E Bikes
We are seriously thinking of buying two E bikes next year to take with us, we cant do it this year has l have to have some treatment in hospital later this year. Our dilemma is how to transport them, two e bikes will be too heavy for the rear of the van, dont like that idea anyway. Don't think its feasible to carry on the car roof, l have Santa-fe which wood mean taking steps with us, anyway l think it would be to difficult to maul them up. l believe theirs carriers for the A frame but l think this would make it very difficult to stay under the 100kg limit if was possible at all. The only way l can see is to load the car up with all the heavy essentials out of the van and transport the Bikes inside, it would mean looking at securing them and of course protecting the interior. We have Coachman 460 VIP so their should be enough room slightly forward of the fridge. Has any one else transported the E Bikes and how, your idea's would be appreciated
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Have you thought about folding e-bikes that you could put in the load area of your car?
David
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Before we moved to a MH we did indeed transport 2 full sized eBikes.
At first we had a Kia Sedona (really miss that vehicle) we had a rack that fitted on the back tailgate and the bikes went on that.
Then we changed to a Ford SMax (why oh why) couldn't carry them on the rear door so had to have a towball attachment fitting, we had a 'Witter' one though other makes are available. The bikes sit on 2 arms that come out of the uprights, depending on the bikes you can either fit them at an angle (we did) or you can buy a clamp on cross bar and fit them straight across the 2 arms. Its just a matter then of securing them in place with the straps etc.
If you go for this method then yes you do have to watch the tow ball weight and be careful when doing tight turns.
While we were away recently we saw a 'Brit' carrying his 2 eBikes inside his caravan as you suggested. He had what looked like a Thule type bike rack that fits on the tow ball, the type with rails. He somehow fitted this on the floor inside the caravan between the front seats. Then he put the bikes on the rack and secured them in place.
His tow car was a Mercedes and while on site he fitted the bike rack to his car and then loaded the bikes and would go out for the day with them.
Hope some of this helps.
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We have a couple of folding E-Bikes which go in the garage of our MH in "carry bags". I use that term loosely as you wouldn't want to carry them far. You could probably wedge them between the front settees but, given the parsimonious payloads on most caravans, you may be struggling with your MPTLM as you would be adding something of the order of another 45-50 Kg.
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how heavy are these bikes? Could they fit on a bike rack at the rear of the caravan? Swift have attachments points already there on their current models
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Corners, a "standard" E Leisure Bike (non-folding) will come in between 25-30 kgs. Most have batteries that can be detached. These will weigh about 2-3 kgs so reducing your overall load by up to 6kgs for 2 bikes.
There's no way they should be carried on the rear of a caravan. Wouldn't want to load my van by 40-45 kgs for 2 bikes.
With regards to transporting bikes in general in the caravan then please note we regularly do this with 2 normal adults bikes, weighing about 26 kgs in total. Mrs WN made a cover that fits over the carpets and the sides of the squabs. I put the bikes in front wheel first and arrange them so that the rear tyres are touching but the bikes are leaning against the squabs. No need for special carriers. a block of wood or a mat will stop them rolling but we've often not bothered with anything and they remain in situ.
We are also contemplating the same thing as Heethers and having the same payload problems. Don't really want fold up bikes. Will have to try figuring something out.
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Agree with the thrust of this thread i.:
Inside caravan has too much impact on payload (although severe pruning into car may work - is it worth it)
On rear is a non-starter IMHO (and others)
On tow bar/A-frame would probably take up far too much of towbar vertical loading (unless capacity is above 100kg?)
On rear of car restricts access to boot and has problems with large angles between car and caravan.
On car roof is only real option but getting them up on a tall vehicle can be difficult.
If you definitely can't use standard roof bars and vertical mounting with a pair of stepladders (we use caravan step ad work as a pair to get bikes onto S-Max roof)
There are other systems that allow horizontal mounting or possibly pulley systems that aid lifting. I've seen them but sorry I don't have any idea where they can be seen.
