Tow bar - Bike rack just stops the tailgate opening

[cjblackw]

Hello All,

I have a factory fitted towbar (Westfalia 321647 ) and when I fit my bike rack the tailgate cannot be opened. The Wesfalia bracket is probably 5cm too high / too close to the bumper. Does anyone know if there is another towbar bracket/setup available that lowers the ball or is further way relative to the tailgate?

Thanks a lot. Charles

Westfalia URL: https://www.westfalia-automotive.co...-towbar-vertical-a40v-322124600001?m=mod42536

 

[cjblackw]

PS. I understand the swan neck bracket with the ball has a fitting called A40V.

 

[Stargazing]

I am not aware of a bike rack that will allow the tailgate to open unless it’s a slider. Someone correct me if I am wrong. So you probably need a bike rack that slides away from the vehicle-have a look on the net for roof box-they have a good range. The Atera range are very good.

 

[Cali1]

Thule have bike racks you can still open your tail gate.I have one but can’t remember the model and not home to take a look.
I have the swan neck tow ball.

 

[Black Forest]

Thule XT2 here.

A cheap and easy fix for ours was to go and have a coffee in IKEA.

While your there, look for the spares area for kitchen fittings. There is a small metal piece with four holes in it, probably 5cm long. Get a couple of these.

On the bike rack, ours has cables that hold the bike section when tilted. Undo these carefully at the tilting end then use the bracket to extend the cable and amount of tilt by 5cm and this was enough to get the tailgate to clear.... Doesn't affect the structure or security as you'll never travel with the rack tilted but this does create the space for access.

HTH!

 

[Sad]

I have a factory fitted towbar (Westfalia 321647 ) and when I fit my bike rack the tailgate cannot be opened.

Which bike rack do you have?

We had the Thule XT3 and had no problem since we'd lengthened the drop as in the instructions. This thread might help:

Advice Please - Thule VeloSpace XT 3 bike tow bar carrier

Can anyone please tell me if the Thule VeloSpace XT 3 bike tow bar carrier tilts enough to allow the tailgate to open on the T6 California Ocean. I contacted Thule and they said as this one tilted 70 degrees (as opposed to 50 degrees for the rest of their carriers) it might but I should go to a...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[Paul_D]

Thule XT2 here.

A cheap and easy fix for ours was to go and have a coffee in IKEA.

While your there, look for the spares area for kitchen fittings. There is a small metal piece with four holes in it, probably 5cm long. Get a couple of these.

On the bike rack, ours has cables that hold the bike section when tilted. Undo these carefully at the tilting end then use the bracket to extend the cable and amount of tilt by 5cm and this was enough to get the tailgate to clear.... Doesn't affect the structure or security as you'll never travel with the rack tilted but this does create the space for access.

HTH!

Hi
Are you able to post a photo?
Thanks

 

[Black Forest]

Here you go. Its a quick, easy and not so elegant solution but it has worked well on both a Caddy and the Cali. We have the removable type towbar. After the rack is fitted to the van and still empty, tilt the rack and use the upright as a guide against the bottom of the Cali tailgate. Adjust the rack so that the tailgate clears, then lock it onto the towbar. Once this is done, the rack when loaded is still at a good angle and horizontal with the vehicle. It doesn't interfere with the locking mechanism in any way.

Another option would be to ask a yacht chandlers to make up another longer cable. The bolts were ordinary metric with nylock nuts. Thanks for asking about this and I'll do a bit of pre-winter corrosion protection on it all!







This has been strong enough to support two e-bikes when tilted and the bars are still off the floor.

HTH.

 

[cjblackw]

Thank you very much for the information.

 

[cjblackw]

Which bike rack do you have?

We had the Thule XT3 and had no problem since we'd lengthened the drop as in the instructions. This thread might help:

Advice Please - Thule VeloSpace XT 3 bike tow bar carrier

Can anyone please tell me if the Thule VeloSpace XT 3 bike tow bar carrier tilts enough to allow the tailgate to open on the T6 California Ocean. I contacted Thule and they said as this one tilted 70 degrees (as opposed to 50 degrees for the rest of their carriers) it might but I should go to a...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Its a Buzz Scorpian Lite 2 - very good but just catches the tailgate!!

 

[Paul_D]

Here you go. Its a quick, easy and not so elegant solution but it has worked well on both a Caddy and the Cali. We have the removable type towbar. After the rack is fitted to the van and still empty, tilt the rack and use the upright as a guide against the bottom of the Cali tailgate. Adjust the rack so that the tailgate clears, then lock it onto the towbar. Once this is done, the rack when loaded is still at a good angle and horizontal with the vehicle. It doesn't interfere with the locking mechanism in any way.

