Fiamma Lift-77 on a Lunar Champ

Driver Pete
Driver Pete Forum Participant Posts: 14
edited October 2016 in Motorhomes #1

I'm due to pick up a Lunar Champ A551 in a few days, but the fitted bike rack will not be suitable for our 2 e-bikes. Can I fit a Fiamma Lift 77 e-Bike to it?

Has anyone done this?

 

Thanks,

 

Pete

Comments

  • Existedsteed
    Existedsteed Forum Participant Posts: 15
    edited October 2016 #2

    This probably wont annswer your question but Im collecting my new Chausson in two weeks and it is being fitted with the Fiamma Lift 77 - I'm not sure what peculiarities that  you forsee  that would prevent  fitting the same to your Lunur

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2016 #3

    Why will your E bikes not fit on the standard rack?  are they not the profile of most cycles?

  • Driver Pete
    Driver Pete Forum Participant Posts: 14
    edited October 2016 #4

    Why will your E bikes not fit on the standard rack?  are they not the profile of most cycles?

    Thanks for the quick reply. It's just the weight. The fitted rails are around 3 feet off the ground and a bit of a struggle for heavy e-bikes, even with the batteries taken out.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2016 #5

    Why will your E bikes not fit on the standard rack?  are they not the profile of most cycles?

    Thanks for the quick reply. It's just the weight. The fitted rails are around 3 feet off the ground and a bit of a struggle for heavy e-bikes, even with the batteries taken out.

    ..If they are that heavy check what a rack will take, and the fixings on the M/van,as i think most racks are 30kg max and some a lot less

  • Driver Pete
    Driver Pete Forum Participant Posts: 14
    edited October 2016 #6

    This probably wont annswer your question but Im collecting my new Chausson in two weeks and it is being fitted with the Fiamma Lift 77 - I'm not sure what peculiarities that  you forsee  that would prevent  fitting the same to your Lunur

    The standard mounting holes are 50cm apart, vertically and the Fiamma requires a minimum of 68cm, so I'm not sure if I can make new holes or if it makes it a non-starter.

  • Driver Pete
    Driver Pete Forum Participant Posts: 14
    edited October 2016 #7

    Why will your E bikes not fit on the standard rack?  are they not the profile of most cycles?

    Thanks for the quick reply. It's just the weight. The fitted rails are around 3 feet off the ground and a bit of a struggle for heavy e-bikes, even with the batteries taken out.

    ..If they are that heavy check what a rack will take, and the fixings on the M/van,as i think most racks are 30kg max and some a lot less

    The Fiamma rack will take 2 x 30kg bikes. Our bikes are probably 20kg each, without batteries (which would be stowed uinside). I'm not sure what the back wall will take.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2016 #8

    This probably wont annswer your question but Im collecting my new Chausson in two weeks and it is being fitted with the Fiamma Lift 77 - I'm not sure what peculiarities that  you forsee  that would prevent  fitting the same to your Lunur

    The standard mounting holes are 50cm apart, vertically and the Fiamma requires a minimum of 68cm, so I'm not sure if I can make new holes or if it makes it a non-starter.

    ...The back of the M/van may only have strenthend points where the standard rack is fitted,if going down your route it might be worth an email to Luner?

     

  • Allyns
    Allyns Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited October 2016 #9

    Hi Driver Pete. I had exactly the same concern as you. I emailed RoadPro and Andy Harris recommended a system that is fixed to the chassis and not the back wall of my motorhome. It will easily take the weight of our 2 electric bikes and doesn't risk any
    damage to the rear wall. I keep the batteries in the motorhome garage when not in use and have installed a power point so that they can be charged on a timer when not in use. The rack folds flat if you decide not to carry the bikes with you. The rails that
    the bikes rest on is about knee high off the ground which makes lifting the bikes on and off much easier. That's a big bonus as far as I'm concerned. The system can also be transferred to another motorhome if you decide to change vehicle. Might be worth contacting
    RoadPro for a quote and to see if the system would be suitable for you? I'm very pleased with it and it caused no problem when touring France earlier this year.

