Ross McArthur Posted October 10, 2013 Report Share Posted October 10, 2013 Ive been wanting to get a roof rack for my car for a while now but dont know what I want to go for. I drive a 57 plate Passat and getting bikes in and out of the boot is a pain in the ars. I would be buying the type which I dont need to take my front wheel off for which stands the bike up right. Ive had a look at the Thule type and they seem pretty decent but dont know if there is a cheaper option out there? I have roof racks (the square type) already so dont need those. The high end Thule racks look like they need a special bar to mount to, am I right? Or can they be mounted to normal square bars? Hope someone can help. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted October 10, 2013 Report Share Posted October 10, 2013 Have you considered a tow bar mounted rack? I picked up a witter 3 bike one from a local paper ad (for a bargain 20 quid!) and it is far more sturdy than any thule roof rack I've seen with regards to the amount that the bikes move around. The rack dismounts in a couple of seconds, can be made secure with a decent cable lock and bikes can be held on with a small ratchet tie down. Of course this is all bobbins if you don't have a tow hitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew62 Posted October 10, 2013 Report Share Posted October 10, 2013 (edited) Thule Just do it, they're good, they work, they're easy, they're (fairly) safe. I've used a few and they mount really easily and getting bikes on is very easy. My friend has a fairly small 1 series Coupé and it can hold 3 good sized MTB's nae bother pal. Edited October 10, 2013 by Matthew62 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurtisRider Posted October 10, 2013 Report Share Posted October 10, 2013 Be careful with the ones which don't need the front wheel removing, some don't reach the downtube of full sussers. I had to modify mine to make it fork mount in the end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete.M Posted October 10, 2013 Report Share Posted October 10, 2013 Pretty sure you'd need to buy Thule bars (to span between the standard rack) separately from the Thule bike rack, which is gonna be costly. You need an estate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted October 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 Someone got in touch who knows somebody who gets Thule ones on the cheap. So think ill be talking to him. The way my cars go is, I buy my dad's old company car once his lease is over. His current car in an estate The only reason he went for an estate is because I was moaning about the Passat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted October 11, 2013 Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 Thule rack is definitely the way to go, mate has one for his Integra. Just make sure you don't go into a car park with a height barrier though... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Booth Posted October 11, 2013 Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 I've got a Thule setup on mine, love it. I feel pretty safe leaving the bikes up there. There completly solid on there too. Try and find ford Leicester on eBay too, they seem to have a habit of sending 2 out when you've only paid for one . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyseemonkeydo Posted October 11, 2013 Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 I got a pair of Halfords advanced roof racks new on eBay for £50. They're identical to the Thule ones minus the branding. Also swapped the lock barrels so that the same key locks them to the roof rails (never used) and the same key unlocks each of the downtube clamps. Definitely worth doing if you go for a pair! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted October 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2013 Thanks guys. I answered one of my questions by spotting a car with a Thule rack on this morning walking into work. It was attached to sqaure roof bars. Funny thing is, as I was getting my trail bike out of my Dads shed on Friday, there was a set of Thule slider rails! FFS Dad! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Booth Posted October 15, 2013 Report Share Posted October 15, 2013 Plus the 591s look bitchin' 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted October 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2013 Hmm, I might have to take my Echo up to Halfords and test the Thule rack before I buy online. I want to know if the back tyre with a wide trials rim and a Der Kaiser fits ok. Think it will? Thanks for your help guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew62 Posted October 15, 2013 Report Share Posted October 15, 2013 Hmm, I might have to take my Echo up to Halfords and test the Thule rack before I buy online. I want to know if the back tyre with a wide trials rim and a Der Kaiser fits ok. Think it will? Thanks for your help guys. Yeah. You see guys with DH bikes. I put a pretty wide-knobbed (wheeeeey) 2.35 tyre in and there was room for more. It is tight, but you'd want it to be. The rack curves up and outwards, with a trials PSI it'd squeeze is nae bother pal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted October 15, 2013 Report Share Posted October 15, 2013 My mate got his Zoo mod on so it is definitely do-able 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted October 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2013 (edited) So what do I go for? The cheaper double bar 532, or the single easy tighten more expensive 591? Whats the pros and cons with them? Looking at both, I think id have to put some foam pipe insulator round my down tube on my Marino so its able to grab it? Edited October 16, 2013 by Ross McArthur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew62 Posted October 16, 2013 Report Share Posted October 16, 2013 Nah, you don't need to really but it's not a bad idea for extra protection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted October 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2013 Yea, just looking at the pictures on-line and knowing how thin the tubes are on my frame, I dont know if the clamp would clamp small enough? Anyway, the rack was going to be used more for my Orange on muddy trail day outings so im not having to put a manky bike in the back of the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew62 Posted October 16, 2013 Report Share Posted October 16, 2013 Good point with the steel frame. I'd just get a bit of piping for both. The clamp has to extent a fair bit to get an Orange downtube in but it will work just below the bearings. My Mega is still a bit of an ask for it but it gets the job done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted October 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2013 Its a Blood I ride now, so no problems with silly Patriot/Five down tubes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew62 Posted October 16, 2013 Report Share Posted October 16, 2013 Of course... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shamus Posted October 17, 2013 Report Share Posted October 17, 2013 I've tried thule and halfords racks and both grip my cotic bfe which is pretty skinny tubed, and running maxxis 2.35's plenty of stability. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted October 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 (edited) Thanks for the feedback! I think Ill go for the 591 Thule racks x2 from eBay. Cheapest Ive found is £112 for two...So pretty good, I think! Edit: Racks now purchased. Will post a picture with bikes attached in all their glory soon! Edited October 18, 2013 by Ross McArthur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Plus the 591s look bitchin' Off topic, but were you in Bristol this week? Saw a car almost identical to yours up by Clifton bridge... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted October 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2013 Ta daaa... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted July 6, 2014 Report Share Posted July 6, 2014 Bit of a major bump but I've just ordered some roof bars and racks for our C-Max, gone for a pair of Thule 532's with Cruz aluminium aero roof bars for £180 all in. Ordered it all from www.roofbox.co.uk, they do deals on bar and rack or bar and box packages so hopefully I'll have saved a bit as that price includes matching locks for the racks and all the fitting gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.