Do bike racks require stronger tow bars?

[Craigwt]

Hey all,

 

I was at a tow bar place a while ago, and they said that bike racks put way more strain on a tow bar than towing a trailer, therefore I HAVE to install a high strength, top of the range tow bar. Is this information correct?

 

I have an oldish car that I would like to put a tow bar on to use with a bike rack, but at the price they wanted to charge, its almost 30% of the value of the car... doesn't seem worth it. So what has been your experience? will any tow bar do? or do you have to get something really strong? was the company that told me this just trying to take me for a ride?

 

 

Eish...

[Jaco L]

I have a towball mount buzz rack. It works a charm.

 

I remember my corsa use to have a sticker in the boot, claiming that the weight on the towball should not exceed 40kg.

 

I don't have the corsa anymore, but my buzzrack, with my two bikes wont exceed

40kg.

 

I dont know about those long racks where the bikes are mounted next to one another, standing on their wheels. They stick out the back of the vehicle a bit, so I dont know.

 

But i've never heard af a towbar being to weak for a rack, surelly it works harder with a trailer in tow.

[V12man]

Somewhat BS - all towbars have a spec for max weight at the ball - stay within that and you will be fine. - usually it is 100kg plus.

[awesme]

Sounds like they trying a fast one,

 

Most toe bars are normally certified 80-100 static weight, implying if you put your trailer hook on a scale it should not exert more than 80-100 kg downward force on the ball.

 

Your bikes won't get close to that, even with the bike rack.

 

G

 

Hey all,

 

I was at a tow bar place a while ago, and they said that bike racks put way more strain on a tow bar than towing a trailer, therefore I HAVE to install a high strength, top of the range tow bar. Is this information correct?

 

I have an oldish car that I would like to put a tow bar on to use with a bike rack, but at the price they wanted to charge, its almost 30% of the value of the car... doesn't seem worth it. So what has been your experience? will any tow bar do? or do you have to get something really strong? was the company that told me this just trying to take me for a ride?

 

 

Eish...

[JGR]

Loads of Bs ... on both accounts.

 

I cant see a tow bar being that much

[kennyg]

not so much...

 

We had a tow bar fail, with a bike rack on... R5k, bike rack, 3 x R50k... bikes... insurance companies dream. Total weight, ~40 kg.

 

Basically, we were covered but the 'Approved`installer, got a great bill for a R7k towbar.

 

It bolied down to low tensile strength bolts being used, for the main bar to body connection and some faitgue.We had pulled a boat for the a long trip the week before and imagine if it had failed there... probably cheaper... but still.

 

The 80 kg and 100kg loads are generally for the castings themselves, and we all assume the mounting hardware and every thing else is capable of the loads.

[Craigwt]

Ok, thanks guys, seems like the guy was just trying to rip me off. He made it sound like there is no way I should get one of the "weaker" tow bars, he didn't even ask what kind of rack I had, how many bikes, total weight, or anything like that. eish...

 

Anyways, most of the time it will be just the one bike... well, thats what I planning on anyways

 

Thanks again everyone

[slowpoke]

If the tow bar is bolted to the body work instead of the chassis you could well end up with it tearing off. Some figment centers will try fob you off with a gooseneck bar that is bolted onto the spare wheel "bucket". Then you pop on a bike rack with 2 bikes on it, or try to pull a trailer with heavy furniture and you wonder why the tow bar is "bending" down. Rather contact the vehicle manufacturer and ask what they recommend. (ps many years ago I worked in short term insurance and this damage is NOT covered by your policy and if it can in any way contribute to any other damages that won't be covered either...)

[Fleming]

When I was a student I had a tow bar fitted for my bikes and first time I used it the whole boot floor area got bent. As slowpoke mentioned above, it makes a big difference if the tow bar is mounted to the body or the chassis.

 

The difference with using a tow bar for towing and bike racks is this:

When using a rack the weight is offset away from the ball. This greatly exaggerates the forces being applied to the points where the tow bar is mounted to the vehicle as the weight twists the tow bar instead of just pushing down on the ball as it would when towing.

[DirtyFrank]

Loads of Bs ... on both accounts.

 

I cant see a tow bar being that much

 

I agree with JGR , loads of crap and zero science. As far as the loads on towbars are concerned the towbar should realistically be rated to the maximum towing power of the car. You would most probably find that the static load would be 100 - 150kg vertically on the ball but this can dramatically increase under heavy breaking and emergency swerving etc. Any towbar that cannot take a pidly bike rack should not be fitted to a car. I am sure an engineer on the hub will clarify this. The additional leverage on the ball due to the cantilever on the rack will probably see the rack bending long before the ball breaks off/bends.

[Craigwt]

I agree with JGR , loads of crap and zero science. As far as the loads on towbars are concerned the towbar should realistically be rated to the maximum towing power of the car. You would most probably find that the static load would be 100 - 150kg vertically on the ball but this can dramatically increase under heavy breaking and emergency swerving etc. Any towbar that cannot take a pidly bike rack should not be fitted to a car. I am sure an engineer on the hub will clarify this. The additional leverage on the ball due to the cantilever on the rack will probably see the rack bending long before the ball breaks off/bends.

 

Thank you, this part really puts my mind at ease. I never really thought about it like this

 

So it seems all should be well, as long as I get the towbar properly installed to the chassis.

 

Was on the phone with supa quick, R3600 installed... going to try a few more places tomorrow...

[awesme]

Which car?

 

Should be able to get a Bosal for similar/cheaper prices normal.

 

G

 

Thank you, this part really puts my mind at ease. I never really thought about it like this

 

So it seems all should be well, as long as I get the towbar properly installed to the chassis.

 

Was on the phone with supa quick, R3600 installed... going to try a few more places tomorrow...

[olram_df]

Sounds like nonsense to me, think about it, how much does the rack and bicycle(s) weigh?

[Craigwt]

Which car?

 

Should be able to get a Bosal for similar/cheaper prices normal.

 

G

 

Its a 2001 Astra. I will phone around to a couple of places to try and get the best deal. Anyone have any recommendations?

[BMXER]

I had the same car, bought a tow bar from the local scrap yard and fitted it my self. Total bill R 800.

[Mongoose!]

I had the same car, bought a tow bar from the local scrap yard and fitted it my self. Total bill R 800.

 

You took te words right out of my mouth.

 

go to a scrap yard for a second hand one.

 

powder coat it if needed.......

 

get some strong bolts....