I’ve had the ‘luxury’ of having a Fiat Ducato van as my ‘car’ for the last 9 years or so. I put extra seats in, I can get a load of bikes in (wheels on), I can sleep in it, it’s got a fridge, etc, etc.
However, it’s starting to cost a fair chunk of cash to keep it on the road, parking near home is currently virtually non-existent, and I’m also concerned about the environmental impact of running 2x vehicles given that the van is mostly used for short local trips these days, with the odd day/weekend away with the bike.
So, I recently made the decision to offload the van and I’m giving it away over the Christmas break just before its next MOT in January.
I’ll have local trips covered with an electric cargo bike on order that I can get the kids on, but the problem is figuring out those days away with my other bike.
My plan was just to use my wife’s car which we bought less than a year ago but before I’d decided to get rid of the van.
Her car is a C4 Cactus, and I’ve since discovered that the ONLY way to transport a bike on it is to fit a tow bar (multiple quotes coming in at around £650) and obvs buy a tow bar mounted rack (probably >£300 or so).
There are zero aftermarket roof bars (they needed to be specified at factory) and there’s no way to fit a rear high mounted rack either (because there’s a stupid plastic bit in the way).
So almost a grand just to be able to carry my bike on the car. Bloody hell.
That’s if it even fits. The problem is I’m trying to figure out whether a small 2-bike tow bar mounted bike rack will position the bike far enough away from rear of the car so that the ends of my 800mm bars aren’t tapping against the car’s rear window glass.
I can’t measure it properly without it all being attached to the car, and I don’t want to spend all that cash just to find out that the car’s too small, or the angle of the rear window is too steep, or the bike’s too big/bars are too wide to be carried that way, if you see what I mean.
Is this even a potential problem with tow bar mounted racks? Anyone run into this before? I’m only asking because I also have a 2-bike door mounted carrier on the back of the Ducato and that doesn’t position the bike far enough away from the vehicle to prevent those wide bars from pressing/tapping/scratching against the rear door when I’m driving.
We would have bought a different car if I'd known all this. I’m almost thinking that I might as well just buy another flipping van!
Any words of wisdom?
Would be absolutely amazed if your bars are anywhere near that window. Thats far more sloped than the majority of estates (including my Mondeo which has no issue)
The only vehicles I've heard of having that problem are ones that are truely flat (basically vans)
Ha! Fair point - that's the one thing I hadn't actually tried doing: looking at the car sideways. Gah!
(But yeah, I do have that problem on the van.)
Can you really not fit a boot mounted rack? A quick google suggests it can be done. Or will they fit inside? I've had mine inside much smaller cars
Can you not drop the rear seats, get a boot liner to cover the area to protect the interior and get the bike in with both wheels off?
Nope - can't fit a boot mounted rack at all because of that plastic bit at the top of the rear window. It's pretty flimsy.
The car is this model: https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/citroen-c4-cactus-2018-suv/
And looking at it sideways (for the first time! 🤣) it looks like the bars shouldn't touch the glass.
I'd thought about one of those seasucker type racks for the roof, but it's a full glass roof from front to back and that's not something I'd want to risk.
The £1k tow bar/rack combo will hurt though!
You can fit 3 bikes inside a C4 with ease, maybe 4 if you tried. I use to get 2 adult MTB's inside a Fiat 500 with a passenger in the front. Just put the seats down and take a wheel off each bike. Not ideal, and not easy on your back but it's possible.
Sea sucker
Edit: ignore, seen that u have a glass roof and have ruled out a sea sucker
Take the wheels off the bike, place in a bike bag and put it in the boot?
There’s loads of roof mounted options.
https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel3.php?emulate=roofbar&query=8207
And I’ve just seen a C4 Cactus at a car show with them on!!
The problem is I’m trying to figure out whether a small 2-bike tow bar mounted bike rack will position the bike far enough away from rear of the car so that the ends of my 800mm bars aren’t tapping against the car’s rear window glass.
Couldn't you turn the bars if this is an issue?
