Had it loaded with 2 adult bikes, 14Kg trailer and Jr’s Islabike and when I bottomed-out a bit on a level crossing the arms bent a bit. There’s also signs of fatigue on other tubular members of the rack.
It’s getting on a bit and lives on the back of the van all the time. The strap ratchets are chromed plastic and corrode badly making it a pig to do up straps. The strap arms are good for adjustability. Obviously you cant open tailgate when fitted.
I shall use mine for the rest of the year as it wont carry more than a bike or two, but before next year’s trip to the continent fully laden I shall replace with a tow bar mounted one that can drop out of the way of the way of the tailgate.
PS you will need to fit uprated gas rams to the boot lift if you wan it to opent with the empty rack fitted.
We’ve got one VWs own brand tail gate ones for our T5. Can fit 4 bikes but 4 full suss rigs can be a bit of a jigsaw to fit on depending on how the rear can is fitted, sizes and angles etc but is normally feasible.
It looks like it will come off pretty easily if required but we haven’t tried it yet.
I’ve just switched from a rear mounted one to a towbar and got an Atera one. it tilts away from the car so you can open the tailgate (I guess not an issue on a transporter) is far more secure and takes 4 bikes.
I’m not sure I’d want the weight of 5 bikes on the hinges. That many must surely be a tow bar mount to the chassis. We had on our T4 a bike carrier but for us shorties getting bike safely up onto the carrier was sometime a strain, especially if they started to misbehave after a long ride.
Much happier with the Ball mount.
i’ll probably get a tow bar fitted at some point but it will usually be needed to tow. Only need to get 2 bikes and some kiddie stuff on the rack so i am not too worried about the weight.
the vw one looks the tidiest but its expensive.
Cheers
Posted 12 years ago
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