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nordic venture ***
Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 193 Location: aberdeenshire
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 15:36 Post subject: cycle carrier. why does no-one make a useful one? |
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OK maybe i'm a bit different to most in that i'm part of a family of 4 who cycle AND have a boot full of gear that i want to access just about everytime i stop.
so what? well if you can point me in the direction of a cycle carrier that carries 4 bikes AND ALLOWS THE BOOT DOOR TO OPEN FULLY then the beers are on me (seriously)
don't bother to mention those who claim boot access and show pics of their carrier on a landrover discovery. (same style swing open door). notice how there are NO PICTURES of the door open. can you guess why?
at the moment i can carry my kids 2 bikes on a carrier that fits over the spare wheel on the door. just. there is no way i'm going to try and add 2 adult mountain bikes as well!! (by the way the door hinges for a colorado cost £70..... EACH i don't even want to think about ripping the spare off the door
i've also had a look in the U.S. (google "swing away cycle carrier") OMG look at that.... just the thing (now double the price trying to import one oh and you'll need a 2" hitch reciever. N/A in the UK.
so take a bow my old landrover with a swing away spare wheel carrier. mounted to the chassis/body and door it could carry all 4 bikes and have me standing on the wheel to reach the roof without deflecting a mm. they say that abscence makes the heart grow fonder.................... i'm begining to know what they mean.
any friendly engineers/welders/ designers out there that want to help? |
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 15:36 Post subject: Google Ads keep this community free to join! |
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Landcrusher Lifetime member
Joined: 21 Oct 2005 Posts: 2689 Location: Chesterfield, East Midlands
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 15:53 Post subject: Nordic Fabrications Ltd |
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I can feel some more ore smelting coming on!
LC _________________ HDJ 80 but still a 90 owner at heart (yeah right!) |
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olivergt ***
Joined: 14 May 2007 Posts: 217 Location: Galway - Ireland
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 16:23 Post subject: |
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Would you put them on the roof? That would give you lots more options, I know it's a little more difficult to get them down and you have to watch LOW bridges.
Oliver |
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nordic venture ***
Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 193 Location: aberdeenshire
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 16:26 Post subject: Re: Nordic Fabrications Ltd |
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Landcrusher wrote: |
I can feel some more ore smelting coming on!
LC |
not this time i'm afraid LC. the though of 4 bikes parting company with the vehicle whilst on the m-way is too much. |
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nordic venture ***
Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 193 Location: aberdeenshire
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 16:28 Post subject: |
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olivergt wrote: |
Would you put them on the roof? That would give you lots more options, I know it's a little more difficult to get them down and you have to watch LOW bridges.
Oliver |
good point. i sometimes use a roof box. fuel consumption is bad enough already and i'm often on ferries where height matters.
thanks for replying though. |
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andy Moderator
Joined: 16 Dec 2003 Posts: 2260 Location: Polegate, Sussex, England.
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nordic venture ***
Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 193 Location: aberdeenshire
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 17:04 Post subject: |
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(
thanks.
this model although it folds down won't allow the door to open fully (colorado) it'll also atract import duty and VAT importing one, thus roughly doubling the price. |
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Bosvark ***
Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 169 Location: High Peak
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:57 Post subject: |
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Nordic Venture, I have the same problem, have to carrie 5 bikes, and there is no way the door hinges will take that weight and the weight of the bigger spare wheel.
I have build one earlier this week, painted it this afternoon and will fit the ratchet strap and rubbers to secure the bikes over the weekend.
The carrier piviots on a bracket thats bolted to the tow bar. When you lower the carrier with the bikes on , then you will be able to open the door about half way.
The carrier can split into sections, so easy to remove and store when not needed on a camping trip.
I will take some photos over the weekend which will give you a better idea of what I am on about.
Bosvark |
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nordic venture ***
Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 193 Location: aberdeenshire
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:33 Post subject: |
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Bosvark wrote: |
Nordic Venture, I have the same problem, have to carrie 5 bikes, and there is no way the door hinges will take that weight and the weight of the bigger spare wheel.
I have build one earlier this week, painted it this afternoon and will fit the ratchet strap and rubbers to secure the bikes over the weekend.
The carrier piviots on a bracket thats bolted to the tow bar. When you lower the carrier with the bikes on , then you will be able to open the door about half way.
The carrier can split into sections, so easy to remove and store when not needed on a camping trip.
I will take some photos over the weekend which will give you a better idea of what I am on about.
Bosvark |
thanks. i'm looking forward to seeing it very interested. |
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Tonka **
Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 117 Location: The Toon, up north
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:14 Post subject: |
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what's the official line on where you would stand on a front mounted cycle carrier?
just a thought
once carried a large mountain bike,(out of desperation/necessity,) bungee strapped to a front bullbar
ek _________________ 97 PRADO 3.0 TD AUTO
eric |
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joinerman *******
Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Posts: 2200 Location: Here & there
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 18:49 Post subject: |
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Think it would be a big no no, if you hit a pedestrian they would probably throw away the key LOL
They moan about bullbars are dangerous.
Joinerman |
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Landcrusher Lifetime member
Joined: 21 Oct 2005 Posts: 2689 Location: Chesterfield, East Midlands
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 19:18 Post subject: Where to put your bikes |
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We have four bikes and I just stick them in the trailer. Of course I can't get the quad bike in then - clearly I need a BIGGER trailer!
LC _________________ HDJ 80 but still a 90 owner at heart (yeah right!) |
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mbw13 **
Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 100 Location: Ngahinapouri, New Zealand
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nordic venture ***
Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 193 Location: aberdeenshire
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 21:20 Post subject: |
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no need to apologise. any ideas are welcome and useful.
thanks. |
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Jim W *
Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 37 Location: AYRSHIRE
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Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 21:13 Post subject: Sensible Cycle carriers |
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Since you say you are on ferries quite often do you go to France?
If so try Decathlon chain of sporting supermarkets.
The do a towball fitting cycle carrier which takes 4 bikes. Last year it was about 200 euros.
If you have a swaneck towball it fits straight from the box.
If you have a normal towball you will need to change it to one with a minimum of 50mm between the plate and the ball and unbolt the bar which stops the unit swinging about.
I don't know if it folds down though to allow the rear doors to open.
I almost bought one last year - should have with the exchange rate at present
There is an american unit available from a company called Cabelas which does fold down but it is designed for the yanks square slot in towing system. You might have to buy the american towbar setup to get it to fit but at the exchange rate it might be worth it.
There web site really is worth a look.
Cheers
Jim |
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