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Tips for Loading a Heavy Ebike Onto a Car Rack
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 มิ.ย. 2021
- While visiting Arizona recently to see my Grandfather and Dad, we went out to the desert near the White Tank Mountains and took his fat tire electric bikes along for a fun ride! These ebikes weigh 60lbs+ with their cargo racks, fenders, accessory bags, lights and other add-ons. The hitch rack my Dad uses is a 2" hitch mounted platform that is actually elevated in order to reduce ground contact when driving across uneven terrain... so lifting the bikes up and down from this extra high rack can be very challenging when done solo without the help of a friend. My Dad had some tips to share and I have some experience doing this myself, so this video is designed to be a helpful explanation of our best practices. I hope it helps you, but please be careful when lifting your own bikes and always include a second person if possible. This video is not meant to be advice, it is for entertainment purposes only and shows our ideas.
You can discuss this video, and read through reviews and explore other interesting ebike related content back at the EBR Forums here: electricbikereview.com/forums/ The products shown in this video were all purchased by my Dad. None of them were free, he chose them based on his desire to ride in the desert and have reliable stuff. Each product shown in the video is listed below and some of the links have Amazon affiliate commission for me if you choose to buy there. I also have a list of local ebike shops that might sell the same accessories and you can see them here: electricbikereview.com/shop-d... and a longer video interview with my Dad talking all about his RV trip, why he chose these electric bikes, and how he upgraded some of the parts to be rugged and reliable here: • My Dad's Electric Bike...
Electric bikes with all details listed
- RadRover 5 electricbikereview.com/rad-po...
- RadRover Step-Thru 1 electricbikereview.com/rad-po...
Electric bike hitch rack and covers for RVs
- Thule T2 Pro XT/XTR amzn.to/2T0vOtD
- PRO BIKE TOOL Cover amzn.to/3cllhQC
- Bungee Cargo Net amzn.to/3cdMpBd
- Wireless RV Rear Camera amzn.to/34PwqVG
Bike locks for transporting and riding
- Abus Bordo GRANIT X Plus amzn.to/2SeaHnE
- Abus Bordo Big amzn.to/3plpUiY
- 15FT Security Braided Steel Cable amzn.to/3ckMuD5
Tire protect to prevent flats
- Tannus Arrmour Tire Inserts amzn.to/3fOe4uy
- Flat Attack Tire Sealer amzn.to/2Sa35Tk
Light and reflector upgrades
- BrightRoad First amzn.to/2TJmZoE
- Rescue Tape amzn.to/3uSlwJA
- Bafang Extension Cable amzn.to/3gdqfjs
- Black Reflective Stickers amzn.to/3pqtus7
Rear rack, trunk bag, pannier bags
- Ibera Bike Rack amzn.to/3chrgGn
- Ibera Bike Trunk Bag amzn.to/3pmGU8x
- Ibera Panniers amzn.to/2TJntes
Swept back handlebar and ergonomic grips
- Jones H-Bar www.jonesbikes.com/jones-h-ba...
- Ergon GC1 Grips amzn.to/3vUgPjA
- Small Bar End Mirror amzn.to/3fPslqN
- Longer Adjustable Mirror amzn.to/3vUh5z4
Water bottle upgrades and expansion
- Dual Bottle Holder www.cascademanufacturing.com/...
- Stem Riser amzn.to/34QP1Rg
- Ibera Bottle Cage amzn.to/3z4eapp
- Polar Insulated Water Bottle amzn.to/3uPM8eg
Comfort and armor upgrades
- SR SUNTOUR SP12-NCX Suspension Seat Posts amzn.to/3cliRlg
- Aftermarket spring kit for NCX www.srsuntour.us/products/sp1...
- Non Quick Release Seat Post Clamp amzn.to/3fSBDm2
- Skid Plate for RadRover 5 www.cascademanufacturing.com/...
That demonstration was well done! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the great tip and loading of e-bikes. Especially the lock out. I just got 2 e-bikes (me and the misses) and while not super heavy (50lbs each), this will be a big help.
Thanks Cort. Pop a wheelie...never saw that before. I usually just man-handled it up there. I gotta try your technique. Thanks for the video.
Great advise. Thanks Court.
Great helpful video! Thanks.
Thanks for the video. Wow, so much easier now using your technique.
Yay! Happy it helped you :D
great video!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Good tip on the suspension lockout. The other thing I do is put the cable locks on to add addition security and remove any items off the bike like front fenders or lights that can blow off especially if you are driving something smaller than an rv.
Simple technique yet so effective. Thanks!
Helpful tips! I just purchased a car bike rack.
Thanks man, you probably saved my back from breaking :)
Nice technique, I didn’t think of locking the suspension before.
Me neither, my Dad noticed that the rear wheel was sliding a lot during his long trip. I think it’s mainly an issue with heavier bikes like his fat tire models or motorcycles ;)
Muy contento con el producto, funciona perfectamente e incluso tiene mas potencia de la que pensaba que podria tener.
