Does anyone have experience of the lightweight tow ball mounted cycle carriers?

No experience of these lightweight ones unfortunately.

That said I have tried a couple of different ones so will give some feedback.

I tried one of those Halford ones that mounts on the back of the vehicle via the boot/rear windscreen and will definitely advise staying away from them. Even getting the Halfords staff to fit it didn't seem at all secure and was very intrusive WRT rear view visibility.

The one I went for in the end was a Thule RideOn 9503 for 3 bikes.

It's pricey but really is a great carrier.

Can be a pain to work out how to fit all the bikes on first time you use it and I recommend getting a couple of extra ratchet straps for piece of mind but i've been using mine for 4 years now and had no issues with it at all.

Very well made and I honestly can't see it needing replacing for at least another 10 years.

The ones that fit to the boot/hatch edges - OK in an emergency, but not for regular use.


I have a Thule which is for 3 bikes, fits on the towbar and has the channels for the bike wheels - a really heavy-duty job. The lighting bar is built-in. It's a super bit of kit and has taken 2 electric bikes and a normal bike (total weight about 50Kg) with no problems at all. Very solid, but quite hard work to lift on and set up.


I also have an old scissor-type (Paddy Hopkirk!) similar to the type illustrated and it is great for one or perhaps two bikes. It's on and off the car in seconds and folds away to nothing. It's also very solid once mounted. I have a separate lighting board for this one. It's the one I would choose every time if I didn't need the capacity of the Thule.


Both can be locked into position, so with that and a cable lock round the relevant bits of the bikes they are fairly secure from theft.


[Edit:] The Thule has a hinge in the main spar so you can drop it down to get into the boot/hatch. The lightweight one doesn't have this. However, dropping the Thule with 3 bikes on board is a major production number involving four strong men and a dog, and it's probably just as quick to take the bikes off the PH one and remove it as it is to drop the Thule.

I did splash out on one of these.

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php/car-specific-accessories/atera_strada_sport_m_3_to_4_bike_carrier_no_ar2685/Qx%40w%2C6M42VAwp3%40Rb%7B%7EcC4ure5iWX2

Great bit of kit, easy to fit, rock solid and you can still open the hatch with bikes mounted.

I have one similar to that, bought off ebay for something like £10 and its great. Keep it in the boot just in case.

Dont forget you will probably need a lighting board though.