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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: BFG on February 13, 2021, 01:18:59 PM

Title: Bike rack on drawbar or at back of trailer
Post by: BFG on February 13, 2021, 01:18:59 PM
Hi Everyone,
We’re about to get a cub drifter 2 and I’m still unsure about where to put the bike rack (ISI 4 bikes), either in the drawbar (require an extension) or at the back of trailer.
Any advice or experience to share?
Thanks
Tom
Title: Re: Bike rack on drawbar or at back of trailer
Post by: vern on February 13, 2021, 01:22:31 PM
Hi Everyone,
We’re about to get a cub drifter 2 and I’m still unsure about where to put the bike rack (ISI 4 bikes), either in the drawbar (require an extension) or at the back of trailer.
Any advice or experience to share?
Thanks
Tom
Well i have snapped 2 bike racks on the back of my cub, both were even strapped to the front winch post.
Only really HWY travelling too.

I will be getting a Gripsport one next and it will be going on the drawbar

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Title: Re: Bike rack on drawbar or at back of trailer
Post by: Funny Old Fellow on February 13, 2021, 02:12:38 PM
Drawbar if you can.
Like many people, broke the hitch off the back of my CT and wrecked a couple of bikes.
Have a look at this article from http://rvbooks.com.au/load-a-caravan-safely (http://rvbooks.com.au/load-a-caravan-safely)
Every metre an item is behind the axle multiplies the effective weight of the item - a 10kg bike 2m behind the axle acts as a 20kg bike. Plus the bikes tend to bounce alot too.
Title: Re: Bike rack on drawbar or at back of trailer
Post by: db on February 13, 2021, 02:53:05 PM
I've had an isi track on the back of our Quattro with no issues. Carries 4 bikes on a mount and tail gate that was designed with carrying bikes in mind. But, on road only and i also ratchet strap it to the tail gate to minimise chance of bounce / sway. I also modify the load, eg no jerry cans on the rear which would normally be there.
Title: Re: Bike rack on drawbar or at back of trailer
Post by: SimpleSi on February 13, 2021, 03:17:05 PM
I've used the rear of our CT before, and as others have said, hwy only.  Any little bump, and the back of the CT is launched up and down.  Damaged the bikes driving to Carnarvon Gorge.
Title: Re: Bike rack on drawbar or at back of trailer
Post by: Bird on February 13, 2021, 03:37:57 PM
Also had kids bikes on a MacRac fitted into a towbar receiver on the rear.
Road klms only which sometimes can be worse than offroad, but bikes made it to camp and home fine.

There was a member years back that had a rack break fitted to rear of a mobile roadblock... dragged the bikes along the road for klms and when he finally stopped there wasnt much bike left to ride.
Title: Re: Bike rack on drawbar or at back of trailer
Post by: duggie on February 17, 2021, 05:53:12 PM

Here is a rack that I made/modified to fit onto the draw bar of my Starvision PX1 camp trailer


(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/ii547/dug59/bike_rack_1.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/dug59/a/35ccec2d-8321-4161-8359-eed51ee61a12/p/b7b731e2-e42d-4464-8bc9-bf7d89563e71)


Made this to bolt on to the draw bar

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/ii547/dug59/bike_rack_2.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/dug59/a/35ccec2d-8321-4161-8359-eed51ee61a12/p/c79ba449-8ce8-4e5e-aff2-a54312b31ad4)

Modified this rack to drop into the frame I bolted to the draw bar .

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/ii547/dug59/bike_rack_3.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/dug59/a/35ccec2d-8321-4161-8359-eed51ee61a12/p/886e4cdc-81b1-4795-b99e-658bd2d65532)
Title: Re: Bike rack on drawbar or at back of trailer
Post by: chester ver2.0 on February 18, 2021, 10:43:12 AM
If you can fit it i would look for a rack that mounts to the towbar of the tow vehicle or mount the bikes on the roof of the tow vehicle

On our first half lap we were surprised at the number of times the bikes were removed from the camper and shoveled in the back of the Prado cause were we wanted to ride was a fair way out so we drove there then used the bikes.
Title: Re: Bike rack on drawbar or at back of trailer
Post by: Funny Old Fellow on February 18, 2021, 08:38:39 PM
If you can fit it i would look for a rack that mounts to the towbar of the tow vehicle or mount the bikes on the roof of the tow vehicle

I'm looking at fitting a 50mm hitch on the drawbar so I can swap bike rack between CT and tow vehicle.
Title: Re: Bike rack on drawbar or at back of trailer
Post by: GGV8Cruza on February 19, 2021, 05:23:21 AM
Some photos of my ISI rack on this page

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=19631.225 (http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=19631.225)

GG
Title: Re: Bike rack on drawbar or at back of trailer
Post by: manchu on February 19, 2021, 09:07:35 AM
I'm looking at fitting a 50mm hitch on the drawbar so I can swap bike rack between CT and tow vehicle.

I did that but on the rear bar because  there's no chance of fitting it of the drawbar unfortunately.     Its already came in very handy on our first CT outing.
Title: Re: Bike rack on drawbar or at back of trailer
Post by: BFG on February 19, 2021, 12:20:59 PM
Thank you all for your answers. Seems like drawbar is more popular than the back of the trailer for carrying back. I now need to figure out if I need to extend the drawbar of my Cub to fit it.
Title: Re: Bike rack on drawbar or at back of trailer
Post by: Funny Old Fellow on February 19, 2021, 12:25:01 PM
Some photos of my ISI rack on this page
Nice work GG. My Customline has a SHS upright that holds the spare on the drawbar. looking at ways of bracing it and mounting the hitch off that.
Title: Re: Bike rack on drawbar or at back of trailer
Post by: Bird on February 19, 2021, 01:50:10 PM
Quote from: BFG
Seems like drawbar is more popular than the back of the trailer for carrying back.

Lot of hinging effect on the rear - watch some bikes on a rack on teh rear of a car - type of rack depending.
Title: Re: Bike rack on drawbar or at back of trailer
Post by: RonnieQ on February 20, 2021, 04:51:09 PM
This works for me.
I can transfer the carrier to the FJ  when we park, the bikes are high up for clearance and swing out of the way when we set up camp.
I have found it to be a good product.
Of course you need a rear mounted spare although they do have other options.
I generally us it over the tow bar type carrier I also have.

https://www.caravansplus.com.au/02093b38-fiamma-carry-bike-backpack-4x4-p-2659.html(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210220/92e60473ee7d8dec1b221b1e99b49869.jpg)

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Title: Re: Bike rack on drawbar or at back of trailer
Post by: whitey001 on February 20, 2021, 07:33:45 PM
We used a 2 bike carrier on the rear of our Quattro much like the same as DB.  Strap running from the bottom of the rack back over the top of the tailgate to take up any slack.  If you grab the rack or one of the bikes and shake it, it would move the entire camper without flexing.

Al.