Thule Rack - Odd design, odd bike or odd user

[Wyatt Earp]

I suggest you take it to Thule and ask to assist, it should not be so slanted to the rear, the rack I mean...one bump and its gonna hit the ground.. the thule shop guys must show you the best way to fix that...

 

She can always bring it to us and we will have a look.

[Sarge]

Hi Uni,

This is a problem with this type of rack. I was also stumped as what to do.

If you put more than one bike on the rack they all lean at different angles - depending on bike size and frame design. Even with the three length arms supplied. If you then try to clamp on different parts of the frames it becomes awkward.

I did not buy a Thule but the people that sold me my rack supplied me with two additional long arms that I then cut to a length that would allow me more options - in order to clamp the bikes streight up.

Good luck with solving your problem

Sarge

[Terminator]

The biggest issue you have is with the angle of the tow hitch. I made a wedge plate for mine so the rack sits level. Once you have a level rack, the bike angle won't look so bad. As someone said earlier, the support bar effectively changes distance from it's mount as it arcs up or down. So in the level position it's effectively at it's longest. If it were vertically above the wheel position when level you'd pick up probs with taller or shorter bikes.

[Gandalf]

my buzz rack doesn't do this

[Vangar]

my buzz rack doesn't do this

 

My Menabo does a little bit, but that's cause I have L and XL frames with large tubes, hard to find clamp space. But Uni that towbar has more lean to it than an ANC whiskey tasting party.....should be perfectly level so once that's sorted it should be very little actual lean.

[camelman]

Would just like to add my 2 cents worth as well. We have a Euroway and my road bike cannot fit on the rack closest to the car as the toptube is too high for the clamp and it cannot clamp onto the downtube at a decent angle. What I have found is that you can basically clamp it anywhere and in any orientation, as long as it clamps square onto the tube. If it does not clamp square it has a tendency to try and line up square while driving and lose the tension on the clamp with the bike coming out of the clamp on the highway with nowhere to stop.

 

So with bikes getting funnier tube shapes in funny places it is a bit like playing Tetris. Don't be in a hurry and try to get that clamp to line up square with the tube and have the bike as upright as possible. Whether the open part of the clamp points upwards, downwards or sideways. And for safety these days I also put a bungee cord on. Stopping on the highway is not pleasant.

[Uni]

But Uni that towbar has more lean to it than an ANC whiskey tasting party.

hahaaa . ..like that...

yeah i popped in to the dealership on Saturday - one of the other guys says yeah it's definitely not right - now to just wait for them to pull finger and sort it out since they the sale already

[Bianchi Baby]

I cant believe it! I had exactly the same problem with my towbar and Thule rack. Turns out they (the dealership) fitted the completely incorrect towbar to my car - problem solved when they fitted the correct towbar second time around - surprize surprize!

With regards the Thule rack i def recommend you take it in to one of their Thule specific shops and have them look at it - they have amazing little gadgets to sort out all sorts of problems and are super helpful!

[Uni]

I cant believe it! I had exactly the same problem with my towbar and Thule rack. Turns out they (the dealership) fitted the completely incorrect towbar to my car - problem solved when they fitted the correct towbar second time around - surprize surprize!

With regards the Thule rack i def recommend you take it in to one of their Thule specific shops and have them look at it - they have amazing little gadgets to sort out all sorts of problems and are super helpful!

 

you have no idea how F'd off I am right now

Went to the ppl that fitted the towbar this morning to have them check it out.

Firstly, google their name - come up with address- get there and there's no such place. Phone the land line - i get an address from the lady - which is wrong.

Eventually get the guy on cell phone and correct location.

get to location and it's a mission to get your car up to their location, go through a bunch of car wash bays etc, then someone has parked on the ramp to their property and run out of petrol, so i sit waiting 20mins while the guy goes get petrol to move his car out of the way.

 

eventually the owner and the guy who does the fitments comes along - and the guy says oh no it's the wrong tow bar - so i'm thinking WTF do you put it on when you know it's the wrong thing.

surely if it's your specialist area and you see a tow bar going out that's wrong you say stop, wait, sort it out and rather tell the client sorry the car is not ready yet. So the blame game, the dealership supplied the wrong tow bar etc...

 

so now i have to wait for them to order another one. Not happy.

 

With regards to the gadgets - i guess i just expect something that costs that much money to just work - but I think once the tow bar is sorted then it will be some playing tetris and see. have yet to try and fit 3 bikes on, what planning on doing that this weekend but will now wait and see.

[Uni]

2 steps forward, 1 step back.How hard is it to put a tow bar on? Very apparently.My OH took his car to Supa Quik - no issues 100% fitted - works perfectly.I took my car back - they acknowledge the towbar they put on was bent / faulty - put another one on - this time it's straight yah! I was stupid should have checked it instead of just looking to see if it's straight.put the bike rack on over the weekend and the whole freakin' tow bar wiggle left to right.now the box is not taking my calls ----- :cursing:at least it's straight now ...FFS - and you think independent business would make more of an effort.

Edited July 15, 2014 by Uni

[Wyatt Earp]

 

 

With regards to the gadgets - i guess i just expect something that costs that much money to just work - but I think once the tow bar is sorted then it will be some playing tetris and see. have yet to try and fit 3 bikes on, what planning on doing that this weekend but will now wait and see.

 

It's quite easy.

[Grebel]

@Uni, There are many happy Thule customers out there. (I am one of them). You really do get what you pay for. Unfortunately your problem is with the tow bar so I understand your frustration. Once that is fixed, you'll see that that rack is superb

 

The first time I fitted three bikes on mine, I removed and replaced arms and adjusted wheel brackets a bit to get it all to fit nicely. Got everything on without touching and set off on my holiday. Stressful journey looking in the mirror all the time to see if everything was still there!! Now that I have done "the puzzle" I remember where the pieces go. MUCH easier after the second fitting.

 

Enjoy the rack!

[Uni]

@Uni, There are many happy Thule customers out there. (I am one of them). You really do get what you pay for. Unfortunately your problem is with the tow bar so I understand your frustration. Once that is fixed, you'll see that that rack is superb

Enjoy the rack!

 

No i'm not unhappy with it !!! No regrets buying it - pity the whole learning experience is being made more painful with the stupid towbar installation.

this is a rant at the towbar world not the thule - i was just wondering about the alignment between the wheel wells and the arms but I think we've already ascertained it's the user that's odd

i'll get there.

[PieterJvR]

put the bike rack on over the weekend and the whole freakin' tow bar wiggle left to right.now the box is not taking my calls ----- :cursing:at least it's straight now ...

 

If they fitted a removable Bosal towbar to your vehicle it is normal that it will have a slight wiggle from left to right. I have the same vehicle and have no issues with the fact that the towbar with the bike rack wiggles from side to side if I drive over an uneven surface - it was however a bit unnerving in the beginning

[droo]

The rack still looks like it's pointing down a bit - my Ride-On came with a little adapter plate that fits inside the clamp and raises the back of the rack. Speak to your Thule guy - there's most likely one for the Euroway too.

[Uni]

If they fitted a removable Bosal towbar to your vehicle it is normal that it will have a slight wiggle from left to right. I have the same vehicle and have no issues with the fact that the towbar with the bike rack wiggles from side to side if I drive over an uneven surface - it was however a bit unnerving in the beginning

it is a removal one.

are you for real? i have NEVER in my life had a car with a towbar so I really don't know what is ok and what's not.

this much wiggle?

 

if you say that's normal for a removable towbar i'm gonna believe you !