I know several people have asked this question in the past, but so far, I haven't seen an answer to my question.

My wife and I would like to put our mountain bikes on the Yeti.

Neither of us are really able to put the bikes on a roof mounted rack and as I have a spare tyre, the internal carrier isn't an option either, so that leaves us with the tailgate mounted types.

We don't have a towbar fitted, nor do we have the electrics, so we need a tailgate mounted cycle carrier that doesn't impede the lights or numberplate.

I had a preference for the Pendle ones, but according to Pendle, we'd need a light board, so they're out ... does anyone have any other suggestions?

Pendle are correct. Any bikes fitted onto a carrier on the back of the car will "mask" both the number plate and the rear lights, so if you do not fit a trailer board you will be breaking the Law.

I don't know about this summer but certainly last year South Wales Police were in a Service area on the M4 and telling drivers of vehicles so equiped to get it sorted asap. I saw atleast 2 vehicles have their bikes removed when they argued about it. I understand that Devon Police and North Wales Police held similar operations.

I know several people have asked this question in the past, but so far, I haven't seen an answer to my question.

My wife and I would like to put our mountain bikes on the Yeti.

Neither of us are really able to put the bikes on a roof mounted rack and as I have a spare tyre, the internal carrier isn't an option either, so that leaves us with the tailgate mounted types.

We don't have a towbar fitted, nor do we have the electrics, so we need a tailgate mounted cycle carrier that doesn't impede the lights or numberplate.

I had a preference for the Pendle ones, but according to Pendle, we'd need a light board, so they're out ... does anyone have any other suggestions?

I am planning to check with my local Halfords to see if this one works:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_251029_langId_-1_categoryId_165477

If you follow the "click here for suitable fits" link it takes you to the website for a company called Mont Blanc who presumably make the thing. The Yeti isn't explicitly listed as a vehicle but it looks like it should work.

You would still need the rear towing board with that system, and I would want to check what loading the rear hatch is designed to take.

Jock: another option will be to fit the bikes in the car without the Skoda cycle carrier. You might need to take both the front wheels and seats off but with the Yeti being so tall inside both bikes should still fit with the back wheels over the space where one rear seat was taken out and the forks over the spare wheel floor. Buy some elastic belts to secure the bikes to the Yeti's lashing hooks or whatever is handy. This way they are safe too since no rear mounted rack (that is not towbar fitted) will be a secure place to leave bikes since you can't lock the bikes to the car. Anyone can undo the rack just like you and walk off with that and both bikes.

As far as I know these rear racks are also illegal in Europe now (to be sold, us Brits mights still holiday there with them I guess) since they have had so many fall off and cause mayhem on the roads in their aftermath.

Hi jock,

Just got a Pendle for our yeti, very pleased with it to. Think you will have the same issue with all cycle carriers designed to go on the back of the car, most end up obscuring the lights,

Mark.

I know several people have asked this question in the past, but so far, I haven't seen an answer to my question.

My wife and I would like to put our mountain bikes on the Yeti.

Neither of us are really able to put the bikes on a roof mounted rack and as I have a spare tyre, the internal carrier isn't an option either, so that leaves us with the tailgate mounted types.

We don't have a towbar fitted, nor do we have the electrics, so we need a tailgate mounted cycle carrier that doesn't impede the lights or numberplate.

I had a preference for the Pendle ones, but according to Pendle, we'd need a light board, so they're out ... does anyone have any other suggestions?

Hi joch, welcome to the forum.

I'm in the same position as you. Don't want bikes on the roof (too much of a struggle) and also don't want bikes inside, so I'm looking at this solution from Mont Blanc...

http://www.montblancuk.co.uk/products/cycle/red/s2.htm Will try it first of course.

U like it because the wheels fit into 'trough' like recesses rather than just 'hanging' on horizontal bars.

You can get (expensive) roof mounted bike racks that are powered in some way or other, I looked into it a while ago when we had a tandem, but couldn't afford it at the time.

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-BTS-BTS-Car-Roof-Rack-Hydraulic-Bike-Lift-for-Tandem-19197.htm

1 handed operation to lift a solo or tandem on top of your car.

I'm not sure which way to go as my bike is worth too much to leave it out in the open and I also have a spare wheel.

Mike

Mike

You can get (expensive) roof mounted bike racks that are powered in some way or other, I looked into it a while ago when we had a tandem, but couldn't afford it at the time.

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-BTS-BTS-Car-Roof-Rack-Hydraulic-Bike-Lift-for-Tandem-19197.htm

1 handed operation to lift a solo or tandem on top of your car.

I'm not sure which way to go as my bike is worth too much to leave it out in the open and I also have a spare wheel.

