Can tailgate rise with 1 bike on rack?

[Yorkie]

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.

I dont think i will take my bike; the death stare is just too much. Sorry did you say Stare, i thought you said Death Star!

Did he survive the compromised food?

 

[Califorian]

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.

It is possible to fit two bikes, stay under 2m when driving and have the roof open when parked!! Just remove front wheels, lower saddles and don't fit a bike on the inner rack.

 

[shudycamps]

I dont think i will take my bike; the death stare is just too much. Sorry did you say Stare, i thought you said Death Star!

Did he survive the compromised food?

Umm, yes. But dearly wished for on board bathroom.

 

[shudycamps]

Here is how we keep our tail Gate up.

 

[Yorkie]

View attachment 18700


It is possible to fit two bikes, stay under 2m when driving and have the roof open when parked!! Just remove front wheels, lower saddles and don't fit a bike on the inner rack.

Never mind the bikes. What about the size of your BBQ

 

[Yorkie]

View attachment 18700


It is possible to fit two bikes, stay under 2m when driving and have the roof open when parked!! Just remove front wheels, lower saddles and don't fit a bike on the inner rack.

On a serious note. Having not tried my carrier yet, with the front wheels removed, is there a way of fastening the front down?

 

[Califorian]

I don't quite understand. Do bikes stick up above the roof?

On a serious note. Having not tried my carrier yet, with the front wheels removed, is there a way of fastening the front down?

I made some tubular brackets to hold the forks with the quick release skewers. They just strap into the rails. If I get a chance tomorrow I'll post a couple of photos.

The BBQ is a Weber baby Q1000. Great job but takes up just a bit too much space so replaced with a Safari Chef2 for 2017 !!

 

[vmaxkiddy]

They look lovely, but advertised weight is 21kg. I'm looking for something under 16kg (the impossible!).

A Gocycle weighs 16.2 kg including battery, although you won't be putting one on a bike rack. http://gocycle.com/design/
The impossible is possible, Cytronex (full size) and ahooga (folding bike) e-bikes weigh just over 13kg.
Justifying the cost maybe the impossible.

 

[Yorkie]

I made some tubular brackets to hold the forks with the quick release skewers. They just strap into the rails. If I get a chance tomorrow I'll post a couple of photos.

The BBQ is a Weber baby Q1000. Great job but takes up just a bit too much space so replaced with a Safari Chef2 for 2017 !!

Looking forward to the photos. Your kit puts my old manual cast iron suitcase BBQ to shame; but i do enjoy the challenge it provides.

 

[Califorian]

Looking forward to the photos. Your kit puts my old manual cast iron suitcase BBQ to shame; but i do enjoy the challenge it provides.

Brackets were made from scrap bits of aluminium that were in the garage. Aluminium scaffolding tube, and a bit of tubing that was made to repair a windsurfing boom 20 years ago!!
Local engineering company charged £5 to do the welding.

 

[Califorian]

View attachment 18721

Brackets were made from scrap bits of aluminium that were in the garage. Aluminium scaffolding tube, and a bit of tubing that was made to repair a windsurfing boom 20 years ago!!
Local engineering company charged £5 to do the welding.

View attachment 18720

View attachment 18722

View attachment 18723

View attachment 18724

 

[Yorkie]

View attachment 18725

Excellent pictures and a cracking welding job. Thank you for taking the time.

 

[Yorkie]

Do you think I will be okay with my bikes?

 

[stephen watson]

View attachment 18725

That's impressive. I'm going to do something similar when I get my van. I'm hoping it keeps the height below 2m. A bit difficult to say from your photos. Can you let me know please? (I'm getting a T6 rack so might be a slightly different height - will have to wait and see.)

 

[Califorian]

View attachment 18731
Do you think I will be okay with my bikes?

The bike are ok but how do you get the family in the van!??

 

[Califorian]

That's impressive. I'm going to do something similar when I get my van. I'm hoping it keeps the height below 2m. A bit difficult to say from your photos. Can you let me know please? (I'm getting a T6 rack so might be a slightly different height - will have to wait and see.)

I can only speak for the T5 but my brackets allow a couple of CM below 2 metres. On main journeys(motorways etc) and ferries we kept under 2 metres but day to day outings just put the bikes on at full height
The brackets I've used could be easily modified to put drop arms on with the bike forks going either side of the bike rack rails. I did use a strap to compress the suspension forks by about 5cm on one bike. But it worked fine and only takes about 5 miniuites to load and 2-3 minutes to remove bikes and fit front wheels and raise saddle. Sometimes I kept the front wheels in the van but generally just strap them to the inside of the bikes and fit a bike lock to deter the casual thief.

 

[stephen watson]

Thank you. Sounds perfect though not sure what you mean in first sentence second paragraph?

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

 

[Califorian]

Thank you. Sounds perfect though not sure what you mean in first sentence second paragraph?

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

Sorry Stephen my explanation is clear in my head but understand it sounds like gobbledygook to anyone else

The highest part of my bike is the top of the handlebars even with the wheel removed. My bracket works for me but someone may wish to keep their bike lower. This would be possible by removing the front wheel and letting the forks go either side of the rail on the Vw bike rack. To secure it you could still use the QR skewer but you would have to modify my bracket with drop arms that extend under the Vw bike rail these could be about. 75mm, 100mm etc or what ever is needed.. this would lower the top of the handlebars about the same.

If I get a chance I'll draw a sketch!

 

[stephen watson]

I understand now. Get my van
next week so will look at options then. Thanks.

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

 

[AlisonF]

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

@Gavrobb we should do a test. I don't have a bike rack (yet) and fairly have to swing on the handle to close the tailgate...

 

[Teejay]

..