...... in a VAN....

I use a towbar mounted bike rack which has the lights and number plate built in. Plenty of variants available. Mine takes four adult bikes. Really good.

Thule do several models that can take 5 bikes. Graham

____
Gone: 10MY L320 RR Sport HSE, Ipanema Sand
Gone: 20MY Jaguar iPace HSE, Silicon Silver
Gone: 17MY RR Evoque SE Tech, Loire Blue
Gone: 08MY Discovery 3 XS, Stornoway Grey
Gone: 07MY FFRR TDV8 Vogue, Stornoway Grey

Will my car have a detachable tow bar automatically and if so where would I find it. Also are the electrics prewired?

No, and no. You need four bits (armature; towball; electrics kit; and ECU). Dan at Duckworth (site sponsor) can sort you a price out. Graham

____
Gone: 10MY L320 RR Sport HSE, Ipanema Sand
Gone: 20MY Jaguar iPace HSE, Silicon Silver
Gone: 17MY RR Evoque SE Tech, Loire Blue
Gone: 08MY Discovery 3 XS, Stornoway Grey
Gone: 07MY FFRR TDV8 Vogue, Stornoway Grey

hang on graham, the previous owner might have had a towbar fitted ...... not an 'automatic' option granted..... ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Ah yes, fair point... Graham

____
Gone: 10MY L320 RR Sport HSE, Ipanema Sand
Gone: 20MY Jaguar iPace HSE, Silicon Silver
Gone: 17MY RR Evoque SE Tech, Loire Blue
Gone: 08MY Discovery 3 XS, Stornoway Grey
Gone: 07MY FFRR TDV8 Vogue, Stornoway Grey

Fitting a tow bar just to carry bikes is going to be a mighty expensive option !

Craig makes a very valid point unless they are very good bikes hiring some when you get there may work out cheaper.

Somewhat depends on the frame sizes & shapes too - I've got a set of Thule roof bars & bike carriers but that won't work for smaller kids bikes. I've also got a MaxxRaxx tow bar mounted carrier that will take 5 but they need cross bars.

Both solutions work well but you're probably looking in the order of £3-500 for a roof based system & £1000 if you need a tow bar fitted......

Goatboy1972 wrote:

Will my car have a detachable tow bar automatically and if so where would I find it. Also are the electrics prewired?