Eufab SD260 bike rack test: Plenty of space on the towbar despite gullwing doors

The Eufab SD260 bike rack could be the solution that many van and van owners have been looking for for a long time. There are now an enormous number of options for transporting a bicycle on the rear of a car. Bicycle carriers for the towbar are very popular. Securely fastened and in the slipstream of the vehicle, bikes can be transported particularly well there. Unlike competing concepts, nothing needs to be drilled or glued. Rear carriers for the towbar can simply be removed and transferred from car to car. The only problem: if the carrier sits on the towbar, it usually comes into conflict with the tailgate. For normal cars, models with a folding function provide a remedy. However, on larger vehicles such as vans or vans, the flaps usually swing out much further. Things get particularly complicated with hinged doors, which are often found on campers, motorhomes and high-roof estate cars. The Eufab SD260 is aimed at vehicle owners with space problems. We put the extendable rear carrier through its paces.

Details of the Eufab SD260 bike rack

• Price: 849 Euro >> available here
• Weight: 20.8 kg (BIKE measurement, incl. licence plate)
• Mounting system: Trailer coupling
• Lighting connection: 13-pin plug
• Number of bikes transported: 2
• Maximum wheelbase bikes: 1300 mm
• Maximum payload: 60 kg
• Dimensions ready for use: 130 x 77 x 81 cm
• Dimensions when folded: 84 x 28 x 81 cm
• Features: lockable quick-release system, strap frame holder, position-adjustable holding arms, aluminium rails with plastic holders

Test bike rack for hinged doors: handling the Eufab SD260

The first surprise in the delivery area of the editorial office: "There's supposed to be a rear carrier in this small package?" The Eufab SD260 can be folded up to save space and stowed away even in small cellar compartments. The rear lights can be folded in and the main bar folded down using generously dimensioned plastic quick-release levers. The tyre shells can be pushed inwards with minimal resistance. The licence plate is pleasantly easy to attach using a spring-loaded mechanism. No more bent plates or broken plastic lugs - super! The dead weight is fine for a double carrier. Once hoisted onto the towbar, the carrier must be firmly secured with a long lever. The solid aluminium part inspires confidence and is secured in place with a lockable mechanism.

The two support arms of the Eufab SD260 can be moved across the entire surface of the main bar and can be fixed or released with just a few turns of the hand. As with all rear carriers with this system, anyone using the carrier for the first time for two bikes will need to allow some time to find the optimum position for the frames. Once adjusted, however, securing the bikes is child's play. Simply press the wide ratchet straps into the locking system and tighten them using a lever. The same applies to securing the tyres. Rubber buffers protect the material from chafing caused by the straps. All work steps are self-explanatory and can be carried out quickly. Only locking the frame brackets is a little fiddly. The small key catches slightly in the locks and has to be turned in the counter-intuitive direction. However, we have observed exactly the same phenomenon with many other lockable rear carriers in the past. With a little practice, this is not a problem.

There are two things to consider when positioning the Eufab SD260 in relation to the car: Firstly, for vehicles with a height-adjustable towbar, the lower position should be selected so as not to be in the way of the wing doors when swinging open. Secondly, the carrier is relatively close to the vehicle. This is great in driving practice, as the low overhang minimises the risk of bouncing or contact with an obstacle when driving off at a steep angle. However, if a bike with wide handlebars (760 millimetres in our test) is mounted on the vehicle-side rail, this can rub against the tailgate and must be rotated. Otherwise, the Eufab SD260 bike carrier has no weaknesses when it comes to handling. Once the mounting points have been pre-set for two bikes, they are ready to ride off in around 6:30 minutes (including turning the handlebars crossways). Dismantling is even quicker.

Unique: bike carrier with pull-out function

Let's move on to the core competence of the Eufab SD260. In Germany, it is currently the only rear carrier available for the towbar with a telescopic function. Other bike carriers can only be folded backwards at best, but do not offer anywhere near the linear adjustment range of 70 centimetres of the Eufab. For bikers who already have a bike rack but are changing vehicles, an alternative would be a swivelling adapter for the coupling. However, these parts are heavy (which can lead to problems with the load capacity of the towbar) and not exactly cheap. The Eufab SD260 should make the boot accessible even with hinged doors up to 85 centimetres wide. We tested this on an Opel Movano camping van (identical in construction to the Renault Master III) with 80 centimetre wide wing doors. The challenge: when on holiday, campers constantly have to reach the storage compartment under the bed or the gas bottle. In our case, even the filler opening for the fresh water tank was behind the wing doors. Accessibility was therefore a must.

