I have a 2014 Skoda Octavia vRS, with standard boot mounted spoiler. I want to fit a 2 bike hatch mounted carrier, but I am being told that I need to fit a towbar mounted rack, as any other rack will foul the spoiler. Advice please!!

Personally i would avoid the boot mounted carriers as I think they are unsafe. This is however only a personal view and I'm sure others will disagree, but it is based on having seen them sat in the fast lane of the M6 on two separate occasions.

 

Tow bar mounted carriers are obviously more expensive if you have to factor in tow bar installation, but they are unquestionably safer and also avoid damage to paintwork

i actually couldn't find a boot mounted one that was compatible with the car, technically they are not supposed to cover the back lights etc so you would need a high mounted one and all of them rest on the boot which you can't do because of the spoiler.

 

in the end i went for a set of roof bars - all in was about £240 for the bars / fitting kit / footpack and decent bike carrier (all thule) - still have all the part numbers I can give you if you decide to go down that route?

Saris bones. Keeps the bikes high up... Got one for our estate as no room on the roof with box and don't have a tow bar. Nor am I paying to have one fitted for the once a year I'd need it.

Good luck finding one. Ask for advice. I was told I couldn't get one for the hatch as most of them use the top as an anchor point and it's one big sheet if glass on the Octavia and it's not safe to load that up as it can crack.

I couldn't find one after looking for a while (gave up and bought a saris for my wife's car and used that.

Edited 17 April, 201610 yr by Mallettsmallett

what stops the bike hitting the car on the saris? i was going to get one for my last car but could never work out what would stop the bike moving and hitting the car

The saris bones can be adjusted to the car holding the bike up and out. It's close to the car but doesn't touch it.

Its secure but if I'm honest, that kind if design isn't rock solid as it's relying on loading the weight on the straps. I was paranoid on a trip to centre parcs. It does move a round a lot even strapped taut

With hindsight I would have been better saving the hundred and spending it on roofbars for piece of mind.

Edited 17 April, 201610 yr by Mallettsmallett

With hatch-mounted ones most of the weight goes on glass and/or plastic deformable surfaces. Not my choice.

I bought a Saris Gran Fondo, put it together looked at it. Took it apart and took it back. Just didn't have confidence in it. Spent another £100 for roofbars (Atera) and cycle carriers (Thule). Been out today and much happier. Also very easy to fit and load. I have an estate, but even the boot lid on this has a complete glass lid side to side which means most carriers are unsuitable.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(Couldn't use a boot-mounted rack on my previous Saab 9-5. The boot had hinges with a sort of parallelogram action, the lid moved slightly backwards as well as up. Meant that any serious pull on the front edge of the boot lid would turn it into an expensive airbrake.)

roof mount or tow bar is better option IMO, less chance of damagaging the car, more secure and you don't restrict access to the boot.

my roof box is a 3/4 size (width) so i can fit two bike carriers up there too.

Thank you all for taking the time to respond. It seems that the general concensus is to avoid these, and I will take this advice on board (getting sensible in my old age!!) It seems that the cheapest option is to put my bike in the boot, and drag my wife on her bike with a tow rope. (Not getting too sensible!!). Thanks again

Also.

Boot mounted is such a pain in the ass if you've just loaded your boot up and wanting get something out. Plus it takes ages to strap it all on. Hindsight and all that....

Some towball mounted racks can fold down, even with bikes on, to give hatch access.