Best set up for carrying bikes

[iaingreer]

In your opinion, what is the best set up for taking 2 bikes on a trip. I'm faced with two options, either roof bars and carriers or else a boot carrier.
What would you pick and why and are there any brands to go for/avoid?

 

[iaingreer]

Car in question is my c class coupe

 

[blue gnome123]

The best set up is definitely a towbar and rack (most secure and lowest fuel costs). The next best is a roof bar carrier. Thule is very good for either. The problem with roof bar carriers is of course driving into height restrictors (I know so many people who have done this).

Of course the best way to carrier a bike full stop (if you have the space) is inside the car!

 

[stevieb15]

Not a fan of boot mounted racks having had a strap break on the M25 at A12 junction 5pm one Friday and causing an hour of chaos...I even got a number of mentions on 5 live traffic.
If in the highly unlikely event I had to transport bikes again I'd use roof bars.

 

[Dieselman]

Not a fan of boot mounted racks having had a strap break on the M25 at A12 junction 5pm one Friday and causing an hour of chaos...I even got a number of mentions on 5 live traffic.
If in the highly unlikely event I had to transport bikes again I'd use roof bars.

We stayed in a hotel in Newquay where the owner had had a rack with four bikes come off the back of a car on the motorway.

These racks are OK, but need to be well secured due to flexing.

 

[John Jones Jr]

The best set up is definitely a towbar and rack (most secure and lowest fuel costs).

^^^This.


Thule do a few nice ones. Here's the one we have. Personally, I wouldn't bother with any of the other systems again. Only down side is of course the requirement for a tow bar.

Thule HangOn 972 - Thule

 

[219]

I can also endorse Thule , and agree with all comments above .

I've had roof mounted carriers since the days of having my W123 estate and have used them on my W124 estates and now the W203 estate , as well as with different cross bars on several other cars - so buy a quality product and you can expect many years of use .

Although my roof bars also fit SWMBO's Golf , she has trouble lifting her bike up there , so am looking for a towbar to allow fitting a bar mounted carrier , which again will be Thule .

For holiday trips etc , I welded up a carrier which hangs the bikes across the front of my trailer , which is handy for carrying more than just the bikes .

 

[SavMan]

If you are only looking at occasional use then I would not bother with a tow bar or roof system, the strap on type will be fine. Take a look at Saris, the Saris Bones 3 bike one is the most popular and will sell quickly on eBay when you return if you only want it for a single trip.

 

[iaingreer]

Wow, thanks for the replies, busy day at work so only getting a chance to come on here now.

I'm afraid the tow bar isn't an option, the roof rack and Thule system sounds a good idea, are the roof racks easy to attach and take off?

The boot mounted ones, in worried about the damage to any body work, is this an issue or am I being over cautious?

 

[Dieselman]

If you are only looking at occasional use then a strap on will be fine.