Cylce Carrier And Bull Bar

[bananarav4]

hi so i am trying to get better at logging on here and making new friends lol

I have a couple of questions. One is which cycle carrier to get I have a 2002 three door rav 4. The guys at Halfords were less then helpful. The rear wheel mounted one they have advises not to attach to a side opening rear door as the hinges are weak. But then I got to thinking how many rear mounted wheeled cars actually open upwards as it would be heavy! Anyways any help is welcomed.

The other question is I recently brought a bull bar for it its not an A bar and was worried about the laws on them and also now I'm worried if I hit a child or something. so I have not fitted it yet and cant decide whether to or not.

And lastly - Alloy wheels! I have steals on at the moment and would like to upgrade but dont know where to start. I know nothing about wheels! So any help would be great.

Anyways enough waffle. Hope everyone is well

Thanks

banana

[Notebook]

I would like a rear cycle rack also - anyone know?

Nick

[James..]

First of all, forget buying bike racks from Halfords. As you say, every time I visit they seem to be clueless or not to carry the carrier you need. Check out a specialist bike shop for best advice... if you look at wiggle that will give you some idea what is out there: www.wiggle.co.uk

Basically if you want something really good it costs a lot. You're best with a towball mounted one if you want to avoid stressing the door: and that's not cheap. Mind you, if your bike isn't too heavy you could probably get away with something like a Hollywood high rise bike rack . These look a bit odd but they are adjustable and they put all the weight of the bikes on the car's rear bumper so the weight issue with regards to the door is actually irrelevant. This particular model looks like it would fit around the spare wheel on the rav.

I've dealt with wiggle before. they are a true internet company, in other words don't expect any decent service but you can send stuff back and they will swap it for you no problem, so if you can't find a local bike shop, they are probably the next best thing.

As for the bull bar: what do you need it for? Unless you're planning on driving in Sweden or Australia you're not likely to want to kill large furry mammals? :D Do you do a lot of off roading with a winch???? :D :D Trade it in for some alloys like these down at Halfrauds!

good luck!

J

[bothwell_buyer]

Cycle rack....aside of the door fitting one, I've seen ones which seem to fit to a tow bar??

On the hinges thing - well they carry a spare wheel (well for most at least) and the weight of a bike isn't going to suddenly wreck the thing - the weight is shared when the door is closed properly anyway - no? Lock + hinges.

Never realised that Halfords were anything other than dis-interested! I only go there when I feel an urge to be treated like rubbish.

Bull bar - eehhhh - how many bulls in your neck of the woods?? Theres a few posts on these over the past month if you have a search with all the EEC regulations that surround it; and those affecting you eating chips whilst driving... if you bought it, then fit it and say it has been there all the time. Hitting anyone with it is a risky business - but then if you don't drive on the pavements why should pedestrians go on the road?? Why don't we have lorries with plastic soft fascias in case they hit someone....and what about the millions of JCBs gunning up and down small streets with the front shovel angles such that a decapitation is guaranteed? Stop worrying!! I've got 6 large Cibies on my full bull bar and if some cretin breaks them, they deserve all they get!

alloys - theres lots of options around. Ask at any alloy wheel shop and they'll show you the ranges of suitable wheels - most of them even carry good used sets. I found the alloys to be stronger than the stock steels....however as always chaeck yer insurance as they might not cover you in times of a claim - any excuse|!

I'm guessing that yer RAV isn't too far away from mine...so you have a choice of wheel size; then a choice of tyre. The alloy dealer will keep you right regarding maintaining the circumference - ie the mph accuracy....I think they have a book that tells them. For example i moved from 215/70x16 to 245/45x18 (I'm going from memory as the RAV is in the garage waiting for National Windscreens to decide when they will bring out the correct windscreen to replace the cracked one...its only been 10 days now!!)