[Closed] Which towbar mounted bike carrier?

I like the Hollywood racks

http://www.hollywoodracks.com/hitchRacks.html

www.aistoncycleracks.co.uk

The best I've used by a mile which include pendle and thule. The wheel support rack is super solid and easy to use. 3 of my friends now have them after seeing mine.

We have a pendle 3 bike rack which is excellent.

I have one in the garage, a witter one, if you want?

I've had for a couple of months now a Thule Euroclassic G5 909 with an adaptor for a fourth bike (as yet unused).
http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4.php?query=TU909&vptype=&emulate=accgen&qty=1
I bought it as having had a little halfords hanging off the back thingie, I wanted something that I trusted to stay put. (Spent more time looking in my mirrors worrying about the bikes than looking where I was going)!
The Thule is very solid, it weighs about 20Kg, which does make it a bit of a lump to carry in and out of the shed, and to get on and off the car, but feels very secure indeed and doesn't move about at all, even when driving a little [i]enthusiastically[/i]. It's nice that it locks to the towbar, and the same key locks the outermost bike to the rack. I know that the locks aren't brilliant, but it's hopefully a little extra deterrant.
The only downsides (apart from price) are that it's all too easy to put the thing down on those very fragile looking lights (havn't broken one yet - fingers crossed) and i have broken a plastic moulding in the clamp mechanism - it still works, but I 'spose it gives me a chance to find out what Thule's customer service is like.
When I bought it I tried to get it from my Lbs, but stock wasn't due for months, so I got it from the website above, at about £100 cheaper than the bike shop was looking for, and would recommend them as nice people to give your money to.
One other thing - I really like the wheel support style of rack, it just seems so quick and easy to load compared to the hang on varietys that I've come across.

I use a 9503, it's excellent, and was just under £100 from TowEquipe on ebay. I got that because it was much cheaper than the euroclassics (although looks much worse!), and seemed to be much lighter, and as we only have a fiesta I thought I'd try and minimise the weight hanging off it.
You have to be clever putting three bikes on there (like bike Tetris), and a few strategically placed bits of pipe lagging works well too just to stop any damage.

Had a Thule one for a few years and its great. Very solid and does not move. Used it on a regular basis in the UK and for our trips to the Alps. Usually has four bikes on it

[img] http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=ytz2sb&outx=600&quality=70 [/img]

Tracey

I have the 9503, easy to fit but as chimpymcchimp says you will need a few bits of pipe lagging to stop the bikes rubbing when you have 3 on it. For the money it's hard to beat.

All,

Thanks for the responses.

Haddock - appreciate your offer (which I presume also included some cash from me ;-)), but I believe that the Witter ones do not have the tyre wheel 'bits' otherwise I'm sure we could come to some arrangement.

Aiston going to get a look as will the Thule 9503.

Oh - will have to accomodate 2006 Giant Trance and similarly top-tubed bikes - which I presume won't be an issue with the Aiston and Thule 9503?

having tried several, we bought a Thule Eurocalssic 903
http://www.thule.com/Thule/ProductPage____83176.aspx

This takes 3 heavy bikes (up to 60kgs total), and is rock solid. Several Alps trips with DH rigs have proven its ruggedness.

My only quibble (and this is something you should check whichever rack you buy) is that the bikes are placed very close to eachother and rub/scratch. The 'separation' between the bikes is not wide enough and needs to be about another 2ins between them.

This can be solved with copious amounts of pipe lagging, but it's an annoyance.

I have a brand new Thule Rideon 9402 which is neither use nor ornament on my Mercedes Vito. As the back of the van is literally vertical, the bars of the first bike hit the back door. On a hatchback or similar this isnt a problem but it is on my brand new vito.

Never used and yours for half price plus whatever delivery costs. Lets say £50 + Delivery

Aiston will be fine with any top tube type. I had the pendle equivalent before and the aiston is better than it in every way for less money. It's much more solid and sturdy than the pendle.

Echo everything Ben_mw says as i've got the same rack. it is very expensive but functionally is very good. I wanted wheel support, not hanging bikes and it is easy (if heavy) to put on and take off. Only issues I've had are niggley things, the exhaust has warped a bit of the plastic in one place (the instructions say don't put the rack anywhere near the exhaust but you have no choice where it sits), one of the blanking plugs fell out and I've had to screw it back on and the wires keep coming off the retaining clips (sorted with cable ties). A bit annoying considering the cost but not enough to make me regret buying it.

Ours is the Euroclassic with the fourth bike carrier. no problems with attaching the bikes by the top tube [always put smallest bike on first].
Bikes are a bit close together but we use high density foam, £1 a pack, to put between the bikes as find this is more durable than pipe lagging.

Tracey

Atera Linea for us - similar to the Thule Euroclassic i think. Has a nifty function which means you can pull it back and open the boot with the bikes on

ermmmmmmmmm Tracey - we always go biggest bike first, and it's a bit fiddly. Think I'll try your method.............

I've got the Thule Ride On. Used it for trips to the Alps and around the UK and it's a pretty sturdy piece of kit.

Benz - no its not like the one in the photo, so prob not what your after, its just sat in garage though waiting for a new home. 😉