Car bike carriers/racks

[Jess1987]

Hi! I'm looking for a 4 bike carrier for our kia carnival. It will need to carry a mix of kids and adult bikes.
Are the tilting functions worthwhile?
Are the towball mount ones as good as hitch mount?
Are the tray style ones easiest to use?
I have been looking at a 'shogun tray style one, but wondering if it would be any good or I should pay more $$?
Thankyou

[P!N20]

Hi, here’s a thread I started when I was looking for one: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=101753&hilit=Buzz#p1492890

Mine doesn’t have a tilt function and I can’t say I wish it had one. Guess it’s a nice to have if you can afford it.

I couldn’t find many hitch mount platform rack options when I was looking for mine, but I haven’t had any trouble with the tow ball mount. I guess there’s an extra step to install the tow ball, but it doesn’t take long and if it’s a problem just leave it on.

Can’t say I’ve used every type of rack, but the platform racks are very easy to use.

[Propagate]

Check out Gripsport. I've had a couple of racks over the years, none have come close to the quality of these guys, (I currently have a two-bike tilting version of theirs and it's bombproof), mines a slide into the hayman reese thing so can't comment on the ball fixed ones.

https://www.gripsport.com.au/

[Retrobyte]

I've got one of the Buzzrack tow ball racks, really easy to fit once you work it out the first time you try. Mine is the two bike model - http://buzzrack.com/galleries/new-buzzybee-2/ - but they make four bike models as well

[Mike Ayling]

Check out Gripsport. I've had a couple of racks over the years, none have come close to the quality of these guys, (I currently have a two-bike tilting version of theirs and it's bombproof), mines a slide into the hayman reese thing so can't comment on the ball fixed ones.

https://www.gripsport.com.au/

+1 for Gripsport.
We have a two bike version, towball mount (actually there is a receiver bolted under the towball with two slots that the rack fits into) and we got the extender kit to carry our tandem.

Not as elegant looking at the Thule and similar but Gripsport racks are bomb proof.

Mike

[flathill52]

Hi All, I am very new to this forum so apologise if i have posted this in the wrong spot.
I have been MB,ing for past 4 yrs. and would like some advice please on car bike carriers.
I currently own a Thuile 970 Express tow bar mount 2 bike carrier and it has comfortable and safely carried my Carbon frame MTB for some time.
I have recently purchased a rather expensive Specialized eMTB weighing around 13kgs. This figure is not the issue though i have been told quite emphatically that i am foolish to carry an expensive bike on such a cheap carrier.
The carrier is rated for30kgs as before i carried 2 bikes totalling 27kgs.
Would you please advise me as i need independant advice. Thank you.

[queequeg]

I have a Thule EuroWay 3-bike carrier which has been great, but our driveway presents some challenges when combined with my car, so I have been looking at the Gripsport GS4+ hitch mount for our Santa Fe. It has more flexibility, one being that it splits in half so if I only have two bikes with me it’s not so hefty.
Logged onto the Gripsport site yesterday to see that they have extended delays on most products due to Covid, so I have to give them a call and see what the lead time is for the rack because I need it for mid-January.
Failing that, I’ll be using the 3-bike one I have and probably adding a single roof rack mounted carrier for the extra bike (will put one of the kids bikes up there!). We got roof racks last year in anticipation of a roof box for our trip, but Dan Andrews told us all to get stuffed and the trip was cancelled, so we never ended up getting the roof box as he canned our holiday just after my roof racks arrived but before we could go to the shop to get the box fitted.

[RonK]

Hi All, I am very new to this forum so apologise if i have posted this in the wrong spot.
I have been MB,ing for past 4 yrs. and would like some advice please on car bike carriers.
I currently own a Thuile 970 Express tow bar mount 2 bike carrier and it has comfortable and safely carried my Carbon frame MTB for some time.
I have recently purchased a rather expensive Specialized eMTB weighing around 13kgs. This figure is not the issue though i have been told quite emphatically that i am foolish to carry an expensive bike on such a cheap carrier.
The carrier is rated for30kgs as before i carried 2 bikes totalling 27kgs.
Would you please advise me as i need independant advice. Thank you.

Not for me. When I got my e-mtb I thought it wasn't worth the risk putting it on my two-bike Thule. I got a Buzzrack e-Scorpion.

[bychosis]

Hi All, I am very new to this forum so apologise if i have posted this in the wrong spot.
I have been MB,ing for past 4 yrs. and would like some advice please on car bike carriers.
I currently own a Thuile 970 Express tow bar mount 2 bike carrier and it has comfortable and safely carried my Carbon frame MTB for some time.
I have recently purchased a rather expensive Specialized eMTB weighing around 13kgs. This figure is not the issue though i have been told quite emphatically that i am foolish to carry an expensive bike on such a cheap carrier.
The carrier is rated for30kgs as before i carried 2 bikes totalling 27kgs.
Would you please advise me as i need independant advice. Thank you.

Not for me. When I got my e-mtb I thought it wasn't worth the risk putting it on my two-bike Thule. I got a Buzzrack e-Scorpion.

My first though was 13kg on a rack for 30kg? No problem. Then I looked at a picture of the rack. I wouldn’t hang an e bike from a rack. Get a platform style rack.

Are you sure it’s only 13kg? My dually MTB is close to that and doesn’t have a battery or motor.

[flathill52]

Sorry guys, The new e MTB weighs 17.3kg. My mistake. Thanks for advising about not using the Thule 970 as a carrier. This has been okay in the past so i guess it will now end up on ebay. Enjoy the Trails.