Nissan Load Carrier and Twin Cycle Racks
Type Roof mounted
Manufacturer/distributor Nissan Motors
Tel 01923 899334 Bike capacity Two
Components Load carrier (£105.75) plus cycle carrier system (£49.11) Total price £154.86
This Primera (above) is fitted with Nissan’s roof-rail system and cycle racks. The Primera-specific system has four feet clamped to the edge of the roof/door; two polished aluminium crossrails with T-grooves slide through. It is secure and easy to install.
The cycle carriers slide into the T-grooves, and hand-tightened wheel screws hold them. Caps in the ends of the T-grooves lock. Each bike wheel sits in a cradle, held by a quick-release ratchet strap. The carriers will also fit on other roof-rail systems.
Verdict The roof-rail system feels well-made. The carriers give adequate support, although there is a bit of side-sway in transit.

Pendle wheel rack
Type Rear-door-spare-wheel mounted
Manufacturer/distributor Pendle Engineering  Website www.pendle-eng.co.uk
Tel 01282 699555 Bike capacity Two
Total price £142 This bolt-on rack is designed for 4x4 vehicles with a rear-door-mounted spare wheel. The wheel rack is easily installed by taking off the spare wheel, putting the rack’s mounting plate over the studs, and replacing the wheel. The mounting plate is a permanent installation to which the box-section rack frame is attached with a single bolt. You need a hexagon spanner to remove the frame from your vehicle. Two vertical stanchions detach easily, and the load arms fold flat for storage.
Verdict A sturdy if bulky unit.

Thule Rapid bars and 510 carrier
Type Roof mounted
Manufacturer/distributor Thule
Website www.thule.co.uk Tel 01275 340404
Bike capacity Two or three, depending on your vehicle width
Components Roof bars (£99.99), carrier (£69.99) Total price £169.98
Four feet clamp to the edge of the roof/door frame and hold rails coated in black plastic. The cycle carrier is clamped to the rails by screws and brackets that all come apart – and could then be mislaid. Cradles hold your bike wheels, and we had to set these to the limit to fit a long-wheelbase mountain bike. An A-frame jaw fastens the bike using a lockable lever that is low down and easy to reach; rubber in the jaw protects your cycle. This bike carrier exudes quality and gives firm support.
Verdict Strong and user-friendly.

Witter ZX98 towbar carrier
Type Towbar mounted
Manufacturer/distributor Witter Tow Bars
Website www.witter-towbars.co.uk
Tel 01244 284500
Bike capacity Four  Total price £88.50
A support bracket is bolted between the towball and the towbar, so you can carry bikes while towing, though you can’t use this carrier with a swan-neck towbar. A padded bike support locks in place with a spring-pin button and you chain up your bikes with your regular lock. You can carry up to four bikes. This design meant we had to take off the bikes and support to open our rear door or get to our spare wheel.
Verdict Good value and convenient except for door access, and the padding will stop your bike getting scratched.

Thule 420 roof rack and 510 carrier
Type Roof mounted
Manufacturer/distributor Thule 
Tel 01275 340404 Website www.thule.co.uk
Bike capacity Two or three, depending on your vehicle’s width
Components Roof-rack system (£139.98), cycle carrier (£69.99) Total price £209.97
This system is designed for vehicles with high roofs and rain gutters. The roof rack has four feet that clamp onto the roof gutters using hand-tightened wheel screws; a key locks them. The carrier clamps to the rack with separate screws and brackets that could be mislaid.
Verdict Quick and simple to use, though bikes could be hard to reach on taller vehicles.

Pendle TBM3 towball rack
Type Towball mounted
Manufacturer/distributor Pendle Engineering
Tel 01282 699555 Website www.pendle-eng.co.uk
Bike capacity Three Total price £83.50
A mounting plate clamps on your car’s towball, and two bike support arms slot into the mounting and are held with a spring clip for easy removal. You need a chassis adaptor (see above) to tow with this rack to put the bikes in your tourer while you tow, and both these solutions will affect your noseweight. The rack fits both swan-neck and bolt-on towball types, which makes it easy to swap it between vehicles with different towbar attachments. The arms that support the bikes are spaced to suit a range of bikes and make it easy to load and unload them. The carrier holds your bikes clear of your bodywork, and two straps with quick-action buckles lash the bikes down. You may need a number plate and lights board.
Verdict Well-engineered and easy to use.

Pendle strap-on-tyre rack
Type Rear-door-spare-wheel mounted
Manufacturer/distributor Pendle Engineering
Tel 01282 699555
Website www.pendle-eng.co.uk
Bike capacity Two Total price £89
The Pendle strap-on-tyre rack is great value for money. Simple, foldable, lightweight and quickly fitted, it’s designed for 4x4 vehicles with a spare wheel mounted on the rear door. The metal frame sits on the tyre and is secured by two straps fitted around the wheel. It’s a secure installation, and once your strap positions are figured out, it’s easy and quick to fit and remove.
The main frame supports a horizontal cross-member that can be positioned to either side, depending on where your spare wheel is fitted. Two bike-support arms are clamped to the cross-member and can slide along the bar to accommodate bike frames of various shapes and sizes.
Verdict Well-finished with good padding for bike.

Thule Euroclassic 913 towball rack
Type Towball mounted Manufacturer/distributor Thule
Web www.thule.co.uk Tel 01275 340404
Bike capacity Two (three with adaptor) 
Total price £200
A single lever clamps the rack onto the towball in seconds, and the low platform makes it easy to load. When towing you’ll need a chassis adaptor (see top of page 73) or space in your van for your bikes. The carrier has built-in lights and number-plate housing. It comes with only a European 13-pin plug, so you may need a 13-to-7-pin adaptor (£20).
Verdict Simple to use, but bikes must go in the van on tow.

Britpart spare-wheel-mounted rack
Type Rear-door-spare-wheel mounted
Manufacturer/distributor Britpart
Tel 01588 674200
Bike capacity Four
Total price Around £85
The model shown is for an early Land Rover Discovery. Britpart (a specialist in Land Rover parts) supplies racks for Series II Discovery and Freelander. The rack is supported on a permanent mounting plate installed over the studs of the spare-wheel carrier. The carrier section slides onto a stub sticking out of the mounting plate and is secured by a padlock. Removal is quick and easy.
Verdict Strongly built with a high-quality finish. Extra padding to protect bike frames would help.

Pendle strap-on cycle rack
Type Strap on
Manufacturer/distributor Pendle Engineering
Website www.pendle-eng.co.uk
Tel 01282 699555
Bike capacity Three
Total price £73
This fits most vehicles without a rear-mounted spare wheel, so it is easily switched between cars. It has rubber feet that rest on the car body and is secured by six straps attached by plastic-coated hooks to the edges of the boot lid or tailgate. This lets you open the boot while the rack is attached. Spring-loaded pegs let you adjust the height of the support arms. Securing straps and buckles are provided, but extra cushioning would be advisable.
Verdict This rack is quick and simple to fit and remove.