UKC

So Mrs Gimmer has just got  a newish Honda Hybrid Jazz (mk 4). We want a tow bar bike rack for 2 hybrids. ( neither of us want to lift bikes high up anymore) They said you can't have trailer type towbar as trailers not allowed on hybrid Jazz.. But dealer arranged for a detachable tow bar for bike racks- they said this is correct route to follow-This appeared to be only way to get a towbar -through Honda. It appears to be a swan neck type. Anyway Honda says they recommend Thule easy fold bike rack. I think they have a deal with them. Have spent 3 trips to Halfords- the Thule bike rack doesn't fit. Tried 2 racks- Slots on after a struggle but locking arm won't come down. Halfords are suggesting Halfords 'advanced 2 bike tow bar mounted cycle rack'. instead. Apparently it's a bit tricky to fit but the attachment is a more old fashioned bolt which would have more leeway.. My questions 1. Have Honda fitted the wrong sort of tow bar 2. Is Halford suggestion any good and likely to work 3. If Honda recommend a bike rack is that some sort of binding thing to cover problems caused by bike rack or can I ignore it 4. What happened to the simple life. Thanks 

In reply to gimmergimmer:

The tow bar

In reply to gimmergimmer:

Go back to dealer. Ideally you have their suggestion in writing. That way you can prove it’s their problem.

Had a similar issue years ago and got a free bike rack from Thule as compensation.

In reply to Graeme G:

Thank you for the advice. Unfortunately not got it in writing but will try.

In reply to gimmergimmer:

Could double check towbar here?

https://www.towbarexpress.co.uk/towbars/honda-towbars/honda-jazz-towbars/?s...

In reply to Graeme G:

Just checked this. It looks like the tow bar I've got. But the spec says it for a trailer and I was told the Jazz can't pull a trailer. Doesn't stipulate any bike rack but says many bike racks should fit. So not moved on much but thanks...

In reply to gimmergimmer:

There is a bit of a knack for getting the easyfold to seat onto the tow ball correctly, you need to get the rack to tilt upwards for the locking arm to be closed. If you just drop it directly on to the ball and try to close it you wont have much luck. To get to seat correctly on my towbar I have to lift the rack up by the little lip that is near the number plate slot with one had and push down with the locking bar till I find the correct spot for it to close shut.

In reply to gimmergimmer:

Your lack of use of paragraphs is contributing to the lack of life simplicity

Why not, is it hitting the bumper or something?

They all have 50mm balls so it doesn't matter what tow bar you fit. It's a standard size. Yes some sit further away from the car as others, but as long as you have about 3" clearance which it looks like you do, I can't see why they wouldn't work.

The two racks you are looking at are both clamp on types so shouldn't be fussy.

If it was a bolt on, then you would need a flange type tow bar.

It sounds like you either have a defective tow ball size (really unlikely), or the racks you tried to fit are faulty (also rather unlikely) or it's just a technique issue when fitting.

It's the one I would go for as it's so much cheaper. Yes a few more steps to fitting it. Guess it depends on how often you plan on using it.

In reply to montyjohn:

I have since done some research on the tow bar Honda have fitted.

It's a Brink RMCu detachable one- with an 'RMC pin- ('new') designed only for bike racks

In the recesses of Brink's website I found  a list of suitable bike racks. Some Thules are OK some aren't. Unfortunately Honda's instructions from their parts dept was a bit vague and just said 2bike  or 3bike Thule carriers recommended.

I spoke to a very  helpful woman from the Roof Box company who supply racks. She was familiar with this particular type of RMC pin on the tow bar ball. And recommended a Yakima bike rack- one that fitted the tow bar.

Lessons here -

1/ paragraphs are good,

2/A lot of information given out by big  companies just involves them searching  a Web page .

3/ The secret is to find a real person with expertise rather than just 'looking up' abilities.

4/ Lists are OK but can go on a bit.

Hoping that the 2.5 days of my life doing this have not been wasted and it is now nearer resolution.

In reply to gimmergimmer:

I would add that I have always found the Roofbox company to be very knowledgeable and very helpful on sorting out random issues.

In reply to gimmergimmer:

I don't know... but it looks pleased to see you 🤣

In reply to wittenham:

Same here, would recomend them.

In reply to gimmergimmer:

I had no idea such a thing existed.

I think I can see it now in your picture. It has a pin on the side to prevent it being used by a trailer.

That's going to confuse a future owner of that car when they think they can tow with it. 

In reply to CantClimbTom:

I expected 'Tricky Dicky' to have made that comment.

In reply to montyjohn:

It's been a steep learning curve!

In reply to montyjohn:

New one on me, too.

It's probably that pin that also means that certain bike racks won't fit*.  Not really an ideal way to address the issue IMO: to make it sufficiently non-standard as to exclude a large proportion of otherwise perfectly good products on the market (and already in people's homes).

Hopefully only if they're too dumb to understand the "no towing" sticker on the swan neck (although I suppose it might have fallen off in the mean time - I think the location of yer average towbar/towball is rather a hostile environment).

* Likely including my Thule Velospace XT 938.

In reply to gimmergimmer:

Glad you found a resolution. Towbar bike racks are brilliant. 

In reply to Graeme G:

Thank you -tomorrow (or the day after ) is D Day when a 'Yakima easy clik 2' arrives- a bike rack mentioned as OK on the tow bar website and suggested by Roofbox people. Hoping this sorts it ...

In reply to gimmergimmer: I have a Yakima as recommended by roofbox and it works well. Quite tight to lock on but once on its v secure.

In reply to gimmergimmer:

Brand new info to me ... I had no idea such a thing existed.

Re:  They [the dealer] said you can't have trailer type towbar as trailers not allowed on hybrid Jazz.

Am I right in understanding that presumably Mrs Gimmer is renting it from Honda and hence Honda want to protect their asset from accidental damage?  Or was this just a responsible dealer ensuring they don't sell you a towbar that you then go on to damage your vehicle with?  Or it is actually not possible to install a "normal" towbar on a Honda Jazz?

In reply to StuPoo2:

The car was bought not rented. As I understand the car is not suitable to tow- and Honda want people to know this. An independent towbar company said he couldn't do it. (They put your number plate into a system).

Just read that CVT- continuous variable transmission often not suitable for towing- this is a form of automatic which new hybrid Jazz has. Also some chassis are not suitable- it seems powerful enough-1.5 for a small car though.

The good news is the Yakima easy click 2 works on the car. Roofbox were helpful but still some confusion depending on who I spoke to. Halfords knew nothing about this detachable towbar. And Honda dealer wasn't  clear. Technology more advanced than communication.

In reply to gimmergimmer:

Got it ... good see your dealership taking care of this and not just sticking an "normal" towbar on the car and setting you on your way.

+1 for Roofbox.  Always found them super helpful.

In reply to gimmergimmer:

My ancient Thule towbar rack would fit that. It is nothing special. The clamp is a bit like a drill bit. You unwind a knob to open it out, drop it onto the towbar then wind it up. I can't see why any towbar rack wouldn't fit and don't get the lever bit.