Rear Cycle carrier?

[legoless]

Has anyone tried to fit a cycle carrier to the rear of a D9 Rapier Estate? I have had a mooch on google but not really found a definite answer as most of the carriers mention that they are not compatible if a spoiler is present. I cant make my mind up if whats fitted on the D9 is what would be called a spoiler
I only have one bike needing carrying but its going with me to Scotland on holiday and the estate will be fully loaded. My preference would be from a well known maker like Thule but any reccomendation would do

Thanks in advance
Al

[FarmerPug]

Cycle carriers might be one of the few things halfords is actually good at, im sure they have one for an estate, i have seen the odd estate with bikes on the back

[DaiRees]

I've never put the bike rack on the estate 'cos I don't fancy hooking it on to the plastic bit at the top. Have seen quite a few used like this though.

Never really trusted bike racks since a BMW dropped 2 bikes in front of me at motorway speeds many moons ago . I still use one (on the wife's car ) but only for short, local journeys. I'd prefer the cycle carriers that go on the roof for a long journey but they aren't cheap!

[Welly]

I bought the Halfords one in the spring (was reduced to £50.00 from £99.00?) it can carry 3 bikes and fits hatchbacks, saloons and estates I think.

It's still in it's box.

[legoless]

Sounds like the amount of use a carrier would get from me too Welly
Thats what I was worrying about Dai plus the fact I`ll be doing close on 630 miles with the bike on a carrier and through the night too so I wont know if its getting loose or even if it has dropped off ! I think I will either hire one up there or see if I can strip it right down and fit it inside.
Cheers for the replies guys
Al

[plod]

Have you got a towbar? as there are carriers for fitting into those instead and are a lot safer

[legoless]

i have one from my old 2.1TD but not fitted it. I hadnt considered that. That could be the answer...
Cheers Plod

[Archangel]

witter do one that fits behind your towball and doesnt actually touch the bodywork or back window like most others .
I drove to Czech republic with 2 bikes on mine with no probs

[legoless]

Cheers m8 Will look into the witter as thats the towbar maker I have laying about

[sixspeed]

Sorry to drag up an old thread....did anyone find out whether a clip on bike rack can safely be mounted on an estate? Could the spoiler be easily removable?

[Archangel]

if you have a towbar fitted , the Witter one is the best one to get . As it slots into the holder thats fitted behind your towball so you can tow and carry bikes ,but remove carrier when not needed.

[Welly]

I've got this one from Halfords which I fit to her indoors Astra and it's bloody scary

The weight of 3 bikes bears-down onto the glass (which you can see deflecting ) and the rear bumper lip (which squashes down in such a way as to make me hide the 'damage' from her indoors until the next day when the bumper 'reformed' its original shape ).

It does its job ok and the bikes stay put but I would'nt be happy going further than 30 miles (or over 55mph).


You have to trap a 'dumbell' on a strap in the tail gate hinge and then once it's all strapped down tight you CANNOT use the boot

[pfusi1]

An old post I know but just wanted to ask if anyone else has noticed how many 406 estates have 2 dents/dimples on the curved section of metal below the rear window (about where the badge is).

Mine's got them and I'm not sure why, I've seen lots of other 406's with the same two dents and I reckon they're from boot mounted cycle carriers.

Anyhow, I've got a bosal towbar with a witter bike rack fitted - it's very sturdy, secure and safe and would recommend the witter rack to anybody. I've also got two roof mounted cycle racks but they seem a bit wobbly unless I use lots of extra straps and bungies to shore everything up (pain in the arse to store in the garage too). I don't know why people don't just get rid of the roof mounted racks and strap their bike upside down directly onto the roof bars - seems much securer and a lot sturdier with it being a lot less top-heavy!

Don't forget that you haven't got a hope in hell of getting into car parks with the bikes on the roof - you can at least use the boot though.

Anyhow, that's my pence worth.

[DaiRees]

An old post I know but just wanted to ask if anyone else has noticed how many 406 estates have 2 dents/dimples on the curved section of metal below the rear window (about where the badge is).

Mine's got them and I'm not sure why, I've seen lots of other 406's with the same two dents and I reckon they're from boot mounted cycle carriers.

Ah, I know how they get there, can still remember the rage that filled me one sad day about 3 years ago when I did mine . When you over fill the boot then close it and it hits your luggage and fails to latch, so you just push a bit on the plastic handle, the ends of the handle press into the tailgate which buckles in then pops back out leaving a little crease

[steve_earwig]

Mine has a dent between the handle and the light, I think it's due to fat wankers leaning against my car while they're having a chat