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Can tailgate rise with 1 bike on rack?

Yorkie

Yorkie

Messages
369
Location
Sheffield, England
Vehicle
T5 SE 140
At my local garage they had a Cali in for MOT and the mechanics lifted the tailgate with a bike in place to show me the storage. Is this acceptable as I want to go everywhere with my bike on my carrier but don't want to keep removing it if I don't need to?
 
Yorkie said:
At my local garage they had a Cali in for MOT and the mechanics lifted the tailgate with a bike in place to show me the storage. Is this acceptable as I want to go everywhere with my bike on my carrier but don't want to keep removing it if I don't need to?
Click to expand...
Just take a note of the height with bicycle on so you don't get caught out.
 
And watch out when the roof is open and lifting the boothdoor with bikes on the rack....reports have been made of damage!
 
When the Cali roof is up and you open the tailgate the handlebars of the bike will probably hit it. Just don't open the tailgate fully when bike on rack and roof up.
 
Yorkie said:
I don't quite understand. Do bikes stick up above the roof?
Click to expand...

Depends...witch bike
Also beware : higher than 2m = height barrier on toll roads ( more to pay! )and parking lots
 
Yorkie said:
At my local garage they had a Cali in for MOT and the mechanics lifted the tailgate with a bike in place to show me the storage. Is this acceptable as I want to go everywhere with my bike on my carrier but don't want to keep removing it if I don't need to?
Click to expand...

Maybe with one lightweight bike but not two. The door becomes very heavy to lift and might come crashing down on your bonce. We have two electric bikes which weigh 30kg. The rack VW is rated at 60kg.
 
bigmac77 said:
Not had a problem with French toll roads despite bikes sticking above roof level and well over 2m. We were always class 1
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Thats fine as long as you don't use the TAG lane with the 2m height barrier!
 
bigmac77 said:
Not had a problem with French toll roads despite bikes sticking above roof level and well over 2m. We were always class 1
Click to expand...

I always use "only pay creditcard " lane with the 2m barrier ....to be sure not to have caravans , big white's or immigrating moroccas in in the line ....usually the fast lane afthef the "toll tag lane"
Visa in and out and off we go!
 
Trailertrash said:
Maybe with one lightweight bike but not two. The door becomes very heavy to lift and might come crashing down on your bonce. We have two electric bikes which weigh 30kg. The rack VW is rated at 60kg.
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How do you lift a 30Kg bike onto the rack? With two bikes on do your front wheels touch the floor?
 
bigmac77 said:
How do you lift a 30Kg bike onto the rack? With two bikes on do your front wheels touch the floor?
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Sorry Both bikes are 30kg 15kg each. If they were 30kg each I would get my Granny to lift them... She has fabulous upper body strength.
 
Yorkie said:
I don't quite understand. Do bikes stick up above the roof?
Click to expand...
Yes, the seat and the handlebars are above the roof when the tailgate is closed, depending on the bike.

Alan
 
You may have to be more careful when tail gate opened in cold whether
Especially with more than one bike on the rack!

Alan
 
Yorkie said:
I don't quite understand. Do bikes stick up above the roof?
Click to expand...
Yes. Well, at least our bikes do, so we must always remember to drive through tolls where HGV drive through! And for sure, if one has the bike rack loaded, and lifts it to full height whilst pop top is up, one will dent the roof. Just ask my kemosabe (know it all) husband. He received the death stare and compromised food.
 
Interested to hear experience out there on this - it's always been a pain for us and a bit of a limitation with the Cali. I have a bike on there almost 100% of the time and I find - in cold weather especially where the gas struts lose some of their capability - even one lightweight mountain bike on at the closest mounting the tailgate wont stay up. Even in summer I wouldnt stand under there comfortably. Does really limit boot space practicality (removing the stops on the rear set helps for access from the cabin)
I think the gas struts on the T6 are weaker or the tailgate is heavier. I even checked the correct HD struts were indeed fitted. Winter the tailgate wont even really stay up with the rack folded down and no bike on there.
Our T6 demo was same - set of skis on the bike rack and no chance of the tailgate staying up in the cold...
Interested to know the experience out there
 
They're very light for electric bikes! Are they mini/folding ones? I'm on the lookout for a lightweight more-or-less full-size electric.
Trailertrash said:
Sorry Both bikes are 30kg 15kg each. If they were 30kg each I would get my Granny to lift them... She has fabulous upper body strength.
Click to expand...
 
Gavrobb said:
Interested to hear experience out there on this - it's always been a pain for us and a bit of a limitation with the Cali. I have a bike on there almost 100% of the time and I find - in cold weather especially where the gas struts lose some of their capability - even one lightweight mountain bike on at the closest mounting the tailgate wont stay up. Even in summer I wouldnt stand under there comfortably. Does really limit boot space practicality (removing the stops on the rear set helps for access from the cabin)
I think the gas struts on the T6 are weaker or the tailgate is heavier. I even checked the correct HD struts were indeed fitted. Winter the tailgate wont even really stay up with the rack folded down and no bike on there.
Our T6 demo was same - set of skis on the bike rack and no chance of the tailgate staying up in the cold...
Interested to know the experience out there
Click to expand...

In warm weather, I struggle to lift my T5 Beach tailgate sometimes. It gets so heavy. So it worries me what a bike rack (Atera Linea most likely) and two light bikes will do.
 
bilberry said:
They're very light for electric bikes! Are they mini/folding ones? I'm on the lookout for a lightweight more-or-less full-size electric.
Click to expand...

They are Macina Cross. We got them from The Electric Transport Shop Bristol. They will do about 80 miles on a single charge and they are the dogs tweeker. They do cost about £1800 but they have been worth every groat. I have just checked and with the batteries on they are about 19kg each. DO NOT buy folding ones. My brother did and he regrets it.
 
They look lovely, but advertised weight is 21kg. I'm looking for something under 16kg (the impossible!).
 
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