SimonR
Member Since: 15 Aug 2007
Location: Chelmsford, Essex
Posts: 767
  
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| Atera Strada with 4 bikes |
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Added the 4th bike adaptor to the rack tonight and the instructions seem to indicate that you should use the straps to the roof
Has anyone else used the straps or just carried 4 bikes as normal
Obviously if the straps are used then it won't be possible to open the boot at all
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 11th Aug 2011 9:07 pm |
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ijwoo1
Member Since: 04 Jul 2010
Location: London
Posts: 31
 
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I was also concerned about this but chose not to use the straps. In fact I'd forgotten all about them until I read your post. I hate the idea of straps rubbing against paintwork. I dont care what anyone says, even if you put a sponge between the strap and the paintwork, when grit gets trapped, carried in by air pressure and rain, you may as well put sandpaper in there.
I've done a good few hundred miles now with 4 bikes and not had a problem, but of course your mileage may vary 
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| 11th Aug 2011 10:39 pm |
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SimonR
Member Since: 15 Aug 2007
Location: Chelmsford, Essex
Posts: 767
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Thanks
Have been carrying 3 around but the first planned journey with 4 is 300 miles into France (plus 80 getting to the tunnel)
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| 12th Aug 2011 8:34 am |
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zarnd
Member Since: 23 Apr 2010
Location: Kent
Posts: 794
 
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I went to Slovenia and back with four bikes on and did use the straps. In my pack I had two clear plastic stickers to put on the tailgate where the straps went so it didn't rub on the paintwork at all. It's just a little bit of extra support to take the weight off the bike carrier. Takes two seconds to remove the straps to then open the tailgate, but we didn't need to as we packed sensibly with the bits we wanted first at the top and behind the seats so we could get everything from inside.
I did over two thousand miles with the four bikes on the back and used the straps to the tailgate and then some straps to secure the last bike to the first etc...
cheers Alex
2007 D3 TDV6 HSE
2009 Caterham Supersport
2005 FFRR Vogue SE 4.2 Supercharged
2004 SL55 AMG
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| 12th Aug 2011 10:00 am |
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Andrew Hebron
Member Since: 16 Jan 2009
Location: Teddington
Posts: 501
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I have the Altera + 4 bikes and equally disliked the idea of the straps. I think they're there to stop rebound flexing - e.g. when going over bumps. Probably not an issue if you're on main roads. I certainly don't use them if I'm only carrying 2 bikes on the carrier, but they are relatively easy to slacken off if you do use them and need to access the boot. Andrew
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| 12th Aug 2011 11:35 am |
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Voug
Member Since: 03 Dec 2010
Location: Somewhere between East and West
Posts: 195
 
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Just drove 600 km with 4 bikes on german Autobahn at speed 120 km/h without straps and didn't had any issue. If you take care of bumps it's no problem. Interesting fact: With 3 bikes you can load 45 kg, having the 4th adapter mounted you can load 67 kg without modification of the hitch mount. This indicates that the straps really only should avoid rebound flexing.
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| 12th Aug 2011 11:57 am |
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