I currently have a Mondeo Estate with an Atera Strada Evo 3 (with 4th bike adaptor). When the kids were on smaller bikes (16 & 20” wheels) I’d put our bikes on the rack (boost spacing 29”) and the kids bikes in the boot. I generally didn’t bother putting the kids bikes on the rack as it meant taking pedals off/turning bars. I was hoping that once they moved onto bigger bikes they would tessellate more readily and I could use the rack for all of them. I’m finding with my daughters 24” cub scout though that there isn’t enough clearance to do this (I don’t want to be padding between bikes).
I saw Mark’s glowing review of the Thule EPOS and was wondering about upgrading to one of those, I’d really like to know if shelling out that much though that it could fit 3 boost bikes with ease. I’d like to eliminate faff as much as possible, it’s tricky enough getting everyone geared up for a day of bike riding without 30 mins of bike twister. So no padding stuff, no turning bars, no removing pedals.
I note that the EPOS only takes 4 bikes though, which ok I could live with, I could put another bike in the boot or buy a roof carrier for my roof bars for when I need the boot space. The alternative is I buy another 4 bike rack, like the BuzzRacer 4, but again what is the spacing like on these? Is the spacing reduced in order to build something that will take 4 bikes? Another worry is nose weight on the towball, I could buy a 4 bike rack but am I actually going to be comfortable driving around with 4 bikes on it? Even with 3 bikes on the Strada and the boot loaded with camping gear etc… the Mondeo sits pretty low at the back. We could be in the market for a new Estate though, Mrs Mat is keen on a Superb and I note the 2015+ model has a nose weight of 140kg vs. the 90kg on the Mondeo, maybe this would be less of a concern on a different car?
Part of me is considering a box trailer (security, keeps road salt off bikes, could load up night/day/week before setting off on a journey) but lets not explore that here!
I appreciate I can look at schematics and get spacings online but I’m aware that is not always reflective of the real-world experience! I’m guessing lots of others have been through this so interested to hear your thoughts!
Roof rack ! I get 4 trail bikes up there easy !
Although a roof rack and one of those "old frail people's bikes" (hee hee) might be a bit tricky due to weight.
Clicked to say roof rack - so much easier.
Not great for fuel economy but I could get 4 bikes on roof of my Honda civic no problem.
We could be in the market for a new Estate though, Mrs Mat is keen on a Superb and I note the 2015+ model has a nose weight of 140kg vs. the 90kg on the Mondeo, maybe this would be less of a concern on a different car?
If you go down that route - you 100% want to get something with Air/Self Levelling. So E Class, 5 Series, A6, V70 etc. It makes such a difference to fully loaded touring.
Superb Estate is on steel coils unfortunatley.
I also have the Atera Strada and hate it with a passion. We've had it ~12 years and even when the kids' bikes were smaller it wasn't great.
I think all 4 bikes are now boost and fairly long. Oh, and on a van the handlebar length also becomes an issue.
If we're going somewhere with a full van then I remove my front wheel and put my bike on first with the forks resting on the wheel slot. ( handlebar obviously turned)
Then chuck the wheel in the van.
The other three bikes just fit on with some messing
Not ideal, but the only option I have found ..
Boost, long and chunky everything has made our previously spacious Thule 4-bike rack too tight.
I think if I did things again I would go a three bike rack on towball, but only two bikes. Plus two bikes on the roof.
I don’t want to be padding between bikes
Why not? I've been doing that for years. Pipe lagging is your friend.
roof rack. and don't cheap out on the bike carriers.
I’d just be buying a Van…
Ditto, oh I did! 😀
I don’t want to be padding between bikes
Why not? I’ve been doing that for years. Pipe lagging is your friend.
Old kip mats are great for this as well, or the foam mats that connect like jigsaw pieces.
I also have the Atera Strada and hate it with a passion.
OMG - you're the first person I've ever seen who has shared this view! I bought my old one on the back of stellar reviews and despised it. I didn't realise that such hate could be directed at an inanimate object. Sold it last year when we had no need for it anymore. Was a happy day...
I’d just be buying a Van….
