Skodas and tow bars

[brad]

BTW I need a 4 bike rack.

If you go with a 4 bike rack ensure the bike rack has sufficient weight carrying ability.
The max ball weight on the Craptiva is 200kg and the Outback was 180kg and the bike rack was 80kg max weight of bikes.

If you've got 4 good bikes then it's fine but if they are k-mart specials then they are likely to be heavy dungers.

My 2007 full suspension x-country bike was cutting edge in it's day & weighs 16kg with pump/tools, underseat carrier, etc. My daughters Merida is 17kg & the other 2 bikes are big, cheap porkers.

[roshea]

I thought as much. Thanks. I'll have to look for another bike rack option that can tilt or swing off a ball fitting. Most tilt options say the bikes must be taken off first, as does the Thule one, but then the instructions go on to describe how to do it with the bikes on. It does have a picture of an arm with very big bicep beside that diagram though...

BTW I need a 4 bike rack.

The Thule Euroclassic (3-bike) carrier might suit your needs. You can get a 4th bike add-on for it. I have the model below this (Euroway), which clamps to a towball attached to my HR 40 mm hitch and folds down for access to the rear of my wagon.

[donweather]

Wow that's an impressive Thule bike rack but bugger me the price is outrageous!!!

[roshea]

Wow that's an impressive Thule bike rack but bugger me the price is outrageous!!!

Yep, you'd want to be using it a lot to spend that much. I think the Euroway (now their 2nd model down) was the only one of that type they offered when I got it. Mine wasn't awful value compared with other "standing on the wheels" options - a lot of the others don't include lights or a rego plate holder, so you have to buy those separately.

[Paul_R]

I was looking at the expensive Thule just this morning. Yes it is very expensive. I don't think those support straps will attach to the top of the boot door because of the spoiler. It and the Mont Blanc version look like closest to fitting the bill. I'll keep looking and report back if I find a winner.

[wfdTamar]

Have a look on Amazon.co.uk to see the variety of other brands available. Might be worth getting one from Europe.

[GTR27]

Is there a non phalic bar available? Like a hr?

[Paul_R]

I think I have this right:

You can't have a 50mm square flange bar because the car is only rated to 1500kg braked, 660kg un braked. This is what determines what bar you can have. I think you can fit a HR LR, or class 3, 40mm square flange bar in a legal sense but it may require cutting of your rear bumper. If you fit it below the bumper you'll get a bill from the council soon to repair all the gouges in the roads round your way.

Ball weight is still the standard 75kg so my 20kg super expensive super deluxe Thule bike carrier and 50kg of bikes (that's for 4 bikes. I've weighed them) will be fine on the phallic OEM job.

If you do find a workable 40mm flange option can you report back please? It opens up some cheaper bike carrier options. Cheers.

[brad]

How about this?
Towbar hitch adaptor for Hayman Reece pull out type towbars - Frontline Trading Pty Ltd


You aren't the first with the issue

Australian Cycling Forums - Tow hitch bike carrier 40mm

Aussie company 4 bike carrier fully customisable starting at $835
iSi Advanced 4x4 Bicycle Carrier and Bike Rack Systems

[Paul_R]

I've just been through the 206 HR catalogue...
Looks like a class 3 40mm square flange is a goer and you will have to cut the bar. The Occy 3 isn't in the catalogue yet but all the stats for the Occy 2 indicate they can do it.

I haven't looked through those bike carrier links yet but thanks.

[roshea]

I got a HR towbar on my MY10 - info and pics here:

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f149/skodas-tow-bars-12005-post1017553.html#post1017553

[donweather]

Great finds there Brad!!! I searched high and low for the towbar hitch adaptor (40-50mm) when I was looking at bike racks and couldn't find one. That certainly seems to be the cheapest way to go.

[wfdTamar]

Just got an Amazon Germany email about various bike racks. Can't tell how some attach (tow ball or hitch), but might be in the page description. You need to go through to the point where you tell it your address to see if they ship to Australia, find the shipping price, and see if the item price gets reduced as they take off German VAT/GST.

MFT 180 Euro (156 Euro shipping) A$442 total
MFT 8200/BL Fahrradheckträger Multi-Cargo2-Family: Amazon.de: Auto


Thule EuroRide 940 257 Euro (114 Euro shipping) A$475 total
Thule EuroRide 940, Anhängerkupplungs-Fahrradträger: Amazon.de: Auto


Thule 920020 EuroWay G2 920 343 Euro (110 Euro shipping) A$574 total (once you go through checkout the German VAT gets taken off)
Thule 920020 EuroWay G2 920 (Version 2014) Anhängerkupplungs-Fahrradträger: Amazon.de: Auto


Westfalia 350030600001 345 Euro (150 Euro shipping!) A$632 total
Westfalia 350030600001 Anhängekupplungsträger, Universal: Amazon.de: Auto

This looks like the BC 60 model (gooseneck ball attachment) shown here:

Cycle Carrier BC 60 – Westfalia-Automotive

[wfdTamar]

cheap 50mm 4 bike non swinging bike carrier $129 shipped!

4 Bicycle Bike Rack Hitch Mount CAR Carrier | eBay

[brad]

Top hanger are no good for many bikes as the frame shapes are too varied. I really doubt you could actually fit 4 bikes on it and not cause scratches with the frames rubbing.