I'll bet the minty one has factory fitted roof bars and the OP says "There are zero aftermarket roof bars (they needed to be specified at factory)"
It's the newer model of C4 Cactus - roof bars needed to be specified at factory and there are zero aftermarket bars or fittings.
There's a plastic bit at the top of the rear window that prevents any boot mounted rack from working.
Those seasucker racks also look proper risky in this case as the car has a full glass roof, front to back.
My bike's usually double its weight with mud at the end of a ride too, at least over winter. I don't want the faff of taking both wheels off or the possibility that I'm gonna wreck the car's interior. My Mrs has owned it for less than a year - I'd be in the sh!t.
Tow bar bike rack for £50 at Halfords.
My bike’s usually double its weight with mud at the end of a ride too, at least over winter. I don’t want the faff of taking both wheels off or the possibility that I’m gonna wreck the car’s interior. My Mrs has owned it for less than a year – I’d be in the sh!t.
Some Faff and a boot liner or £1000 for towbar and rack seem to be your only options then.
There will be no issues with your bars touching the car on a 2 bike rack, I have a Passat estate and my 800 bars are nowhere near the rear of the car, the actual issue is my modern bike being wider then the car so need to be extra careful in tight lanes or roads.
“ It’s the newer model of C4 Cactus – roof bars needed to be specified at factory and there are zero aftermarket bars or fittings”
You aren’t looking hard enough:
This is for the new 2018 onwards Cactus
Could get a 3 bike rack and use the 2 slots furthest away from the car.
Obviously, I would double check fitment.....but how about these? Bars that clamp to the door frames, rather than requiring the factory roof rails.
This link says specifically for C4 Cactus 2014-2021 with no roof rails
Different ones here:
EDIT - the ones in the second link use t-slots to fit bike carriers on. I would go for those, over the square bars with no slot.
EDIT 2 - the ones from the link b230ftw has provided look like a good option. Cruz are a well known brand.
I bought a towbar kit from here
I paid my local garage £90 to fit it & an auto electrician coded the electrics for £55
You aren’t looking hard enough:
Ah, nice one. Cheers! I'd actually seen them before but they were listed as only for cars with a 'plain roof' which I took to mean NOT a massive glass panel!
They look like they might do the job.
I think you are confusing roof RAILS and roof BARS...
However even if the rails are not fitted from factory, jsut get some from a breaker and retrofit.
Dont beleive what you read regards 'must be specificed from the factory' as thats just someone on a parts desk at a Citroen dealer doing a computer says no.
Oh and, as per above, even if doesnt have the roof rails fitted so you can't use generic roof bars...
https://www.caraccessoriesplus.co.uk/product/citroen-c4-cactus-roof-bars-no-roof-rails-fitted
However even if the rails are not fitted from factory, jsut get some from a breaker and retrofit.
Yeah, but that means taking out all the headlining and drilling the roof, surely?
That's definitely a peak STW solution though, I'll give you that. :o)
taking out all the headlining or popping the plastic caps off revealing the OEM fixings which are in the bodyshell, surely?
I am 99% certain they do not drill different holes into the bodyshell during production dependent on whether there will be roof rails fitted or not.
I am 99% certain they do not drill different holes into the bodyshell during production dependent on whether there will be roof rails fitted or not.
To be honest, I actually went down that rabbit hole the other day, and it sounded like the roof panels might be different depending on what was specified at factory: https://www.cactusforums.co.uk/threads/retro-fitting-roof-rails.3034/
But this is all way above my pay grade (and another reason I'd be in the sh!t with my wife if I started talking about drilling holes in her car).
I paid my local garage £90 to fit it & an auto electrician coded the electrics for £55
So still at almost £500.
I'm getting a towbar finally on my BMW tomorrow, a Witter from a local dealer. Coded and OE wiring loom, £550.
Worx hydro shot
10litre water carrier from camping shop
Towel
Tarp/old duvet cover
Finish ride with claggy bike.
Wash with hydroshot
Dry
Stick in boot with boot liner to catch any drips.
Wife’s car stays pretty clean.
If I were you I’d go and have a nosey at This thread
To see the destruction children can cause on nice cars…
Then not worry about a muddy bike
Those are for a standard (steel) roof. OP has glass. That's probably the key point.
