Cycle racks

[SirDavidAlhambra]

Hi everyone!

My Alhamb has a tow bar and I would like to be able to carry 4 bikes (ideally 6!) around with me for occasional recreational purposes.

I've seen cycle racks that fit onto the tow bar. What do you think of them. Are they any good? Anything to look out for?

Thank you all very much.

[regw]

4 bikes? 6 bikes?
You fancy doing the Tour de Farce or summat mate ? 

[KingyMAK]

I have a removable 3 piece cycle rack, but does cater for 4 bikes at a push.

It has a rear plate on the tow bar, but it then has the bike rack that clips into the plate.

[Mirez]

Likewise I've got a triple tow mounted carrier, works pretty well and if you get a decent make then they normally have a tilt release which allows you to access the boot without removing the rack first. I doubt thought you'll find one that caters for more then 4 as you'll be getting up there in terms of weight and most tow bars are only nose rated for 75/100Kg.

A cycle trailer might be a better fit tbh, plus you can then put all the extra stuff in/on rather then in the car. You can even DIY them off old camping trailers if you fancy a project:

[johnnyroper]

I have a Pendle rack that goes on tow bar. Standard fit is to bolt the bracket on to the tow bar flange-under the ball. But I have a detachable tow bar. You can get a bracket that allows it to be used on detachable tow bars.

Find the rack quite good fits 4 adult bikes on with ease. Only issues are you canââ,¬â,,¢t open tailgate with bikes on but isnââ,¬â,,¢t  really a concern for me as I have split opening tailgate. Also the storage of it as itââ,¬â,,¢s quite big. Thereââ,¬â,,¢s a bracket you can bolt to the wall but it does still take room up in the garage.

I wouldnââ,¬â,,¢t pay nearly Ã,£500 for one though,got mine off the fleabay from someone local for Ã,£80 just needed a lick of paint and some new cap screws for securing the adjustable racks.

[SirDavidAlhambra]

Thank you all very very much, what brilliant and helpful replies!!!

I think I will get onto the eBay and see if I can get one of those tilting tow bar ones. I would really like one of those trailers too though, it looks so handy!!! They will only be smallish bikes (children) so am hoping that even if I get a cheapish one it will be sturdy enough.

You guys know everything, you really do!!!

[SirDavidAlhambra]

It would seem that the tilting tow bar racks are eye wateringly expensive plus I need in any event to carry 6 bikes so I had a go with my hobby trailer trying to get them to fit but it just wasnââ,¬â,,¢t working, they were overhanging far too much. So instead I took the seats out of the Alhamb, put all 6 bikes in the boot and we took 2 cars (one with the bikes and one with the rest of the family in it). Worked very well, would recommend this technique for local trips

[KingyMAK]

Realistically, you arenââ,¬â,,¢t going to get a 6-bike rack for any sort of reasonable price, hence Mirez showing the bike trailer he posted.
A cheap trailer or ex-camper/tent ââ,¬Ëœboxââ,¬â,,¢ converted is your best bet for a long run or even hiring a trailer/someone to transport you and bikes, if itââ,¬â,,¢s a big one off event.
I regularly take out my rear 2 seats and the middle seat on the middle row, to fit in my 2 kids bikes and my road bike.
It involves removing the front wheel, the I use a piece of wood wedged and fastened into the rear belt anchor points with a fake axle clamp.

[mike wilson]

It would seem that the tilting tow bar racks are eye wateringly expensive plus I need in any event to carry 6 bikes so I had a go with my hobby trailer trying to get them to fit but it just wasnââ,¬â,,¢t working, they were overhanging far too much. So instead I took the seats out of the Alhamb, put all 6 bikes in the boot and we took 2 cars (one with the bikes and one with the rest of the family in it). Worked very well, would recommend this technique for local trips

I found a Thule 4 bike one on Gumtree, 5 miles down the road, Ã,£20.  Broke a few speed limits getting there before anyone else snapped it up. 8 -)  On mine, a plate bolts between the towbar and the ball and a frame slots into that and is held by a set of thumbscrews.  You can slacken them to tilt it away from the car for boot access.

Similar to this (the bike carrier part is identical) but not mounted on the ball itself.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324599799962?epid=1405372264&hash=item4b93a7e09a:g:s4sAAOSwt1VgjYd2

You would need a number plate board as well but you _might_ get six kiddy bikes on it.  The ones that tighten onto the ball of the hitch terrify me.  I can't imagine them staying tight over bumpy roads.

[mike wilson]

And, as we are on the subject, I just (sit down, take deep breath, close eyes, whimper) bought an electric bicycle. 
https://www.rideelectric.co.uk/buy/tern-vektron-s10/
Anyone else?

[KingyMAK]

Iââ,¬â,,¢m not a fan of electric bikes, but I see the appeal for people.

Iââ,¬â,,¢m a road bike user, but after a nice hybrid/hardtail at the moment for rougher terrain.

[SirDavidAlhambra]

My next little project will be to make one of those lovely bicycle trailers, it looks so practical and useful

A Thule rack for Ã,£20!!!! I think they missed a zero off in the advert

[pillboxhunter]

I found a Thule 4 bike one on Gumtree, 5 miles down the road, Ã,£20.  Broke a few speed limits getting there before anyone else snapped it up. 8 -)  On mine, a plate bolts between the towbar and the ball and a frame slots into that and is held by a set of thumbscrews.  You can slacken them to tilt it away from the car for boot access.

Similar to this (the bike carrier part is identical) but not mounted on the ball itself.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324599799962?epid=1405372264&hash=item4b93a7e09a:g:s4sAAOSwt1VgjYd2

You would need a number plate board as well but you _might_ get six kiddy bikes on it.  The ones that tighten onto the ball of the hitch terrify me.  I can't imagine them staying tight over bumpy roads.

I have one of those tow ball ones and it stays tight even with 4 bikes on and a drive from Newcastle to Orkney. It does cause some damage to the bikes though as they are very close together and have to swing freely from the top tubes (or the tilt thingy doesn't work). Worth using some pipe insulation between bits of bike likely to rub. Also check the ground clearance of the bike wheels. Unless you have a conventional bike with a top tube that's parallel to the ground one of the wheels will be quite low down and may catch on the ground, especially if boarding ferries.

[pillboxhunter]

I previously had the bolt on version too - just wait until you gash your leg on the bit that's left when the carrier is removed!