I've got a bike rack on the back of my van which is fine for 'normal' wheel sizes. However, I want to carry my fatbike on it, and the rails are waaay too narrow for the tyres making it difficult to stabilise it.
I've spotted these - https://www.1up-usa.com/product/roof-rack/ (with their fatbike spacer kit) - which look spot on as a replacement for one of the rails... although they're in the US and don't appear to offer international shipping.
Anyone seen (or can recommend) anything similar in the UK?
Ta!
I'm sure that this issue had come up before.
Have tried asking on the UK Fat Bike forum?
>>Have tried asking on the UK Fat Bike forum?
Nope... first stop is always here! :o)
I'll track it down.
The UK Fatbike Forum is defunct.
Just a quick update if anyone ever runs into this thread...
Seems like my immediate options are:
1) A length of guttering attached to the existing rails into which the tyres will fit (cheap, but probably looks a bit cack).
2) A Thule 598 plus the Fatbike adapter (about £100 all in) - will probably grab one of these.
3) Having one of those racks and fatbike spacers shipped to the UK from 1UP in the US ($220 ish for the rack/spacer and they've just quoted me $120 ish for shipping, not including customs charges - so at least £260 total)
Ta!
If roof bar based is an option then look for the Yakima fork chop that works with every wheel/fork size. Looks a solid option.
Thule 599?
Tow bar and a Velospace would be ideal but £££
I use my normal Fiamma rack and attach two wheel straps together to make one big strap. Tyre sit on rail, rather than in, but works brilliantly with 4" tyres - you've probably got what you need already.
Tyre sit on rail, rather than in, but works brilliantly with 4″ tyres – you’ve probably got what you need already.
+1
do this on my thule, works great especially with lower pressures in the tyre as it wraps itself around the existing channel. survived 6hrs on the back of the car from midlands to Edinburgh via motorway and dodgy surfaced country roads
On my Buzzrack towbar mounted rack I have used some guttering and a set of straps from ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Super-deal-Replacement-Bike-Carrier-Rack-New-Straps-x6/291762973641
On my Fiamma rack, I bought the Thule Fatbike kit from Amazon for £17, and it is ziptied with kidnap strength zipties to the Fiamma rails. Works perfectly.
Atera rack has an option for extended straps for up to 4inch wheels. Certainly miles easier to attach than my buzzrack, and lighter too.
However it doesn't feel as solid so i put an extra strap round the BB to the rack which works. The wheels have sort out chocks for the space of the wheelbase rather than the tyre sitting in a channel.
Too expensive really, but great for access to rear doors of the van.
Thule 958 + Fatback adapter wheel trays or
Thule 918 Velospace
The last of the Thule 591s works with a fat bike - they had more "L" shaped wheel supports, rather than "U" shaped ones. The straps aren't long enough for 4.7" tyres, so I just use short luggage straps threaded through the plastic strap holders. Has been rock solid for me.
Not a current model, but you might find stock somewhere.
>>On my Fiamma rack, I bought the Thule Fatbike kit from Amazon for £17, and it is ziptied with kidnap strength zipties to the Fiamma rails. Works perfectly.
Aha - good thinking! Seemed a bit of a shame to swap a perfectly good rail for a new one. I’ll try this first.
Ta!
How Fat do you mean?
3" bikes fit snuggly in this rear rack.
Thule 598. Standard straps removed, wheel sits in standard plastic holder (although I have broken two, they are fragile!). Have put upto 4.8s on this way. Then I bought a load of old skool toe straps off eBay to secure. Been all over the place with this setup.