You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
My t5 tailgate also has a tow bar. With this in mind which 2 or 3 bike carrier is commonly known as the best on a t5 and one which will allow me to open the tailgate? My current Thule one won’t allow me to open the tailgate and the bikes are too close together causing them to rub.
Any help would be great or if anyone is selling a bike rack/carrier that fits the above description then please call or text on 07411650412
Thanks
Barry
Atera STRADA DL 3, make sure you get the 3 as the 2 bike version does not slide back far enough to clear the tailgate.
my thule compact one didn't let me open the tailgate.
If you're after a VW oem tailgate rack best of luck as they seem to be out of stock everywhere. I just sold a 10 yr old one on eBay for £50 more than I paid for it back then. Nuts.
+1 for the Atera Strada. I use one of these with my T6 Caravelle.
Thule Velospace XT2. You have move the metal cable that stops it tipping back by drilling two new holes in a slightly different place. Takes 5 minutes.
Loads of clearance for fat bikes.
[url= https://i.ibb.co/Bnycdnx/D7-ED0-D37-790-F-4-D60-A245-3-CDF765192-B4.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.ibb.co/Bnycdnx/D7-ED0-D37-790-F-4-D60-A245-3-CDF765192-B4.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Another vote for the Atera, works on my T5 with Tailgate. Only minus points are it has gone a bit rusty on the steel upright hoop, and you need the key in each "lock" to be in the open position to clamp it the towball and to strapdown each bike.
Don't forget the key.
My Thule didn't tilt far enough.
I was put off the Altera even I watched a video promoting it that showed how wobbly it looked.
I was put off the Altera even I watched a video promoting it that showed how wobbly it looked.
I've used my Atera on 2 vehicles. The first was a Subaru Outback and when it was on there and loaded with 4 bikes it looked like it was bouncing all over the place even though it was properly secured to the towball.
With the same rack on the Caravalle it doesn't move at all.
Looks like its down to the sturdiness of the towbar.
I doubt the tower is moving, they're ten times stronger than they need to be. My brother had an Altera and they do wobble about alot. Maybe behind a T5 they are better shielded from the dirty and turbulent airflow that follows a car so less buffeted around, but it is the Altera rack that is wobbly. Having said that, so what? It doesn't seem to affect anything, they don't fall off or affect the car in any way. In comparison I used to have a Buzzrack Quatrro which was solid as a rock, but was twice the weight of the Altera. You can't have it both ways...a lightweight AND rock solid rack but if you need clearance for the tailgate the Altera might be your only option.
Its a good theory about being protected from the airflow.
However, I was noticing this whilst creeping off of the drive at 1-2 mph and rolling across the dropped kerb at and angle.
If you’re after a VW oem tailgate rack best of luck as they seem to be out of stock everywhere. I just sold a 10 yr old one on eBay for £50 more than I paid for it back then. Nuts.
PSA that I got here as some scallies ripped my partner's 4 bike OEM rack off the back of her T5 last night. As ever the damage to the tailgate probably exceeding the cost of the (already expensive) rack. Don't know if this is a thing, but not one that I'd thought of TBH for a 12 year old T5 parked in a drive.
Trying to see a silver lining that a towbar mounted probably more practical from a boot opening perspective.