Which bike rack and towing bar?

Accessorising the new Disco 1 (97R 300TDi ES Auto): I can get an extension for the towbar-mounted Cyclemaster (from Towsure) bike rack but think a spare-wheel mounted carrier makes sense, so the boot can still open. I like the look of Simbars, anyone have experience of these or is there a better type, for ease of use, speed of fitting as well as safety? Will only carry 2 bikes.

As I'm emptying the Volvo, I also wonder about getting a towing bar rather than tow rope. Mainly used to recover the daughters's Fiesta, I've seen a bar on eBay with a regular towing hitch at one end, looks more reassuring than waiting for the little car to plough into me! I know Halfords do a towing bar but again, suggestions are welcome.

I have tried both tow mounted and spare wheel.
The simbar one I have takes 4 bikes. The boss can be left in situ whilst the rack can be removed in seconds, its held in place with a padlock.
The only thing I didn't like was when I changed to the Disco 2 and my wife bought a freelander because the boss wouldn't fit either of them, however I managed to extend the boss with a piece of scaffold pole and nifty bit of welding, now I have a bike rack which fits Disco 1 & 2 and also the Freelander.
They are worth the £80 price tag forget the tow ball ones unless you want one for nothing I've got one in the garage if you want to pick it up you can have it or anyone else for that matter but remember you need to pick it up from near Glasgow

As far as towing-bracket-mounted bike racks go, the maxxraxx ( Home, Bike Rack Cycle Carriers by MAXXRAXX, the UK 4 bike, cycle carrier car rack ) one looks excellent. It will hinge-down to allow access to open the back door, I was going to buy one after much deliberation I bought the Disco instead!

Personally one of the reasons for buying the Disco was so I could get the bikes INSIDE the vehicle...especially in winter when your bike simply gets covered in salty, rust-inducing spray off the roads (also for trips to Europe where it's secure inside the car at overnight motel stops).

Another thing - with the rear cycle rack, the Disco is over-length for ferry's and they can charge you extra for being too long (rear mount) or too tall (roof mount)...

You get bikes IN the Disco?? I'm already struggling with the cramped cabin after a Volvo, of course it has the headroom but at the massive expense of floor space!

Thanks big I think I will get a wheel-mounted rack.

mayday08 said:

As I'm emptying the Volvo, I also wonder about getting a towing bar rather than tow rope. Mainly used to recover the daughters's Fiesta, I've seen a bar on eBay with a regular towing hitch at one end, looks more reassuring than waiting for the little car to plough into me! I know Halfords do a towing bar but again, suggestions are welcome.

Click to expand...

you could make your own towing bar..

i made mine from two 4 foot scaff pole's with a sleeve(ext scaff sleeve) and a trailer hitch...

i butt welded the trailer hitch to the end of one of the pole's fitted the sleeve to the other and drilled a hole right through both to fit a bolt throu..

then drilled another hole throu the sleeve and the pole with the hitch attached(so i could split it for storage but still strong and safe)..

then i drilled another hole in the end that would be used for towing and put a nice strong bit of chain and bolt through it..

total cost was about 18 quid for the hitch and bolt's as i bought them, the rest i pikeyed from a local scaff companey..

Edit..pic's attached..

also noticed i need to fit a new handel to the hitch now as the kids must have knocked it over as the cast handel is in bit's ffs...

hi ive been using a witter which can be remove easy and is great when towing carring 4 bikes plus dog in the back and caravan

spudy said:

you could make your own towing bar..

i made mine from two 4 foot scaff pole's with a sleeve(ext scaff sleeve) and a trailer hitch...

i butt welded the trailer hitch to the end of one of the pole's fitted the sleeve to the other and drilled a hole right through both to fit a bolt throu..

then drilled another hole throu the sleeve and the pole with the hitch attached(so i could split it for storage but still strong and safe)..

then i drilled another hole in the end that would be used for towing and put a nice strong bit of chain and bolt through it..

total cost was about 18 quid for the hitch and bolt's as i bought them, the rest i pikeyed from a local scaff companey..

Edit..pic's attached..

also noticed i need to fit a new handel to the hitch now as the kids must have knocked it over as the cast handel is in bit's ffs...

Click to expand...

I first thought you had made a bike rack out of scaffold pole and a tow hitch, I looked at the pics and could just not work it out

Then I read your post properly and realised it is the towing bar! A job well done and a good price.

Cheers

Andy

Well done Spudy, it looks pretty impressive and I like the price, but that work is WAY out of my league... Welding?? I'm still only in the planning stage to buy a socket set, but if I'm ever up your way dropping my lad off to watch a match I'll have to take a look at your welding work (but may need something to recover the senior daughter's car before then... she doesn't like waiting for the breakdown guy...!