Bike rack

[iskander]

Can anyone recommend a bike rack? I tried roofbox.co.uk and they recommend the rear mounted rack, that sits on the boot lid. I somehow don't trust that wouldn't damage my boot. What do you think? Anybody tried it?

[laughjimbo]

Iv have got a few cars knocking around and i have always used tow bar mounted bike racks or roof mounted racks. I have got a pendle 4 bike carrier on the tow bar of my volvo and my wifes zafira. I have also got a mitsubishi delica which i have put a Maxxraxx Premier 5 bike carrier which is also tow bar mounted. I know for a fact that you can put the maxxraxx on the volvo because i am thinking of putting another tow bar mount on my T5. Never had a problem with any of these racks, have had body damage with the strap on types though.
Hope this helps.

Laughjimbo

[Rover Saloon]

I'm not sure where my bike rack came from but it does put quite a lot of weight on the boot lid. It holds up to 3 full size bikes and inevitably the lid got slightly dented. To prevent this from happening further, I made a wooden plywood plate about 30cm x 20 cm, padded on one side so that the load was spread over a much wider area - that has solved the problem.

I also have the bike holding bars that go onto the roof bars - you remove the front wheels and they lock on. Advantages are that the bikes are physically locked and that you retain access to the boot. However, fuel consumption goes through the roof so there's a lot to be said for a boot mounted set up.

Hope this helps a bit.

[iskander]

Originally Posted by laughjimbo

Iv have got a few cars knocking around and i have always used tow bar mounted bike racks or roof mounted racks. I have got a pendle 4 bike carrier on the tow bar of my volvo and my wifes zafira. I have also got a mitsubishi delica which i have put a Maxxraxx Premier 5 bike carrier which is also tow bar mounted. I know for a fact that you can put the maxxraxx on the volvo because i am thinking of putting another tow bar mount on my T5. Never had a problem with any of these racks, have had body damage with the strap on types though.
Hope this helps.

Laughjimbo

Thanks mate! that makes sense.
Any idea how much does it cost to fit a towbar?

[iskander]

Originally Posted by Rover Saloon

However, fuel consumption goes through the roof so there's a lot to be said for a boot mounted set up.

Thanks. When you say the fuel consumption increases, is that driving at a sensible speed (like 70mph) or doing some astronomic speeds?

[Rover Saloon]

I can't be sure on this one. I've had my S80 from new and it was a company car. I sneaked the towbar in on the invoice!! I think it was rather a lot and it's a bog standard one i.e. no detachable ball stuff.

Actually, I have never really seen the point of a detachable tow ball apart from possible aesthetic reasons. I have had a couple of prats run into the back of me at lights etc and the tow hitch has taken the full hit and saved the rear bumper. It's also gratifying to see the damage to the other chap's car. (Serve you right for rear ending a Volvo mate!!)

Fitting the bar itself is very straight forward - I have had mine off and on for a repaint. I'm not so sure about the electrics and the multiplex wiring. I imagine the correct loom would come with the necessary instructions to do this.

The Witter towbar site puts the bar at around £170

Electrics info here possibly.

http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/pdf/Towb...ics13Pin-2.pdf

[iskander]

Cheers mate! I will look into it. It would save me a lot of trouble and I might make more use of it