To all the cyclists.

[harvs]

Hi there,
I'm looking for advice, and suggestions on how you carry your bikes when touring.  We are a family 4 and tow a fairly typical soft floor side fold camper.
I drive a discovery, I don't want to put them on the roof rack for our up coming trip because of wind drag and hight.  Normally I would carry my bike and the kids small bikes on the spare wheel carrier, but that really limits entry into the back of the Disco, and other issues. Also I'd like to take my wides bike along this time.
i did a search, and unfortunately it didn't offer much info, so any help (and pics) would great.
Thanks Harvs.

[darren]

There are a few pics here mate

http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?topic=11030.0
Hope it helps

[gadgetman]

We fitted a hitch receiver at the back of ours and it worked great for 4 bikes.  I just made sure they were strapped to minimize movement.

Rob

[Squalo]

Couple of ideas I'm working with at the moment are either a wheel-resting system on the drawbar (need to work out where to carry my CT spare, either a rear swingarm or on the roof of my Patrol), or a hitch receiver carrier on the rear of my CT. It already has the 50x50mm hitch receiver there.

My real problem however is five bikes... I might even end up with my roof pod on the Patrol to carry the two adult bikes stripped down, and either of the above ideas for the three kids bikes. The roof pod is appealing as the adult bikes are Cannondales - the real ones from when they were US-made - and I'd get a reasonable degree of security that way.

[db]

If you have room on the drawbar, mounting a bike rack on the front of the trailer may work.  Our current trailer has a hitch receiver on the front.  Less bounce than mounted on the rear, and doesn't get in the way of setting up the trailer - does require room and is more exposed to rocks / dust.  Our old trailer has one rear mounted like gadgetman's - have to remove to open the tailgate and set up and needs to be secured to the trailer to minimise the leverage on the hitch / carrier - but a bit more protected and doesn't require the space of a front mount (don't forget the extra length it adds to the trailer though).

[gadgetman]

Agree with your comments db - the extra length was good training for when we got a caravan!

[Brett B]

I also have a bike rack mounted on the drawbar
The bikes can stay on for a quick over night stop

Brett

[watto11]

I'm nearly ready to fit our CT with a bike rack for four bikes so I'm very Interested in people's ideas I've just fitted a motorbike rack to drawbar so that's out I'm seriously considering fitted a tow point to back of trailer and using a rack that will hinge and drop to ground so we can still easily open tailgate my bro has one for 3 bike looks good ive seen a 4 bike one on eBay I'm also considering building my own I'm a bit worried that with 4 bikes it won't drop down flat enough to open tailgate so anyone that has already done it please post

[savanahkelpy]

I'm nearly ready to fit our CT with a bike rack for four bikes so I'm very Interested in people's ideas I've just fitted a motorbike rack to drawbar so that's out I'm seriously considering fitted a tow point to back of trailer and using a rack that will hinge and drop to ground so we can still easily open tailgate my bro has one for 3 bike looks good ive seen a 4 bike one on eBay I'm also considering building my own I'm a bit worried that with 4 bikes it won't drop down flat enough to open tailgate so anyone that has already done it please post

Which way does your tailgate open?

[harvs]

Thanks everyone. Great ideas. Darren that link you posted is very good.  don't know how I missed it when I did a search on this topic. I'm starting to think along the lines of mounting the bike in more than one location, rather than in one place. Like what Watto posted using a drop down rack at the back, for 2 bikes  and putting the other 2 on The draw bar some how. Or one of the kids bikes lying down on the roof rack.
We'll see.
Harvs

[Alesco]

Harvs,
If you want to rack more than four then the boat rack is the easiest solution if you reasonably handy with a welder and tape measure and grinder.

This is a rack built to take six bikes but has room for another three available.
Christmas holidays down to Mexico and further south taking seven weeks all up.
Not one accident with bikes. They were all tied down with ratchet straps but bungy straps would have sufficed.
I lifted the rack down slowly by hand and winch it up with a manual boat winch (but one of the $100.00 lectric ones would do.)





We did a 100 km rail trail and the 4 year old only needed towing on the last day (3 day trip Bright to Wangarrata)
Under $200.00
Steve.