Tow ball mounted bike racks for electric bikes

[GMJ]

Does anyone have the above? A Tow ball mounted bike racks for electric bikes?

I'm in the market for one but could do with some pointers please.

We have 2 bikes which I'd rather not have to heft up onto a high level rack given that they are quite heavy (around 18-20kg I'd say).

I'd welcome your experiences.

Thanks

 

[marchie]

Does anyone have the above? A Tow ball mounted bike racks for electric bikes?

I'm in the market for one but could do with some pointers please.

We have 2 bikes which I'd rather not have to heft up onto a high level rack given that they are quite heavy (around 18-20kg I'd say).

I'd welcome your experiences.

Thanks

Thule do a static towball mounted carrier, Graham. I *think* it's Thule who also offer an even more expensive carrier that enables the bikes to be mounted at ground level and then raised electrically to avoid the heaving manoeuvres - think it was about £1350 last time I looked and decided to buy some dumbells for the flabby arms ... . I saw a German van using the power lifting rack 2 years ago and it was soquick, easy [but very expensive ...]

Steve

 

[Robmac]

The Thule Velocompact racks will carry e-bikes up to 25kg Graham.

My daughter is actually selling one but sadly hers is the 3 bike version.

 

[davep10000]

I have a buzzrack e-scorpion for 2 leccy bikes (50kg with batteries).
Its very good and swings down so on a hatchback car you can get in the boot.
Still doesnt swing low enough for the back doors to open on my citroen relay thoigh.
Its a bit cheaper than the Thule one i think.

(PS Its not for sale!!)

 

[GMJ]

It'll need to go on the back of an autotrail MH which has the spare wheel housed on the back of the MH, so I'll need to check the clearance from the back of the MH to make sure it fits.

 

[barryd]

It'll need to go on the back of an autotrail MH which has the spare wheel housed on the back of the MH, so I'll need to check the clearance from the back of the MH to make sure it fits.

If you get the Armitage one I mentioned on the other channel which is chassis mounted they can adjust to slide out to the required distance from the back of the van. The only issue with that though is the farther it sticks out the more it eats into your payload by adding more to the rear axle load. Sounds daft but it does.

 

[GMJ]

I have a buzzrack e-scorpion for 2 leccy bikes (50kg with batteries).
Its very good and swings down so on a hatchback car you can get in the boot.
Still doesnt swing low enough for the back doors to open on my citroen relay thoigh.
Its a bit cheaper than the Thule one i think.

(PS Its not for sale!!)

Thanks for the info.

Could you advise/do you know how far it stands away from the vehicle when on the tow ball?

I have an Autotrail which has a spare wheel in a cover towards the base of the rear, so any rack would have to clear that in order to stand upright.

 

[marchie]

If you get the Armitage one I mentioned on the other channel which is chassis mounted they can adjust to slide out to the required distance from the back of the van. The only issue with that though is the farther it sticks out the more it eats into your payload by adding more to the rear axle load. Sounds daft but it does.

The Burstner Owner's manual goes into great detail about the pendulum effect and the amplified load on the back of the M/Home when the load is placed behind the rear axle etc, and gives formulae for calculating the payload impact. Too complicated for me - I took Ancient Greek instead of Physics, so I can't use the 'it's all Greek to me' defence, because I would at least be able to read the Greek words, even if the vocab has oxidised a wee bit!

Steve

 

[r4dent]

The only issue with that though is the farther it sticks out the more it eats into your payload by adding more to the rear axle load. Sounds daft but it does.

Sounds daft because it is daft and not true.

Basic Physics
It is true that the more it sticks out the greater the increase in rear axle load.
However sticking out further will decrease the load on the front axle by the same amount that the rear is increased.

How far it sticks out does NOT impact the effect on the payload.
It does impact axle loads. May overload the rear axle and/or make steering light and decrease front drive traction.



.

 

[Robmac]

Sounds daft because it is daft and not true.

