Hi all, I have the hatchback model and am looking at the best solution to transport 4 bikes(2 adults/2 kids) a few times a year(holidays and days out). I do not have a tow bar of roof rack. What would my best options be?

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hollywood-Racks-F4-Heavy-Black/dp/B000QJ8C1Y/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2Y1OJAYXEC30Z&dchild=1&keywords=4+bike+rack+for+car&qid=1586509085&sprefix=4+bik%2Caps%2C230&sr=8-5

 

or

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/PERUZZO-VENEZIA-4-BIKE-CARRIER/dp/B0020HRUK4/ref=sr_1_7?crid=2Y1OJAYXEC30Z&dchild=1&keywords=4+bike+rack+for+car&qid=1586509338&sprefix=4+bik%2Caps%2C230&sr=8-7

 

Am worried something like the above would damage paint work? I have no experience in this area, so any advice would be great.

 

Thanks.

Edited 10 April, 20206 yr by kindalen

Personally id get a tow bar fitted and get a tow bar mounted rack.  I started with a strap on rack fo four bikes and it was a pain and i was never really happy how stable or safe it was.  I now have a tow bar rack and am much happier.

I previously had a 'clip on' rack on a 5 Series and found it to be well made and didn't do any damage to the car's paintwork.

The clips were coated in some sort of soft touch material but you could always add an extra layer of 'something' to make doubly sure!

The biggest problem was fitting it. Once it was setup then the angles etc didn't need moving but I also preferred to remove it from the car at the destination too.

Having a tow bar allows for a more substantial rack that wouldn't need removing at your destination and is probably sturdier too.

 

So, no opinions on your choices but I doubt there'd be a problem with the clips.

Thanks,

 

I will not be getting a towbar fitted, would cost too much for use a few times a year.

 

Thanks for the feedback.

I went from the type like your second link which rests the weight on the window, to the type like your first link which rests the weight on the bumper, to a towbar solution. 
 

I was much happier about having the weight on the bumper than on the window (it wasn’t on a Superb by the way). These were for three bikes, 2 adults and a child. Even though the adult bikes in themselves were fairly light, once you get multiple bikes the weight soon adds up.
 

But towbar is least stress. if you really can’t justify a towbar then i would say get the type that sits on the bumper. Get some 22mm pipe insulation or something like that, to put around bike tubes to pad between them. You may still need a lightboard if the bikes obstruct the lights and number plate.

Sorry to be so negative but there's no way in the world I'd be carrying four bikes using a door mounted rack. It's not just the weight that's the issue, you're moving the centre of gravity away from the hatch. If it wasn't secured rock solid then that's just asking for problems.

 

Providing you're careful, the bikes won't damage the car's paintwork. ( however looking at Rack 1 above, I'd be surprised if you didn't damage the bikes ! )

 

Link 1 above looks cheap and nasty and not very secure carrier to these eyes.   Link 2 - That picture looks like a 3 bike carrier to me.

 

I've had a look at various websites, youtube etc and manufacturers websites, and although I can see the odd rack designed to carry 4 cycles, I haven't yet found a picture of 4 cycles mounted on the rack. That speaks volumes. Any four cycles I've found are mounted on a towbar.  Is there no chance of mounting 3 bikes and carry one of the kids bikes in the boot?

 

If price is a consideration, check out gumtree - lots of folk buy racks, use them once or twice and sell them at a fraction of the new price. Most secure rear mounted racks IMO are Saris Bones but they carry a max. of 3 cycles - should be able to pick up an almost new one for £60 from gumtree.

 

 

I have 2 adult bikes (2x 26") and 2 kids bikes (1x 24" and 1x 40cm).

I put 3 on the bike racks on the roof, and the little one in the boot with no issues wat so ever.

 

 

Above 2 bikes, I think the weight may become an issue with a door carrier.

If the tow bar solution may become expensive, the roof rack solution seems to be a good option to think about: stable, safe (for both car and bikes). 

I’ve done all 3 thing mentioned on this thread already. Towbar carrier is my preferred option otherwise I’d go roof bars and carriers 100% as @JR RS has done. There’s no way I’d put 60+kg of bikes hanging off a strap-on fitted to the back door/ bumper/ glass. A decent set of roof bars can always be traded onwards later if you changed the car or changed your mind. You can get 4 carriers on the roof which will fit other bars too and also be traded but they will be close to the bars weight limit loaded. Plus it’s always useful to have roof bars for those jobs where long or dirty things would be better off outside the cabin to get them home. 

