Any recommendation for a low bike rack, for an Autosleeper Broadway ?

[Jimhut]

Can anyone recommend a low bike rack to replace the current rack on my Autosleeper Broadway ? Now we have electric bikes we are finding it very difficult to get the bikes on and off. We have a removable bike rack for the car which fits on the towbar knob, but apparently it's not possible to fit a towbar to the Broadway. So two questions really - low rack, or towbar supplier & fitter ?

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

Autosleepers seem to have a few models that supposedly cannot have a towbar as they replate without a train weight.
Get a towbar company to see what can be fitted and don’t worry about it as if used as a bike rack you have no issues regarding using a towbar not approved by Autosleepers as you aren’t towing

 

[Jimhut]

Autosleepers seem to have a few models that supposedly cannot have a towbar as they replate without a train weight.
Get a towbar company to see what can be fitted and don’t worry about it as if used as a bike rack you have no issues regarding using a towbar not approved by Autosleepers as you aren’t towing

I searched high and low for a company to fit a towbar. The problem didn't seem to be anything to do with weights. Peugeot Boxer (our base vehicle) no problem, Autosleeper Broadway - no way, too much junk fitted underneath. Can anyone on here recommend a towbar fitting company which can definitely fit one to a Broadway ? I would be very grateful !

 

[Brianmor]

I had the same problem. The rear of my Broadway has a recessed panel and a window which precluded me from fitting any of the multi position racks.
I ordered another bike rack and fitted It with a bit of jiggery-pokery.
It means that the bottom brackets of the new one stick out 2" more than the top brackets but I'll only have to lift the bikes up about 2'-6".
I'm out for the evening but I'll put before and after pictures up some time tomorrow.

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

I searched high and low for a company to fit a towbar. The problem didn't seem to be anything to do with weights. Peugeot Boxer (our base vehicle) no problem, Autosleeper Broadway - no way, too much junk fitted underneath. Can anyone on here recommend a towbar fitting company which can definitely fit one to a Broadway ? I would be very grateful !

Speak to Towtal at Stoke, LNB towbars or Armitage trailers. Google motorhome towbars for others to try. As said, a towbar has very different requirements compared to a bike rack so you need to make clear what you’re trying to achieve.

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[Guigsy]

If you get a low rack, it'll probably block your lights and number plate.

 

[John-Laika]

https://www.lnbtowbars.co.uk/?UTM_source=gmb&UTM_medium=organic maybe a goid place to phone they fit all types give them a ring.
We had the same problem when we where looking to change our MH but in the end we bought one with a large holdtofit them in so now we have a hardly used Thurle 3 bike rack to fit a two bar we was told we needed a three bike one even though we only have two bikes because of the weight so I would worry about putting on a rack fitted to the back

 

[Jimhut]

If you get a low rack, it'll probably block your lights and number plate.

No bother, our towbar rack has number plate & lights included. Good point if we go for a van-mounted rack though.

 

[andyjc]

Not a recommendation, just a link re towbars
https://www.towbars-uk.co.uk/shop/t...-mercedes-platforms-2012-fixed-flange-towbar/

 

[kingmid]

Motorhome Towbars Lancashire Blackpool Preston Manchester

Motorhome towbars and services, professionaly fitted motorhome towbars and bike racks

motorhometowbarslancashire.co.uk

We had a towbar fitted to our Broadway by Mike Parkinson at the above. It was a 2015 model and yours sounds like it might be a more recent model. The above is not near to you but certainly worth a call because he just specialises in motorhomes. I’d also recommend joining the Autosleepers Owners Forum as there will be plenty of advice on there about towbars for Broadways.

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[Brianmor]

Photos as promised.
If you are going for a towbar fitting keep in mind that takes a lot of the payload up. What I've installed isn't ideal but is a lot less dangerous than the previous height I had to lift the bikes.

 

[MisterB]

icantremember had an electric one that lowered and raised via 12v. unfortunately our ebikes were a little too heavy fot the rack otherwise i would have bought it myself!

i am now going to have a bike carrier made for me as others have suggested might be an option

 

[Captain Birdseye]

Can anyone recommend a low bike rack to replace the current rack on my Autosleeper Broadway ? Now we have electric bikes we are finding it very difficult to get the bikes on and off. We have a removable bike rack for the car which fits on the towbar knob, but apparently it's not possible to fit a towbar to the Broadway. So two questions really - low rack, or towbar supplier & fitter ?

