Service

Where do I store the bike carrier when I'm not using it?

Many bike carriers are quite large, making them a significant obstruction when not in use. Solutions such as wall mounts or wall brackets are available for this, but the best solution is actually a foldable bike carrier. Several bike carrier manufacturers now offer partially or fully foldable carriers, compact to store, yet fully featured on the towbar.

When mounted, the Sesamo can be folded up to take up less space.

Do I need to remove all accessories from my bike for transport?

The driver of the vehicle is always responsible for safe transport in and around the car. All easily removable accessories must be removed from the bikes prior to transport. This includes batteries, displays, child seats, baskets, locks (if not permanently mounted), bike pumps, panniers, etc. These accessories can come loose during transit due to increased air resistance and vibrations, posing a hazard to other road users.

Are the bikes held securely in place?

The bikes generally rest securely in stable wheel gutters. The wheels are then secured to the wheel gutters using frame supports. If you want to be completely certain the bikes cannot move, opt for a bike carrier that allows you to secure the wheels with ratchet straps. These lock the wheels firmly in place. The bike frame is generally attached to a support bar equipped with frame clamps or frame straps.

There are two different types available:

Frame holders: the most common method of securing the bike frame is with a frame clamp. The bike frame is clamped into a holder, which is tightened and locked using a turn knob. This solution is often not suitable for carbon bike frames.
Strap frame holder: almost all bike carriers feature a strap frame holder. With this system, the bike frame is secured using a plastic strap (sometimes fitted with a metal insert) with a ratchet mechanism wrapped around the frame.

Is the bike carrier easy to attach to the towbar?

In general, a bike carrier is fairly easy to attach to the towbar, especially if it features a quick-release coupling. This not only makes mounting onto the towbar straightforward, but it also requires less physical effort. Additionally, most towbar bike carriers are lockable.

Where can I find the manual for my bike carrier?

Click here for SD260 bike carrier
Click here for BC260 bike carrier
Click here for BS260 bike carrier
Click here for Sesamo bike carrier

Does every towbar bike carrier fit on every towbar?

Towbars used in Europe are standardised in several key areas. This means every towbar manufacturer must adhere to specific legal agreements: the towbar has a diameter of 49.61-50 mm, and the towbar neck has a diameter of 27-29 mm. These dimensions allow towbar bike carrier manufacturers to offer a universal bike carrier.

However, there are a few exceptions. A number of special “towbar bike carriers” are in circulation, which may only be used in combination with a bike carrier. They cannot be used to tow a trailer or caravan, so strictly speaking, you cannot really call them a towbar. Since hybrid car drivers still like to use a bike carrier, and this is permitted, various towbar manufacturers have devised solutions, each designed differently depending on the brand.

Apart from whether the towbar bike carrier fits on the towbar (which will be the case 98% of the time), it is crucial to respect the maximum noseweight of the towbar. This noseweight (vertical load) is stated on the towbar's identification plate, is included in the type approval, and must not legally be exceeded. The towbar's identification plate can usually be found next to the electrical socket; if not, consult your car dealer. At present, the towbar's noseweight is the only reference regarding the maximum loadable weight for the towbar when using a bike carrier.

Officially, this is not entirely correct (this is currently being worked on at a European level), but to date, it remains the only legal reference and must be respected. This maximum noseweight, as well as the towing capacity, has been determined by the car manufacturer and the towbar manufacturer based on many factors, such as how the towbar is attached to the car, the car's chassis, engine power, suspension, and handling characteristics. Furthermore, a towbar is subjected to heavier loads when used in combination with a towbar bike carrier than when towing a trailer. It is therefore very important to know whether the car on which the bike carrier and bikes will be used is actually suitable. Many popular smaller cars only have a noseweight limit of 50 kg, which puts the transport of two electric bikes in the danger zone. The weight of most electric bikes can be reduced by removing the bike battery (where possible).

PLEASE NOTE: when determining the maximum noseweight load, the weight of the bikes as well as the weight of the bike carrier itself must naturally be added together!

I’m looking for a bike carrier, what should I look out for?

There are several ways to transport a bike safely by car. The most common solutions are:
- Towbar bike carrier
- A-frame bike carrier
- Chassis bike carrier

The bike carrier that suits you best depends on your needs and type of vehicle.

Towbar bike carrier

The towbar bike carrier is the best-selling bike carrier in the Netherlands.

Is any towbar bike carrier suitable for transporting any bike? Er zijn veel There are so many types of bikes and bike carriers on the market that it can never be 100% guaranteed that every bike will fit on every carrier. It is therefore important to determine in advance which bikes you will be transporting on the carrier. In addition to ensuring the bikes fit, you must also consider the maximum load capacity of the bike carrier, the car's noseweight limit, and the bike's construction and materials (such as carbon frames).
How many bikes would you like to transport? Most towbar bike carriers ont he market are suitable for carrying two bikes. However, there are also towbar bike carriers designed for carrying one, three or even four bikes. It goes without saying that a carrier for four bikes is not intended for electric bikes, but only for lightweight bikes (or a mix with one or two children’s bikes). Some bike carrier manufacturers also offer carriers that can be expanded later to carry three or even four bikes.
What kind of bikes would you like to transport? Practically all bike carriers are suitable for carrying standard city and touring bikes. Additionally, an increasing number of carriers are specially designed for carrying electric bikes. If you mainly want to transport two electric bikes, choose a carrier specifically designed for this purpose. These carriers often feature a reinforced construction, wider spacing between the wheel gutters, and a higher maximum load capacity (usually around 60 kg). They can also frequently be expanded with handy accessories, such as a ride-on ramp to easily get your bike on the carrier.

If you mainly want to carry mountain bikes, you will need a carrier with wider wheel gutters. If you have a bike with a carbon frame, it is important to choose a carrier that does not put pressure on or deform the carbon frame. Finally, there is a remaining category of bikes that cannot be transported on virtually any universal towbar bike carrier: recumbent bikes, tandems, fat bikes and tricycles generally do not fit on a standard towbar bike carrier, so you will need to consult a specialist for these.

NOTE: There are still many bike carriers in use carrying electric bikes, even though these carriers were not specifically designed for them. Especially in the past, before electric bikes existed, large numbers of carriers were produced that are still on the road today loaded with electric bikes (often complete with batteries and panniers). While they might manage in terms of weight capacity, these carriers were made at a time when electric bikes were not around, and the weight distribution of regular bikes and electric bikes is quite different. These carriers have not been tested for this, which is very dangerous! The weight distribution of an electric bike differs significantly from a standard bike, particularly with front-wheel or rear-wheel hub motors (mid-drive motors cause the fewest issues).

Is my bike carrier suitable for electric bikes?

All our bike carriers are suitable for electric bikes. Most carriers have a load capacity of up to 60 kg (and some carriers more), allowing electric bikes of up to 30 kg each (when carrying two bikes) to be transported.

Can I exercise my right of withdrawal, and how do I do that?

Yes, you have the right to withdraw from the contract within a period of 14 days; please refer to our Terms and Conditions for details. To exercise this right, you can fill out the withdrawal form on our website.

Reachable by phone

You can reach us from Monday to Friday, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm at: +31 (0)345 470998.

We are closed on:

Easter Monday
Ascension Day
The day after Ascension Day
Whit Monday

Contact details

Do you prefer sending an email?

Please send it to service@tradekar.com or fill in the form at our contact page.
Unfortunately it is not possible for our customers to visit our office. For (non related) technical questions, more information and sales, please contact a dealer nearby.

Service & Support

Tradekar

Need help?