Basic Physics
It is true that the more it sticks out the greater the increase in rear axle load.
However sticking out further will decrease the load on the front axle by the same amount that the rear is increased.

How far it sticks out does NOT impact the payload.

.

Thing is though you have a limit on each axle so the leverage increasing the load on the rear axle could well make you illegal because you exceed that limit regardless of what it does to the front.

EDIT: but I see you covered that!

 

[r4dent]

Thing is though you have a limit on each axle so the leverage increasing the load on the rear axle could well make you illegal because you exceed that limit regardless of what it does to the front.

Totally agree.
Could also reduce traction on front wheel drive or could make steering ineffective.
But it doesn't impact pyload which is what the rock god said.

 

[Robmac]

Totally agree.
Could also reduce traction on front wheel drive or could make steering ineffective.
But it doesn't impact pyload which is what the rock god said.

Yes sorry, I actually edited my post having re-read yours, I missed the last line!

The rock God knows this though because we have discussed it before when he was looking at scooter racks, I think he just worded it wrongly.

 

[barryd]

The Burstner Owner's manual goes into great detail about the pendulum effect and the amplified load on the back of the M/Home when the load is placed behind the rear axle etc, and gives formulae for calculating the payload impact. Too complicated for me - I took Ancient Greek instead of Physics, so I can't use the 'it's all Greek to me' defence, because I would at least be able to read the Greek words, even if the vocab has oxidised a wee bit!

Steve

For once its something I know a bit about having carried scooters for decades. I have all the formulas. Armitage trailers actually send you a spreadsheet to to work it all out. Graham should be ok with his Tag though but its still worth doing as it will be a fair distance from the centre of the rear two wheels to where the load will be. However its just two electric bikes at maybe 40kg and a rack at around 30kg I think. Won't cause him any issues. I just think a chassis mounted rack you can slide in and out is more secure than a tow ball rack.

 

[r4dent]

The rock God knows this though because we have discussed it before when he was looking at scooter racks, I think he just worded it wrongly.

Happens a lot when you are getting on a bit !
R 4 Dent (aged 77 and a half)

 

[Robmac]

Happens a lot when you are getting on a bit !
R 4 Dent (aged 77 and a half)

Ah yes, I remember Sue Townsend wrote a book about you.

 

[ricc]

If you were worried about rear axle load you could take the bike batteries of and carry them as far forward as possible.

Rather more of a concern is the effect of water on electric bikes. The manual on mine mentions the possibility of rain getting into the electrical connections...what the effect of spray would be on rear mounted bikes , deffo won't be good. I guess a good plastic cover would be a necessity....and stop the scroats easily seeing what's on there.

 

[davep10000]

Thanks for the info.

Could you advise/do you know how far it stands away from the vehicle when on the tow ball?

I have an Autotrail which has a spare wheel in a cover towards the base of the rear, so any rack would have to clear that in order to stand upright.

See Picture, but I reckon there would be clearance for a wheel, and there is no reason why the rack cant be angled (left / right) to give more clearance for the wheel mounted on one of the rear doors... In my pic, I have 2 Cube electric bikes (I always turn the handlebars 90 degrees so they fit easier).

 

[GMJ]

Can the rack be locked in a non up-upright position? Slightly off upright by maybe 10/15 degrees?

 

[barryd]

What you might need to be careful of Graham with a tow ball mounted rack like the one above if its very close to your spare wheel cover is how much it moves when on the go. Going over speed bumps, rough roads etc. I've seen some of these on the road and the ones I have seen (might not be the case with the one in the photo) do bounce around a lot and if its an inch or two from your wheel cover it could possibly damage it. I still reckon an adjustable slide out slide in one on the chassis will be best.

 

[davep10000]

Can the rack be locked in a non up-upright position? Slightly off upright by maybe 10/15 degrees?

No, it locks in the vertical position (for safety I suppose)..otherwise it swings down to, say, 45 degrees. (There is a catch you release to lower it)