[Closed] towball bike rack recommendations - US seem to have good ones

Pendle do sturdy racks, but theyre shit if you have to adjust them a lot (threads pulling one, arms rushing into place, heads coming off screws)

Very interested to see whats suggested. I'm struggling to find something that will take a veeery long wheelbase bike.

Slightly off-topic but I'm loving the fat bike with a massive double chainset with what looks like 250mm cranks.

Not towball mounted, but I have a Pendle Strap On bike rack that I’m selling for £30 posted:

https://pendle-bike.co.uk/collections/strap-on-racks/products/standard-strap-on-rack

Well used, but it’s absolutely solid.

Just buy a US one and change your towball to a received hitch.

It won't be European Type Approved but if you're not fussy about 'rules and regs' then kick on.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Buyers-Products-1804055-Bolt-Receiver/dp/B004KSHXVC

The us also benefit from having larger engines heavier vehicles so can have more weight hanging off the back. Those racks loaded with bikes on a typical UK car would not be fun

I too think there is a growing issue of longer wheelbase and wider (boost and similar) frames. My Thule is now a pain in the arris to load in a way that bikes do not rub on each other.

I would also echo the thoughts that most of the US racks seem aimed at huge vehicles, not our european smaller cars.

On a related note, my Thule EuroClassic weighs something like 20kgs! A lighter rack would help with moving around, with being able to have heavier bikes or more space between the bikes.

There is a gap in the market....

Yep. Tail wagging the dog comes to mind.

i wonder about the buzzrack Quattro

At least you wouldn't have the bike are threading problem

Currently have a Buzzrack Scorpion, bought in November last year. Really good bit of kit!

Designed for plus/fat/ebikes, though will of course take normal bikes. I don't have the fat bike extensions, but as standard it holds my Krampus 29+ no problem, and my XL DMR Trailstar (wheelbase on this is about 1220mm).

Folds up, tilts, lockable clamps, 12 pin (with adaptor included). Only bugbear is that it's a bit porky. But it's designed to take double the weight of a standard rack, do it's to be expected.

Don’t know how popular this answer will be, but I went from a Strada DL (I think technically the previous version before it said DL, but it was the same one) to a Strada Evo (with removable arms dontcha know!)

i like it. Easily takes my Orange Alpine - but that is a 2011.

Fwiw, I had a 4 bike swagman hitch Mount on my Outback with zero problems. I've also had a 6 bike north shore rack.

Run 2 bike versions on out mazda5 and older focus.

6 bikes on our huge van but the tongue weight rating on that hitch is massive

i wonder about the buzzrack Quattro

I had one.  It's quality was not great. Several bolts snapped and it caused bikes to rub against each other and they needed wrapping in protection before transporting.  Replaced with a Thule Velo Compact but I have not used it in anger yet.

Auxtail looks good but not sure if it can mount on a swan neck. This mag did a mini review a short while ago.

Thule Velospace are fantastic - and I hate  most towball mounted racks!

MMmm, I had no issues with the buzzrack Quattro, got 4 full suss bikes on it without any rubbing or clashing, takes some forethought in loading the bikes, but doable. Can’t comment on the long term robustness though, but quality was good... it was agricultural in design alright with little finesse, but good and the frame clamps were far superior to Thule, Atera and the clamps on my cuerrnt VW t5 tailgate rack, which are all more than double the price. Unbeatable really considering the price. Shame it’s discontinued.

We've got a pendle wheel support rack.  It's big, bulky, you can't open the boot without moving bits, and took a while to assemble when new, but it's very sturdy & I haven't seen anything I'd swap it for.

I have the Thule 9503 and the long wheelbase and 29 wheels of my Specialized Enduro (which isnt a long bike) is causing the plastic wheel holders to crack and also stick out more than I'd like.

Has anyone had any experience with this rack:  https://www.scorpionracks.com/products/rack  looks a good idea loading the bikes vertically, I saw one in the Surrey Hills last year and the guy got on the bike so its def strong just a lil pricey!

You don't get much longer then an XL Raaw Madonna. Had one on my Atera DL3 no problem...

I'd like one where the bike is held verically behind the car.

No width or light obscuring issues.

Edit ..just like the one above!

I like racks that bolt on, rather than flimsy straps.

Interestingly, I've never known anyone done for having obscured lights. I have for an obscure number plate though.

I had a pendle tilting one and it was sh1t squared.

Awkward to get the 2 pins into the bracket & if you wanted to tilt it with bikes on, you needed arms 4 feet long to get to the knobs, which would also end up covered in mud if bikes weren't clean.

IF they clamp on to the tyres, then your tyre deflates, are you in trouble?

I'd be interested in the Scorpion rack (i.e. a North Shore style rack) if I needed a bike rack.

Cheers Mandog

Yes we do one with a towball clamp now.

Jon Taylor's question on tyre deflation.  We add some extra grip length in case of tyre deflation. Can fit up to 3" tyre width and 29" diameters.

I've got a Thule, the 9503, as mentioned above.

https://www.thule.com/en-gb/gb/bike-rack/towbar-bike-racks/thule-rideon-3-_-9503

It's been great. 2 26" bikes and an XL 29er on no problem. Yes the wheels hang off more than looks comfortable, but it's a very simple strap the tyres until they're tight, strap the frame to the arms and swing off it to see how much it moves about.

I 'lost'  (read: nicked) some of the straps so use toeclip straps which do a grand job of keeping everything tight.

Only problems I had was the compromised electrics. They can be a little tempremental, but a quick tap and they all work OK.

Shame the new car doesn't have a towball.

I've got one of those Thule 9503s, the straps can be replaced quite easily on eBay, better than toe straps as they have the extra bit of strap to go behind the buckle.

I also replaced the lighting board with a standard one from halfords, the electrics were dodgy.

I've used it for years, with all sorts of bikes on 3 different cars and never had a problem with security of bikes.