Who wouldn't want to go on a bike ride at the weekend, or even quickly after work. Especially as soon as the weather gets nicer, you long for a trip out of the city and into nature. However, you often need a car to cover the few kilometers to the nearest park or forest. But what if your own vehicle is too small for a bicycle therein to transport. There are a few today transport solutions and it is precisely these fastening options for bicycle racks that we would like to present to you in a clear manner. Because the types of attachment of bicycles are different, depending on the manufacturer. Therefore we summarize important points: What systems are there and how are they attached and loaded? But we will also examine the legal regulations so that you no longer have any unanswered questions. Basically we differentiate between an assembly on the trailer hitch and alternatives if your car does not have such a clutch.
Mounting with trailer hitch
The screw connection:
- First, push the bike rack onto the towbar/ball (make sure the bike rack is level), then align horizontally.
- Use a socket wrench and an assembly rod (which is usually included) to attach the bicycle carrier to the trailer hitch.
- Tighten the locking screw with a torque wrench.
The clamping device:
- Before the bike carrier can be placed on the ball head, the lever lock must be fully opened, then you can put on the bike carrier.
- Press the bicycle rack clamping lever all the way down, then lock the anti-theft device.
- This anti-theft device is included with all clamping devices for bicycle carriers.
If you want to attach the bikes to the bike rack, there are three different options:
- Attachment to the frame: Here the bicycles are attached to the frame via holding arms. If the frame diameter is large, there is an extension for this.
- Attachment to the pedal arm: The bicycles are attached to the pedal arms with a claw, the frame size is irrelevant.
- Attachment to the tire: This type of attachment is intended for additional security to the other attachment variants for the bicycle. These are set individually.
Advantages of mounting on the trailer hitch:
- Assembling the bikes is easy
- Access to the trunk is still possible with many bike carriers
- The bikes are not exposed to the wind, so they stay clean (e.g. from dirt from insects)
- There is hardly any wind noise
- The fuel consumption is only slightly higher
Helpful tips:
- The ball head must be clean and free of grease
- Always start with the heaviest bike when assembling
- Note the frame diameter of the bicycles, depending on the type of attachment
- Not all bicycle carriers are suitable for aluminum ball bars
Legal regulations and important requirements to be observed:
- According to § 49a StVZO, a 13-pin electrical kit is mandatory
- If the third brake light is covered, an extension must be used
- 130 km/h recommended speed in Germany
- Consider the D value of the trailer hitch and the maximum vertical load
Variants for vehicles without a trailer hitch
- Bicycle holder on the roof: To do this, the bicycle holder is attached to the roof rack, and the bicycle is attached using a frame holder and tensioning straps. The frame diameter of the bicycle, but also the bar strength of the roof rack, must be taken into account.
- Bike rack on the tailgate: The bicycle carrier is attached to the tailgate using clamping elements. The application list for vehicle selection by the manufacturer is important. If your car has spoilers or plastic strips in the rear area, this type of attachment is not suitable.
- Fastening inside the vehicle: The bicycle holder is attached to the rails of the seat attachment. The front wheel must be unscrewed. Here, too, the manufacturer's application list must be observed, as this is not comprehensively suitable for all car models.
We hope that it will now be easier for you to properly attach a bike rack to your car and bike and that you can start your next trip a few kilometers away.
The following note is essential: For safety reasons, tuningblog recommends all repair, inspection and maintenance work exclusively to be carried out in a specialist workshop! Although our information is summarized to the best of our knowledge and belief, we cannot assume any liability for the content. All information is therefore "without guarantee".
Of course, that wasn't the end of it!
In this tuningblog category there are guides and instructions for common defects/repairs on the vehicle and for installing accessories/tuning parts. Our articles explain in a simple way common defects and the corresponding repairs and they also explain how the first signs of a defect become noticeable. In most cases, we also have initial clues to the repair instructions in our repair instructions approximate costs listed. The goal of ourAuto Repair Guide“ is to create a head start in knowledge for the next visit to the workshop with initial tips. This may save you from tedious troubleshooting and you may even be able to do small things yourself. The same applies, of course, to the installation of accessories/tuning parts. Here, too, we would like to help with the implementation with instructions and tips. There are many other posts on this as well. Below is an excerpt of the last and HERE there are all previous instructions.
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