Skodas and tow bars

[wfdTamar]

Very tight fit to get to smaller bike on. I had to lift the seat and even then it a hell of a struggle. I have to hold the bike in place, push down on the rubber mounts, get the cross bars in place, then clip the cross bar on.



(I put the foam knee pads in there to lift the cross bar up to show how much room there is).




Really difficult to mount both bikes in this arrangement.

[wfdTamar]

Finally got them on, but hardly any ground clearance.

Put the small bike next to the car. They go on a bit easier, but still bad ground clearance. I could take the front wheels off, but even so the ground clearance will not be good enough.




Here’s what happened going out my driveway gutter for a short test drive. This is a very shallow gutter, but still the bikes hit the road and the bars almost cracked the rear window. I’m not sure if that’s a permanent mark the handlebars made in the window or the finish from the handlebar end caps.

Finally - take the bikes front wheels & mudguards off, raise the seats to get the bikes on the racks, then lower the seats to raise the rear wheels off the ground. Turn the handlebars sideways. Then try to get the tight light board arms in the holes. There is NOTHING Xpress about this product. Except maybe putting the rack on the car.

It is really not suitable for modern mountain bikes.

The photo makes it look like the wheels stick out miles - it's only about 150mm at most.





So yes, it’s a working bike rack, but it’s a right royal pain in the bum to get the bikes on and off - and it has to be done to get access to the boot (which I did know, but I was under the impression it was easy). Should have got the Westfalia BC60, or Thule Euroride 940 (though this has put me off Thule stuff).

[brad]

I'm sure you've tried it a million ways but what happens if you remove the font mudguard (you don't need a front guard anyway) on the big bike & mount the arm in the V between the fork & the bottom frame rail? That will lift the front up a lot higher & get the handlebar away from the window.

Sorry it hasn't worked for you. I think I tried 3 different hanger style racks (two owned by friends) before i bit the bullet & found a workable ride on tyre mount solution.

One of the guys I work with has the Thule 912XTR ride-on. It's really good & even easier to use & mount the bikes than my Torpedo7 unit.

[donweather]

Geezus that looks like a mission. Thule really haven't considered different bikes much have they!! Why do they have the horizontal bars so far apart? I don't get it?

I'd be selling that one on ebay real soon and going for something that fits your particular bikes way better. But I see from your euro style of towbar your bike rack options are limited.

BTW I think the way you've got the bikes in your 2nd last pic above might be considered illegal? Can you have objects protruding 150mm out last the width of your car like that? I know they don't allow any width overhang on things on your roof.

[wfdTamar]

You missed where I said I take the mudguards off (easy - just press a tab both sides of the fork and they slide off). I reckon lifting the big ike up like you suggest will throw the front wheel out even further and lower the rear wheel too much (I'll have a go though). Might work if I also put the seat rack arm under the top bar of the bike (lift the whole bike up a lot).

This rack would work ok for older style road bikes that have plenty of room under the top bar (and old school size bars). Aluminium frames mean bigger bar sections which complicates things.

There are a few options to fit the Euro bar (mentioned some earlier). I think I'd go with the Westfalia BC 60 if I want something better.

That second last pic is a bit fish eye lens-ish. It doesn't actually look that bad. Though it does protrude out about 200mm when I looked from the front.

[Gerrycan]

Since you only have two bikes, have you thought about putting them inside the car?
What I do is take off the front wheel and saddle stem of each bike, a two minute job.
Then I put down the back of one side of the rear seats, usually the double but I can get away with the single (extend the headrest beyond the seat to get it lying flat.
Put the bikes in inverted so the handlebars support them upright. One facing forward and one back and overlapping.
Secure with bungies and padding if necessary.
Attached is a video review of Polo and Jazz, halfway through they show three mountain bikes fitted inside the Jazz and seating three people.
Honda Jazz v Volkswagen Polo comparison review

[wfdTamar]

Yes, I was doing that until the rack arrived. I want to have them on the outside for travelling (when the car has other stuff in it) Also so I don't have to worry if they're muddy.

Someone at Thule Australia suggested turning the rubber mounts on the rack arms (didn't know they did turn) and mounting the smaller bike higher up under the lower frame bits.

[Gerrycan]

Yes, I was doing that until the rack arrived. I want to have them on the outside for travelling (when the car has other stuff in it) Also so I don't have to worry if they're muddy.

Yeah, I forgot it sometimes rains in other parts of Australia.

[wfdTamar]

Ok, it worked without the cross bars/adaptors and turning the rubber mount things, but the weight of the bikes pushes the two arms apart then it's a bugger to push the light board into them (which has two arms that go inside the racks arms).

[Lawson123]

Hi Guys,

I have the genuine 13 pin to 7 pin cable, but it wields out with my LED lights and the lights just flash (brake light works indicators don't), has anyone encountered this before? is it something that can get coded out or do I need another adaptor?

[wfdTamar]

LED lights on the trailer do you mean? If so, I believe you need a resistor in the trailer light circuit to increase the apparent current draw.

A quick Google found this. Haven't read through but I think it's the issue

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f75/trailer-light-issues-31703.html

I reckon it'd be cheaper to put globe lights on the trailer than buy the proper 'dummy load' thing.

[Lawson123]

Thanks mate, I searched and couldn't find it.

Kind of annoying as I switched from globes to LED's just before I bought mine

[wfdTamar]

Handy Hints – REDARC Electronics

Trailer Lighting - REDARC
Not sure if these are the right things (I'm just quickly Googling), but they're expensive. I'd be checking on UK sites (Briskoda) as they usually come up with a cheaper fix.

LED Load Resistor - Products - Narva

Another pricey option
LED Trailer Adaptor Module European and UK - 2. 4x4 Accessories - LED Trailer Adaptor Modules - 4wd Recovery Gear | 4wd Accessories | 4wd Equipment and Camping Gear Australia | Axe and Shovel Holder | Combo Shovel | Camping Lights | Tyre Deflators |

[Mysticality]

You need these:

http://etime.com.au/led-autolamps-lr12-2-12v-load-resistor.html

2x 2 pack.
One each for: tails; brakes; left indic; right indic.

[harlie]

Far less pissing about if you just replace the LEDs with globes. You will also re-gain the light test functionality, which is what makes the LEDs flash. When an adapter (or resistors) are used the test functionality is now testing that the resistors are there.