Safe transport: Bike rack in the test

Bike racks offer advantages

How do the bikes get to the tour starting point if it's not on the doorstep? Often at the back of your own car. A rear carrier for the car offers cyclists who love travelling independence and flexibility when choosing their destination. Rear carriers transport the bikes safely and space-savingly on the towbar or tailgate of your own car - and the storage space in the boot is retained.

For the tailgate:

• Fiamma Carry-Bike VW T6 Pro
• Thule WanderWay 2
• Uebler Primavelo T6 base

For the clutch:

• Atera Strada Sport E-Bike ML
• Buzz Rack E-Scorpion 2
• Eufab Premium TG
• Menabo Alcor 2
• Thule VeloSpace XT 3
• Uebler i21
• Westfalia Bikelander
• Yakima JustClick 2

According to surveys, bike racks for mounting on the towbar are particularly popular with cyclists. This is understandable, as these models offer a number of advantages: The bikes can be easily lifted onto the carrier, the clearance height remains unchanged compared to the roof rack or tailgate carrier, and the bikes travel in the slipstream of the vehicle to save fuel. In addition, towbar carriers are quick to mount and just as easy to remove and stow away in the basement. Nevertheless, the individual models differ enormously in some cases: the prices alone vary between 365 and 730 euros.

While the Uebler i21 can be folded down to the size of luggage almost like a mini-tool, the Thule is extremely bulky in comparison. This makes mounting it on the coupling and stowing it in a cramped cellar compartment correspondingly unwieldy. However, the fastening of the bikes, the width of the tyre rails or the adaptability to different wheelbases are also points that can quickly cause frustration before departure.

Clutch or tailgate?

In addition to the eight models for the trailer coupling, we also tested three carriers for the tailgate of the still popular minibuses. Provided the vehicle in question has a steeply sloping tailgate, they are the perfect solution for frequent travellers who don't want to drag the bike rack out of the cellar before every trip. By the way: despite their major differences, both carrier variants have the same disadvantage: on both, the bikes are completely dirty after a journey in the rain. But the boot stays clean.

BIKE TRANSPORT: GOOD TO KNOW

• SUPPORT LOAD Before purchasing a towbar carrier, you must check the drawbar load of your towbar. This can be found in the vehicle registration document. The total weight of the carrier and the bicycles to be transported must not exceed the permissible weight. The weight of the individual bikes can be found in the manufacturer's instructions for use. Simple calculation: With a drawbar load of 50 kilos and a carrier weight of 17 kilos, the two bikes together must not weigh more than 33 kilos.
• PLUG CONNECTION To connect the light strip of the carrier to the vehicle, you need the appropriate plug connection (7 or 13 poles). Current models usually have 13-pin plugs.
• LICENCE PLATE AND BRAKE LIGHTIf the licence plate is covered, the carrier also needs one. A third licence plate is therefore required for coupling carriers. If the third brake light is not visible, it must be supplemented by a clip-on light on the rear bicycle. In some countries, an additional warning plate must be attached to the rear.
• BEFORE THE JOURNEY The towbar must be free of grease and dirt before you fit the carrier. Otherwise, there is a risk of the bike carrier slipping on the towbar. Parts that are not permanently attached, such as water bottles, mini pumps or bike computers, should be removed before travelling. Frame parts or fork bars that touch each other should always be padded to prevent damage.
• MAXIMUM SPEED The driving behaviour of your car can change due to the load at the rear. This is why most manufacturers limit the maximum permitted speed to 120 or 130 km/h. For safety reasons, you should not exceed this speed limit. During longer journeys, check that the bikes are securely fastened at regular intervals and check whether any fastening points have loosened.

You can download the complete comparison test of the rear carriers from MYBIKE 3/2021 including all individual ratings as a PDF below the article. The test costs 1.99 euros.

Downloads:

Test car rear carrier (pdf)