Bike carries for towbar

[hrp123]

Hi there - I have seen a few threads on this topic but I was wondering whether those of you who have bought / sold bike carriers... would you go for the Thule 927 or would you go for the Volvo original one... apparently they are very similar except that the Volvo one has the required 13 pin adapter, whereas the Thule one needs an adapter.

The Thule one seems to work out more expensive new than the Volvo one - especially once you factor in the Volvo towbar adapter on top. However when it comes to reselling them, I'm guessing the Thule one would sell for more money?

I've looked at used Thule ones on Ebay but they are going for around £300, one open box buy went for £385 yesterday. Seems like a hot commodity! Can't find any used Volvo ones.

Thanks

[amadan]

Firstly I can’t say specifically for Volvo but a towbar is within certain specifications a towbar (in EU it’s basically the “download” limit that matters as far as I know - is the max weight supportable by the ball). I think US has different ball sizes to EU.

I got an old Thule Euroride 940 off gumtree for £100 and sold three years later for £100. It only had a 7? Pin but worked on my BMW X3 fine without issues with an adaptor and the max load was under the max download of the ball.

As long as it holds the bikes securely I wouldn’t be bothered by supplier - although I’m just a random on t’internet who didn’t spec a towbar this time. But you don’t spec the drawbar attachment on a trailer or caravan within reason so it must be pretty standard.

On my X3 and my instructors landrover before (not for bikes but I had to do a towing test for a heavy trailer due to my sh1tty “younguns” license) I never put much thought what I was putting on the car outside of legality requirements (max tow limits, max combined weights and license restrictions).

[familymangreg]

Originally Posted by hrp123

Hi there - I have seen a few threads on this topic but I was wondering whether those of you who have bought / sold bike carriers... would you go for the Thule 927 or would you go for the Volvo original one... apparently they are very similar except that the Volvo one has the required 13 pin adapter, whereas the Thule one needs an adapter.

The Thule one seems to work out more expensive new than the Volvo one - especially once you factor in the Volvo towbar adapter on top. However when it comes to reselling them, I'm guessing the Thule one would sell for more money?

I've looked at used Thule ones on Ebay but they are going for around £300, one open box buy went for £385 yesterday. Seems like a hot commodity! Can't find any used Volvo ones.

Thanks

As you've observed yourself, Thule gear really does hold its value. I had a well used 2 bike towbar carrier a few years ago which I purchased for something like 279 and sold again for 220. I'm not sure if the Volvo ones are actually made by Thule or not, if they are, then they should be just as good quality. However, you'll sell a Thule one far more readily in the future than you will a Volvo branded one. The 12 - 7 pin adapters are readily available and not expensive.

I was having trouble with the electrics connection on my 4 bike carrier recently, the car would often pop up a warning that a certain light had failed, and you'd have to give the connection a wiggle to sort it out. I put it down to the adapter and so purchased a 12 pin plug and rewired it myself, worked perfectly, and the connection is slightly easier and neater without the adapter.

:wq

[Duri13]

I have Thule 926 (3 bikes) and it has 13 PIN cable. No adapter needed for my original Volvo towbar. Are you sure you need an adapter for that Thule you are looking at?
Anyway, I would go for Thule, probably easier to sell because people might hesitate to buy a Volvo bike carrier when they have VW, Ford....(not that it makes any sense)

[Jumper9895]

Hi, I purchased a Volvo one today ....... see post entitled ‘only went in for a paint pen’. Really pleased with it, carries up to 2 ebikes not exceeding 48 kilos, has 13 pin electrics, fog light and reversing light built in, and the only bit that identifies it as Volvo, is the logo on both wheel holders......got a deal of supply only at my Volvo dealer of £360ish less 10%. Thule labelled as model, coach 274

[hrp123]

Originally Posted by Jumper9895

Hi, I purchased a Volvo one today ....... see post entitled ‘only went in for a paint pen’. Really pleased with it, carries up to 2 ebikes not exceeding 48 kilos, has 13 pin electrics, fog light and reversing light built in, and the only bit that identifies it as Volvo, is the logo on both wheel holders......got a deal of supply only at my Volvo dealer of £360ish less 10%. Thule labelled as model, coach 274

Thanks for this, looks good on the picture.

I don't see the equivalent Thule listed in the UK... I wonder if this is a European model. Perhaps this may also have to do with why some come with 7 and some with 13 pin. Although it seems the Volvo ones are sometimes cheaper to start with, it does seem that there are more Thules on Ebay and perhaps they would sell more readily to the average Joe.

[Whyman]

I bought a Thule 2 bike about 15 years ago and it came with a 13 pin plug.

I converted it to a 7 pin to fit my Merc at the time and changed it back to 13 pin when I bought my XC60 in 2013.

You only need the adaptor if the plug on your car and the bike carrier do not match.