ChrisF Posted December 10, 2018 Share I have the 3-bike platform rack, and have used this extensively on the RAV. It is ideal for anything but long gravel roads - just too much fine dust on the drive train .... Thus I got the Thuli roofmounted bike racks for the RAV. Well, to be more accurate, I got the Thuli ProRide bike racks that fit onto the Thuli cross bars. RAV is now replaced with the Jetta .... The Jetta ticks MANY boxes and puts a smile on my dial .... but, oops, it is low .... The platform rack has already bottomed out twice .... So now I am wondering about getting two crossbars for the Jetta and fitting the ProRide bike racks .... Obviously there is a fuel penalty when the bikes are fitted. Wondering if this will be more than the penalty with the bikes on the platform rack .... it certainly is way more on a sedan than it was on the SUV shaped RAV ..... On the RAV the cross bars had virtually no effect on the fuel consumption - without the bikes on the roof. Wondering what effect the cross bars will have on the Jetta fuel consumption ... Feedback from those that have gone down this road will be greatly appreciated. Edited December 12, 2018 by ChrisF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadenceblur Posted December 10, 2018 Share Had a jetta and have three bike Thule Velo Compact. Yes the jetta is low and I've had a few scrapes but I'm sure nothing to justify the route you're wanting to take. Pure Savage and ChrisF 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC_lurker Posted December 10, 2018 Share If you've got a towbar with the ball mounted on a base-plate then you could always mount the ball higher, possibly with an adaptor plate.... ignore this suggestion if you've got a gooseneck towbar.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bateleur1 Posted December 11, 2018 Share Had the Jetta 5 (2.0 FSI). It had the Sports suspension so was even lower than the normal Jetta 5. Had the towbar mounted 3 Bike Thule. Hardly any efffect on the the fuel consumption. Yes had to be carefull going through dips as the bike rack could make contact but that was seldom a problem. Then again it was a Jetta so most of the time I would fit two bikes (road bikes) in the boot. Only used the Thule when on holiday and if the bikes came with on holiday. ChrisF 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisF Posted December 11, 2018 Share If you've got a towbar with the ball mounted on a base-plate then you could always mount the ball higher, possibly with an adaptor plate.... ignore this suggestion if you've got a gooseneck towbar.. sadly not .... certainly would have been the easiest solution .... then again, all the driving changes to accommodate low entry heights is a lot more work than paying attention to choosing lines so that the rack does not scrape ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisF Posted December 11, 2018 Share Thank you for the input ..... sadly you confirmed my "niggles" .... Staying with the platform rack for now. Will be making a nice "mounting rack" for it. Making fitting and removal just that bit easier in the garage .... got enough scrap parts, just some cutting and welding .... nice soft project to start the holiday .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC_lurker Posted December 11, 2018 Share Having the rack scrape is irritating, forgetting the bikes are on the roof would be slightly more serious! ChrisF 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pure Savage Posted December 11, 2018 Share On my accord I bottom out my rack a lot, its still going strong. If anything its getting lighter. shaper, ChrisF, Long Wheel Base and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johannrissik Posted December 11, 2018 Share Is the “Thuli” the locally made version ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisF Posted December 12, 2018 Share Hi Johan Sorry, that should read - Thule - https://www.thule.com/en/za/bike-rack I have opted for the international product Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scuzzy Posted December 12, 2018 Share You could always go for the Raceway Platform rack, that should be high enough khz 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisF Posted December 14, 2018 Share Bit of feedback .... Had another look .... NOT the Thule that is scraping. Rocket scientists mounted the electrical socket too low. The bracket shows a few scrapes, and was already slightly bent up .... I took the bracket off, tweaked it a bit, re-painted, and then mounted it further back and higher. Bateleur1 and PhilipV 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Knoetze (sk27) Posted December 14, 2018 Share ChrisF, I have a 1.2TSi Jetta, roof rack with 2 bike rack thingies. No major fuel consumption difference.The car is low yes, scrape the towbar often when getting off a slope, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisF Posted December 15, 2018 Share ChrisF, I have a 1.2TSi Jetta, roof rack with 2 bike rack thingies. No major fuel consumption difference.The car is low yes, scrape the towbar often when getting off a slope, etc. Thank you. Will give the platform rack a fair chance before going for a roof rack .... but good to know the fuel consumption did not tank ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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