I'd have more faith in a Seasucker style mount on glass than metal, if the glass was rated for it.
It feels like it's straying a bit into #firstworldproblems 😀
If this is genuinely what you're trying to solve:
the problem is figuring out those days away with my other bike.
Can you not just plan your ride a week in advance, hire a van for the day for your bike and leave your other half and kids with the ability to go out and about in her (clean and unmolested) cactus while you go galluvanting on your bike?
Everyone wins.
@breadcumb @b230ftw
If you find the exact car model on the cruzber.com website, it includes this pic for compatibility purposes:
Pretty sure this is the roof we have, so it actually seems like these bars and these fittings should work for us.
I'm going to double check with Roofbox.co.uk before I order from them as compatibility wasn't 100% clear on their site, which is why I originally discounted aftermarket fittings like these. (I also discounted them because Thule don't seem to make any at all for this car and I thought that if Thule don't make them then there must be a good reason.)
So, if they are compatible I'm gonna save myself about £800. Which I guess means I owe someone a virtual pint at least!
My towbar cost 350 quid fitted on the driveway (C3 Picasso) - including electrics
Can you not just plan your ride a week in advance, hire a van for the day for your bike and leave your other half and kids with the ability to go out and about in her (clean and unmolested) cactus while you go galluvanting on your bike?
Yeah, maybe. I thought about that too. Sounded expensive over the long term though, and also a bit of a hassle picking up and dropping off a hire van.
Also anticipate those days out will become way more frequent over the next year or two as the kids get a bit older, which means hiring gets a bit less sustainable.
@Mackem - £636.80 for me on that site, just checked again now.
Local (recommended) places have also quoted between £650 and £700 for the same bar.
Just get ebay's cheapest tow bar and fit it yourself, they are literally nuts and bolts and a few hours, maybe a jigsaw for the bumper cut if needed.
Really you should get electrics too, but most people with boot racks don't. Anyway a bypass relay is easy to wire up, and the plug in looms are easier. No need to code it with a computer unless you are towing trailers.
Then get on facebook marketplace for a bike rack, I got a good one for £40.
Sooo, if you are in the 1 car and your wife has the kids at home, what does she do if they need to go somewhere? Is she also willing to use the cargo? Otherwise, you need to keep your van, as for the environmental impact, you have kids, the van is a drop in that ocean!
Just get ebay’s cheapest tow bar and fit it yourself, they are literally nuts and bolts and a few hours, maybe a jigsaw for the bumper cut if needed.
Probably not a good idea for a car that's still under warranty? 😬
Also, my bro is a mechanic although hasn't worked in that field for a few years but is still close to it, and he says that towbar fitters need a licence or certification (I'm maybe not using the right term there?) these days, which he says is why it's so expensive. I'm just the messenger here though.
Sooo, if you are in the 1 car and your wife has the kids at home, what does she do if they need to go somewhere? Is she also willing to use the cargo? Otherwise, you need to keep your van, as for the environmental impact, you have kids, the van is a drop in that ocean!
Yep, she's probs more excited about the cargo bike than I am! We live in a town where most things we do are literally just a quick walk away including beach, park, shops, cinema, eating, school, brownies, clubs, etc, etc. There's just a handful of things like swimming lessons and childminder pickups that are just a little bit too far for the kids to walk, which is where the cargo will come in.
Plan is to see how it all works out for a year or two, or until we decide we need two cars again - although with me mostly working from home now and my wife only in her office for 2x days a week, that will be tough to justify (no matter how much I'd like to spring for a new van).
Nice thing about a towbar mounted rack is its nice and low to load, having to lift bikes up is a farf.
Probably not a good idea for a car that’s still under warranty? 😬
Also, my bro is a mechanic although hasn’t worked in that field for a few years but is still close to it, and he says that towbar fitters need a licence or certification (I’m maybe not using the right term there?) these days, which he says is why it’s so expensive. I’m just the messenger here though.
Warranty won't be bothered, people get towbars fitted to new cars all the time.
