By Emma Dodd
Bikes can be a great way to get around locally on your caravan holiday, but it can be tricky to know which rack is the best for attaching cycles to your leisure vehicle.
Luckily, Cycling Weekly knows a thing or two about bike racks and has put together a handy guide for caravan and motorhome owners.
The first thing the publication says to note is the nose-weight limit of your vehicle, as you do not want to place undue pressure on the tow-ball of your car.
If you find it is too high, you can put heavier items behind the rear axle to reduce the nose-weight.
It’s also important to know the rules surrounding bike racks for different countries if you’re planning on taking them abroad.
A-frame mounting is a good aerodynamic option for single-axle and twin-axle campervans and the Fiamma Carry Bike XL can carry two bikes with a maximum load of 35kg.
The Enduro BC260 A-frame Bike Rack is good if you’re carrying e-bikes, which tend to be heavy, as it can accommodate up to 60kg in weight, but you must take the 10kg of the rack itself into the equation.
Rear wall mounting bike racks are only really a good idea on motorhomes and the Thule Elite G2 Bicycle Carrier can hold two bikes up to a total weight of 60kg. Purchase additional parts to increase the bike carrying capacity to four.
Opt for the Fiamma Carry Bike UL if you’re looking for a lightweight option capable of carrying two bikes or being upgraded to three with a maximum load of 55kg.
Tow car mounting should be considered if an A frame mount would exceed your nose-weight limit. The Saris Bones EX 3-Bike Rack fits most cars and can cope with a total carry weight of 48kg.
If you have light bikes then the Fabbri BICI OK 3 Bike Rack is good for loads up to 45kg, as long as the wheelbase is less than 1100mm.
Do you take bikes with you on your caravan or motorhome holidays? What set up do you use?