Finding a rear carrier that also works with large hinged doors is not that easy. Fastening methods on the doors put a lot of weight on the hinges and usually can't be transferred from vehicle to vehicle. As a camper, I also want to be able to get to all my stuff. This is where the Eufab SD260 comes into play. The pull-out solution for the towbar is clever and there is virtually no alternative in this form. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE Editor

>> Here we have tested 11 more bike carriers for the towbar

In practice, pulling out the Eufab SD260 is very simple. Two bolts are pulled upwards and the carrier is pulled backwards. This can even be done with one hand. The licence plate and rear lights automatically fold down to make room for the two telescopic rails. Once the carrier is extended, the hinged doors can be opened easily. However, there is not much space left between the bikes and the edge of the door. In order to reach the inside of the car when two hinged doors are open at the same time, they therefore require a 90-degree opening function. In many vehicles, the door rails have to be unhinged for this purpose. To access these, it is necessary to climb "into" the bike carrier. Fortunately, there is plenty of space between its two arms and anyone who has tried the procedure two or three times will not be afraid to open the rear doors just for a little something.

The Eufab SD260 is approved for a maximum payload of 60 kilos. Even with two e-bikes, it is virtually impossible to reach this limit. However, there is also the limited load capacity of the trailer coupling. When the rear carrier is fully extended, the lever arm is significantly larger than with any other carrier for the towbar. The extension should therefore not be permanent, especially with heavy bikes. Fortunately, the SD260 is just as easy to retract as it is to extend. When pushed far enough in the direction of the vehicle, the bolts usually snap back into place by themselves. In the rare cases in which they do not do this by themselves, there is still little danger of driving off with the carrier unsecured, as the number plate and rear lights only audibly and visibly spring back into position when the part with the bolts has been pushed in far enough. The bolts can be fixed by hand. The only potential for error is with distracted daydreamers.

How durable is the Eufab SD260 bike rack?

We didn't spare the extendable rear carrier and put it through its paces in Scandinavia. Known for bumpy gravel tracks and small roads deformed by frost, the far north showed the Eufab SD260 no mercy. Potholes, bumps, unpredictable dips and undulations: No wonder the Scandinavians have the best rally drivers on the planet! And the Eufab? It remained unimpressed by all the vibrations and despite the high punctual forces. It sat securely and problem-free on the towbar throughout the entire test period. The SD260 also has some movement in the system (like all rear carriers for the towbar). However, this is comparatively small, which ensures a high feeling of safety. The bikes are in good hands on the Eufab. Especially because there is enough space between the two bikes. Chafe marks and rags jammed between the bikes are therefore a thing of the past.

In addition to the rough road conditions, harsh weather conditions were an additional challenge for the Eufab rear carrier. Large amounts of dust and rain were part of everyday testing. After three weeks of use, we have not yet noticed any impairment of the mechanics. It seems as if the rails are well protected from environmental influences when closed. Nevertheless, it can't hurt to keep an eye on the cleanliness of the telescopic rails from time to time. In terms of safety and durability, the SD260 certainly left nothing to be desired, even after more than 5500 kilometres of driving. Incidentally, Eufab has just introduced two exciting accessories for the extendable hitch carrier: an additional mountable rail, which enables the transport of three bikes, and a matching transport box, in which up to 350 litres of luggage can be stored on the carrier instead of bicycles.

Conclusion

The Eufab SD260 is much more than a special solution for vans with gullwing doors. It fulfils its primary job as a bike carrier safely and reliably, even under the toughest conditions. The pull-out function is simple and effectively creates space for large rear doors. Considering the wide range of applications, the price is also reasonable. If you want to transport your bikes on the towbar of a camper, you should definitely take a closer look at the Eufab SD260. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE test editor

Pro

• Compact stowable
• Quick-to-use fastening system
• Secure fit of carrier and bikes
• Intuitive telescopic system creates space for hinged doors

Contra

• Nothing