Bike racks make for easy travelling in smaller transportation when you have your motorhome set up at a long-term camping ground. We’ve picked out the Foldable Towbar Mounted Cycle Carrier for Two Bikes by Westfalia, the Bicycle Bolt-on Towball Mounted Carrier for Three Bikes by Witter Towbars, and the Four-Bike version by Witter Towbars as being the best.
In this article, we go into how to mount bikes on a bike rack safely, why bike racks help when on the move with a motorhome or campervan / Caravan, and the pros and cons of some of the best bike racks.
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What is a Bike Rack for a Motorhome?
Bike racks for motorhomes are either installed on the ladder or tow hitch, usually at a lower level for easy loading and unloading of bikes, and can mount anywhere between one and five bikes, depending on the brand and size. Some bike racks are also foldable for easy storage.
Why is a Bike Rack for Your Motorhome so Important?
For the easy ability to bring your bikes with you on a camping or long road trip, putting your bikes on a bike rack externally on your motorhome will make your trip more enjoyable and secure. A bike rack will save space, so you don’t have to put your bikes inside the motorhome, and they also protect your bikes, ensuring they don’t bump, scratch or get tangled.
How do I Use a Motorhome Bike Rack?
Here are some simple steps to use a motorhome bike rack:
- When mounting, lift your bike with your hands positioned on the seatstay and the fork, letting the bike lean into you a little before lifting with your legs. Then place it on the tray or handle of the bike rack.
- Secure it safely with any straps or grip handles provided, ensuring it isn’t able to fall on you while doing so.
- During stops in your road trip, like filling up fuel, it’s a good idea to take a moment and check the straps or security measures of your rack, just to make sure it’s not loose.
- When you’re at a place you would like to bike in, simply remove the bikes in the reverse order you put them on the bike rack.
Using Bike Racks in Europe
Similar rules apply to the use of bike racks in Europe as they do in the UK, the bike rack must not be covering the number plate and lights of the motorhome.
In Europe it is also a requirement to display a warning sign on the bike rack, which must be 50cm x 50cm with red and white diagonal stripes. This is applicable in Spain, Italy and Switzerland, but we displayed ours in all of the other countries that we visited too.
If you are visiting Portugal, it is essential to make sure that the bike rack does not extend the length of your motorhome by 45cm.
What are the Top Four Bike Racks for Motorhomes?
The best campervan and motorhome bike rack is the Thule Elite G2 Bike Carrier
The Thule Elite G2 Bike Carrier is what we use on our motorhome, and it has been fantastic for our travels all over Europe and the UK. It is sturdy, safe and simple to use. It comes with a key lock to make your bike even more secure.
Best Features –
- Lockable
- Wheel straps
- Easy to mount
- Sturdy
What is the Foldable Towbar Mounted Cycle Carrier for Two Bikes by Westfalia?
The Foldable Towbar Mounted Cycle Carrier for 2 Bikes by Westfalia has a foldable design, analogue lighting and strong material. It is also suitable for two bikes with a wheelbase of up to 1300mm and a frame diameter of 80mm, and compatible with e-bikes and pedelecs with a maximum load of 60kg.
What are the Pros and Cons of the Foldable Towbar Mounted Cycle Carrier for Two Bikes from Amazon Customers?
Pros and Cons of the Foldable Towbar Mounted Cycle Carrier for Two Bikes
What is the Bicycle Bolt-on Towball Mounted Carrier for Three Bikes by Witter Towbars?
The Bicycle Bolt-on Towball Mounted Carrier for Three Bikes by Witter Towbars is a universal, lightweight bike carrier that attaches to any type of towball and comes with a low platform for easy mounting. They are able to carry most types of bikes except e-bikes and can be tilted when loaded to allow access to anything behind the rack.
What are the Pros and Cons of the Bicycle Bolt-on Towball Mounted Carrier for Three Bikes from Amazon Customers?
Pros and Cons of the Bicycle Bolt-on Towball Mounted Carrier for Three Bikes
What is the Bicycle Bolt-on Towball Mounted Carrier for Four Bikes by Witter Towbars?
The Bicycle Bolt-on Towball Mounted Carrier for Four Bikes is similar to the previous product but can carry one more bike. It is lightweight, attaches to most towballs, and carries most bikes (except e-bikes), and is suitable for the entire family’s bikes.
What are the Pros and Cons of the Bicycle Bolt-on Towball Mounted Carrier for Four Bikes from Amazon Customers?
Pros and Cons of the Bicycle Bolt-on Towball Mounted Carrier for Three Bikes
Conclusion
Biking while on a road trip is not only possible, but it can also be made super easy when your motorhome has a bike rack attached to it. That way you can spend more time enjoying it when it matters the most.
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I love everything about travel, from seeing new places, learning about new cultures and trying new foods! I believe that travel is one of the best forms of education you can get, I have learnt so much about myself and about the world from travelling all over. Travel is something I feel so passionately about, and I love the fact that we are now lucky enough to have this opportunity to do what we love as much as we can, it’s a dream come true.
Before we started travelling, I worked in local government in administration. I had been in this job for several years and had reached a complete brick wall where I was so fed up, but didn’t know what else to do. The only thing I knew that I wanted to do was to travel, and had wanted to do that for many years.
There were hundreds and hundreds of places on my wishlist that I wanted to go to, and I knew that going on a weeks holiday maybe twice a year if we were lucky wasn’t going to cut it.
After being in lockdown due to the Covid pandemic, and working from home staring at the same 4 walls every day, 2021 seemed like the perfect time for us to take the risk to finally do what we had dreamed of for so long.
It was a hard decision to completely change our lives, but so far it has been the best decision we have ever made!