17 hours ago, Bap33 said:

Above 2 bikes, I think the weight may become an issue with a door carrier.

If the tow bar solution may become expensive, the roof rack solution seems to be a good option to think about: stable, safe (for both car and bikes). 

Agreed, I was never very confident with mine. It was solid enough but there was always that “what if” thought, hence the switch to a towbar for me (previous car was quite a high roofline with no roof rails, and there was no way my wife would be able to help, so just didn’t fancy roof mounting options).

Although I’ve never had roof bar cycle carriers, I did get some roof bars a couple of months ago. It would certainly be a much cheaper option than a tow bar and fitting – huge numbers of roof bars and cycle carriers available in the pre-owned market. Maybe someone can recommend makes of cycle carrier? A mate of mine uses Thule carriers for 4 bikes (3 adult + 1 tall child) on his Octavia roof.

Edited 11 April, 20206 yr by Ivan8192

www.roofbox.co.uk suggests the following. Might have to go roof mounted.

 

Rear mountingbike carriers

 

It's not possible to fit a rear door fitting bike carrier to this vehicle, this is due to the design and/or strength of the tailgate. We recommend considering either roof bar or tow bar mounting bike carriers.

Trouble is with casual bikers and kids bikes they tend to have cheaper bikes that are very!! heavy.

So anything other than a tow bar is a risk. Even with a tow bar, with heavy or electric bikes you have to be careful.

3 hours ago, Ivan8192 said:

 A mate of mine uses Thule carriers for 4 bikes (3 adult + 1 tall child) on his Octavia roof.

That'll be me then!😁

 

The Atera Strada does the job out back too.

 

 

Edited 11 April, 20206 yr by BigEjit

Thanks,

 

https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php?20294

 

Looks like the above can be bought for around £150. Might suit my casual use.

5 minutes ago, BigEjit said:

That'll be me then!😁

 

The Atera Strada does the job out back.

 

Oh yes! 😄

 

Nice carrier 👍

7 hours ago, Gomezz said:

Trouble is with casual bikers and kids bikes they tend to have cheaper bikes that are very!! heavy.

So anything other than a tow bar is a risk. Even with a tow bar, with heavy or electric bikes you have to be careful.

Don’t forget, the max weight on the hook, which is something like 75kg (assuming Skoda option). Once you add the tow bar carrier plus the four bikes, you may be not very far from this limit with this heavy cheap bikes hypothesis. Thus... the tow bar option may also be a risk.

Thanks for the advice, after looking at the options I am either going to go the towbar and tiltable rack, or not bother at all. 

 

I feel I would have wasted time and effort with other options for a solution that would have just annoyed me.

 

Thanks again guys.

On 11/04/2020 at 19:45, Bap33 said:

Don’t forget, the max weight on the hook, which is something like 75kg (assuming Skoda option). Once you add the tow bar carrier plus the four bikes, you may be not very far from this limit with this heavy cheap bikes hypothesis. Thus... the tow bar option may also be a risk.

Good choice!

Now you need to chose the right tow bar and the right tow bar bike carrier.  

On 11/04/2020 at 00:45, JR RS said:

I have 2 adult bikes (2x 26") and 2 kids bikes (1x 24" and 1x 40cm).

I put 3 on the bike racks on the roof, and the little one in the boot with no issues wat so ever.

 

 

 

your recommended brand of bike rack, please ? much of a pain to mount / unload ?

Thule 591 second hand off the bay at a target price of around £50 to £60 each. Adjustable for most bikes and sizes plus can be set up for left or right side loading. They have Wrap around fittings for plain square bars or T track slot fixings as an alternative. They lock to the bars and lock the bikes in place but never leave a bike in it or any other carrier as it can be forced out of the mechanisms. The locks can be swapped out to match one key for all locks.

 

They can take a while to set up initially but once done, bars and carriers can be fitted ready for use in 15 mins. 

 

So long as you can lift a bike above your head, you’ll be fine. Middle of the roof positions are more difficult to load.