When loading the bike rack, the valuable cargo should be securely and carefully lashed down. We provide tips to ensure that nothing slips when travelling.
Length of the straps
The following applies to the load straps: They must be long enough to form a sufficiently large loop on a bike with a long wheelbase, staggered mounting of two wheels or high profile rims so that they engage securely.
The belts are usually long enough for racing bikes or gravel bikes with a wheelbase of around one metre. Things can get tight if your fleet includes mountain bikes or even downhill bikes with ten centimetres more wheelbase. Some manufacturers offer long versions of their straps; as a guide, we recommend around 40 centimetres.
Our bike rack guide reveals which bike carriers are currently particularly recommended for long wheelbases, fat tyres and bulky frames - especially for heavyweight e-bikes. Bike rack test 2025 - 7 models for the towbar >>
Upholstery & clamps
The carbon frame material is particularly sensitive, which is why it is important to ensure that the holding arms grip gently and evenly. Padded loops are generally more suitable than angular claws. To grip sensitive frame tubes gently, we recommend using tube insulators from the DIY store, for example; they also work well as padding to hold wheels in place.
Position of the cranks
If you want to piggyback two or more bikes onto the car, you need to align them alternately so that the handlebars do not get in each other's way. This also prevents other protruding components, such as the cranks, from colliding. Accordingly, the wheel facing the rear of the car should always be positioned with the handlebars on the driver's side and the second one on the opposite side.
Holding arm
If you want to attach two bikes, you should ensure that the longer of the two holding arms is positioned accordingly when positioning the first bike so that it can be threaded through the frame triangle. Its loop or gripper can then find a suitable clamping point on the second bike. If the two wheels are different sizes, the wheel with the larger frame triangle should be placed on the carrier first in order to give the holding arm as much room to manoeuvre as possible.
Licence plate mounting
As standard, the licence plates are simply attached to wheel carriers using a clip. This is quick and tool-free. Either the rear licence plate with registration and HU sticker or a simple repeat licence plate without a stamp, which can be purchased for a few euros from a signmaker or online, are permitted here.
If the rear licence plate is used, it should be firmly screwed down to protect it from quick access. Stolen vehicle licence plates with stamps must be reported to the police and new licence plates must then be applied for at the registration office. This means a lot of hassle, time plus administrative and licence plate costs.
Anyone travelling abroad should find out about the applicable regulations in the country they are travelling to before setting off. In some European countries, for example, bicycles on the rear carrier must be labelled with additional warning signs. You can read more about this in our Tips from the ADAC: "Other countries, other rules" >>
There was good news at the beginning of the year for all those who want to travel to Italy by bike on the towbar of their car: The regulations for labelling with a warning sign have changed >>
Securing the wheels
Piggybacking with the rolling stock, a quick stop at the service station for an espresso, taking your eyes off the vehicle for a moment and it's happened: The bikes have fallen prey to brazen thieves.
If you have insured your bike through your household contents insurance or a special theft insurance policy, you have a good chance of being reimbursed for the damage. However, anyone who has failed to secure their bikes on the rack with locked holding arms and/or locks has acted with gross negligence and must pay for the damage themselves.
Key fuse
As described above, locking the wheels on the carrier is a must, as is locking the carrier on the coupling itself.
For this reason, the keys for the bike rack and the bike lock should ideally be located directly on the car key. Otherwise, you may not be able to get your bikes off the rack at your destination because the keys have been misplaced somewhere else.
It is also advisable to have enough duplicate keys made, or at least to make a note of the key number, which can be used to order suitable duplicate keys from the manufacturer.
Spare parts backup
Although modern LED rear lights on bike racks are stylish, bright and durable, they also have disadvantages: If the light breaks in the event of a manoeuvring bump, the entire component usually has to be replaced instead of just the housing.
Classic bulbs with filaments may not last as long as modern LEDs, but they can be replaced anywhere in the world at a favourable price. Note: In some European countries, such as France or Croatia, a replacement bulb set must be carried. Vehicles and carriers with xenon or LED headlights may be exempt from this requirement.
By the way: For many people, going on a bike holiday in a campervan is the epitome of freedom. However, special solutions are often required for transporting bikes. Here we show 6 clever transport systems for the tailgate and interior >>
Matthias Borchers
Editor