Owned a van for about 9 years now and yes, I'd lie if I said I didn't keep looking at huge luxury estates but then I go for a days riding and the ability to lob the bike and loads of gear in, ride, lob it all straight back in and drive home etc after I've got changed in there etc is absolutely brilliant. The fact you can sleep in it etc too is even better...
I think if I did things again I would go a three bike rack on towball, but only two bikes. Plus two bikes on the roof.
This is where I’m expecting to be heading in the next couple of years (luckily 1 child still has a small bike). As good as vans are, they just all seem like piss poor value these days, especially when you consider the interiors are still plasticky/basic unless you spend ££££
If you go down that route – you 100% want to get something with Air/Self Levelling. So E Class, 5 Series, A6, V70 etc. It makes such a difference to fully loaded touring.
there's no need for self levelling. the weight of a few bikes on the back is way less than 3 fat blokes in the back or a couple of hundred kilos of luggage in the boot, admittedly there's more leverage but it doesn't cause any harm for the car to be sitting a little lower in its suspension travel
Some over-zealous speed bumps and ferry ramps might have something to say about that
Buzzrack Eazzy 4 here on a V70. Comfortably get over 50mpg with 4 full size bikes, family of 4 plus dog and roof box. It’s a brilliant rack - cheaper than a Thule (or at least it was).
I'm in a similar situation, I've a Mondeo Estate MK4 with 4 29ers (one Ebike) and big teens.
I think I'm going to get a Buzzrack. This thread is useful:
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/anything-better-than-a-buzz-rack-e-hornet/
A crew cab van (for 4) would swallow all the kit but the costs of a reasonable spec is crazy and they're a long way from having the comfort of an estate car on a long run.
Me and my mate still swear by our saloon cars with roof racks. 4 bikes, 4 blokes and gear in boot, travelling in comfort. Another mate has a Passatt estate with bikes on top, and the boot swallowa all the camping gear - more so than his friend's SUV's.
Van otherwise or some such.
I'm looking at a van/van sized people carrier for more camping/rides/swims, and it would be easier in a van.
Going to see how we cope with camping this year, just two of us, as kids are adults, but bikes, big tent, sup, and stuff. If bikes, my car is used as the rack fits. No bikes, Mrs SUV (same size as my car) is used. If we start to struggle, then it's a van - it would only be used for trips, not commutes. My car is getting old (22).
5 people and 5 lls mountain bikes on our C Class estate (4 bike roof rack another strapped between two bikes it wasn't going anywhere) and a boot full o'stuff. Nothing other than an estate suits our use case; SUV too tall for mrsfoo to get bikes on, van too big for our tight parking and who really wants a van for day to day family usage - oh and I wanted leather, air con and auto.
Our bikes live in mud so they are outside vehicle bikes not inside. We rock up at trails and are unloaded and away before others manage to get the wheel on the one bike they keep in the trunk. Ok it might be nice to have a van to change in on return but I'm starting to think my family would be shameless naturists.
We're very happy with our L200 doublecab pickup for this purpose. Swallows the 4 of us, bikes over the tailgate and all the prerequisite kit with no issues.
I have the Halfords advanced 4 bike rack - bought as it was cheap 🙂
Holds 4 bikes easy, but you will need to modify to fit 29 inch wheels but that's simple enough. The rack is cheaper than the Thule extra bike extension! Cheap and cheerful - does the job
I had a similar dilemma recently when I was looking to upgrade our old 3 bike Buzzrack, I did a lot of research focusing on the gap between bikes. The rack with the biggest gap is the Buzzrack E-Scorpion https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php?46987, add the 3rd carrier and you have loads of room. We had to get 5 bikes to the Alps last summer so I had to put 2 on the roof, but normally there's only 2 to 3 bikes to transport which is why I went that route.
Maybe 2 on the towbar and 2 on the roof? I doubt you'll get 4 on the towbar without lots of paint damage and swearing.
My sister has the latest most expensive Thule 3 bike carrier (Easyfold XT3 I think ), it cost twice as much as the Buzzrack and they can only put 1 boost bike on it before axles start clashing.
Cykel (or Whispbar, or whatever they call themselves now) 3+1 towbar mounted carrier on a Mazda 3. It's tight, and I did scrape the bottom of the tow hitch going up Hard knot, but it works. Car-wise, the Mazda's hopeless compared to a decent estate (miss my old Mondeo..).