Getting delivery of Discovery Sport on the 24th. I ordered it with electrically deployable tow bar and wanted to ask what will be a suitable bike carrier for 3 bikes to go with this. I like the idea of light weight hanging (like the first image below) types but from pictures I have seen online it seems you still need to have a numberplate board as numberplate get hidden behind the bikes, is that the case? If this is the case then I would like a more rigid one like in the 2nd image. Any recommendations? Are all models compatible with all tow bar types or do I need to stick to certain models to ensure they will work on this car?
Personally I think the towball-mounted hang-on racks (like your first image) are just a little less secure than the wheel-support types (as in your second image).
Yes you'll need a rack with a number plate if the bikes obscure it. Most bike racks will hold the bikes high enough or far away enough to avoid the exhaust gases.
I use a Buzzwing 4 from Roofbox, but that's a 4 bike rack, they do the Buzzwing 3 (3 bikes) for £225, but you can get a 5% discount via Camping and Caravanning Club website (no membership required). Rack tilts for access to the boot and has 'rigid' straps to secure the bike rather than nylons ones that get frayed and are horrible to use.
Roofbox have a good selection of racks, pick one to suit your budget and needs. You'll probably need a 7 pin (rack) to 13 pin (DS) adaptor. Number plates are £16 from Halfords, you need your reg doc to purchase one.
Personally I think the towball-mounted hang-on racks (like your first image) are just a little less secure than the wheel-support types (as in your second image).
Hi, I've been researching this as I need a two bike carrier to fit on the tow ball. I've decided on a Witter which has the 13 pin electrics and tilt mechanism when you need to open the hatch. Weight it can carry is 35kg in total (my bikes are 17kg and 15kg). Witter do them directly (£200) with free delivery and are cheaper than Amazon (£60 more on Amazon). They also have carriers for 3 and 4 bikes I believe. The only extra is a lockable wheel to lock one of the bikes to the frame and costs about an additional £15). It has a number plate holder and light board as standard. The carrier locks onto the ball but can be removed and stowed in the car when you are out and about on the bikes. Check out their site online.
Be careful with weight when selecting a bike carrier; the allowable tow bar nose-weight is not the same as the allowable weight of tow ball mounted accessories - see my post (with extract of the manual) on this page:
What bike carriers are members using on their Sport?
I was able to fit two road bikes inside my old D4 using a floor mounted rack that took the front forks of the bikes. I doubt very much that there is enough height in the Sport to use a similar mount, especially as the seats do not fold flat as they did in the D4.
I have had roof rails fitted so will probably have to go down the route of fitting roof bars and bike carriers. A tow bar mounted rack is not really an option as we also tow a caravan!
Hi Reg,
No answer I'm afraid, but I am looking to to do the same, i.e. find a neat way to transport 2 mountain bikes inside my DS (when I get it next week!). I'm not keen on roof racks and my car won't have a towbar fitted. I reckon that with the front wheels removed, they would sit upright in the back. Here's hoping...
Tim
Reg, I can't help you directly since mine always goes in the boot but did you already try the search function since it's a topic that's been discussed before.
I can't speak for my DS, however my FL2 doesn't have a tow bar, and I found a 2 bike carrier solution some years ago with a Saris Bones carrier.
They don't actually list the DS on their website, so I will ping them a quick email and see if it is merely a case of changing the straps for longer ones, given that the DS tailgate is significantly wider than the FL2 around the glass area.
Will let you know what comes of it, if anything....
Hi Reg,
No answer I'm afraid, but I am looking to to do the same, i.e. find a neat way to transport 2 mountain bikes inside my DS (when I get it next week!). I'm not keen on roof racks and my car won't have a towbar fitted. I reckon that with the front wheels removed, they would sit upright in the back. Here's hoping...
Tim
I've thought about how my road bikes might fit in the back of the DS and suspect it will involve removing the seat and seat post in addition to the front wheel to keep the height as low as possible. I really must get around to trying it out before ordering another Minoura rack!
I carry a pair of adults mountain bikes in the back of my DS when I go on holiday (I pull a caravan and it seems the most secure place to keep them). I use a pair of bike bags to keep the inside of the car clean and take the wheels off. The bikes go in upside down so they rest on the saddle and handlebars. The bikes slide up the center of the boot with luggage stuffed either side and a pair of ratchet straps fixed to the load points to stop it all moving.
Mike
Hello
I have a detachable tow bar fitted to my DS and was hoping to purchase a tow bar mounted cycle carrier for four bikes, such as the Buzzwing Buzz rack.
Having checked the manual - it states that any attached accessory must not protrude more than 700mm from the tow ball. The Buzzwing x 4 would protrude 930mm. I cannot found any other cycle carrier for four bikes that would fit within the 700mm range.
What are other DS owners with cycle carriers doing?
Buy a Buzzwing 4 and put the lightest bike on the outside. I don't think you'll find another rack 200mm shorter, 4 bikes on a Buzzwing are fairly tight together anyway.
Hi guys,
Discosport 16 HSE Lux - Any recommendations on a towbar and bike rack for 4 bikes?
LR dealer charge 1k for the towbar and 700 for 3 bike rack.
Looked at 'Thule HangOn 9708 4-Bike Rear Mount Carrier', not very convinced it will withstand a long drive.
I'm looking for something long lasting...
Thanks for suggestions
KC
Several threads on here about this. I have a tow trust removable hitch and buzzrack buzzwing 4 rack. Very solid piece of kit for much less. Both in total were about £500 ish
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Discovery Sport Forum
133.4K posts
13.8K members
Since 2014
A forum community dedicated to Discovery Sport owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, service, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!