Carrying Electric Bikes

onepjg
onepjg Forum Participant Posts: 282
edited August 2023 in Parts & Accessories #1

Hi All

After thoughts and advice on carrying 2 electric bikes. If both options were available would you use rear wall or towbar mounted ?

Comments

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,383 ✭
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    edited August 2023 #2

    My thinking would be it would not be so high to lift bikes onto a towbar mounted rack compared to a wall mounted one.

    peedee

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,134 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2023 #3

    Weight will play a large part in the decision. What weight can the rear wall support? What extra weight can the rear axle bear? Remember to include the weight of the bike rack or towbar. And, as PD alludes to, can you lift the bikes up to a rear wall mounted carrier?

    The chassis of the MH, ie if it is an Alko extended chassis, and placement of underslung tanks may impede the fitting of a towbar. Likewise, the structure of the conversion, including any rear window placement, may preclude the fitting of a bike rack and the bike rack itself needs to be of sufficient capacity to take the weight of e-bikes.

  • wh1nbrew
    wh1nbrew Club Member Posts: 86 ✭
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    edited August 2023 #4

    It is not clear if the question is referring to a MH or a caravan.  If a caravan, there are a couple of other recent /current discussions.  If a MH, then comments as above.  FWIW some friends of ours recently bought ebikes, and have noticed the back wall of their MH bulging due to the extra weight of the bikes compared to their pedal bikes - so now have one inside and one on the back wall rack rather than buying a towbar and suitable rack, also avoiding the extra length.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,134 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2023 #5

    It’s a MH, Wh1n.

  • onepjg
    onepjg Forum Participant Posts: 282
    edited August 2023 #6

    This will be our first MH. The MH we are close to buying has both already fitted. I’ve always looked at bike racks on MHs backwall and felt that it must put significant stress on the wall, and therefore potential damp implications.

  • Whittakerr
    Whittakerr Club Member Posts: 3,472 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2023 #7

    Is it?  The OP profile says caravanner. 

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,134 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2023 #8

    You haven’t read his other threads or the post above. Granted, the opening post could have been a little more explicit.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,031 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2023 #9

    Tinwheelers post tells it all, it’s all about weight. If your MH has a long overhang behind the back wheels, then the additional weight on the back wall will be magnified, as the vehicle pitches up and down. 

  • onepjg
    onepjg Forum Participant Posts: 282
    edited August 2023 #10

    Sorry wh1nbrew, I should have been clearer. I am talking about a MH. We’ve sold the caravan and are in the process of buying a MH.

  • wh1nbrew
    wh1nbrew Club Member Posts: 86 ✭
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    edited August 2023 #11

    onepjp - The only comment I could make in that case is if you decide to go for a towbar mounted rack, then make sure it is rated for ebikes, most of them appear not to have to load capacity.  And be warned, our Thule car tow bar for ebikes weighs 16 kg on its own, and as a result of a dodgy back, it takes the pair of us to put it on to make minimise the risk of me putting my back out again.  So the tow bar itself will need a suitable load capacity to cope with this.  Happy cycling.  

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