How to Choose The Best Caravan Bike Carrier
How much of our beautiful continent have you actually explored? Australia is known as one of the places in the world that offer breathtaking views, amazing nature, and unbelievable outdoor experiences all throughout. So, if you’re thinking about an adventure, it might be time to pack up and head somewhere for a while.
Whether you’re a hiker or a biker, Australia actually offers some of the most beautiful hiking and biking trails in the world, with people from all over the globe coming to see and enjoy them. And if that’s not reason enough to plan your next weekend getaway to the great outdoors, I don’t know what is.
When planning such a trip, though, there are many things you need to think of. If you prefer hiking, stuff like sustenance and hiking equipment, for example, are some of the most basic things you’ll need to pack and take along with you.
If you’re a biker, however, things get a bit trickier. Aside from basic necessities, you’ll also need to take your bike with you, and that can be a bit of a challenge. Bikes are large and they do take up a lot of space so you can’t exactly pack them up and bring them along for the ride, can you? So then, what do you do?
Well, you get a caravan bike carrier. Quite an invention, caravan bike carriers allow you to take your bike safely with you wherever you decide to travel without taking much-needed space away from you. Here is what you’ll need to look for in order to get the perfect caravan bike carrier for you!
Contents
Material
Caravan bike racks come in a variety of models, but they also come in a variety of materials. If you ask me, the material is probably the most important category you’ll need to pay attention to as it’s just the material that dictates the longevity of your bike rack as well as the quality of its performance.
One thing to always keep in mind when you’re shopping for caravan bike carriers and are looking at materials is that lighter is always better. Caravan bike carriers are usually mounted on top of your vehicle and since you already have the weight of the bikes in the equation you don’t need any more unnecessary heft weighing you down.
The roads to the best biking tracks are usually windy, so you’ll need to travel as light as you can in order to get to your destination safely and fastly.
Since lightness is one of the most important things, one material is imposing itself as superior to all the others and that’s aluminium. You might be puzzled by my insisting on a light carrier rack, but trust me, a big weight does not dictate stability here.
Aluminium is quite a sturdy material that can withstand a lot. It’s rust-resistant, extremely durable, offers excellent performance, and does all this while being extremely light and easy to carry. It’s your best bet when choosing the perfect caravan bicycle carrier. Other similar materials may also be a good idea, but when faced with a choice – always go for aluminium.
Size
Another very important determining factor is size. For this one, you’ll need to know exactly how big of a bike rack you’re going to need and how heavy your bike actually is.
Bear in mind that these racks aren’t for bicycles only, you can mount motorbikes on them too and even other things like lawnmowers, so really take into consideration what you’re going to be transporting and use that knowledge to determine which size is best for you.
Caravan bike racks come in a variety of sizes and different support options, so you can either explore on your own or ask a clerk to help you out. If you’re shopping online make sure to check out the specifications of the bike rack you’re looking at, where it should be mounted, how much weight it supports, and so on.
There are carriers that can fit two bikes at once, for example, so if you’re travelling with a partner or a friend, this option is your best bet. There are also carriers that can support more bikes, but this requires space, so take into consideration the model of your caravan and where the rack is to be mounted to make sure you actually can fit the number of bikes on your vehicle.
Otherwise, you’ll either need to size down or figure out another way to bring the other bikes along with you. Remember that the size of your caravan is closely related to the size of bike rack you can get, so plan ahead to make sure nobody is left behind.
Mounting
This one is more about installation than it is about purchasing a bike rack, but it’s still something important that needs to be discussed.
Many bike racks are simple enough that you can install them on your own. They’re made in such a way that allows easy mounting and dismounting, as manufacturers recognize how dynamic this product has to be.
However, if you’re new to the world of caravan bike racks I’d recommend you consult a professional and have the first mount done in a shop. This will allow you to see the installation process step by step, which will make it much easier for you to learn how to do it yourself.
Think of the bike rack as a moving storage space for bikes. You wouldn’t put your bike just anywhere while at home, so why would you put it somewhere unsafe while on the road? Just imagine the consequences! To avoid any hiccups have the installation done by a professional and preferably don’t remove the racks when you’re not using them.
This will ensure the racks stay in the place they need to be and are ready to be used over and over again. They really aren’t sore to look at and won’t affect the functionality of your vehicle at all, so having them around will only make it easier for you to attach your bikes the next time adventure time comes to town.
