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I’ve succumbed to another cliche, I’ve bought a T5 Caravelle for bike/ family / camping adventures. Amongst the multitude of stupid ideas is fitting a bike rack to carry a couple of bikes.
Any recommendations for a tailgate mounted bike rack? I like the Fiamma high level one but is there anything out there that can attach with a tailgate spoiler fitted?
I’ve used a Fiamma rack before and it’s secure, but I like the idea of using some Thule 591 racks attached to the Fiamma frame. Told you it was a stupid idea.
Thanks muchly.
There is a company that does a bracket that fits over the rear doors for T5/T6, but not on a hatch. I've got a Vx Vivaro Bus, and chuck mine inside - pop some of the seats out. Your spoiler will complicate some rack fitting.
Tow bar! I have a detachable one and use a Atera strada rack on my Merc Viano to carry 4 bikes and it tilts/slides so I can still open my tailgate.
Would obvs rather have them inside, but sometimes I have too much stuff and you can't put people on a bike rack....
I went with a towbar and Thule Easyfold 3. Which means I can also add a Thule Onto 2 to keep a load of stuff out of the van. Was a godsend on a recent 5 night trip. Bit spendy though
Surely with that much weight hang way off the back you no longer need the downforce from the spoiler to maintain your f1 grip round the bends?
Surely with that much weight hang way off the back you no longer need the downforce from the spoiler to maintain your f1 grip round the bends?
Sarcastic comments aside, had it fully loaded with camping stuff - awnings etc and there was no sag on the rear suspension - and it's only a T28
Size of that spoiler. Is it to hold the awning on in strong winds ? Then again most VW vans need the bhp increase.
Back on topic. Looks like it's a tow hook mounted bike rack for the win TBH.
It needs a spoiler to fit a cliche. It drives like a whale in a hurricane.
The original plan was for the bikes to go inside, but The Wife now wants the inside kept clean for sleeping in and not for “dirty, muddy bikes and you”.
Towbar is looking very spendy.
"dirty muddy bikes and you" - does that mean you are in the awning ?
downforce from the spoiler to maintain your f1 grip round the bends?
In your front wheel drive motor.
What the OP needs is a bigger van or a newer wife.
Currently in the Piemontese Alps have seen a number of VW's you see that are enthusiastically loaded with bikes, surfboards and other paraphernalia, the rear bumper worryingly low to tarmac.
Take the spoiler off and trim some of it awayiI f you want to re-fit over the rack.
The one in the picture is a fair way down in its suspension. Unless it's had a Carolina squat.
Most t5s with anything on a rack tend to look heavily Laden to be fair.
The one in the picture is a fair way down in its suspension. Unless it's had a Carolina squat.
As the person who actually drives it and looks at it every day, I can assure you, it isn't. Big wheels and angle of the pic maybe
It's always the angle. 🤣 🤣 🤣
The one in the picture is a fair way down in its suspension. Unless it's had a Carolina squat.
As the person who actually drives it and looks at it every day, I can assure you, it isn't. Big wheels and angle of the pic maybe
Looks spot on to me! Are the wheels 20s? Lovely van, ignore the haters.
What's the tyre profile when running 20's ? I've 17's on my Vivaro Elite and the tyres are 55's, so I'd end up with rubber bands moving to 20's. TBH the stock wheels are nice enough.
Dare not fit a tow hook to mine as my son will want to borrow it to tow his race car and sleep in it all weekend.
What's the tyre profile when running 20's ? I've 17's on my Vivaro Elite and the tyres are 55's, so I'd end up with rubber bands moving to 20's. TBH the stock wheels are nice enough.
Dare not fit a tow hook to mine as my son will want to borrow it to tow his race car and sleep in it all weekend.
275/40/20
6 bikes when we’re out as a family so this is the way to go. Usefully allows space for paddle boards too
You sure it doesn’t already have a tow bar? Most velles were specd with the removable westfalia.
I’ve also seen people hack two slots in the spoilers to make them fit with the tailgate racks.
Anyway welcome to the tribe. There’s a useful Facebook group where we share stories of random warning lights and strange sounds.
And yes, the headlights are on, they’re just that bad.
Take the spoiler off and trim some of it awayiI f you want to re-fit over the rack.
That's how I'd do it if I had a spoiler (which I don't).
Unless things have changed, the genuine VW tailgate rack feels much more solid than the Fiamma one - that was our experience when we had our T5. Had a Transit Custom for the past 8 years and the only tailgate rack option for it is Fiamma: it's OK, but the arms which extend out to clamp the frames are wobbly AF, so I double up with straps too. Not that I use the rack very often as bikes go inside mostly.