Bike Rack - Home & Abroad

ChristyM

Hi All

I am thinking about buying a bike rack that will do to transport my own bike around at home but also one that will take 2 adults and 2 kids bikes on a holiday to France as it will save me renting bikes over there. What is the best type of rack to go for? I drive a Scenic and live in Kerry if that is of any use

Thanks

Christy

cdaly_

I've carried bikes both on a boot-rack and on a roof rack. The roof rack is nicer from the even loading point of view but you do have to remember that you're over-height for car park height restrictions and such. I've also carried four bikes on a strap-on boot rack and the car was being loaded down at the rear quite a bit. Mind you the boot was full also.

If you have a tow-hitch, use a rack to suit that. Generally more secure/stable than the strap on racks.

If you have a pre '04 scenic, beware of the strap on rack pressing on the boot lid. I ended up with dents in mine because there was no reinforcement at the height I had the rack. No problem there with the later scenics as there's plastic trim and number plate at that height and no dents.

The current setup is a roofbox off to one side (had to drill extra mounting holes in the box so it would sit far over enough) with two bike racks alongside and three more bikes on the boot rack.

Don't forget your lights and number plate must be visible behind the bikes. If you already have a tow hitch, you can just tie on a trailer bar. If not, you'll need to wire up a trailer socket to plug into.

Lumen

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