Mike

Mike

Tooo expensive for me :(

I've not bothered with the internal cycle rack and don't like external racks. Solution is to remove a rear seat and a bike fits snugly (with its front wheel off) with front forks against the front seats (a blanket protects from any damage to either. Just lash to one of the lashing eyes to stop movement. Two bikes? just remove the other rear seat and repeat, leaving the middle seat to keep the two bikes apart. I've done it several times now and it really is very easy and no extra equipment involved.

I've not bothered with the internal cycle rack and don't like external racks. Solution is to remove a rear seat and a bike fits snugly (with its front wheel off) with front forks against the front seats (a blanket protects from any damage to either. Just lash to one of the lashing eyes to stop movement. Two bikes? just remove the other rear seat and repeat, leaving the middle seat to keep the two bikes apart. I've done it several times now and it really is very easy and no extra equipment involved.

Noige, can I ask, what size of bikes? (More to the point, what wheel size? 26 inch or 700c)

I've not bothered with the internal cycle rack and don't like external racks. Solution is to remove a rear seat and a bike fits snugly (with its front wheel off) with front forks against the front seats (a blanket protects from any damage to either. Just lash to one of the lashing eyes to stop movement. Two bikes? just remove the other rear seat and repeat, leaving the middle seat to keep the two bikes apart. I've done it several times now and it really is very easy and no extra equipment involved.

Noige, can I ask, what size of bikes? (More to the point, what wheel size? 26 inch or 700c)

Noige, can I ask, what size of bikes? (More to the point, what wheel size? 26 inch or 700c)

I have fitted my Specialized Tricross with 700c wheels and my son's road bike with 26 inch wheels

Just an update on this thread (for anyone interested).

We decided the towbar mounted option was just too expensive for the "limited use" (i.e. fair weather only) we'd make of a carrier, so we thought we'd go with the "throw the bikes in the back" option. Despite having a plastic sheet in the back, I still had to clean out the car on each occasion - and that was without mud, so we decided to go the roof mounted route.

This isn't as bad as we'd had originally thought - a friend with an Isuzu Trooper and roof cycle rack gave us some tips (the best one was getting a two step ladder from Netto for £8!) Our bikes aren't the lightest, but I can put them both on the rack myself (although my wife's assistance is invaluable) and getting them off is easy! Also, it doesn't seem to make a great deal of difference to the fuel consumption.

We got Thule Aerobars with Atera Giro bike carriers from Roofbox.co.uk

Hi Jock, I had the same issue as you with a RAV 4 - I have the Pendle rack which bolts onto the spare wheel mounting - but they fount out it was £££s to have the wiring done! So I have bitten the bullet and had a towbar & electrics on the Yeti as it is the best option in the long run. However as you have an SE that means that the only safe option is to go with the proper wiring harness so that the sensors work correctly (££££). I guess that having the bikes on the roof means that the tea leafs find it harder to nick stuff off your bikes..

Cheers

Richard

Hi Jock, I had the same issue as you with a RAV 4 - I have the Pendle rack which bolts onto the spare wheel mounting - but they fount out it was £££s to have the wiring done! So I have bitten the bullet and had a towbar & electrics on the Yeti as it is the best option in the long run. However as you have an SE that means that the only safe option is to go with the proper wiring harness so that the sensors work correctly (££££). I guess that having the bikes on the roof means that the tea leafs find it harder to nick stuff off your bikes..

Cheers

Richard

The bikes are actually quite secure up there - the roof bars lock to the rails and the cycle carriers lock to the bars ... then the centre stay locks on to the bikes themselves ... so if anyone wants to nick the bikes, they're not going to have an easy job - that's not to say it can't be done, but I'm quite impressed by how secure they are ... anyone who wants to remove anything will have to find something to stand on (or be seven feet tall!). Total cost for the bars and the racks for two cycles was £232 - including a small step ladder! As for noise, they're very quiet - I haven't done any more than 60mph (honest officer), but I was impressed as to how quiet these things are.

The bikes are actually quite secure up there - the roof bars lock to the rails and the cycle carriers lock to the bars ... then the centre stay locks on to the bikes themselves ... so if anyone wants to nick the bikes, they're not going to have an easy job - that's not to say it can't be done, but I'm quite impressed by how secure they are ... anyone who wants to remove anything will have to find something to stand on (or be seven feet tall!). Total cost for the bars and the racks for two cycles was £232 - including a small step ladder! As for noise, they're very quiet - I haven't done any more than 60mph (honest officer), but I was impressed as to how quiet these things are.

I have the same Thule system on my A2 and leave the bikes up there whilst camping. They are very secure. And most all roofrack places will also key-match all the keys - thus you have the same key for each bike as well as to lock the rack to the car. Neat.