Bike carrier purchase advice wanted

[John F]

Am looking to buy a rear carrier to carry my Woosh Santana to new territories.

My car is a Fiesta, whose lights are mounted high up. What is the situation regarding obscuring the lights, and how would this affect my choice?

Any thoughts and recommendations?

 

[Jimod]

On my wife's car, we use a thule carrier which hangs on the back. We got a tow bar place to fit a wiring socket inside the boot. We then got a light board with a number plate which hangs on the carrier. The Santana doesn't have a crossbar on it so you need to buy a dummy cross bar to fit it on a hanging rack.

On my car, I fitted a tow bar and bought a Thule tow bar mounted rack.
The bikes sit on runners. My wife's Santana sits fin on it
Both work fine.
Jim

 

[John F]

Sounds a perfect answer, but also a bit too expensive for me I think.

I wouldn't use it all that much so I was thinking of a carrier only. I'm not up to speed on the legal situation either

 

[RobF]

I'm sure a dummy crossbar is fine for a tow bar rack - the weight of the bike is supported by its wheels.

Not sure about using a dummy crossbar on the cheaper arm racks which take all the weight of the bike on the crossbar.

Particularly a heavy ebike.

 

[John F]

On my wife's car, we use a thule carrier which hangs on the back. We got a tow bar place to fit a wiring socket inside the boot. We then got a light board with a number plate which hangs on the carrier. The Santana doesn't have a crossbar on it so you need to buy a dummy cross bar to fit it on a hanging rack.

On my car, I fitted a tow bar and bought a Thule tow bar mounted rack.
The bikes sit on runners. My wife's Santana sits fin on it
Both work fine.
Jim

Just realised the step thru design probably means the con entail type s wouldn't work?!

 

[John F]

Just realised the step thru design probably means the con entail type s wouldn't work?!

Typo - I mean step thru!

 

[John F]

Typo - I mean step thru!

Typo2 - I meant to say conventional.

 

[Jimod]

I'm sure a dummy crossbar is fine for a tow bar rack - the weight of the bike is supported by its wheels.

Not sure about using a dummy crossbar on the cheaper arm racks which take all the weight of the bike on the crossbar.

Particularly a heavy ebike.

On the Thule tow bar rack which I have, you don't use a dummy cross bar. The bike sits fine on the rack and the holding arm clamps perfectly onto it.

 

[RobF]

On the Thule tow bar rack which I have, you don't use a dummy cross bar. The bike sits fine on the rack and the holding arm clamps perfectly onto it.

No doubt, but the OP has rejected a tow bar rack on grounds of cost.

 

[Jimod]

I know but if you read the post I quoted you'll see why I posted.

 

[oldtom]

Considered buying a nice folder which could sit in the boot?

Tom

 

[jackhandy]

what is the situation regarding obscuring the lights, and how would this affect my choice?

You shouldn't have anything obstructing the lights or number plate; even spokes, so probably best to use a light board.

Some coppers can be right. Jobsworths when down on their quotas.

 

[Jimod]

I don't know how big the Fiesta is but I have an Almera and if I fold down the back seats, I can fit either my Kudos Tourer or the Santana in if I remove the front wheel.

 

[John F]

I don't know how big the Fiesta is but I have an Almera and if I fold down the back seats, I can fit either my Kudos Tourer or the Santana in if I remove the front wheel.

I suspect it's too small for a bike. I'd probably have to take off both wheels, but I'll check.

 

[timidtom]

Am looking to buy a rear carrier to carry my Woosh Santana to new territories.

My car is a Fiesta, whose lights are mounted high up. What is the situation regarding obscuring the lights, and how would this affect my choice?

Any thoughts and recommendations?

Thule every time. Rock solid, good re-sale value, built-in lighting. We carried two step-through bikes for miles.
Happy grinning e-biking!