Towbar bend by Bike carrier

[Fleming]

When I was a student I had a towbar fitted to my Fiat Uno, specifically to carry my bicycle. After about a year I noticed that the bike rack no longer stood up vertically but kind of leaned backwards.

 

After getting under the car I realized that the tow bar was bolted to the spare wheel well and was bending the body of the car. Moral of the story, When you get a tow bar fitted make sure it is bolted to a structural part of the car and not on any thin panels. I imagine this would be the case with any SABS approved towbar.

[Pure Savage]

Best place to get a SABS approved tow bar for a CRV? Went with tow bar rack for a steal, now need to put a tow bar on the yummy mommy car so when I get a flat she can come pick me up

[Shebeen]

Have to agree with FF...

 

The towbars are typically rated for vertical load. The once I've seen has been 60kg, 75kg, 90kg... I've never seen higher than 90kg's and that was a specifically upgraded ubit for a big 4x4.

 

I've seen a 4bike thule bend a towbar after some corrugated dirt roads. Often the max load capacity of the rack is above the vertical max load of the towbar...

 

I think the vertical loading must be rather conservative.

standing on one with bodyweight shouldn't be an issue

standing on the front triangle of your trailer to adjust something also shouldn't be an issue.

 

I'm not saying it's to be ignored, but i don't think a 3/4 kg bike rack should be able to do damage to your car unless something is installed really badly. In my mind the 'trapezium' brand look like the heaviest and furthest leaning back ones you can get. you can load 4 bikes on these, and the 4th is about 1,5m from the car - so would have a helluva effect on speedbumps due to the moment of forces.

[Letum911]

Some more and he made the carrier himself.[emoji33] pics

 

Hou die rubber op die grond!

 

Boer maak 'n plan!!! That looks like 20mm steel plating, must weigh a ton!! However if it is properly mounted, which it seems to be, with the pivoting weight from the motorbike split over a large area I reckon he can probably load a boat on there!!

[Pure Savage]

Boer maak 'n plan!!! That looks like 20mm steel plating, must weigh a ton!! However if it is properly mounted, which it seems to be, with the pivoting weight from the motorbike split over a large area I reckon he can probably load a boat on there!!

Looks like he was a little ambitious putting two rails for motorbikes on!

[Letum911]

Looks like he was a little ambitious putting two rails for motorbikes on!

 

Well who am I to judge his dreams and ambitions? Or maybe that spot is for his "when I'm skinny" bike?

[monsterINC]

Well who am I to judge his dreams and ambitions? Or maybe that spot is for his "when I'm skinny" bike?

2nd rail is used as a ramp to load or unload

[droo]

I think the vertical loading must be rather conservative.

standing on one with bodyweight shouldn't be an issue

standing on the front triangle of your trailer to adjust something also shouldn't be an issue.

 

I'm not saying it's to be ignored, but i don't think a 3/4 kg bike rack should be able to do damage to your car unless something is installed really badly. In my mind the 'trapezium' brand look like the heaviest and furthest leaning back ones you can get. you can load 4 bikes on these, and the 4th is about 1,5m from the car - so would have a helluva effect on speedbumps due to the moment of forces.

 

My guess is that the weight limit is static load which would incorporate a pretty healthy safety factor for dynamic loads like speedbumps and dips.

[Letum911]

2nd rail is used as a ramp to load or unload

 

I figure you are correct, however I do like my version more!!

[thisismyotherbike]

My guess is that the weight limit is static load which would incorporate a pretty healthy safety factor for dynamic loads like speedbumps and dips.

Well reasoned, couldn't have put it better myself