Tow ball mounted bike racks for electric bikes

[davep10000]

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.

The spare wheel would be a good back up anchor point for the rack (I use a strap from the top of the bike to the door mounted frame). This stops it moving at all...

 

[davep10000]

Just taken a pic of the rack with no bike on. This is on a citroen relay.
The distance from the face of the back door to the centre of the bike wheel 'track' is 40cm, so you could work out what space you have, given the 'thickness' of your bike etc...
hope this helps.

 

[barryd]

The spare wheel would be a good back up anchor point for the rack (I use a strap from the top of the bike to the door mounted frame). This stops it moving at all...

You mean this strap?



Yes I can see that this would stop the bike moving backwards but I can't see how it would stop it moving forwards towards the van. My concern for Grahams van would be it would be very close to his wheel cover. Yours appears a good distance from the rack.

 

[davep10000]

You mean this strap?



Yes I can see that this would stop the bike moving backwards but I can't see how it would stop it moving forwards towards the van. My concern for Grahams van would be it would be very close to his wheel cover. Yours appears a good distance from the rack.

You are right, but in practise, with this strap fairly tight, it doesnt move much, and if the bike was tight to the spare wheel, some sort of padding could be used.

 

[davep10000]

My friend has one of these on his motorhome, for 2 leccy bikes - its very good, and uses a handle operated winch to raise it. Would be too heavy for fitting to one of the back doors on a PVC though....

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[GMJ]

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.

Swaying concerns me too Barry. I have yours in mind but I suspect a rack on the tow ball will be much cheaper (Can you PM me with the cost of yours?)

The idea about padding is a good one.

I couldn't attach anything to the spare wheel cover as it's quite flimsy and wouldn't take any weight.

 

[korky]

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!!)

I've got the single bike version of this. Using a 25mm spacer between the towball bracket and towball I can open the doors almost fully on my 2012 Ducato. It does not bounce around at all.

 

[gabby82]

I run an Autotrail and have taken electric bikes on our trips out for 3 years now. I use a Halfords 3 bike carrier. It is essential for me because only 2 electric bikes will fit on the bike rack. It is only possible to fit them using the first and last bike positions on the rack. 3 regular bikes will go onto it without a difficulty. The only snag is that when on wet roads the spray rises up behind the van and up inside of the bike cover and it is difficult to protect from below.

 

[GMJ]

I run an Autotrail and have taken electric bikes on our trips out for 3 years now. I use a Halfords 3 bike carrier. It is essential for me because only 2 electric bikes will fit on the bike rack. It is only possible to fit them using the first and last bike positions on the rack. 3 regular bikes will go onto it without a difficulty. The only snag is that when on wet roads the spray rises up behind the van and up inside of the bike cover and it is difficult to protect from below.

Can I ask what Autotrail model you have? Is it one like mine with the spare wheel carrier on the lower back?

If so could I ask what the model/part number is of the bike carrier?