Thule make a bike rack that monts quite high up, but you wind the bike carrier down to a very low level. Secure the bikes to the carrier then wind it back and lock in position.
They also do one with an electric motor to do the winding up and down for a little more money.

 

[Alan1951]

Have a look at this one

Here is the blurb from the website
Van-Star, swing away bicycle carriers for two (electrical) bicycles suitable for Fiat Ducato, Citroën Rely and Peugeot Boxer X250 from 2006 onwards.

The Van-Star can carry up to two E-bikes (60 kg) and is fitted directly onto the chassis at knee height to avoid having to lift the heavy E-bikes high onto the carrier. This solves most problems for E-bike users and if lifting the E-bikes is not possible at all, a bike ramp is available as an option. The bicycle carrier can be swung away completely to the right hand side of the vehicle, even when laden, allowing you to open both rear doors simultaneously. A supporting jockey wheel is not required. In order to fit the Van-Star a towbar is not required, though the combined fitting of these two is possible and allowed.

The carrier itself can be removed from the vehicle at any time, leaving only the under-vehicle mounting points. The carrier can be folded up easily when it is not being used. Either removing nor folding up require the use of tools. This saves space not only on your camp site, but also on the ferry or if the carrier is not being used. Folding the bicycle carrier saves you up to 40 cm of unused space.

Removable without tools

I haven't got one and have nothing to do with the firm, just happened to spot it yesterday

 

[Brianmor]

Thule make a bike rack that monts quite high up, but you wind the bike carrier down to a very low level. Secure the bikes to the carrier then wind it back and lock in position.
They also do one with an electric motor to do the winding up and down for a little more money.

Unfortunately the standard fixtures on early Broadways are too close together to allow most bike racks to fit other than the original position, from memory its 600 mm

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[minesapint]

Can anyone recommend a low bike rack to replace the current rack on my Autosleeper Broadway ? Now we have electric bikes we are finding it very difficult to get the bikes on and off. We have a removable bike rack for the car which fits on the towbar knob, but apparently it's not possible to fit a towbar to the Broadway. So two questions really - low rack, or towbar supplier & fitter ?

Hi try this company, we had a heck of a job, getting a towbar for our Burstner Nexo Sovereign, most towbar fitters said it could not be done but these people had one and fitted it .

Watling Engineers - Towbars - 01727 873661 - St Albans​

 

[Loftyjeff]

Can anyone recommend a low bike rack to replace the current rack on my Autosleeper Broadway ? Now we have electric bikes we are finding it very difficult to get the bikes on and off. We have a removable bike rack for the car which fits on the towbar knob, but apparently it's not possible to fit a towbar to the Broadway. So two questions really - low rack, or towbar supplier & fitter ?

Hi UK towbars marsh Cambridge we had a Banntam bike rack fitted on a Citroen relay van not cheap but brilliant with 2 electric bikes on highly recommend them. Good MH site there as well

 

[Fidge]

Can anyone recommend a low bike rack to replace the current rack on my Autosleeper Broadway ? Now we have electric bikes we are finding it very difficult to get the bikes on and off. We have a removable bike rack for the car which fits on the towbar knob, but apparently it's not possible to fit a towbar to the Broadway. So two questions really - low rack, or towbar supplier & fitter ?

We had the same problem with our Autotrail Dakota (2010) and eventually we used Brittania Towbars in Swansea who made us one to fit. We then used a Westfalia folding bike rack which carried two electric bikes very succesfuly. If you are interested the bike rack wil be going up for sale shortly ( the bikes too) as its no longer in use. After all the fuss we only used it about half a dozen times then my partner was diagnosed with lymphoma and had to have extensive chemo, cycling now is no longer an option unfortunately.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Hi try this company, we had a heck of a job, getting a towbar for our Burstner Nexo Sovereign, most towbar fitters said it could not be done but these people had one and fitted it .

Watling Engineers - Towbars - 01727 873661 - St Albans​

Now permanently closed,
Mike.

 

[Jimhut]

End of this thread. Thanks to advice on this forum, we went to LNB Towbars in Bristol (Aztec West) and they fitted a purpose-made towbar, so we could fit our existing bike rack on to it. Great firm, highly recommend.