GJS
Member Since: 21 Mar 2006
Location: Surrey, UK
Posts: 16
  
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| Tailgate mounted cycle rack |
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Has anyone got any experience of fitting a cycle rack to the tailgate?
I have a Halfords 3 bike rack that seems to fit and, as it seems a waste to spend £200 on fitting a roof rack etc., I thought that I would use it.
It seems to fit well, the 2 straps fit to the top of the tailgate but I am a little bit worried about the strength of the rear window on which the frame rests. I have however seen them fitted and resting on the window of other cars so all may be OK.
What do you think? TDV6 SE - Buckingham Blue with Alpaca
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 24th Jul 2006 6:06 pm |
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nobbyclark
Member Since: 03 May 2005
Location: Perth, Scotland
Posts: 1268
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I used that one for my first trip up to Scotland at Christmas. It held ok but needed a lot of adjusting of the straps to get them all tight at the same time. I found that the rack used to move left and right over a long distance, although this can be corrected by tying the ends of the respective left/right straps to each other. Also, the catches on the middle set of straps have left some scratches on the bottom part of the tailgate.
I now use a Pendle 4-bike rack attached to the removeable tow bar, which although it has a combined cost of £300 (rack plus tow bar), is completely bomb-proof (2 adults and 2 mid-sized kiddie bikes). Even holds my weight (14 and a bit stone) if I decide to test it by doing Brian Jacks-style dips! No longer a D3 owner but still subscribed to multiple threads!
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| 1st Aug 2006 5:41 pm |
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eddtheduck
Member Since: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Norwich
Posts: 164
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Nobby, where did you get that Pendle rack from? 2008.5 D3 HSE, Stornoway, Ebony
2007 BMW 335iSE - lust for speed satisfied
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| 1st Aug 2006 5:43 pm |
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DiscoStu
Member Since: 09 Apr 2006
Location: London
Posts: 11412
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I've got a Pendle wheel support rack (for 4 bikes) and got it from Pendle direct. Mine's not tow ball mounted, though, it fits in a block behind the towball. Its an excellent rack. Disco 5 HSE Lux
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peyiqaJrmMU
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| 1st Aug 2006 6:11 pm |
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adam
Member Since: 20 Sep 2005
Location: Home and Happy
Posts: 6917
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wish I had known before I wasted £200 on a Maxx Rack -not been able to use all summer due to weld defect Now Golf GTI PP, 7 speed DSG.
Ex D3 and D4
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| 1st Aug 2006 10:32 pm |
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KL
Member Since: 16 Jun 2005
Location: Gilling, nr York
Posts: 713
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adam wrote:wish I had known before I wasted £200 on a Maxx Rack -not been able to use all summer due to weld defect
Have a chat with Max @ Maxx Raxx - he might refund or supply replacement swan neck bits. Worth a try... Discovery 3 tdv6 7 seat Buckingham Blue
Had it since new - sold Jun 17 after 12 years and 214,000 miles
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| 2nd Aug 2006 8:20 am |
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nobbyclark
Member Since: 03 May 2005
Location: Perth, Scotland
Posts: 1268
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Got mine on eBay from a seller called 'nickm1230'. Search for item 8056263599 - that's the very one I bought!
If I was to buy another, I would go with the one that has offset arms, which would allow the top part of the tailgate to be opened whilst the rack is in situ. No longer a D3 owner but still subscribed to multiple threads!
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| 2nd Aug 2006 9:06 am |
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eddtheduck
Member Since: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Norwich
Posts: 164
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There have been reports of this rack damaging the towball in this thread.
http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic3846.html?highlight=
Has this happened to yours?
How many bikes do you tend to carry? 2008.5 D3 HSE, Stornoway, Ebony
2007 BMW 335iSE - lust for speed satisfied
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| 2nd Aug 2006 9:49 am |
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nobbyclark
Member Since: 03 May 2005
Location: Perth, Scotland
Posts: 1268
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I haven't seen any damage but then the rack and tow bar are permanently attached to each other. I don't use the tow bar for towing, only for carrying bikes (although I did recently use it to right and tow a pick-up truck out of a ditch, but that's another story). In fact that is testament to the combined strength of the Pendle mount and the LR tow bar: Whilst on holiday in Islay recently, I came across a Vauxhall pickup that had skidded and flipped sideways into a ditch. After getting the driver out I suggested that we pull the vehicle out. Using another driver's rope, I lashed it between the semi-circular loop of metal at the top of the Pendle mount and the leaf springs of the pickup and righted it by driving forwards. There was no damage and the pickup started first time and drove off. There was also no damage to my rack mount/bar despite having pulled a ton of Vauxhall upright and out of a ditch.
The only report I have seen about damage to the tow bar is where someone left the plastic cover over the tow ball and clamped the mount to that.
Oh, and it always carries 4 bikes: 2 adult mountain bikes and 2 medium-sized kids' bikes (20" wheel, 14" frame). I always put a kid's bike on 1st, then the 2 adult ones and finally the other kid's bike. This means that the handlebars of the adult bikes do not prevent the rear wiper from operating. No longer a D3 owner but still subscribed to multiple threads!
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| 2nd Aug 2006 11:27 am |
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eddtheduck
Member Since: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Norwich
Posts: 164
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Cheers, I swap between boating an cycling so would need to take the adapter off the towball. Maybe it's better to get a spare removable towball? 2008.5 D3 HSE, Stornoway, Ebony
2007 BMW 335iSE - lust for speed satisfied
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| 2nd Aug 2006 11:44 am |
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KL
Member Since: 16 Jun 2005
Location: Gilling, nr York
Posts: 713
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eddtheduck wrote:Cheers, I swap between boating an cycling so would need to take the adapter off the towball. Maybe it's better to get a spare removable towball?
The Maxxraxx design should allow towing as well as carrying.
Otherwise I would suggest changing for a fixed towbar and selling the removable one on eBay.
This would be more stable anyhows. Discovery 3 tdv6 7 seat Buckingham Blue
Had it since new - sold Jun 17 after 12 years and 214,000 miles
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| 2nd Aug 2006 12:03 pm |
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adam
Member Since: 20 Sep 2005
Location: Home and Happy
Posts: 6917
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Swapped mail with MaxxRaxx today - further delays on revised Swann Neck fittings - real pain - bought the  thing in April and not been able to use yet Now Golf GTI PP, 7 speed DSG.
Ex D3 and D4
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| 2nd Aug 2006 10:11 pm |
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bookert
Member Since: 21 Nov 2005
Location: North East Somerset
Posts: 29
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FWIW I have a MaxxRaxx and have been very pleased with it. It is fitted to a fixed tow bar rather than the removable swan neck so I've not had the weld problem, and will allow towing at the same time as carrying the bikes. Pendle have a great reputation but I've not used them. The maxxraxx will carry up to 5 bikes although I've anly carried 4 so far - 2 adult, 2 children.
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| 13th Aug 2006 1:40 am |
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Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
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They were at the Motorshow and the guy told me the issues were resolved. As far as damage with the Pendle is concerned I have found this to have been my error in the way I tightened the bracket  I have the offset one and it is good, but you can't tow with in on 
I think both products look good, although one mother who has a Maxx on a Jeep GC seems to struggle with it  looks pretty straight forward to me. DS3 TDV6 HSE - Silver with Alpaca (old one) Gone
DS3 TDV6 HSE- Silver with Alpaca (new one) Gone
D4 HSE Lux - Montalcino Red Gone
Porsche Cayenne V8 Diesel S
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| 13th Aug 2006 9:14 am |
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