[Closed] What towbar bike rack you using?

I have used loads of different types started with a Pendle frame hang type rack, then moved to a Thule 9503 which at the time was excellent. currently using a Thule Euroway G2 3 bike, which is fantastic.

I've always used extra straps to secure the bikes and make sure the tow ball is clean and check the bikes regularly.

If you are near South Lancashire you are more than welcome to try the G2, obviously observing social distancing!

Thule Velo compact 2 bike, absolutely superb , solid as a rock and fits into my small boot when needed as lights etc slide in ... hence compact 🙂

I use a witter 4 bike one that fits to a flange behind the tow ball so is nice and secure. Its a bit numb and heavy but works great. Good tilt mechanism activated by your foot.

Thats the older Thule that I had the 9503 it was great at the time but I am guessing times have moved on.
Will have a look at that one, little bit fair to come and try it and with whats going on not worth it, thanks though for the offer.

Thule G5 (I think) with the adaptor for a 4th bike. Had it for 7 years, faultless.

Atera Strada 3+1

Been great. Folds flat to store, easy to put on and off, slides out the way for boot access. Holds bikes securely with a bit of Tetris like organising for pedals and turning bars

Only a 2 bike one, but a Buzzrack e-scorpion 2.

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Atera Strada DL4 (3+1)

Pros
Very good, very solid,
quick to mount the bikes,
the slide away to open the boot is great.
Mounting on the towbar is a doddle and quick.

Cons
It’s heavy and big
Not easy to store

Was using a atera strada dl3, probably one the best 3 bike rack, but now using a buzz racks e scorpion 2 bike rack, much more secure, bike doesn’t move at all and my XL cotic rocketmax fits on it!

I've just replaced a Thule EuroClassic Pro 3 bike rack with an Atera Strada ebike ML rack with a 3rd carrier. So I'll be selling the Thule. It is about 15 years old and is solid...but I needed more space between the bikes (likely to need to carry some ebikes soon).

Thule spare if that is any good? Depends where you are though as suspect delivery will be expensive.

Buzzrack buzzwing 4 - works well just have to think about the order of loading for the 4 bikes. Use it with a truck, may be a bit much for a car's rear shocks if the boot is loaded and 4/5 adults in the car?

Still using my Aiston Bike rack

MaxxRaxx, takes 4 bikes and I can store under the floor in my car.

Buzz rack buzzy bee 4. Pretty good value and worked well so far. Good bit of kit.

I have the same rack as jonl but it's never been used. Bought it and a nice camping friendly s max in Feb and Corona has spannered all those riding plans.

Looking forward to trying it out at some point, although I have no idea when.

When test fitting it to the car it all seemed to work pretty well and seems fairly well made.

Yakima Justclick 2 bike. Bought recently as an upgrade to an Atera Strada E-ML rack, not been able to use it in earnest yet, but fitting is so easy and it’s quite compact when off the bike, yet still carries 2 large low long FS ebikes.

Got an Atera Sport M3 in the new year but not used it yet. Had some weekends away planned in March but alas it'll have to wait for its first outing

Thule velospace xt, designed for plus bikes, fat bikes, eMtb. My only gripe with it is blimey it’s heavy, proper heavy! Other than that it does the job well.

Had a DL3 for 5 years. Massive, heavy, pain in the arse to get the bikes on as you need to plan 3 bikes ahead for where the arms are going to go, straps aren't as solid as Thule stuff I've used/owned... Bought due to the recommendations but I just don't rate it. Friend has a modern Thule equivalent which in comparison seems like a breeze to use.

Was a big fan of the Buzzrack Quattro which I think is now discontinued, so not sure what the equivalent is now. The basic design was far better than the Thule and other equivalents. It was cheaper and therefore was a bit more agricultural in its construction, but that is no bad thing other than it was quite heavy so you'd need decent nose weight capacity on your car for the 4 bike version. You'd easily hit 80KG total weight by the time you load up with 4 adult MTB's.

The reason I liked the design is for two reasons - firstly it did away with the awkward and frustrating need to thread arms through the frame...this is extremely restrictive in the way you can load bikes, makes loading a complete PITA especially if you have bikes of different sizes and frame shapes/types with a spaghetti junction of frame tubes to negotiate. The Buzzrack had two loops with short arms so you never had to thread any arms through frames making loading a doddle and giving you loads of options to enable you to load bikes without clashing of pedals, handlebars and saddles.

Secondly you got more space between bikes so no faffing with removing pedals and turning bars to avoid bike parts clashing. OK this means the thing was longer, but that doesn't matter because the other racks are also over long, so a bit of additional overall length doesn't make it any more inconvenient but gives you so much more loading convenience.

And an additional benefit is that the additional bulk of the thing meant it didn't wobble about as much when loaded...not really an issue as the others are not unsafe, but less disconcerting to see the thing wobbling about so much in your mirrors when on the motorway.

Biggest downside to the Quattro was the way it folded away from the boot/tailgate. It didn't really liberate much space and for alot of cars still clashed with the tailgate/boot lid, but again, with others the rack still gets in the way wit certain cars so again a minor downside in comparison to the upsides of cost, ruggedness (if you have the nose weight capacity) and ease of loading.

We use the Thule ebike 2 bike carrier because the bikes are further appart so less chance of scratchs. However we then use the Famima arms as I prefer the way they wrap round the frame rather than clamp onto it

Atera Strada DL3. Bought after recommendations, but I wouldn't buy one again.

Heavy. I can fit it relatively easily but my wife really struggles.
The arms aren't removable (so you need to think about how many bikes are going on when you put the first 2 on)
Almost impossible to fit 3 modern MTBs on it (only use it as a 2 bike carrier, using slots 1 and 3).
The ratchet straps on the wheels are hard to get tight enough to stop the bikes wobbling.

Thanks for all your thoughts, the Atera is not looking that good now, more like the thule something else, it needs to fit 3 27.5 wheel bikes on small, medium and a large and would prefer them not to rub each other.
It will not be used that often as bikes will go in the back of van but for camping trips etc that is when we would need it.

I have a Thule 9503 which is great, I did get annoyed when putting my 29er on it as the wheels would stick out quite far, when driving down narrow lanes or cramped streets made me wince when the gap was tight or something was sticking out!

I have since purchased a Scorpion Rack, the one which takes 2 bikes and holds em vertically and love it.