Bike racks, good bad & ugly

Do any of you lot have any experience of, or recommendations for any rear mounted bike racks?
The spare wheel mounted ones look tidy and easy to gain access to the back but does the extra weight damage the door hinges?
Is it a safer bet to use a tow ball mounted version?

Peachy! said:

Do any of you lot have any experience of, or recommendations for any rear mounted bike racks?
The spare wheel mounted ones look tidy and easy to gain access to the back but does the extra weight damage the door hinges?
Is it a safer bet to use a tow ball mounted version?

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The extra weight of the spare wheel mounted ones will damage the door hinges but only if the spare whee is mounted to the door, which will also damage the door hinges. If the spare is on a swing away I can’t see it being a problem. The tow ball mounted ones I would have thought are best but I don’t know if there any that stick out far enough after the rob ball to clear a rear mounted wheel. On a car they can go straight up because the tow ball is the farthest point back but this is not the case on a Land Rover.

I have a Thule double that nips the tow ball. Good piece of kit.

@dag019 Yeah I have seen plenty bolted to the outside of the wheel, I was thinking that can’t be good. And a bit pointless too if you can’t actually use the door anyway?
One I have liked the look of is the MaxxRaxx

it bolts onto the tow ball and can clear a spare wheel.

https://defenderupgrades.co.uk/product/land-rover-defender-maxxraxx-explorer-easyfixx-bike-rack/

Tbh, I’ve never fitted it to the Defender. The ‘cranked’ one depicted above looks sweet

Ive got this type ball mounted....

As long as your spare wheel sits on a swing away mount there is no adverse load from the spare wheel type, and you can still open the door (at least partially and with some care) and access the back of the truck. You have to take the whole lot off to get in if you have it on the tow ball.

Si Click said:

As long as your spare wheel sits on a swing away mount there is no adverse load from the spare wheel type, and you can still open the door (at least partially and with some care) and access the back of the truck. You have to take the whole lot off to get in if you have it on the tow ball.

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Mines has a pin to pull out which allows the rack to tilt away from the vehicle to allow access
I cant remember how much it tilts.

kevstar said:

Ive got this type ball mounted....

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Didn’t think your last name was witter

Def90man said:

Didn’t think your last name was witter

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It aint tis a random pic ya big nimcompoopy

kevstar said:

It aint tis a random pic ya big nimcompoopy

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Def90man said:

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20k likkys

I went for one of these, as I have a spare wheel carrier. I'm pleased with it, however, because we have mountain bikes with front suspension, we had to get it modified so that it will only now carry 3 bikes, as there isn't quite enough space between the between the bikes in the standard 4-bike config.

be careful of the Mr plod if you obstruct your rear lighting and number plate unless it has a secondary one on the bike rack

Oh, you definitely need a numberplate light board with the one I use, and probably for all rear-mounted ones. It's unbelievable how many people you see with bikes on the back with it.

I have the spare wheel one mounted to a swing away carrier. If fact I've moved the wheel to the bonnet, so there's very little load on the carrier - this makes the door easy to open and close.
I went for the paddocks version, I did have to adjust the distance between the prongs by making a little cut and welding it up as they were too far apart for our adult bikes.

zeaphod said:

I have the spare wheel one mounted to a swing away carrier. If fact I've moved the wheel to the bonnet, so there's very little load on the carrier - this makes the door easy to open and close.
I went for the paddocks version, I did have to adjust the distance between the prongs by making a little cut and welding it up as they were too far apart for our adult bikes.

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I thought exactly the same thing when I first used it - "why can't I get both prongs through the frame?" I wondered. After some Google image searching, I discovered that I was using it incorrectly. Only one prong goes through the frame and the other sits between the fork and the downtube beneath the headset.

I was all set to get a mate to modify it for me, but thankfully I didn't need too. I'm glad it wasn't just me

Plus one vote for Maxxraxx. It fits onto a plate bolted behind the tow ball, and hinges down to allow access to the rear door. (This can be done with 2 bikes still on, but its heavy - easier if they're taken off). I have the plate fixed on my disco and another plate fixed on the back of my 127 ambulance, so can use the vertical bar and crosspiece on either vehicle.
It's tough. I had two bikes mounted on the back of the defender ambulance whilst driving for hundreds of miles off road in Morocco and had no problems at all.

Peachy! said:

@dag019 Yeah I have seen plenty bolted to the outside of the wheel, I was thinking that can’t be good. And a bit pointless too if you can’t actually use the door anyway?
One I have liked the look of is the MaxxRaxx
View attachment 270191
it bolts onto the tow ball and can clear a spare wheel.

https://defenderupgrades.co.uk/product/land-rover-defender-maxxraxx-explorer-easyfixx-bike-rack/

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I have this one. Best option I think.

BulletBrindle said:

I thought exactly the same thing when I first used it - "why can't I get both prongs through the frame?" I wondered. After some Google image searching, I discovered that I was using it incorrectly. Only one prong goes through the frame and the other sits between the fork and the downtube beneath the headset.

I was all set to get a mate to modify it for me, but thankfully I didn't need too. I'm glad it wasn't just me

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DOH!!!!!!