Bicycle carrier

Your new bike rack comes from Camping-Kaufhaus

Depending on your destination and personal preference, it is possible to rent a bike for a certain period of time. This can be particularly advantageous if you already know that you will not otherwise need the bike or, of course, if you are not even traveling with your own vehicle. In this case, even a bike rack can not help.

However, you are most flexible - and there is no question about that - if you can fall back on your own two-wheeler without restrictions during the entire trip.

Why is the use of a bicycle carrier useful?

When traveling for a longer period of time or even just for weekend trips, the interior of the vehicle is often well filled by numerous pieces of luggage alone, not to mention the travelers. So where to put the bikes now? Especially dirty bikes, such as mountain bikes after use, one would not like to transport in the camper itself.

A bicycle carrier for caravans or motor homes can help.

A decisive factor here is convenience: the bike does not first have to be laboriously disassembled so that it can be stowed in the car. Instead, only the bicycle carrier must be attached to the caravan or motor home and secured, which is much faster.

What criteria should be considered when buying a bike carrier?

To find out which bike carrier is the right one for your caravan, you should ask yourself the following questions before buying:

• How many bikes do you want to transport? Do you need a bike carrier for 2, 3 or even 4 bikes?
• How heavy are the bikes you want to transport? With e-bikes, for example, you need to plan for about 6 kg more than with normal bikes. The difference comes from the additional battery and motor of e-bikes.
• How fast do you want to be able to ride while transporting the bikes?
• What mounting options - trailer hitch, tailgate or roof rails - does your vehicle offer?

Also note: Depending on the weight of the bike, loading the vehicle rack can get really tiring. To make things easier for you, many bike racks for a motorhome or caravan can be lowered.

Legislation and regulations regarding the installation and use of bike racks

German law specifies a number of regulations that you must comply with when transporting your bike using a bike carrier:

1. Bicycles must not protrude more than 20 centimeters on either side of the vehicle, so as not to compromise road safety.
2. In addition, no sharp parts should protrude.
3. If a bicycle carrier is attached to the trailer hitch, it must be equipped with functioning rear and brake lights.
4. A white license plate should also be attached to the bicycle carrier.

In general, bike racks - whether for 2, 3 or 4 bikes - should always have a system for a 3-point attachment to provide a secure and reliable hold.

Not a regulation, but still useful: Additional security can be ensured if the bike carrier is lockable. Of course, locks can be picked, but this measure can still delay the theft of the two-wheelers and thus, at best, prevent it.

What types of bicycle carriers are there?

Basically, there are three different ways to carry bikes on the outside of your caravan: At the rear of the vehicle, on a roof rack or on a bike rack for the trailer hitch. Here you get a short overview of the respective advantages and disadvantages.

Rear carrier - bicycle carrier for the rear

Rear racks are, as the name suggests, attached to the rear of the motorhome, either to the tailgate or to the chassis. Often, these bike racks are height adjustable, making them easier and more convenient to load. When buying, however, it should be noted that not every model is also suitable for every vehicle.

We will be happy to advise you to make sure that your desired bike rack also fits your motorhome.

Especially for camping vehicles without a tailgate, it is also recommended that a competent person installs the carrier in order to avoid damage and to guarantee the highest possible level of safety when transporting the bicycles.

Bicycle carrier on the roof

The advantage of roof racks is that they do not restrict rear visibility and do not obscure the license plate or brake lights. The purchase costs are comparatively lower compared to other carrier systems.

A disadvantage, however, is the reduced safety. This is due to the fact that the bicycles are exposed to the wind during transport without protection and can lose their grip in the long term. Similarly, transporting one or more bicycles on the roof can impair handling. At the same time, it is imperative to consider the new overall height of the motorhome due to the loaded roof rack.

Bicycle carrier for trailer hitch

Bicycle carriers for a trailer hitch, if the vehicle is equipped with one, can be attached and removed quickly. In addition, the carrier systems are often independent of the vehicle model and can therefore be used very flexibly.

Important: Before use, always consider the maximum drawbar load of the trailer hitch. This is determined by the respective vehicle manufacturer and tells you up to what maximum weight you may load the trailer hitch. As a rule, you will find the relevant information on a plate next to the base of your trailer coupling, otherwise you can also look in the vehicle documents or ask the dealer directly.

Too high a drawbar load causes excessive stress on the vehicle suspension and the attachment of the trailer hitch, which can lead to damage and safety restrictions in the long term.

FAQs

How much does a bike rack cost?

The price of a bike rack varies depending on the model, brand, and how it is mounted. The cheapest bike carriers are already available for around 250 euros, upwards prices of over 1000 euros are possible. It is therefore most important that you know in advance exactly what purpose your future bike carrier will serve.

How much weight can a bicycle carrier for a motor home or caravan hold?

The permissible total weight with which a bicycle carrier may be loaded depends on the respective model, as well as on the type of vehicle and the mounting. Basically, a standard bike rack is suitable for bikes of around 22 kg and may not be loaded heavier than 50 kg. For the transport of e-bikes, which are somewhat heavier in comparison, there are special bike carriers.

In addition, the permissible total weight of the respective vehicle must not be exceeded by the bicycle carrier, which is why the weight of the wheels to be transported must always be taken into account.

Is it obligatory to attach a license plate to the bicycle carrier on a motor home?

Basically, an additional license plate on the bike rack is mandatory if it completely or partially restricts the view of the regular license plate. The same regulation also applies to brake lights.