Another option would be to ask a yacht chandlers to make up another longer cable. The bolts were ordinary metric with nylock nuts. Thanks for asking about this and I'll do a bit of pre-winter corrosion protection on it all!

View attachment 138990

View attachment 138991

View attachment 138992

This has been strong enough to support two e-bikes when tilted and the bars are still off the floor.

HTH.

Thank you!

 

[cjblackw]

Thank you for all of the information, it's been very useful. Just to confirm the T6.1 tailgate can open when the factory fitted tow bar (Westfalia # 321647 ) and Thule VeloSpace XT2 or XT3 are fitted?

FYI, I have spoken with roofbox.co.uk and they have been helpful and told me the following:

"With regards to the Thule carrier, we don't often find this allows for enough tilt on this vehicle in all honesty, it will obviously depend on the position of the tow ball on the vehicle.

We would suggest looking at the Atera Genio Pro www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php?AR2785) or the Atera RV (www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php?AR2707) would be the best options to look at as alternatives that would give the clearance required."

Maybe they advise this as the Thule VeloSpace XT2 or XT3 does need a slight modification in extending the support cable(s) by 5cm?

 

[66tim99]

Thank you for all of the information, it's been very useful. Just to confirm the T6.1 tailgate can open when the factory fitted tow bar (Westfalia # 321647 ) and Thule VeloSpace XT2 or XT3 are fitted?

FYI, I have spoken with roofbox.co.uk and they have been helpful and told me the following:

"With regards to the Thule carrier, we don't often find this allows for enough tilt on this vehicle in all honesty, it will obviously depend on the position of the tow ball on the vehicle.

We would suggest looking at the Atera Genio Pro www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php?AR2785) or the Atera RV (www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php?AR2707) would be the best options to look at as alternatives that would give the clearance required."

Maybe they advise this as the Thule VeloSpace XT2 or XT3 does need a slight modification in extending the support cable(s) by 5cm?

Atera Genio Pro definitely allows the tailgate to open, even with 3 bikes loaded.

 

[SanderR72]

An Uebler i21 z90 folds down 90 degrees, so flat on the ground. No issues at all on my T5.

 

[Califan61]

I have a Thule EasyFold XT and it works fine with the factory detachable towbar and tailgate. I remember fitting it when I got my Cali and think I folded advice to remove a stop bolt to allow it to rotate fully down

 

[OxonCalifornia]

I just bought this …works a treat, folds and clears tail gate.

Atera FORZA M (2 to 3 bikes) no. 022800

Tilts far enough that even vertical tailgates can be opened - ideal for vans like the VW T5 and T6 and the Mercedes Vito Foldable so it's easier to carry and store Takes heavier and wider bikes (up to 30kg each) - great for eBikes or larger mountain bikes but equally suitable for small...

www.roofbox.co.uk

 

[Sacha1dog]

I just bought this …works a treat, folds and clears tail gate.

Atera FORZA M (2 to 3 bikes) no. 022800

Tilts far enough that even vertical tailgates can be opened - ideal for vans like the VW T5 and T6 and the Mercedes Vito Foldable so it's easier to carry and store Takes heavier and wider bikes (up to 30kg each) - great for eBikes or larger mountain bikes but equally suitable for small...

www.roofbox.co.uk

+1, we got the same, it’s great.

To make it tilt far enough back you need move two bolts, the I directions are in the on line manual accessible via the QR code, they’re not in the manual in the box.

 

[Samcb]

Atera Genio Pro definitely allows the tailgate to open, even with 3 bikes loaded.

+1 this works really well for me (see photos)
There is a small adjustment that you have to make but it takes 5 minutes and is well documented. I bought it from roofbox.co.uk - great service.
I had an aftermarket removable tow hook fitted by the Tow Bar Group (www.thetowbargroup.co.uk) - they fitted it in my garage and only took a few hours.
My only gripe with the rack is that to start with all the straps and locks were very stiff.

 

[Doorbundle]

We have the Westfalia (VW OE Type) detatchable towbar and a Pro-User Diamant SG2 Plus bike carrier, there are no obstruction issues when the bike carrier is lowered to gain access to the tailgate. I was sceptical when I first tried it but there is at least 3" clearance. Drawback...The carrier is quite heavy when lowered away with 2 x Ebikes. I guess they all are.

 

[marchugo]

My dealer has retrofitted a Westfalia detachable towbar (322 124 688 001). On the web I found a ten year old Uebler P21 90 degrees foldable bikerack. The tailgate can be opened with our two bikes on it. However, it's a matter of millimeters.

Foldable regards from Amsterdam,

Marc.