 | Home > Technical > Towbar extender for bike rack |
 
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| Wheel Member Since: 28 May 2014 Location: Essex Posts: 233  
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Hi All,
I had some thoughts on this subject of bike carriers on LR's with rear wheels and managed to source a rack that goes through the spare wheel (can't remember make but well known) as seen here but i also have access to a mates stepped LR bike carrier and just had to make a mount to fix it to the tow bar. The door opening is an issue but i think even with the tilting carriers its not that great and i like the idea of an "extender" but due to the length and leverage involved wondered are they also ok for towing upto 3.5t as they do look flimsy with a side load (maybe reversing and turning) applied ?? Are they all approved and E marked ?? Mark |
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10th Feb 2015 12:38pm |
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| Fellrunner Member Since: 28 Sep 2014 Location: Wandering Posts: 257  
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Mark - the extender I have isn't e marked, but I wouldn't be using it for towing, purely for use with a bike carrier. That said, it's certainly a heavy duty bit of kit judging by weight alone.
I tried the Atera Strada DL3 which arrived today and .... success!!! Very happy with this solution. With the carrier fully slid forward the back door can fully open (caveat - see below) and with the design of the carrier you can access/climb in and out of the rear without obstruction from the carrier at all. Caveat - with the door almost fully open the edge does just marginally foul on the upright bit of the carrier. However, with some tape wrapped around the bike carrier it'd be more than fine (see position of wash mit in photo below). Alternatively, if the extender bar was just a few cm longer it'd solve the problem or I'm sure someone with the right skill could suitably bend this particular section of the upright on the bike carrier. Not the best picture but it's dark ...  Click image to enlarge |
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10th Feb 2015 8:29pm |
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| kmac Member Since: 07 Oct 2009 Location: Middlesex Posts: 1308 
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Glad it all worked out for you
Hope you were able to return the unused bits (Thule carrier) and LR box extensions I too got my Atera carrier from Roofbox but some years ago now |
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10th Feb 2015 10:00pm |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971 
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If you think that looks flimsy you should see the one on a Hi-Cap. Though looking for a picture on Autotrader I did note that the Puma I saw was completely different to our TD5. |
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11th Feb 2015 12:50pm |
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| clifflandy Member Since: 13 Mar 2014 Location: Lichfield Posts: 109 
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Hi Fellrunner, which supplier did you use in SA to post the Holdfast extension?
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11th Feb 2015 2:28pm |
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| Fellrunner Member Since: 28 Sep 2014 Location: Wandering Posts: 257
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Clifflandy - I used www.capemulti.co.za A very nice lady called Ana Niemann helped me.
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11th Feb 2015 5:03pm |
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| Fellrunner Member Since: 28 Sep 2014 Location: Wandering Posts: 257
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Cheers kmac Yes, PFJones who I ordered the Thule carrier from were eventually OK, and Rimmerbros where I ordered the Disco extender from were great. Roofbox were superb, very helpful advice and I'd certainly recommend them. |
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11th Feb 2015 5:05pm |
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| Xelr8 Member Since: 26 Aug 2014 Location: Sheffield Posts: 165 
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Thanks for Posting this up 
I can't do it the way that you have because I require my Defender for Towing regularly but I have a couple of questions if ya don't mind. In your opinion, if the Original Tow Ball was left in the Lowest Holes would the Extension Bar fit above it in the Highest Holes? I've no doubt that if this did work then I'd probably require the Longer Extension Bar to allow the Rear Door to clear the Bike Rack. Basically I'm trying to leave the Tow Ball that I use for Trailering fixed in place. I don't want to be taking it on & off all the time. But I don't mind doing that for the Bike Rack one. Cheers Leon |
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17th Feb 2015 6:40pm |
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| NormanD Member Since: 12 Aug 2011 Location: Bristol Posts: 285 
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You could consider the device from Goodwinch, you would need to fabricate s bracket to suit
http://www.goodwinch.com/shop/bak-rak-towb...clamshell/ NormanD WE191 2015 110 XS Utility 2014 VW Caravelle 180 Executive |
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17th Feb 2015 6:46pm |
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| Fellrunner Member Since: 28 Sep 2014 Location: Wandering Posts: 257
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Leon - I don't think that would work. Even though you could bolt the tow ball at the bottom of the drop plate, the 'ball' bit sticks up and would likely foul an extension bar bolted on above it.
Even if this arrangement did work, with the two ball bolted at the bottom and the extension bar bolted on above it, I wonder if you'd have enough room between both to attach the trailer onto the tow bar (don't you need a bit more height to 'drop' the trailer onto the tow ball?). I know next to nothing about towing so I'm just speculating here. What is it you tow? I can see it's a very large trailer from your thread, but what weight altogether? I'm sure I'm not considering something which someone will soon point out, but I wouldn't underestimate how heavy duty the extension bar is; it seems at least as well constructed/heaving duty as the drop plate for example, so whilst it may have its capacity reduced because of the extra length, I certainly wouldn't call it flimsy. I'll be visiting Sheffield for a day in a few weeks time. I'll be driving the RR rather than the Defender, but I have the shorter version (12cm) of this extension bar which I could bring with me if you'd like to see how well it's constructed in the flesh. It might help inform your decision making whilst you're considering potential set up. |
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17th Feb 2015 7:13pm |
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| Xelr8 Member Since: 26 Aug 2014 Location: Sheffield Posts: 165
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Yes it's the clearance between the Lower Ball & the Extension Bar that I'm concerned about.
Fitting the Trailer on wouldn't be a Problem as I would remove the Extended one when I was towing. I know what you're saying about the construction of the Extension Bar but it's always better to Tow anything with the Tow Ball attached as close to the Towing Vehicle as possible. Thanks for the offer to bring it to show me but for the above reason there's no need really. Cheers |
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17th Feb 2015 7:52pm |
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| Fellrunner Member Since: 28 Sep 2014 Location: Wandering Posts: 257
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No problem.
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17th Feb 2015 7:55pm |
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| Tonyrec Member Since: 22 Feb 2014 Location: Lake District Posts: 137
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Cheers Fellrunner, looks like you have solved the problem for us , nice one
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19th Feb 2015 6:13pm |
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| Fellrunner Member Since: 28 Sep 2014 Location: Wandering Posts: 257
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20th Feb 2015 8:27pm |
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