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Thinking of buying a roof box and carrying caravan spare wheel in that, freeing up about 14-15 kgs of payload which with some judicious pruning of personal effects could have the desired effect. Will have to think about a bit more and see if Mrs WN will consider staying on Naturist sites.
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Thanks for all your suggestions, we two want the crossover type bike, l have seen the Thule A frame type but with just normal bikes on them, having said that the one l saw carried 4 bikes. l will find out the actual weight from Halfords without the battery in situ, just maybe by removing the two calorite bottles and loading everything in the car we may just achieve the 100kg. The Santa - FE takes 110 kg tp 120 KG,definately takes 100 kg. Won't give upon it yet, thought about going down the Motorhome route but we do love to have the car to get about, wouldn't even contemplate towing a car at the back of Motorhome. We will see how things pan out
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I have a Santa Fe and we managed to find two used (separate deals) of the roof-mounted Thule spring loaded lifting cycle racks. They are pulled down, the bike is hooked on via handlebars and saddle, and the lifting bar then takes the weight to lift the bikes on to roof. I only have to guide not lift. Reverse action is true to unload. Ours are not electric bikes (yet) but I would be happy to use these racks for e-bikes (without battery).
I’m not sure these cycle racks are available in U.K. unless - like me- you trawl the secondhand sites. Maybe they are on retail sale on Europe. Sorry, I have no idea of model number etc.
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Heethers, as you know we are going down the same route as yourselves.
We took the caravan to the public weighbridge today, after having their confirmation that it was okay to do so, and we were astounded by the findings. The MIRO works out considerably less than that advised in the Lunar handbook. We have had a motor mover fitted and left the battery in situ but if we deducted the weight that these 2 items come to and added in an allowance for a gas bottle then we have sufficient leeway to include 2 e-bikes plus quite a bit to spare!
We have an official certificate and have weighed everything that we would normally carry and can now plan for carrying the bikes in the caravan as we have previously done with non e-bikes.
I would suggest that you may want to do the same. It didn't cost us anything so another bonus. Good luck whatever you decide.
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Thanks where next but l think l am going down the roof route looking to see if the volvo rack can fit to the santa fe or if Rhurle or Fiamma do one but at least l know we could fit it in the van if needed. its off for service next monday l will ask them to check it for me they have weighing equipment. looking at the weight of the e bikes without the battery in situ will be about 22 Kg. So which ever way l go it will be ok
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Glad to have helped, Heethers . I just hope you can find one or two if you need, as each lift is for a single bike. I searched eBay for some few months to find, and then two separate ones came along (like buses!)
btw, they fit on most rails. On my Santa Fe I have the Hyundai ones.
if you do find any new ones, I would be interested in knowing where, as I could do with a spare part. I lost the hook part which holds the handlebar on one rack, and have had to fashion an alternative, but I would like to get a new part if possible.
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Having done more investigation, the 2 E Bikes we intend to buy weigh in at 21 Kg each without the battery making a combined weight of 42 Kg, if we put everything in the car food awnings and most heavy equipment l calculated we could make the 100 kg nose weight comfortably.
l finally found that Thule do an A frame bike carrier that fits the A frame that will take two E bikes maximum weight of 60 Kg. Question anyone on here fitted one, the instructions l have down loaded from Thurle shows removing the cowl on the A frame or drill 4 holes through the cowl so has to take the u bolts, however my cowl is raised and has the two side steps built in so l would have to remove it, the cowl comes in two parts front and rear, the front where jockey wheel and hand brake are. l wouldn't want to remove this one for appearance sake. On Thurles instructions l cant find the distance from the back to the front of the carrier so l don't know if their will be enough clearance between the front locker and the front cowl. My Van is a 2014 Coachman 460 VIP has anyone fitted one of these racks its Thule superb short V16, l am due on Monday for a service its possible the service centre will know the answer but would rather try myself, help would be appreciated
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