Jokerman Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 Bike racks and the drag impact on a vehicle ===========================================I am considering buying a bike rack to be fitted on top of a trailer. But now I am slightly in doubt and would like to hear your opinion.When comming back from the Kremetart I offered to tow a trailer for someone since my car was a bit more powerfull. Now this was a trailer purely made for transporting bicycles. It was actually quite a heavy trailer and I only had two bikes mounted on the trailer (in-line) thus the most aerodynamically position. Driving back to Pretoria, I noticed a radical increase in fuel consumption. Normal for the car is just over 7l/100 km and it went right up to almost 10l/100km. Initially I thought that the weight of the trailer might be the reason.A couple of weeks ago, I went to collect a family at the Airport who flew up from Cape Town. Knowing that they were going to have a lot of luggage and that I would not make it with the available boot space, I borrowed my friends' trailor. Now this is one of these new Challanger lightweight goodies you buy at Makro. These poeple loaded the trailor full with their luggage and we were 5 adults in the car. Fuel consumption was 8.5l/100 km. This got me thinking. What was the cause of the heavy fuel consumption back from Louis Trichardt. Could it have been the drag caused by the bicycles? If this is the case, I am seriously reconsidering this bike rack idea. Yesterday I saw an add for a Challanger trailor with a bike rack mounted at the back. Now although the bike mounted behind the trailer and not in a aerodynamic position, the trailer will break most of the wind and the drag factor should be less. This way I can mount 2 bikes on the rack and transport two more in the boot of the car and have pretty much the same benefit as having bike rike mounted on top of the trailer.Those of you who have trailers with bike racks on. What are your experiences in this regard?
AndreZA Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 I thought you're comming out of the closet dressed as a bicycle trailer.
Bateleur1 Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 Hey mampara, you have to give me stick there. I had to ask Jokerman to post on my behalf since I can not create posts at the moment.
bruce Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 I nearly ran out of petrol driving into a headwind on the way back from Knysna towing a Venter with 4 bikes on top of it!!
Jokerman Posted July 13, 2007 Author Posted July 13, 2007 Ha,ha,ha,ha......................With my lenght being 1,96 it would have made a funny picture hey
dirtrider Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 It all depend on how low your car is or how high the trailer . But it will add some figures to your fuel comsumption . I try not to tow the bike trailer and rather put bikes in back of bakkie .
Jokerman Posted July 13, 2007 Author Posted July 13, 2007 Yip, I know the guys with the 4 x 4 roof tents said that your consumption can go up by as much as 4 liters per 100km......depending on the type of vehicle and the type of roof rack
rad006 Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 yes it seriously impacts your consumption unless you have a diesel with plenty torque
RodTi Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 Yip' date=' I know the guys with the 4 x 4 roof tents said that your consumption can go up by as much as 4 liters per 100km......depending on the type of vehicle and the type of roof rack[/quote'] 4 litres!!! Good grief! Who knew wind could be so pesky! Naughty wind.Naughy. What the hell?4 litres? What kind of bedouin tent was that??Sleep a family of 38? RodTi2007-07-13 07:20:24
slowjoe Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 buy a turbo diesel, runs on fumes, never worry bout stuff like consumption increases
2 X 2 Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 I have a Challenger trailer with the rack at the back. Just be aware that the rack does not have anything that holds the bikes away from each other. I have damaged my wifes bike in this way
rad006 Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 I have a glider trailer with a 5bike rack on the back no probs of bike damage just fuel.So next car is a diesel
Hendrik Petoors Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 I went from Revue in Moz to Petoorieja with the MTB tandem and two MTB's on the Venter. I showed no serious increase in fuel consumption. I guess the 3l KZTR Toyota is just better than the rest. I must also say we were packed to our limit with some of the camping goods stashed on top of the trailer betwen the bikes and a lot of stuff inside the double cab. She did not even notice it. Unfortunately I had to give her back to the Chaainiees Contractor.
Bateleur1 Posted July 14, 2007 Posted July 14, 2007 Hendrik would it be safe to assume that the profile of the bakkie canopy might have helped breaking the wind from the bicycles on the trailer. This together than the bigger engined vehicle would result that the drag factor becomes a "none factor".
Ou Toppie Posted July 15, 2007 Posted July 15, 2007 Jokerman, I am driving a BMW 330. At 129 kpu my fuel cons. increases with 1 l./100km. That is with a Thule 3 bike carrier with 2 bikes on it.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now