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Tow Bar Bike Carry... Which one / advice
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Tapered Man
 


Member Since: 18 Feb 2010
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 14

United Kingdom 2010 Discovery 4 3.0 TDV6 XS Auto Santorini BlackDiscovery 4
Tow Bar Bike Carry... Which one / advice

Any advice / opinions on which is the best Tow Bar bike carry?

I have the 'Tow Pack' detachable tow bar and would like to carry upto 4 bikes?

I recently saw what I think was the 'Thule euroclassic' which looked a good bit of kit, well made and tilted to give access to the boot.

Has anyone had experience of these?

What stops them tilting to the side? Do I need to modify the tow bar?

On research they seem expensive (£350 ish).

Any veiws/advice would be appreciated
 Golf R32 gone... bring on the mud and ruts  
Post #6325976th Apr 2010 6:08 pm
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Alex08
 


Member Since: 09 Nov 2006
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 1600

Scotland 

Thule or Altera Strada are the most commonly used. I have the Thule 903 with 4th bike option. It hasn't fallen off yet. Yes, they are expensive, but then so are all your bikes/no claims/points on your licence if they all fall off! Best get a good one.

If buying again I would probably get the Altera as the sliding mechanism to access the tailgate is better than the Thule if you have the 4th bike fitted.
  
Post #6326736th Apr 2010 7:50 pm
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Sturge
 


Member Since: 02 Nov 2005
Location: West Chiltington, West Sussex
Posts: 872

United Kingdom 2014 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Lux Auto Causeway GreyDiscovery 4

I have the Altera Stada. Use it for 3 bikes , but have the 4th bike adapter.

I struggle a little to get bikes interlocked ok, but used it a couple of times in the last few weeks and am getting the hang of it now. What I do like is the way it slides away from the car, so I can get proper access to the boot to put the dog in.

Load all the bikes up then slide it away from the car very easily.

I have struggled to work out how to get four bikes on, but managed it in the end. I think some pics in my gallery. I'm doing four bikes - large mans, womans, and two childrens mountain bikes. Gets a bit tangled with handlebars etc.

However, it is very easy to put on the car, takes only a few minutes, and the number plates and wiring is all done already for you.

I use mine on the removable tow bar, and seems very stable.
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Post #6326816th Apr 2010 7:58 pm
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Alex08
 


Member Since: 09 Nov 2006
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 1600

Scotland 

Sturge wrote:

I have struggled to work out how to get four bikes on. Gets a bit tangled with handlebars etc.



Usually it is easier to turn the handlebars through 90 degrees for a couple of the bikes. Is possible to do this on most 'domestics'. If a couple of the bikes have this done, the remainder are easier to fit on.

Maybe not to the bike purists liking, but it works. If not, fitting 4 bikes on is a bit like doing a rubik's cube!
  
Post #6326866th Apr 2010 8:02 pm
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Sturge
 


Member Since: 02 Nov 2005
Location: West Chiltington, West Sussex
Posts: 872

United Kingdom 2014 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Lux Auto Causeway GreyDiscovery 4

Thanks I will try that. I have tried twiddling the seat. Maybe that handlebars would help as well (although need a allen key to do that I think)

Definately make it easier though. Thumbs Up
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Post #6326896th Apr 2010 8:04 pm
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Alex08
 


Member Since: 09 Nov 2006
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 1600

Scotland 

Most handlebars just need brute force - hold the wheel between your legs and twist the handlebars away from you. It will be stiff, but should go - more so on the smaller bikes. If needed you can loosen the stem bolt, but usually this is not needed. If so remember to take the allen key to retighten when you take the bikes off!
  
Post #6326936th Apr 2010 8:07 pm
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Sturge
 


Member Since: 02 Nov 2005
Location: West Chiltington, West Sussex
Posts: 872

United Kingdom 2014 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Lux Auto Causeway GreyDiscovery 4

Probably won't make much difference to the way the kids ride the bikes anyway - they change direction at randomn as it is Laughing
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TDV6 HSE (2006MY - owned for 9 years and 150,000! - now replaced)
Mini Cooper SD 5 door
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Post #6327086th Apr 2010 8:18 pm
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Inuit
 


Member Since: 31 Jan 2010
Location: North West Leicestershire
Posts: 65

United Kingdom 2007 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto Java BlackDiscovery 3

We bought the strada a few weeks ago and spent an hour working out how to get the bikes fitted, intially thought we had made a mistake buying it - the poles that attach the bikes are not telesopic or bendable so you have to work out a way of lining them up to secure them on a point on your bike. The first bike and pole fitted perfectly, but then my bike caused a problem, i tried to use the 2nd pole but because it has suspension it would not attach on a convient point, and made the bike lean and would have put too much stress on the wheels. Then we moved the bike around and my seat then hit the handle bars of the other and i did not want to mess about highering and lowering handle bars and seats. ended up using the third position/pole (which is fine for us as we only have 2 bikes). Every option intially the poles would not fit between the first bikes bars and the appeared the wrong length, but we perservered.

