Bicycles are almost indispensable for the motorhome trip. There are a number of different carrier systems available in stores to take them safely and conveniently with you. The RV couch asked the Württemberg manufacturer Eurocarry and put together an overview of the common systems. You will also find some tips on what to look out for.

Bicycle racks initially differ according to the vehicles and the attachment points:

Motorhome

Transport in the rear garage
The rear garage, which many built-up motorhomes have, is the most convenient way of transporting bikes. Usually it even offers enough space for two of them. There are a number of systems available in retail outlets for loading and unloading them and securing them while driving. The more comfortable ones can be pulled out on a slide.

Attachment to the rear of the vehicle
If there is no garage in the motorhome, rear wall brackets can be mounted on almost all models. At a few hundred euros, these systems are relatively inexpensive compared to other types of carrier. Many motorhome manufacturers offer simple rear carriers as an extra ex works. Two bicycle rails are usually standard. If you pay attention to the maximum weight, you don't have to worry about damage to the body, because the carriers are always approved for significantly less weight than the maximum load on the rear wall permitted by the motorhome manufacturer.

Camper vans

Transporting bicycles is usually a bit more complicated in the case of camper vans or box vans, since access to the storage space must be possible through tailgate or doors even when the bicycle rack is installed. There are several possible systems in retail, for example from Eurocarry:

Attachment to the right rear door
It is suitable for normal bicycles up to 35 or 40 kg maximum weight and fits MB Sprinter, VW Crafter, Renault Master, Opel/Vauxhall Movano, Ford Transit as well as Fiat Ducato and identical models.

Attachment to the door hinges
It is suitable for all types of bicycles, also for e-bikes up to 60 kg maximum weight and fits VW Crafter, MB Sprinter and Fiat Ducato as well as identical models.

Attachment at the bottom of the vehicle chassis
It is suitable for e-bikes up to 80 kg maximum weight, suitable for Fiat Ducato and identical models.

It is particularly important to pay attention to the weights of bicycle racks for rear doors, because the manufacturers often specify the maximum weight that their doors and flaps can be loaded with.

When buying a portable system, be sure to pay attention to the following points:

1. When loading the carrier, the maximum payload must always be taken into account, which is between 35 and 60 kilograms depending on the model and version. The weight information always relates to the total load, i.e. to two or more wheels.
    
2.  Since e-bikes are enjoying ever greater popularity, but with their own weight of up to 25 kg, they are usually too heavy for a bike rack for the rear door (for two bikes), the demand for hinge brackets at the rear is increasing. By opening a quick release fastener on the left side, this carrier can be swiveled to the right to open the rear doors. The hinge supports are offered with two different loading heights. At the top loading height, the bike is located above the rear lights of the vehicle and no additional lighting strip is required. In the lower loading height, the loading height is reduced by approx. 30 cm, whereby a lighting strip is required in this position. An electrical version for lowering the bicycle rails to a comfortable loading height is also available. The bicycle rack for attachment to the chassis of the vehicle is also an interesting alternative and, thanks to its low loading height and high payload, it is ideally suited for heavy bicycles. For "normal bicycles", bicycle racks for the rear door, which can be loaded up to 35 or 40 kg, are sufficient. Here, too, there are two loading heights, depending on the vehicle model. The bike rack swings to the side when the rear door is opened, so loading and unloading the bikes is almost always tedious with rigidly mounted rear racks. Lowerable rear wall supports are therefore particularly suitable for transporting heavy e-bikes.
    
3. Make sure you have good anti-theft protection through lockable retaining arms.
    
4. If you want to protect the bike from rain, dirt or splash water, you will find suitable protective covers as accessories for some carrier systems. It is important that the material lets moisture through from the inside and that no waterlogging can develop

Source & Further information:

Text: Gerd Henghuber