I placed an order for my new Superb Estate last weekend, now I am thinking of the best way to carry two or three bikes. I think trying to get them on the roof is going to be a pain. I have not ordered a towbar preparation but think I might need this with a detachable towbar. I would be grateful for any advice as to what I will need to get them on the back.

I have them on Roof, plain simple black Thule. I don't like mounts on boot door, as I always think it may damage car. Mine friend has detachable tow bar mount, which can bend 90 degrees so you can access freely to the boot. But still I prefer roof, it is cleanest to have them there.

I had Grad Picasso, and that was real pain to put bikes on roof as it is much higher car than superb. Then, some guy approach me and told me that there is some kind of lift system. Have no clue how that works, but that might be the ultimate solution.

I went for the tow ball mount Thule bike carrier.

Less drag and cheaper ferry costs.

Phil.

I went with Skoda-fitted detachable towbar and single electrics (about £400), and bought an Atera Strada 3-4 towbar-mounted carrier (built to carry 3 bikes, and takes a 4th if you buy the extension kit - cost £350). The Strada has the advantage that it allows you to slide it away from the car, allowing full access to the boot with the rack and bikes fitted. One slight disadvantage with the 4th extension fitted is that you are also recommended to strap the bike rack to the boot door (for extra stability with 4 bikes fitted), meaning I have two transparent stickers stuck to my paintwork on a permanent basis, but it's a small downside.

I had problems with the towbar electrics being fitted incorrectly by the dealer originally, but this is probably a rare occurence.

Edited 12 September, 201114 yr by JB.

Thanks I think its going to have to be the removable towbar. I can see bikes hitting the roof of the car as I try and manhandle them up, just need to justify the additional cost.

I have a Westfalia detachable towbar and use a Thule towbar 3 bike carrier on short trips but also put them on the roof if we take the caravan away. I actually prefer them on the roof, looks nice and they're a bit safer up there I reckon. Only reason I don't leave the Thule aero roof bars and 561s on there all the time is because I do big business miles and it all makes a bit of a racket at, shall we say, motorway speeds!

Westfalia detachable tow bar and Thule bike carrier. The carrier folds to fit in the combi when not in use.

Phil.

Roof or towbar. I'll say it depens on how heavy the bikes are and how far you are driving.

This summer i bought a slightly used Thule G5 909 for the towbar. I can take 3 bikes (and a 4. with an adapter). It will fold away from the car so you can easily access the trunk.

The drag is much less with the bikes behind the car than on top... The rack is fast and easy to fit - it takes much longer to find the removable towbar and fit that ....

But this summer we had 3 bikes on the rear and the forth on the top (old montblanc bike rack on black thule bars) along with at big luggage box.

If it was just for two bikes i would go for a roof rack for simplicity. It is not that difficult to lift a bike from each side to the roof. But with 3 bikes the center has to be backwards and there are not much space (have 3 of the montblanc holders).

For once in a while short trips i would go for the roof. For longer journey i would take one for the towbar...

I'm actually goint to have a towbar fitted to out small smart fortwo just to be able to fit the thule bike rack. The towbar cost about the same as an original bike rack. And i can't get a roof rack for the smart