I have a Superb Mk4 with a factory fitted retractable tow ball. This summer I intend to use a Thule Eastfold 2 bike carrier to carry our 2 Eovolt electric bikes.

Will I have to change any settings when I do this?

Will it affect the reversing camera?

Will the emergency brake be activated when I try to reverse (I hope not, it's rather severe!)?

I'm assuming the trailer option in the menus is just for trailers?

Can I just mount the carrier and bikes and drive away as normal?

Any comments from other forum members with experience of this would be most useful.

Do you have a light socket and lights on the Bike Carrier?

The cars knows it has something on it rear if you do.

Emergency braking can be a god send when your mind lapses and you forget the bikes are sticking out.

1 hour ago, handyandy said:

I have a Superb Mk4 with a factory fitted retractable tow ball. This summer I intend to use a Thule Eastfold 2 bike carrier to carry our 2 Eovolt electric bikes.

Will I have to change any settings when I do this?

Will it affect the reversing camera?

Will the emergency brake be activated when I try to reverse (I hope not, it's rather severe!)?

I'm assuming the trailer option in the menus is just for trailers?

Can I just mount the carrier and bikes and drive away as normal?

Any comments from other forum members with experience of this would be most useful.

you'll need a trailer board connected to the trailer socket that has appropriate lighting and a third number plate. If not you'll be illegal and the car won't know you have the bike carrier fitted, meaning all those issues you are concerned about will occur (emergency braking etc.).

Also be aware of the weight limit on the easifold and the tow bar - I'm not sure what the weight of you're bikes are as the carrier itself is 18kg and I'd imagine the bikes are quite heavy too if fitted with batteries are about 25kg each which will mean they aren't that far off the limit of the carrier and, in combination with the carrier may not be that far off the tow bar limit, which may only be around 80kg.

Edited 23 April, 20251 yr by skomaz

I have the same bike carrier and you shouldn't have any trouble at all. Plug it in to the trailer socket, and it has a holder for a registration plate at the rear. We remove the batteries from our electric bikes when carrying them on the car. It will affect the reversing camera in as much as you might not see much when the bikes are mounted on the back, but otherwise it will work. You might find you can mount the bikes in such a way as to leave a gap for the camera.

It can be a bit fiddly to mount the bikes on the carrier so that the pedals, frames and wheels don't get in the way of each other , but not a major problem. The locking system for holding the bikes on the carrier is easy to use but I usually put an extra strap around them just in case!

I don't think this should have any impact on the emergency brake, as you say, it's quite harsh!

Thanks for that.

So long as the rack / trailerboard electrical socket is plugged into the car, emergency braking in reverse is disabled.

But - try reversing a utility trailer or boat trailer without the electrics connected and you wont get more than a foot or two without disabling it in the menu!!

34 minutes ago, Shuggyboatsuperb said:

So long as the rack / trailerboard electrical socket is plugged into the car, emergency braking in reverse is disabled.

But - try reversing a utility trailer or boat trailer without the electrics connected and you wont get more than a foot or two without disabling it in the menu!!

That's useful to know, thanks.