UKC

Hi

Does anyone have or know of a bike rack that would fit a Ford Transit Custom van with barn doors? I believe the doors don't clear the Thule tipping ones which fit to a tow bar and would prefer them to fit to one of the doors so they swing out of the way when open. I'm planning to put a pop-top roof on so roof-mounted wouldn't work.

Thanks in advance.

I went through the same conundrum last year. I bought two hatchback type carriers from marketplace to try an juggle them onto a single door. Whilst I was happy with both of the bikeracks security when fitted to a single door, I wasn't happy when the bike fitted onto the rack. Having two racks I explored fitting the bike verticle and horizontal but wasn't happy with either. When it was horizontal it still required a light board IMO, it was also too high.

I eventually bit the bullet and had a towbar and electrics fitted. Bike still needs to come off to open the back doors. It's only me in the van so I can organise myself with that solution. It is also road legal.

Good luck with your quest.

The Altera Strada (tow bar rack) slides as well as tilts, this means the doors on a  Vivaro can be  opened even with the bike on the rack.

I had a VW T5 with barn doors and an Atera Strada on the tow ball worked but I can't recall which model. Contact https://www.roofbox.co.uk/bike-carriers/bike-carriers-racks-info.php for info, they are good to deal with. 

The tow ball Thule tipping racks should have a second tipping setting that allows it to tip right onto the ground.  We use this lower setting for our Transit Custom with its huge tailgate (but not barn doors).

How many bikes you carrying?

We originally tried a Fiamma tailgate rack for 4x bikes- but it was made of butter and was useless. 

2 racing bikes and child's bike, usually.

I'll give roofbox.co.uk a message that 65 recommended.

Thanks all.

We have a swinging tow bar that takes the bike rack fully out of the way when you want to open the back doors.

https://www.justkampers.com/25500r-memo-van-swing-swivel-module-x250-from-2...

We bought one of these from Roofbox in Sedbergh. Visiting the 'store' was fun, but that's another story.

The reviews mentioned the little green locking nipple that clicks upwards into place after you slide it closed can be a bit iffy. You're not kidding. Coming round the corner by Pedro's in Kendal with four bikes on it at the start of a trip to Nethybridge, the whole unit slid open and scraped along the tarmac for about 10 metres before we could pull over. Luckily, we were going at 15, no carbon got cracked and no one was killed. Since then, we haven't used the sliding mechanism at all, just in case the same happens on the M6 at 70. In every other respect it's been great.

Caution. I think this only applies to the 3 bike model. 2 bike model def does not.

Hi Theo, I have just read through the post, how did you get on. I am going through the same problem at the moment and I was trying to avoid paying for a tow bar to be fitted.

I've had mine for 7 years. I always check the green nipple has fully popped up when slid back into place, sometimes need a press on the mechanism from underneath. Never had it move in transport, we tilt almost everytime we use it, use it probably twice a month.

I love that you can buy spares when bits get lost or wear out.