[Closed] Tips for rememering there's bikes on the roof?

You'll stop "seeing" the post-it note after a while....

http://www.leveretproductions.com/roofscope.php

Assuming you already have a towbar rack do you already have roof bars/ racks? If not is it significantly dearer to do towbar than have to buy the full kit for roof mounting?

Don't reverse back when you hid something unless you have read your insurance carefully!

I'm dreading the moment when I forget there are bikes on the roof and plough into a car park height barrier.

Put a note next to the DRIVE ON THE LEFT,DRIVE ON THE LEFT stickers that you already use 😛

Is that tow bar price from a main dealer type place? Often the mobile fitters are much cheaper.

Main dealer wanted £1200. There were cheaper, but they used universal electrics which can cause problems if any (electrical) faults develop and you need to get them sorted under manufacturers warranty.

That Roofscope looks like the ideal solution. Thanks Pimpmaster

Sunroof cover open when bikes are on the roof, closed the rest of the time (this of course only works if you have a sunroof)?

Watching with intersest, a mate drove into his garage with bike on roof bike, car and garage all damaged 😯

Have done it twice, got away with it both times.

Now can't drive into/under anyting without freaking out for a second.

This makes me remember there's things on my roof worth more than what I'm driving.

http://singletrackmag.com/reviews/roofscope-car-mirror/

I find a frantically waving french tool booth attendant to work wonders...

Go biking more often. That way you always think you've got bikes on even when you haven't.

BillOddie - Member

I find a frantically waving french tool booth attendant to work wonders...

Not always from an incident I watched unfolding 😯

How about a bright plastic lanyard that you hook onto your front towing eye and clip the other end to the roofrack whenever the bikes are on there? The sort of things motorcyclists run between a front disc lock and their handlebars?

Bike transfers on the drivers side of the windscreen?

Put the bikes inside the car?

Last month I saw a bloke driving alone in an empty Passat estate with a bike on a roof rack. Nuts.

Last month I saw a bloke driving alone in an empty Passat estate with a bike on a roof rack. Nuts.

I can see the appeal, after a couple of winters with bikes in the car I now use a (towbar) rack even when I'm on my own.

Frozen bike in.
Mud defrost and falls off.
Bike out.
Frozen bike in.
Mud defrost and falls off.
Bike out.
Frozen bike in.
Mud defrost and falls off.
Bike out.
Frozen bike in.
...........

Repeat 3x weekly for 4 months.

Main dealer wanted £1200. There were cheaper, but they used universal electrics which can cause problems if any (electrical) faults develop and you need to get them sorted under manufacturers warranty.

See if you can figure out where the cost is, mine was ~£150 and I fitted it myself, using a relay kit the car doesn't even know the towbar is there. You can get a plug in towbar electric kit for most cars, which might do some other clever stuff, like flash up on the dash when trailer bulbs blow, or play the buzz noise through the stereo, but the cheap option shouldn't bother the cars electrics.

Last month I saw a bloke driving alone in an empty Passat estate with a bike on a roof rack. Nuts.

Why nuts?

If my bike's filthy I'd rather stick it on the outside of the car. I also often have a child seat in the car, which makes dropping seats difficult. And it's quick which means less faff taking bikes apart.

Does it cost more in fuel? Almost undoubtedly, but car said I got over 50mpg doing 60-70 on the motorway on my last trip with a bike on the roof. I don't recall a journey ever getting more than about 53mpg, with or without anything on the roof.

My biggest bugbear with it is it costing more on the ferry.

My mother drove into the local car park in her brand new camper van to go to the gym without difficulty.

Trouble was, there was a 2m barrier on the exit side only...

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Touch wood, I've never yet forgotten I've got bikes on the roof. But I've usually got passengers when I do so, so 6 pairs of eyes tend to help too.

Last month I saw a bloke driving alone in an empty Passat estate with a bike on a roof rack. Nuts.

As above, why nuts? If my bikes clean I might chuck it in the back but it is still a faff having to either take both wheels off or remove child seat. Much easier, faster and cleaner to stick it on the roof/towbar - car doesn't do great mpg anyway so not going to lose any sleep over an additional drop.

To the OP - I've a bright yellow "BIKE! ^" sticker I put on the cover of the mirror in my sun visor. When the bike goes on the roof the visor comes down and the mirror opened, though that roof scope looks a good idea.

Tie a piece of string to the downtube, thread it through the drivers window and tie snugly round your cobblers. That should give you a fair level of incentive to remember.

Last month I saw a bloke driving with a muddy wet bike half dismantled in his steamed up Passat estate with a perfectly good bike rick on the roof. Nuts

I stick a yellow disc (valetting tag) around my rearview mirror when I have bikes on the roof. To be fair I don't use my garage for the car and theres only one carpark locally with a height barrier but I've done enough insurance quotes for damaged racks and bike to know it can happen very easily

£100ish gets you a nice boot liner.

Mud defrost, just empty liner and refit.

Savings on fuel compared to a roof and to some degree rear rack. Not going to crash into barriers or reverse into things forgetting the bike rack. Far less likely to get bike nicked at a service station or car park while (foolishly) unattended. Far less likely to be followed home with an expensive bike advertised on the car, or be advertising to the local scrotes as you take ages unhooking bike from the rack. Also may be covered by some house insurers so long as bike is not visible inside the car.