Mess, weight, damage, the door is too narrow to do it without spannering the bikes - and we use the caravan for halts during journeys.A vaccine does not stop you catching a virus, or passing it on, or getting ill from it, really ill. It does reduce the likelyhood of you dying when really, really ill. Stay Alive - KEEP AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
28th Jun 2018 8:17 am
Russell
Member Since: 24 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
Used to put 4 bikes on the roof of D3 and D4, did this with a step at the side and in access mode, never had an issue. Always ut the smallest lightest bikes in the middle and the heavey bikes on the outside.
If you are not comfrtable with this then lookat the bike racks that go on the "A" frame as a lot of the european vans do, have seen a fair few english vans now doing the same but keep an eye on nose weight.MY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
MY15 D4 HSE Kaikoura Stone
MY12 D4 HSE Nara Bronze Sold and gone
MY11 D4 HSE Stornaway Grey Sold and gone
D3 S spec Silver Sold and gone
Tow bar, full length roof bars, side steps, tow bar storage unit, surround camers.
D4 camera club
NJSSAm I Gammon or Woke ? - I neither know nor care.
2016 Discovery 4 Landmark
2011 Mercedes Benz SL350 (R230)
1973 MG B GT V8 - 3.9L John Eales engine, 5 speed R380 gearbox, since 1975.
1959 MGA roadster - 1.9L Peter Burgess Engine - 5 speed gearbox
Past LRs - Multiple FFRs, Discos & a Series I - some petrol, some diesel,
none Electric or H2 fuel cell - yet.
There are 10 types of people in this world: Those who understand binary, and those who don’t.
28th Jun 2018 8:55 am
Rnclayton
Member Since: 13 Apr 2018
Location: Radstock, Bath
Posts: 564
Had the same problem recently.
Bought a MaxxRaxx to go on the tow-bar, and an extension to raise it allowing access to attach tin tent.
I have a fixed tow-bar, but they do a bracket for the Swan neck.MY07 Freelander2 SE Santorini Black - Gone
MY10 D4 XS Buckingham Blue
MY06 D3 HSE
Steps, ladder, climbing on the back wheel, even on the open window all get used to put other stuff on the rack but the problem with doing that with a bike is that it falls over before I can get back down, round the back and up the ladder to secure the diagonal brace. The little straps for the bike wheels just mean it falls sideways and doesn't scratch all the way down the door panel though!
Tow hitch or A-frame racks are stymied by lack of space when turning with the caravan attached. They would need a tow-bar extension, but those are not EU approved, and the caravan already has a bit more nose weight that it's maker recommends. Some of the European manufactured caravans have a longer A-frame to take a bike rack, but I have a traditional British caravan with a very short A-frame (better when paying on ferry though!)
From another forum came the idea of a couple of folding ramps similar to the ones for getting aged dogs into the back to be used to simplify that riding up the bonnet. Would try that if it wasn't a shiney Discovery but an old Series Land Rover.A vaccine does not stop you catching a virus, or passing it on, or getting ill from it, really ill. It does reduce the likelyhood of you dying when really, really ill. Stay Alive - KEEP AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
28th Jun 2018 9:26 am
cosmic329
Member Since: 17 Dec 2013
Location: Chichester
Posts: 177
I know this does not help with the height per se, but I have the Thule sliding bars that I use with a step. The bars slide out quite a long way to the side and it makes it easier to put on and off as the side of the car is not blocking you (if that makes sense). Just a thought.Discovery 4 SDV6 HSE '65 - Projects in planning phase!
Member Since: 24 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
I used to have the thule bike carriers with the diagonal bar to clamp onto the down tube of the bike. I used to lift the bikes up using the caravan step placed about where the "B" post is, the bikes would sit in the channel for the wheels and I could hold them there with one hand whilst lifting the diagonal bar up and into position, the bar tends to hold loosley on the down tube allowing you to then tighten the clamp onto the tube, if that all makes sense. Finally the rubber straps could then be fitted to the wheels. Reverse to take them off again.MY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
MY15 D4 HSE Kaikoura Stone
MY12 D4 HSE Nara Bronze Sold and gone
MY11 D4 HSE Stornaway Grey Sold and gone
D3 S spec Silver Sold and gone
Tow bar, full length roof bars, side steps, tow bar storage unit, surround camers.
D4 camera club
28th Jun 2018 10:29 am
JonM
Member Since: 24 May 2012
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1236
If you're already heavy on nose weight, what about a fold away rack on the back of the caravan - like you see on motorhomes? It will reduce your nose weight a bit.
MY2022 D5 HSE D300 - with extra nice bits added
MY2019 D5 HSE 3.0 SDV6 - sold to a dealer for a crazy price! - So good I bought another!
MY2012 D4 HSE 3.0 SDV6 - retired to a new home
28th Jun 2018 1:03 pm
mark the spark
Member Since: 22 Jun 2011
Location: southampton
Posts: 2477
unless you have a new van with the fixing points on (swift i think its standard now)
many dealers wont do the job as a retro due to warranty issues
my local guy just wasnt willing to take the risk as he reckons that often the timber framing in the rear section are often not located to the manufacturers info .MY05 SE D3 Manual my first LR what a car
MY10 HSE D4 auto
MY14 XXV more buttons than the spaceshuttle
I agree that the timber in the rear is a bit random. And all I was trying to fit was a floodlight!
There is (was ?) a device available that fitted through the window and took its mounting from the frame around it. Think it would be even more faffing than a hoist.A vaccine does not stop you catching a virus, or passing it on, or getting ill from it, really ill. It does reduce the likelyhood of you dying when really, really ill. Stay Alive - KEEP AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
28th Jun 2018 2:08 pm
BBDisco3
Member Since: 23 Nov 2008
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 3640
Navigator and bcleugh.
You both have a pm
6th Jul 2018 7:58 pm
JackNorris
Member Since: 06 Jul 2012
Location: Beds/Bucks Border
Posts: 1877
Yep I’ve been through this, also the low bridge issue near us meant it took us longer to get anywhere.
Now settled on a tow bar carrier for when solo and rear of swift caravan. It’s perfectMY2023 Discovery 5 R-Dynamic 3.0
MY2020 Discovery 5 Landmark 3.0 - SOLD
MY2005 Discovery 3 V8 4.4 HSE - SOLD
MY2019 Discovery 5 SE 3.0 - LR Replaced !
MY2005 Discovery 3 S 2.7 - SOLD
MY2016 Discovery 4 Graphite - SOLD
MY2015 Discovery 4 SE Tech - SOLD
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