Bicycle rack for your car - ws-autoteile.com

Which bike rack system has what advantages and disadvantages?

As mentioned, you can mount bike racks on the roof or use a rear rack. In the case of roof-mounted bike racks, the bike holders are mounted on base carriers. A car must have roof rails for this purpose, to which the base racks can be attached. This is the same system that is required for roof boxes. For rear racks, a trailer hitch is required. The attachment of bike racks to the tailgate is only via tension straps.

Whether top or rear, both bike mounts have their advantages and disadvantages. These we have clearly compared in a table.

	Bicycle rack for the roof	Bicycle carrier for the trailer hitch	Bike rack for the tailgate
Advantages	For vehicles without trailer hitch usable cheap to buy stable and secure attachment of the wheels simple mounting on the roof	For vehicles with trailer hitch Stable and secure mounting Easy mounting on the trailer hitch Many bike racks can be folded away to access the trunk	For vehicles without AHK and roof rails with a hatchback or fastback. Easy installation Favorable in the acquisition
Disadvantages	Roof rails must be present Base racks are necessary Troublesome mounting on the roof Increased fuel consumption by up to 40% Changed driving behavior due to transverse loads and shifts in the center of gravity	More expensive to buy Visual impairment to the rear Following license plate is necessary Must be connected to the electronics	Straps can slip Can cause scratches on the paint

Depending on the vehicle, the right bike rack system is usually found quickly. Then it is only a matter of looking at which equipment variants are desired.

What to consider when buying a bike rack?

Who wants to buy a bike rack must first ask the question, which system fits the car? Will it be a roof or rear carrier? Then the question is to clarify how many bikes are to be transported and what they weigh? There are bike carriers for the roof as well as for the trailer hitch, which are suitable for 1-4 wheels. However, the maximum payload weight is important. This is depending on the model between 50 and 100 kg. Most providers for bike carriers also specify the maximum weight per bike, which must also be taken into account. This is important for the even load of the bike racks. Especially e-bikes and pedelecs bring some weight on the scale, on average between 20 - 25kg. The trailer coupling and the roof are also only designed for a limited weight. Therefore, the drawbar load or roof load of the car must also be checked. This information can be found in the vehicle registration document and in the vehicle manual.

In addition, when buying a bike rack, pay attention to the following things:

How wide is the car?
Fits the maximum tire width?
Is the specified frame size correct?
Can the bikes and bike racks be locked?
Should the rear rack fold away?
Should the bike rack for the trailer hitch be collapsible?
Is the rear carrier closed on the underside?
Fits the plug connection from the rear carrier to the car?

The frame width is important to ensure that the frame holders also securely enclose the frame. This is the only way to ensure that the wheels are fixed stably during the ride. Meanwhile, it is unfortunately necessary that bike racks and wheels are lockable, because they are stolen but like. With a fold-away rear rack, the trunk is conveniently accessible and a closed underside protects the wheels from road dirt. For those who do not use the bike rack so often, foldable rear carriers come into question. These can then also be stored well in the basement or garage without taking up much space. In addition, the poles of the connector are important. These must fit the car, otherwise no power can be connected and turn signals, taillights and brakes can not work. This would make it illegal to drive on the road with the bike racks.

According to legal requirements, bicycles may not protrude more than 20cm on each side of the car. Therefore, the width of the car as well as the bike rack on the trailer hitch to check that the specifications are met.

When it comes to bike racks, many think of the manufacturer Thule, which offers a great many products in the field. In addition, there are also other well-known manufacturers for bike racks, which have developed high-quality products. These include, among others, Atera and Westfalia, whose products can also be found in our store in addition to Thule. In addition, there are two special bike holders in our store:

Drawbar rack for caravans by ProPlus
Bike rack for the interior by Van Biker

The bike mount for the interior is suitable for vans or station wagons and other larger vehicles in which the rear seats can be removed. With the bike, the front wheel is removed and then clicked into the holder and fixed with a quick release. In addition, there is also enough space for luggage next to it. This is another way to take your bike with you on your travels.

With all the above points, it is easy to buy the right bike rack for you. If you still have questions about this, you are welcome to contact our customer service with the chassis number.

Things to know about driving with a bike rack

After buying and attaching the bike rack, there are a pair of points that are important when traveling with an externally mounted bike rack:

Clean the trailer hitch before attachment
Check the lighting on the bike holder before starting the journey
Remove motors from e-bikes and pedelecs and transport in the trunk
Remove accessories such as child seat, bicycle basket, air pump, bicycle locks, etc. from bicycles and also transport them in the trunk
Recommendations of the country of travel to bicycle racks note
In the case of rear racks, attach the subsequent license plate
Do not cover the 3rd brake light
Protect bicycles with a tarpaulin while driving
Do not drive faster than 130km/h
After the first 50km, check the mounts to make sure the straps and frame holders are still tight
Remove bike rack from vehicle when not in use to save fuel

Even if no maximum speed is specified for bicycle carriers, it is recommended not to drive faster than 130km/h. Higher speeds increase the risk of brackets or straps coming loose and the bicycles no longer being able to be transported safely.
Extra attached accessories should be detached and transported separately, as this prevents them from coming loose during the ride and hitting other road users.

In some countries, for example in Italy and Spain, bicycle carriers for the trailer coupling must be marked. Therefore, it is important to familiarize yourself with the regulations of the destination country before entering.

Often you can find the question whether you need an extra license plate for the bike rack on the trailer hitch. The answer is yes. The reason for this is that through the rear carrier the license plate on the car is not visible. Therefore, a follow-up license plate is required that corresponds to the license plate from the car. However, it does not require plaques for TÜV and registration. Who borrows a bicycle carrier for the trailer coupling, must worry about a follow-up license plate for his car. It is not allowed to use the license plate of another vehicle.

By the way, you can mount bike racks on roofs and on the trailer hitch at the same time. Only the specified support and roof load must not be exceeded for both mounts.
. Now that you have learned everything relevant, the journey can begin. We wish you a good trip and have fun with the selected bike rack.

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Suitable bike carrier for every occasion

Which bike rack system has what advantages and disadvantages?

What to consider when buying a bike rack?

Things to know about driving with a bike rack