The towbar itself should be certified, never heard of the fitter needing to be certified! That's ridiculous, does the mechanic fitting your new brakes need to be certified in any way?
Your bro will be able to fit it with his eyes closed, more likely he is sick of doing favours fixing family and friends cars lol
Seasucker rack - they are totally safe.
Alternately, I reckon you could fit a Saris rack in there. I put one on my Mom's Mini Cooper S, which has a silly plastic "go fast" spoiler at the top of the hatch window, much like your pic shows.
I spent over ten years for my business, transporting a huge variety of bikes on a Thule tow bar rack, it was never defeated and always kind to the bikes and secure and lockable. The ability to tilt for boot access for when on my car - a bonus. Expensive? maybe? However, an unrivalled parts backup for keys, locks, lenses, clamps in fact everything, it’s still going strong. If you get some models then it can be expanded for when you have to transport extra bikes for those children!
Hope this helps.
Yep, she’s probs more excited about the cargo bike than I am!
Sounds like a keeper.
I tend to think if you spend the money, you'll have forgotten about it soon enough if the thing it allows you do brings you joy 🙂
Your bro will be able to fit it with his eyes closed, more likely he is sick of doing favours fixing family and friends cars lol
Ha, yeah, maybe! I am giving him the van though, so maybe he owes me a favour?
Seasucker rack – they are totally safe.
I've read good reviews, just don't fancy sticking one to a full length glass roof.
Hope this helps.
Yeah, cheers! I'm now leaning back towards the roof bars though, if I get confirmation they're compatible, mainly because it gives me a few more options for carrying stuff.
Tall vehicles for example - Motorhomes, high top vans and cars with bikes on are now getting excluded from many parking areas by using height barriers. I’ve seen lots of trashed bikes, racks and cars by very sensible people “who forgot”, worth a thought?
1) MOT the van and sell it rather than giving it away, this should fund your towbar and rack (which I am prefer over roof bars anyway)
2) Keep the van!
I had a C5 estate without the roof rails which I ordered from Citroen and fitted (there were plastic covers on the roof that could be slid out of place) once opened the taped holes were there ( I did have to chase paint out of the threads with a blind tap) So check the outside of the roof to see what is there.
"So still at almost £500."
No, £293 all in & I only got the coding done to shut parking sensors up when reversing.
There was a guy on another thread near Scotch Corner with a Thule tow bar rack available for £50. I'm tempted myself, but already have bars and carriers for the roof, and when the towball is in use its usually cos there's a ton and half of caravan hanging off the back of the car
Edit - this one I think but my work laptop is not playing nicely with STW today...maybe my boss has realised I'm never off this site :0
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/recommend-me-a-towbar-mounted-bike-carrier/
I’ve seen lots of trashed bikes, racks and cars by very sensible people “who forgot”
With that full length glass roof, I reckon I stand a better chance than most of remembering there's a bike up there!
MOT the van and sell it rather than giving it away
I've roughly priced up the work it'll need and, when you factor in the hassle and time, I'm not sure I'll be that far ahead tbh.
So check the outside of the roof to see what is there.
Yeah, I did that first - zero sign of anything that looks like a fixing point for rails. It's mostly glass with just a small section of metal in front and behind - no plastic covers, no mounting points, etc.
"it’s a full glass roof from front to back and that’s (Seasucker) not something I’d want to risk"
It looks like there's enough metal in front of the glass to secure the front of the rack, with only the rear of the rack on the glass (We used to do this on an X-Trail with a big panoramic glass roof.
Seasucker say that the racks are fine on glass, and I'd think that was something they will have tested and can be relied upon.
"Will SeaSucker racks work on a glass or panoramic roof?
Absolutely - glass roofs are great surfaces to attach SeaSuckers to. In fact, the vacuum cup technology was originally invented to carry big sheets of glass and other solid-surface materials, so they work great on glass"
However, as said above, there seems to be a pretty easy solution - roof rails.
Yeah, but that means taking out all the headlining and drilling the roof, surely?
How close are you to @molgrips? He likes a challenge!
Halfords in Exeter had a few Thule bike racks for 50% off with damaged packaging yesterday.
