Car roof bike carriers..UPDATE FOR JUSSA

Hello again Retrowers. Im looking for advice on carriers for the roof of the car. How they work ect. Its a 2004 Honda Accord estate with rails fitted. I understand I will need to purchase the correct bars to go across the roof but are they all the same. Do all bike carriers have a universal mount to the bars? Need to get kitted up for a trip to Kielder with the kid. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Re: Car roof bike carriers..

There are loads of different length bars so you need the right ones.
Never thought i'd say this but a trip to Halfords will be your best bet to get the right set-up. :shock:

Re: Car roof bike carriers..

Hmm I didnt want to say that either but was thinking I will have to pay them a visit just to get an idea. Mmmm Halfords... Top dollar. Was hoping to get a few eBay bargins!

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Go to h word get the spec and then auctions. That's what we did!

Re: Car roof bike carriers..

Ok. I will post their price when I get back. Just for laughs...

Re: Car roof bike carriers..

I've got this set-up for my Ford Kuga, 'Mont Blanc' Roof Bars and 'Mont Blanc Barracuda' Cycle carriers, now i am a firm believer in spending a little bit more will get you a better product, especially in this field. You do not want to be leaving your beloved Retrobike bouncing down the Motorway. The positives on my set-up;

1 - Bars and Carriers lock to roof bars on car (Great Anti-Theft mechanism lockable with key)
2 - Cycles are locked into fixings again secured by a special security key, so when fitted to carrier cannot be removed easily.
3 - Mont Blanc is good quality, well built and the version i have has a nice deep scoop for the front wheel to sit in which will accommodate up to 2.2 tyres.

CRC has them for sale, free postage single carrier £85 they do double packs of carriers £152.99

I use mine a lot and never feel that they are unsafe when motorway driving. \the bike always feels secure and safe and the anti theft measures that are built in are a godsend, especially if you have to stop en-route.

Jussa

Re: Car roof bike carriers..

I used to put my bikes on the car roof but gave up because of the effect on fuel economy and I now use a towbar fitted rack which keeps the bikes out of the slipstream behind the car.

I preferred Thule ski bike carriers (model 931?)which have a fixing which slides into a channel on the cross bars.You then lock the carrier to the bars with a key.Still got three in the shed somewhere,as I said they drastically reduced fuel economy.Mind you I live in Devon and take the bikes with me to Scotland on holiday which means mpg counts.

Although the carriers lock into the crossbars,check that the crossbars also lock onto the car side bars,some don't.

Re: Car roof bike carriers..

frank.youngman":to88084t said:

I used to put my bikes on the car roof but gave up because of the effect on fuel economy and I now use a towbar fitted rack which keeps the bikes out of the slipstream behind the car.

I preferred Thule ski bike carriers (model 931?)which have a fixing which slides into a channel on the cross bars.You then lock the carrier to the bars with a key.Still got three in the shed somewhere,as I said they drastically reduced fuel economy.Mind you I live in Devon and take the bikes with me to Scotland on holiday which means mpg counts.

Although the carriers lock into the crossbars,check that the crossbars also lock onto the car side bars,some don't.

Click to expand...

I've trundled a few times up and down the country with bikes on roof and to be honest the fuel economy varies only slightly, mind you my Diesel Kuga is pretty eco friendly

Re: Car roof bike carriers..

Fantastic post Jussa. I understand. They look the buisness. If CRC can match the eBay price they may well be getting a sale.

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As for the MPG frank its only an hour and a half away. Trailer tent and the way the spoiler is on the Honda says they got to go on the roof. But it does run on gas. Which is nice.