Carrying bikes - advice please!

Lewisontour replied on 20/08/2016 22:55

Lewisontour

Posted on 20/08/2016 22:55

Hi. With three growing children who enjoy riding their bikes around sites (“has it got a tarmac road, Daddy?”) my wife and I are thinking that we will take our bikes too and go further afield. Can anybody offer some advice about what is the best way to transport bikes? At the moment our children a fairly young (8, 6 and 3) so the bikes are small enough to fit in back of car (S-Max), in the caravan or a combination of both. However, two adults’ bikes plus tag-along (for youngest when off-camp) means that we’ll have to invest in some roof top carriers but I’m concerned about effect on weigh, etc. We have discussed carrying them in the caravan but damage to internal fittings are a risk. Any thoughts/advice/guidance? Thanks.

37 replies

ocsid replied on 28/08/2016 12:10

Member

ocsid

Caravanner

Posted on 28/08/2016 12:10

Attempt at posting photo aborted.

KenofKent replied on 28/08/2016 15:55

Member

KenofKent

Caravanner

Posted on 28/08/2016 15:55

Has Lewis-gone-on-tour? Or just overwhelmed with advice!

JVB66 replied on 28/08/2016 15:59

Member

JVB66

Campervanner

Posted on 28/08/2016 15:59

It happen quite a lot, someone will open a thread for advise etc,then disappear into the ethernet never to be heard of again,

young thomas replied on 28/08/2016 17:12

Member

young thomas

Motorhomer

Posted on 28/08/2016 17:12

It happen quite a lot, someone will open a thread for advise etc,then disappear into the ethernet never to be heard of again,

.....love it, just the sort of wonderful stuff myold boss usedto come out with.......if only you could bottle these....

Navigateur replied on 28/08/2016 17:20

Member

Navigateur

Caravanner

Posted on 28/08/2016 17:20

whats all this about a caravan not being strong enough to carry a rack?....this would worry me more than anything else in this thread....what are they made of, matchwood...?

Errr . . . yes!

markflip replied on 28/08/2016 18:11

Member

markflip

Caravanner

Posted on 28/08/2016 18:11

I fit 4 x adult bikes on a roof rack, with Halfords (Thule without the badge) carriers mounted forwards/back/forwards/back. I tend to pop the seat stems out of two of them to make things easier, but that takes a few seconds with QR seat clamps. I mount the 'rack' quite forward on the car as the rear axle is already quite loaded with kit and the van. I have carried one bike in the van when i went away on my own, which was fine, wrapped in an old sheet and 'wedged' in. the downside to carrying them in the van would be if you needed to take the bikes 'out' for the day, to the start of a trail etc, obvioulsy that's not a problem if you carry them on a carrier or rack.

kaenergas replied on 28/08/2016 18:23

Member

kaenergas

Caravanner

Posted on 28/08/2016 18:23

I see Swift group are putting 2 Thule bars on the back of thier caravans so you can carry bikes, so for once a manufacturer looking forward and realising there is a need to take bikes on holiday.

Vanbirds68 replied on 28/08/2016 20:55

Member

Vanbirds68

Caravanner

Posted on 28/08/2016 20:55

We use a Thule rear mounted bike rack - rear of car that is. There is loads of information on the Thule website that'll help you select the correct rack for your vehicle.

Navigateur replied on 28/08/2016 22:35

Member

Navigateur

Caravanner

Posted on 28/08/2016 22:35

I see Swift group are putting 2 Thule bars on the back of thier caravans so you can carry bikes,

I hope someone can post soon about how this is being done. There is strengthening materials behind the panel anyway and I wonder if they are actually adding to for this or just fitting a few tapped holes.