Max-Felix
VIP Member
As anyone knows the Kylie is a great rack but it takes some jiggling around to find the best order of fitting.
We had this pretty good last year but had to turn the bars on one bike and it was still super close to touching the roof (yes, like everyone we lift with the bikes on just like VW forbid you from doing
).
It was also a struggle lifting one of the bigger bikes closest to the van.
So, changed it around this time - smallest bike on 2nd row out (1st row unused) - lighter and easier to lift furthest and good clearance to roof with tailgate fully up. Then it's just a case of trial and error for the best sequence of others bikes (driveside in or out etc), take a pic to remember and then a small piece of tape where the centre of front wheel goes makes it easy to remember.
Normally you strap the rack up when not in use (and many will do this I'm sure but I did not think of it so passing it on!) but the 1st arm is quite handy to clamp it firmly shut too .
If you have lost your 4th arm and don't want to stump up for an original or cannot find one then the Fiamma Bike Block 2 arm works brilliantly in many situations. These are fantastic quality and silly value really at just £14 from my local dealer (John Cross Campers).
See the pics but in use it is much more sturdy than the older original one we have had before - maybe due to the cranked design, thicker tubing and better wraparound clamps - all the bikes are rock solid in this set up.
It will not be usable with all tube designs but the clamp turns on one end of the Fiama arm so it might be possible to use it on a seatpost rather than frame tube.
We had this pretty good last year but had to turn the bars on one bike and it was still super close to touching the roof (yes, like everyone we lift with the bikes on just like VW forbid you from doing
).It was also a struggle lifting one of the bigger bikes closest to the van.
So, changed it around this time - smallest bike on 2nd row out (1st row unused) - lighter and easier to lift furthest and good clearance to roof with tailgate fully up. Then it's just a case of trial and error for the best sequence of others bikes (driveside in or out etc), take a pic to remember and then a small piece of tape where the centre of front wheel goes makes it easy to remember.
Normally you strap the rack up when not in use (and many will do this I'm sure but I did not think of it so passing it on!) but the 1st arm is quite handy to clamp it firmly shut too .
If you have lost your 4th arm and don't want to stump up for an original or cannot find one then the Fiamma Bike Block 2 arm works brilliantly in many situations. These are fantastic quality and silly value really at just £14 from my local dealer (John Cross Campers).
See the pics but in use it is much more sturdy than the older original one we have had before - maybe due to the cranked design, thicker tubing and better wraparound clamps - all the bikes are rock solid in this set up.
It will not be usable with all tube designs but the clamp turns on one end of the Fiama arm so it might be possible to use it on a seatpost rather than frame tube.
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