Rear mounted bike rack.Good or bad idea?
Hi all,
I'm new to the touring game.I bought a new swift challenger 590 last year.This year I'm looking to take the bikes with us on holiday. As of yet I don't have a bike rack but my van has the thule mounts, and according to the manual I could fit the thule elite g2 rack.However, there is some info online stating that bikes on the back of a tourer can be dangerous due to the extra weight on the back. Surely this is not the case otherwise swift would not include these mounts in the first place?
I would be looking to buy the rack plus extra fittings to carry 2 adults bikes and 2 kids bikes.
Does anyone have experience or offer advice on this subject Please?
Comments
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Many will say you shouldn't put a bike rack on the back of a caravan but our Dutch and German chums do it all the time. You obviously have to check carefully that it does not unbalance the overall weight distribution of the caravan. One thing that concerns me about what you have said is that you want to put four bikes on the rack, albeit two of them childrens bikes. I think that could be pushing things too far and would suggest alternative travelling arrangements for the childrens bikes, either inside the caravan if you have sufficient payload (same would apply if you had them on the back) or perhaps in the car.
David
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" I'd suggest Many will say you shouldn't put a bike rack on the back of a caravan but our Dutch and German chums do it all the time "
David, the vast majority of them would be Continental 'vans.
I've carried two adult bikes on a Fiamma rack on the A frame of my old Hymer but have no chance on this new Coachman, it already tows most unstable, wouldn't even consider putting a rack on the back.
Another David, but did you tow all those miles with the rack on the back of a UK 'van David ?
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Basically weight at the back is bad as it can create a pendulum effect so needs to be added with care. Your caravan though is a fairly heavy one so some leeway is possible. You do need to look at the weight of the rack and bikes and make sure that the weight is balanced out. I do doubt though if four bikes at the back is sensible, but a couple of lightweight ones might be in order.
Do remember the bikes have to be included in your weight allowance though and if you have clothing and other things for four people on board then I am not at all sure you will have the capacity. You might however be able to increase the allowance but would need to go to Swift through your dealer.
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Personally if there was the possibility of a decent fitting to the rear of the 'van and with the proviso that a nosweight over 85kg (for example) was also obtained via loading I would be happy to hang two bikes on the back. I would not wish to carry more. The two childrens bikes I would probably choose to carry on the roof.
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I have the rear mounted option but choose to mount on the car roof as the MTPLM is already very limited on most vans and very few will have weight to spare. In addition, it also depends on the weight of the bikes. Mine is a fairly expensive bike and is 8 Kg, whereas my wife's is double that.
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The first step is to contact swift about this and read the vans manual. I'd love to be able to fit them to the rear of my van, but am unable. Weight wise, yes some adjustment will be required. Just watch how heavy the bikes are.
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Thanks for all the feedback folks. think im going to go ahead and order the thule elite g2. will use this for 2 bikes only and maybe look at a bike rack for the roof of my car to fit alongside the thule roofbox i already have. this would take care of the 2 adult bikes and the kids ones can go on the back of the caravan.
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This question crops up every couple of months and you will always get people arguing from either side of the fence.
The theory is that putting weight at the ends of a caravan is not a good thing.
But I can only speak from experience. We have had two caravans (Abbey and Swift - UK manufactured) over a period of 20 years and both had rear mounted bike racks.
I can honestly say that there is no difference in the feel when towing, whether the bikes are fitted or not. I do not believe that it has any effect on stability.
I would say that this is by far the best way to carry bikes - they can be loaded in advance of setting off, they are out of the way, they are safe from damage, it's a useful place to store them on site (we have a wire rope and padlock)......I wouldn't do it any other way.
All that said, we have two bikes. Four bikes does sound a bit much, even to a hardened fan of this method of carrying bikes.
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Whilst I accept the evidence of users that cycle racks are fine for use over thousands of miles, I cannot accept that they have no effect on the margin of stability over a van without.
IMHO it is going to be under what I call "Two Factor" conditions that an instability is more likely happen, i.e. speed a bit high during overtaking AND a sudden gust of wind etc, etc.
Obviously with extra care this won't happen but there is a definite reduction in the margin of stability with a load at the extremity of the van.
I think your two cycle (say 40kg although the Elite G2 which is recommended has a max loading of 60kg which is possibly half your payload?) limit is at the top end of sensible (safety) with adjustments to ensure that your MTPLM is not being exceeded (safety and legal)
Obviously that's just my opinion and others are entitled to theirs.
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Thats the bike rack ordered. so thanks very much for all the replies, hints and tips.
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No Ianh. I settled on the g2 elite standard and im only planning on putting the 2 kids bikes on it. they are fairly lightweight so shouldn't pose too much of a problem .I'll need to suss out a roof carrier for the 2 adults bikes. Hopefully ill find a rack to go alongside the roofbox I already have.
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Try :
The Cruz bars and cycle rack have covered long distances across Europe and have been fine for us.
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Just bought a new 2.2 elx Auto has anyone towed a Swift Conquerer with one .. ?or coachman vip.?
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Phil, I suggest you repost in the towcar section where you're more likely to get replies.
Perhaps you could tell us what a 2.2 elx is as I've no idea.
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I would not recommend carrying 4 bikes on a Thule cycle rack on the back of a caravan. Instability may occur and it will have an adverse effect on your van's weight allowance .
Much safer to mount the bikes on a bike rack on the roof of the Towcar.
K
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The towing limit at 3,500 kg is irrelevant as you should not tow a caravan exceeding the cars kerb weight. Probably with this tow car your main problem is that even if the rack and bikes weight only 40 kg this is a large proportion of the allowance which is generally fairly tight and could easily put you over the MTPLM and make the outfit illegal and put your licence at risk.
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