  • Driver Pete
    Driver Pete Forum Participant Posts: 14
    edited October 2016 #10

    Hi Driver Pete. I had exactly the same concern as you. I emailed RoadPro and Andy Harris recommended a system that is fixed to the chassis and not the back wall of my motorhome. It will easily take the weight of our 2 electric bikes and doesn't risk any
    damage to the rear wall. I keep the batteries in the motorhome garage when not in use and have installed a power point so that they can be charged on a timer when not in use. The rack folds flat if you decide not to carry the bikes with you. The rails that
    the bikes rest on is about knee high off the ground which makes lifting the bikes on and off much easier. That's a big bonus as far as I'm concerned. The system can also be transferred to another motorhome if you decide to change vehicle. Might be worth contacting
    RoadPro for a quote and to see if the system would be suitable for you? I'm very pleased with it and it caused no problem when touring France earlier this year.

    Hi Annyns

    Thanks for the tip. I'll get in touch.

    Thanks,

     

    Pete

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2016 #11

    Pete, if you want a strong but low set rack, look at the towball mounted racks from the likes of Thule or similar...

    i used to put our electric bikes on the back of our Bolero onto the fitted Fiamma.

    our pals have just changed from a high mounted Fiamma (bit of a stretch) to a low towball mounted rack (piece of cake)Wink

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,864 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #12

    Hi Driver Pete. I had exactly the same concern as you. I emailed RoadPro and Andy Harris recommended a system that is fixed to the chassis and not the back wall of my motorhome. It will easily take the weight of our 2 electric bikes and doesn't risk any damage to the rear wall. I keep the batteries in the motorhome garage when not in use and have installed a power point so that they can be charged on a timer when not in use. The rack folds flat if you decide not to carry the bikes with you. The rails that the bikes rest on is about knee high off the ground which makes lifting the bikes on and off much easier. That's a big bonus as far as I'm concerned. The system can also be transferred to another motorhome if you decide to change vehicle. Might be worth contacting RoadPro for a quote and to see if the system would be suitable for you? I'm very pleased with it and it caused no problem when touring France earlier this year.

    Can you give a rough idea of cost of the Road Pro ones as clearly they will be more expensive than a Fiamma bike rake. AlKo also have a range of Sawiko bike carriers which I think cost about £1300. Been wondering whether that might be the way forward. Saw one in Austria, see picture below.

    David

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2016 #13

    doesn't the Sawiko need an Al-KO chassis to slot into?

    im not sure the Champ would be built on an AL-KO.

    a low set towball mounted Thule (or similar) would look, and work, pretty much lile the Sawiko. 

    of course, a towball (and fitments) has to be fitted.

  • rayjsj
    rayjsj Forum Participant Posts: 930
    500 Comments
    edited October 2016 #14

    Why will your E bikes not fit on the standard rack?  are they not the profile of most cycles?

    Thanks for the quick reply. It's just the weight. The fitted rails are around 3 feet off the ground and a bit of a struggle for heavy e-bikes, even with the batteries taken out.

    ..If they are that heavy check what a rack will take, and the fixings on the M/van,as i think most racks are 30kg max and some a lot less

    Write your comments here...not necessarily, both of my fiamma racks which were already fitted had a 60kg max weight limit. All depends on the type, and that the mounting points can take the weight. I had a large fiamma rear box on mine, nearly always loaded
    to max weight. 

  • Allyns
    Allyns Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited October 2016 #15

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqBeqiWr6Pw

    Memo M-Star 25300 Foldable Motorhome Bike Rack

    In reply to David Klyne's question about cost with regards to the foldable motorhome bike rack supplied by RoadPro I can confirm that I paid approx £1140 in January 2016. That price includes a reinforcement kit costing £256.50 and installation of £240. I drove to RoadPro's premises in Daventry and they let me have a free loan car for the day whilst they fitted the system. It took most of the day to complete all the wiring etc. The maximum payload is 75Kg which is more than ample for what I need. My decision to have a chassis mounted system was largely based on the uncertainty of suitable fixing points on the rear of my motorhome and a fear of 2 heavy bikes causing serious damage to the rear panel over a period of time. The margins of error were too close for comfort for me personally. That, combined with the low level loading, were what convinced me to go for this system over the other options. Not the cheapest option but I'm really pleased with the decision I made. The rack is robust, solid, transferrable and folds flat if not needed. I understand the system is imported from The Netherlands and with the current exchange rate the price may well have gone up somewhat. A link to a utube video showing the rack appears at the top of my comments. Hopefully you will find it useful.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,864 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #16

    Allyns

    Thanks for the extra information, most useful. Road Pro loaned us a car when we had our satellite dish fitted there.

    David