Tow ball cycle carriers

Buff · 20 April 2011, 18:07

Anyone have experience with tow ball mounted cycle carriers? I am looking for one to carry 2 bikes on a discovery 4 with removable towballl.

Thanks

ashbypower · 20 April 2011, 18:14

Remember if towing as well, by using the bike rack you could be overloading the Bracket and reducing the nose weight of the trailer to compensate is not a safe option.

Ardbeg · 20 April 2011, 18:28

I had a Thule Euro Rack on a Discovery with a detachable tow ball, it worked really well and carried three bikes no problem. Two bike version also available.

Bigmuz7 · 20 April 2011, 18:39

Most balls will be rated to 60 - 80 Kg load (for a disco sized car) so should take two bikes easy enough , is there one that lets you put on a trailer too ? .. I thought they all used the ball its self

Anyhoo , strikes me as a better idea rather than one that uses the plastic bumper to carry the weight, or hangs it off the boot lid

ashbypower · 20 April 2011, 18:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

Most balls will be rated to 60 - 80 Kg load (for a disco sized car) so should take two bikes easy enough , is there one that lets you put on a trailer too ? .. I thought they all used the ball its self

Anyhoo , strikes me as a better idea rather than one that uses the plastic bumper to carry the weight, or hangs it off the boot lid

Yes they are available to allow towing as well ! As you say brackets are rated at around the 75Kg mark which is around nose weight recommended on those vehicles so could be marginal. But of course if it is the type that does not allow towing, then problem sol

ved!!

eilean mor · 20 April 2011, 19:54

hi,
I've used roof ones and towball ones - of the towball- i liked the witter ones-didnt block the towball, and after buying 2 mounts, the actual rack could swop easily between our 2 cars- but they needed the type of towball that fastened onto a towbar bracket- there was a version to go on a 4/4 with spare wheel on the back, - i'm currently using a thule 3 bike carrier, great/amazing, and with the lights built in- but expensive, and i'm not sure if you need a slightly different one with a 4/4, but I know a friend had one on his disco. much more secure than the 'strap mounted' ones seen on the back of lots of cars, but it does, as others have said stop you towing (where the roof ones came in

)
or try a 'mont blanc' - looks like the thule, but maybe?? not as expensive

chris.

Nasher · 20 April 2011, 20:28

I use a Tow ball mounted carrier regularly on my D3, which is fitted with the adjustable 'fixed' towball instead of the removeable one.

We now fit three adult and one slightly smaller bike on it with ease, and it's far more stable than I ever thought it would be.

http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread....ight=bike+rack

I find it very good, although you obviously can't tow anything at the same time. I understand the newer ones are lighter etc, but being a flat platform I could carry all sorts on mine.

I do however run a chain around it and the towbar mounts when we leave the car whilst off on the bikes.

There is a lot of discussion and useful information about them over on www.disco3.co.uk

Nasher.

jambo · 20 April 2011, 21:08

I have used the clipper type from Towsure £46 and it has done the job for 5 years with no probs.

Downhilldai · 20 April 2011, 21:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by jambo

I have used the clipper type from Towsure £46 and it has done the job for 5 years with no probs.

Me too - around 10 years now without a problem. It's the type that fits onto a heavy steel plate between the towball & towbar, which means you can carry bikes & tow at the same time.

http://www.towsure.com/product/Clipp..._Cycle_Carrier

They also do a version which fits directly onto the towball for £31.95 which may suit a disco with removable towball:

http://www.towsure.com/product/Clipp..._Cycle_Carrier

Searider · 21 April 2011, 10:35

For a removeable tow bar the only one that will let you carry bikes and tow at the same time (as far as I can find) is Maxxraxx

HUMBER P4VWL · 21 April 2011, 10:38

If you're towing a boat, chuck the bikes in!

If not, no problem if the rack uses the ball.

Buff · 21 April 2011, 21:22

Thanks for the feedback. I will probably opt for one of the Thule models

buff

bingomike · 22 April 2011, 22:01

I have the Thule one, with the built in lights and number plate. I get 3 bikes plus sneek a small 3 year olds bike on as well. Have had no problem to date, it is a lot sturdier than you would think and i have also chucked a mates moped on it when he broke down one day!!

When parking up i have a steel cable lock to stop anyone making off with it!! I have a removable towball on my car as well.

Mike

Richard Selman · 23 April 2011, 16:59

I have a maxxraxx one.

http://www.maxxraxx.co.uk/

Can connect and disconnect the trailer without touching the bikes. Also it tilts down enough that I can lower the pickup door.

IMO I would not compare the typical ball loading and the weight of the bikes. The hitch will be designed for very much more than the typical hitch weight to accomodate the dynamic loads imposed by the trailer (during breaking etc.). The load from the bikes will be fairly constant and not add the dynamic load much more than the static load of the bikes.

Richard

Ian M · 23 April 2011, 19:42

We use a Pendle four bike rack on the removable tow ball of my wife's Astra. Not cheap, but works well and does not affect the handling of the Astra, so I'm sure similar arrangements on bigger vehicles will not be a problem.