I'm wondering what my bike rack choices are - Have just fitted a genuine armature and have bought a fixed plate towball as opposed to the swan neck removable one.

I want to be able to carry 4 bikes and preferably one that won't take up much storage space in the garage.

There appears to be a choice of either a towball mounted rack (expensive) or the towball mounted hanging carrier (cheaper)

Does anyone have any experience of either type fitted to the fixed plate towball ?? Stolen / Gone: 2006MY Supercharged LPG Autobiography - Zambezi Silver with Sand/Jet/Jet Oxford Leather.....

This is what I use. Far superior to either of the genuine offerings.
http://www.maxxraxx.co.uk/racks/prem_max5_flange.html

Ive got a Thule one. All I can say is that it is excellent. Full electrics and it drops to allow tailgate to open. Mine can hold 3 bikes but you can get a 4 one too. Shopped around for a bit and managed to find a brand new one one fleabay 100 quid cheaper than the stores. Takes 2 mins to put on/off.  2006 MY Autobiography. With 'toys'
Honda ST1300 Pan European

Gone
Jaguar 3.0 SE X Type
Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird

TJF by the way for anyone who knows what that means.

That looks like exactly what I'm after - thanks !! I presume its the Premier one that you have ?

Can you still get into the boot with it fitted ??? Stolen / Gone: 2006MY Supercharged LPG Autobiography - Zambezi Silver with Sand/Jet/Jet Oxford Leather.....

I also have a Thule one, clamps onto the towball and is easy to use. Drops to allow you to open the tailgate etc. Was about £130 from Halfords earlier this year. Only holds 3 bikes, but they do a 4 bike version as well.

For storage it is currently hanging on a hook on the wall of my garage.

CG-SC wrote:

That looks like exactly what I'm after - thanks !! I presume its the Premier one that you have ?

Can you still get into the boot with it fitted ???

Yes and yes. Premier and it pivots (remove one wing nut) to allow boot access. Also can have extensions if you need to tow and carry at the same time. See here, not the best pic but the only one I have.

Click image to enlarge

Stored in a bag (supplied) which hangs up in the garage. No space at all TBH.

Now that is one impressive looking set up - cracking looking caravan.........very expensive looking set up, twin wheeler and FFRR !

Is your towbar the drop plate or the swan neck ?

First purchase will be the bike rack, caravan soon hopefully Stolen / Gone: 2006MY Supercharged LPG Autobiography - Zambezi Silver with Sand/Jet/Jet Oxford Leather.....

I have both types of towball, this is on the flange plate but Maxxraxx also do one which fits the swan neck. Same rack but different mounting foot.

HTH.

I have the Maxx Raxx too on a drop plate tow bar.

Works great - particularly if you want to tow at the same time

I did need to put a spacer plate on though & tape some foam around the upright pole as it touches the bumper - not a problem though.

I also have a couple of the ski/snowboard adapters which work nicely.

Google "Buzzrack" I got one and it seems fine, straight on the towball and very secure Geoff

I was thinking of one of these -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-BIKE-TOWBALL-T...965wt_1139

Last edited by Johnte on 29th Dec 2011 9:28pm. Edited 1 time in total

A mate of mine has the Thule version of that one Johnte - works really well but only on a swan neck tow bar - doesn't work with the drop plate.

Forgot the OP said -'fixed plate towball as opposed to the swan neck removable one. '

Ive got the Witter 4 bike rack, its about £70 from PFjones, but it only works if you have their towball I think

it was the cheapest decent solution I could find for towing/bike carrying at the same time, about £190 all in cheers
bogie

Alistair wrote:

I have the Maxx Raxx too on a drop plate tow bar.

Works great - particularly if you want to tow at the same time

I did need to put a spacer plate on though & tape some foam around the upright pole as it touches the bumper - not a problem though.