To get the best set up we ended up taking it apart and swapping over the order and position of the securing arms, not difficult to do as only a few screws. Once we had worked out the best set up it is an absolute doddle to use and well worth the intial messing about.

It is not cheap and we only have two adult bikes on it, but it is a solid piece of kit and you can open both the top and bottom tailgates which is what we needed as we need to get the dog in and out of the back, the clearance when it is slid down is brilliant, the dog likes plenty of room to get in and out.

It does not seem to rattle and it is really easy to get it to slide up and down, we do not have kids, but would imagine they could operate the slide feature easily. Fits on the towbar easily and really quick to put on and load up, fully lockable on the tow bar and on each bike and seems fairly secure, think someone would need to be determined to steal a bike from it.

It folds up quite compact as well and then just folds out and and secure a wing nut and you are ready to put it on the car,

Apart from the intial messing around would highly recommend this carrier

Click image to enlarge






Click image to enlarge


Really would recommend it, just allow yourself a bit of messing around to get the intial set up right.
  
Post #6327676th Apr 2010 9:16 pm
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riddicks
 


Member Since: 02 Mar 2006
Location: Chester
Posts: 43

United Kingdom 2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 S Manual Java BlackDiscovery 3

I went for the MAXXRAXX, basic components but holds 5 bikes well. If you have different sizes of bikes they can be tricky to mount together, a bit of a jigsaw puzzle. I needed a 5 bike carrier and at the time it was the only one available I think there are one or two more. I would recommend it for 4 for 5 bikes. You do need a full tow bar kit installed it's not advisable to mount it on the removable tow bar.

http://www.maxxraxx.co.uk/
  
Post #6327836th Apr 2010 9:44 pm
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mik
 


Member Since: 08 Feb 2010
Location: Skoatland
Posts: 912

Scotland 2012 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Auto Fuji WhiteDiscovery 4

For the eighteen millionth time I shall post a link to 10% off at roofbox.com should you choose to use them.

No affiliation etc etc.

CLIK
  
Post #6327926th Apr 2010 10:18 pm
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Gt.Mooglywoogly
 


Member Since: 11 Sep 2007
Location: Lt. Mooglywoogly
Posts: 147

England 2013 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Auto Orkney GreyDiscovery 4

Any chance of a close up of the fiiting that attaches to the bike on the atera ? I have a Marin Xc FRS and the frame is almost hexagonal and I wonder if the fitting will fit the frame.

Thanks
  
Post #6328006th Apr 2010 10:27 pm
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cooperman17
 


Member Since: 13 Oct 2009
Location: Leedsdale-on-Tees
Posts: 102

2013 Discovery 4 3.0 TDV6 HSE Auto Santorini BlackDiscovery 4

I have the Thule 903 with the 4th bike option (unused). Have used it for years for 3 full size mountain bikes. Expensive initial purchase but safe clean transporter worth every penny.

Can't comment on the Altera.
  
Post #6330527th Apr 2010 6:04 pm
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Tapered Man
 


Member Since: 18 Feb 2010
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 14

United Kingdom 2010 Discovery 4 3.0 TDV6 XS Auto Santorini BlackDiscovery 4

Really appreciate all the replies... thanks Thumbs Up
 Golf R32 gone... bring on the mud and ruts  
Post #6334968th Apr 2010 6:29 pm
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Sturge
 


Member Since: 02 Nov 2005
Location: West Chiltington, West Sussex
Posts: 872

United Kingdom 2014 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Lux Auto Causeway GreyDiscovery 4

boatienz

Don't know if this helps you. Few others in my gallery.

 TDV6 HSE Lux (2014MY)
TDV6 HSE (2006MY - owned for 9 years and 150,000! - now replaced)
Mini Cooper SD 5 door
TVR Chimaera 450
Series II 1960 Diesel 
 
Post #6335728th Apr 2010 9:11 pm
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mrandmrsh
 


Member Since: 25 Sep 2008
Location: Holmfirth
Posts: 487

United Kingdom 2008 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE Auto Tangiers OrangeDiscovery 3

Re: Atera, as Sturge's pic the locking band is basically what looks like a rubbarized plasticy band (actually has steel cable in it to make cutting it harder) that works a bit like a big cable tie only the lock unlock has to be manually switched.

The band that goes round the frame has a 'squishy' bit so you can pull the band tight. I reckon it would hold a frame whatever shape it was.

I am really pleased with mine, great and I have used it to carry other stuff as well.

Regards
C
 2012 Defender 110 XS Utility 2.2
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Post #6336048th Apr 2010 9:54 pm
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