BIKE RACKS AND CARRIERS FOR CARS MEGATHREAD - all questions asked and answered here

Tbags

Cannon Fodder
The best place is the trailer A-frame - particularly with vertical racks. What is the length from your ball to the trailer? We do more caravans than camper trailers, but the campers are easier to mount.
Hey mate the second photo with the vertical rack that rotates do you know who supplies or makes it? I’ve got the same caravan set up and need one of those racks. Cheers
 

Haakon

Keeps on digging
I can't imagine any cop pulling you over for just a bike rack - its usually an add on if you've failed the attitude test for something else, or you're driving a cop magnet (as opposed to a beat up Hilux or crappy old reno...).
 

moorey

call me Mia
I can't imagine any cop pulling you over for just a bike rack - its usually an add on if you've failed the attitude test for something else, or you're driving a cop magnet (as opposed to a beat up Hilux or crappy old reno...).
You don’t go to many bike races, I see?
 

Sheepie

Likes Bikes
Yeah it difficult to find a hassle free option with the vertical racks. The light bars only work when you have more than one bike on. If you are like me and have just one 80% of the time it's not an option. I have been looking a modifying my rack and having just a two bike capacity and mount them cross ways. As about 18% of the time I would have just two bikes. Then I can have a light and plate mount in the center. I would need to unbolt the top and middle bar if I needed more than two bikes on it and then just use a light bar for those occasions.
You shouldn’t need a light bar with one bike, unless you happen to be super unlucky and the midrail completely covers your lights? If your number plate is centered you would need an accessory plate though.

I keep a rack on my Ute and as I hardly ever have bikes on and a side mounted plate I’m perfectly legal.

There is a rack with the top rail mounted lights but the other problem with top mounted lights is the viewing angle once bikes are loaded. The light bar really is the easiest fix to the issue, you can get them fairly cheap.
 
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Sheepie

Likes Bikes
I can't imagine any cop pulling you over for just a bike rack - its usually an add on if you've failed the attitude test for something else, or you're driving a cop magnet (as opposed to a beat up Hilux or crappy old reno...).
We’ve had a customer who IS a cop get pulled over by the Highway patrol for his rack without lights (he’s the reason we started selling a light bar to make it easy for our customers). For the record he copped the fine.
 

Haakon

Keeps on digging
We’ve had a customer who IS a cop get pulled over by the Highway patrol for his rack without lights (he’s the reason we started selling a light bar to make it easy for our customers). For the record he copped the fine.
Bored cop... Depends a bit on the rack and the car I guess - some combinations leave the car's own lights better visible than others. Driving around the ACT with Victorian rego I did make sure mine has all the lights and a proper plate - no need to give them too many excuses...
 

Stredda

Runs naked through virgin scrub
You shouldn’t need a light bar with one bike, unless you happen to be super unlucky and the midrail completely covers your lights? If your number plate is centered you would need an accessory plate though.

I keep a rack on my Ute and as I hardly ever have bikes on and a side mounted plate I’m perfectly legal.

There is a rack with the top rail mounted lights but the other problem with top mounted lights is the viewing angle once bikes are loaded. The light bar really is the easiest fix to the issue, you can get them fairly cheap.
Yes for my rack I added the rack plate to the side, yes I'm sure there's probably some regulation that states that it's too high and with a bike on it you may not be able to see it at an angle but it's on the passenger side of the car and I think the cop would be pretty picky to nail me for that. When it comes to lights, for up to three bikes it's ok but for more I'll look into a solution later and it may just be a light bar that I attach to the back wheels of the bikes like a lot of others do.
 

Dales Cannon

lightbrain about 4pm
Staff member
Above all check your local rules and also the background ADRs. For example the old rally style spot lights that Escorts ran are no longer legal because they block the numberplate at 25 deg (or something like this, cannot remember exactly) and that is simply because speed cameras. You need to ensure lights and plate are visible at all the angles required otherwise you face a fine.
 

ausdb

Being who he is
I bought a Yakima fourtimer the other week.
And of course buyers remorse has kicked in! Started putting it together and noticed some of the welding on the main arm that goes into the hitch is pretty how's yer father. I know there's enough weld there to hold it together but for $600 I would expect better.
382017


382018


Another annoyance was the guy at the shop saying there's locks for the bikes but there isn't, only one to lock the hitch to the receiver.
I've spoken to them and they've offered (well not really offered they have to) get a replacement lower assembly or take it back and get a Holdup 2 plus the extra 2 bike option for another $200. From reading other reviews of the Fourtimer the wheel straps seem to be a weak link and break easily. Also the Holdups don't clamp the frame only the wheels and have the locks for each bike which whilst not the most securest in the world should be ok for a quick stop at the shops but not leaving on overnight.
I'm leaning towards taking it back and getting a Holdup 2 + 2 combination but I'm concerned about the extra weight of the Holdup combo 45kg over the Fourtimer ~30kg being excessive whilst loaded on a 2018 Outlander as its a work car and not my own.
Are there any Holdup users who would care to comment?
 
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Sheepie

Likes Bikes
I'm concerned about the extra weight of the Holdup combo 45kg over the Fourtimer ~30kg being excessive whilst loaded on a 2018 Outlander as its a work car and not my own.
I’m not going to offer any specific advice to you, but for all looking at multi bike racks, ensure you know your vehicle’s allowable “ball weight” before putting anything in your hitch, racks have a slightly different distribution to trailers, although there are safety factors involved it does make me nervous when people choose to take their rack load ups all the way to the allowable “ball weight”.
 

ausdb

Being who he is
I’m not going to offer any specific advice to you, but for all looking at multi bike racks, ensure you know your vehicle’s allowable “ball weight” before putting anything in your hitch, racks have a slightly different distribution to trailers, although there are safety factors involved it does make me nervous when people choose to take their rack load ups all the way to the allowable “ball weight”.
Yes it's been on my mind, Max ball weight for the car is 160kg so even if I go for a Holdup I should be OK with current payload (2x 29 hardtails, 26 hardtail and 20 kid bike kit) I can't see us going more than 2 FS bikes as the kids grow up. There also seems to be some conflicting points of view regarding carrier weights and trailer loads.
 

Cardy George

Piercing rural members since 1981
Any one heard of these guys? Knock off maybe?

Velocirax-aus 412

The time has come. As of December I will have to fit three full size bikes in the boot, which can be done, but two of them have 9mm QR and I can't be arsed taking the wheels in and out and faffing with the brakes Every. Single. Fucking. Time.

The Curries one is leading at the moment.
 

fatboyonabike

Captain oblivious
I bought a Yakima fourtimer the other week.
And of course buyers remorse has kicked in! Started putting it together and noticed some of the welding on the main arm that goes into the hitch is pretty how's yer father. I know there's enough weld there to hold it together but for $600 I would expect better.
View attachment 382017

View attachment 382018
I am replacing this ^^^^^^ with the rack I am going to build as shown in my last post once finished...If anybody is interested, I will be up for sale soon!
 

Sheepie

Likes Bikes
I dropped the cash on one of these in the week
basically a kit with the main parts all laser cut ready to put together and then you paint
still requires the main box tubing...but at least I can be comfortable in the quality of the welds once completed
That’s pretty cool if you have the skills, little tip, you’ll still get some bounce - grab some cam straps from Bunnings and tie down your crank to your mid rail - the angled strap gives both vertical and horizontal clamping. Where did that kit come from?
 
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