Bike carriers that aren't too heavy but will fit kids bikes

[Anna M]

Hi all,
I have been looking for a suitable bike carrier for more than a year and haven't had any luck.
I am a female and am looking for a light-ish weight towball carrier that will carry up to 4 bikes. Preferably with a tilting option.
I have 2 kids who have 24 inch Giant bikes, an old version of these https://www.giant-bicycles.com/au/bikes ... dot-24plus
which sounds big enough to fit most bike carriers but the space below the crossbar is not long enough to fit any of the ones I've tried. There is about 31cm under the crossbar depending on how high the bars on the carrier are that need to fit into the triangle.

I tried this one last week http://buzzrack.com/galleries/moose-4-t ... carrier-2/
which seemed perfect but the 24 inch bikes won't fit.

I have also tried https://www.thule.com/en-au/bike-rack/t ... 4-_-970805 with the same issue.

Most of the carriers don't have detailed dimensions on line.

I can't be the only person to have this problem.
I want a bike carrier I can easily manage myself without needing a man to help. I want to be able to put my bike and my kids' on the car and take them for a ride without feeling exhausted before we get on the bikes. And preferably be able to fit my partner's bike on when he's home and also get into the boot of my sedan style car.
We have a Thule 2 bike platform (from before kids) but I find it really heavy and awkward to handle so I don't want to upgrade to a 4 bike platform which will presumably be even heavier.

Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Anna

[P!N20]

I can't be the only person to have this problem.

Hi Anna,

No you're not, I'm going through the same process myself.

The link to the Thule rack above didn't work, but have you had a look at their platform racks? https://www.roofracksuperstore.com.au/b ... ducts.aspx

From what I can gather, they can hold 3 bikes off the shelf, but you can buy an additional rack...or something like that, to make it four.

There's also the Gripsport rack which, while not cheap, carries four bikes: https://www.gripsport.com.au/product/gs4-bike-rack/

Edit: sorry, now I see you don't want a platform rack. So I guess that leaves roof racks or the upright towball racks.

[Anna M]

Thanks,

I just looked up the Gripsport option and it looks lovely but is 39kg.
We already have the Thule 2 bike platform. I was using that and putting one of the kids bikes in the back of the car but I had to get my partner to help put it on and off the car, it doesn't fold up when you are not using it and now that the kids have 24" bikes I have to take the wheels off to get them in the car. The Disc brakes make the wheels hard to get back on. So none of it is as easy as I'd like.

[Anna M]

Thule link again if anyone's interested. It seems to work for me.

https://www.thule.com/en-au/bike-rack/t ... 4-_-970805
It was close to fitting but not quite

[RonK]

Thule link again if anyone's interested. It seems to work for me.

https://www.thule.com/en-au/bike-rack/t ... 4-_-970805
It was close to fitting but not quite

The Thule Hangon 4 is still your best bet. But even so, fitting 4 bikes on it is fiddly.

Did you realise the Thule cups do not have to go under the top tube - they can also grip the seat tube as shown in section 3 of the user manual.

https://cdn1.static-tgdp.com/assetloade ... t=AU&att=1

There are also several adaptors which may make it easier to mount small bikes.

[Anna M]

Thanks Ron,
I did not know they could grip the seat tube and that may make all the difference. I presume you would put it behind the seat post (as it's angled backwards) and then in the front of the triangle.
The pictures are a little hard to interpret.
Its back to the shop with a bike to try for me.

Any other products anyone recommends?

Anna

[Backinthesaddle?]

I'm following with interest as I was just about to post something similar. I need a versatile rack that will fit different style bikes, can carry 1-4 bikes, and that I can manage. Just about did myself in trying to get one in the back of the van, yesterday. I have had a recommendation at a bike shop for a Jetblack Deluxe Folding Rack https://www.jetblackproducts.com/products/JBRK-1142 but I wonder if anyone has experience of this or something different.

[bychosis]

As your kids are on 24” they are getting bigger. Is it possible to get them to help you lift a platform rack into place?

I have a platform rack and while I can lift it on and off myself it is easier with two extra hands. We’ve even lifted the whole thing off the caravan loaded with 4 bikes between 3 of us.

[Comedian]

I have a thule euroway three bike rack. I think you could buy an extension to fit four on.

However I find even putting three bikes on is a total PITA. The rack isn't long enough so the middle bike hits the bikes on either side. So it's a massive PITA. And then you've got to get the arms through the middle to get onto the back bike. And then the handlebars are hitting on the other bikes seat.. and then the petals are hitting on the frame of the other one.. and...

Putting three bikes on is a half hour bucket of swearing. Having seat droppers helps a little for MTB's - but still. In general if I have three bikes to carry it's generally quicker to put one in the back of the car and just have two on the rack.

[hunkydory1]

Thread resurrection.

I use Saris Superclamp EX 4 for carrying four. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsGheLKeP7g

[P!N20]

Thread resurrection.

I use Saris Superclamp EX 4 for carrying four. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsGheLKeP7g

How do you find it? Where do you mount your number plate? Do you attach any brake lights/indicators?

[hunkydory1]

How do you find it? Where do you mount your number plate? Do you attach any brake lights/indicators?

Other than flimsy PUSH lever and slight challenges in securing 4 bikes with 4 different wheel sizes, nothing to fault so far (I had it for 2 years). Fortunately, children grew up fast and moved onto bigger wheels, which made it easier to secure the bikes.

I use a Yakima LightMate and put it over the last bike I load.

[Comedian]

I again had to put three bikes on my Thule 3 bike carrier. Yes it can be done - but it's usually easier to do something else like putting one in the back of the car, or even riding there if the start point is less than about 1.5 hours away.

It's great for two bikes though. Again droppers really help.