Good demo. It’s all about technique. Saw your other video with your dad, and it was informative. Us older guys do have a challenge, as these new eBikes are quite heavy and cumbersome. Thanks for the info and technique.👍
i got one for my 70th and am a female and am trying to figure out how to drive down to calif from portland in march..and its going to cost almost 800$ to attach a hitch etc.
Thank you for another good and helpful video. I wish you had shown us how you got that first bike on the rack because that hook bar effectively interferes with using the method you demonstrated with the second bike.
Locking the front suspension was appreciated
One word - Ramp! I've loaded my son's dirt bike many times over the years in my truck and strap it down. Now I use the same method for my rad rover plus and it doesn't weigh as much as the dirt bike!
We have the Thule EZfold, and two RADCity step-thrus. Works great, with no top bar needed.
Good video
I hope you get a chance to review the Saris Door County electric bike rack!
Your a mover and shaker in the bike world.
A common concern now with the popularity of heavier Ebikes and folks being a bit older is the difficulty in loading as you e pointed out. Any chance you can bring the need for ramp adapters to the attention of manufacturers and/or do some reviews on ramp adapters?
Thanks.
I velcro my tire for max securing, also the fender on my radrover bike (exactly like the one here) is incredibly durable and tough, I rachet right at the fork over the top of this particular fender design. Been doing this method since 2020 with no problems at all on my KUAT rack.
PLUS. I don't know why people don't reach down and grab the incredibly strong chainstay when loading their bikes. If you grab from this position and stand the bike wheel is already above you knee and at hip heighth and almost zero shoulder or rotator cup involvment on the lift.
I'm a semi truck driver and I'm trying to decide between a radrunner plus and mount it on my trucks catwalk or a radmini that I take inside the truck.
Awesome
if batteries removed, what will happen to the connectors that are exposed? aren't they prone to get wet if rain and covered by dust?
Any ideas for getting an electric bike onto a commuter train with high steps, etc. a la San Francisco's aging CalTrain?
Dumb question probably but besides the load weight of a 50 lb. bike farther from the hitch, why would you want to move the 1st bike OVER the top of the outside bike holder and put it on the inside toward the car? From a loading standpoint, it seems to double the amount of lifting and adjusting if you have a single bike. Any advantage to that on short trips? TIA
Hello. I order a few things from your video about your dad’s Ebike and motor home. Particularly the Thule T2 Pro bike carrier. Do you know if he is using a particular lock to keep it secured to the motor home hitch? Is there a particular brand or model of hitch lock you recommend? Thank you.
Hey thanks for the video just a quick question does the rack still in good condition because i really like that bike rack but is rated to carry 120 lbs or 60 lbs for each tray and those ebike together are 180 lbs please let me know how it goes so i can try it, thanks.
3:15 important correction to your video: the arm of the Thule T2 really needs to be placed all the way up by the fork. Where you have it placed now, vibration of traveling, can loosen that arm and make it slip right down off of the tire. Then you have nothing holding your bike onto the rack, except for a strap in the back, and you can easily end up, dragging your bike, or even losing it. the arm needs to Grab the tire way up by the fork. This is why people take their front fenders off when they have this rack.
What can people that lease their vehicle or the vehicle doesn't support a hitch use to transport their ebike?
Just a question? Why wouldn't you tilt the Thule T2 Pro XTR down so you don't have to life so high. Also I was thinking you could use the walk feature and drive it up into the tire basket?
I would not use that hitch riser. That add leverage to the mounting point of the hitch and decreases the weight capacity of the hitch.
Good little tips! Would this rack type work for those long banana seat type ebikes/emopeds like the Super 73, Bandit, Hyperscorpion, the Rize Blade, etc.. ? These weigh upwards of 70lbs and tend to have a longer wheelbase, right?
Good question, some of those have longer wheelbase, which means part of the bike can hang odd the rack. I usually list the wheelbase in my reviews to help figure this out. My immediate thoughts are that yes, most of the bikes you mentioned would work as Ling as it’s the inside bike and ideally you’d remove the battery to lighten the load ;)
@@ElectricBikeReview - thanks for the quick response, and also for listing the wheelbase specs on your site - will take a look.
Some busses only allow skinny bike wheels to fit on the bus rack.What's the names of the bus racks that can fit fat tire bikes and skinny bike wheels.But how can I put a fat tire bike on the bus if it don't fit.It should be something that can tie it down secure ?
That's a good advise, just one thing remember to lift most of the weight with your legs and not with your abdomen
Review Sondors Madmods.
Nice feature. Wash those bikes. 😆lol.
The $170 Harbor Freight motorcycle car rack has a ramp. These $600 and $700 racks don't. Hmmmm, which to buy?
Did You forget how easy it is to pop that heavy suspension seat and post off the bike ???
you gotta talk your parents into getting e-trikes.. there's no balancing or anything.. just riding a recliner and living the dream.
Better yet get a carrier that comes with a loading ramp like the Thule EZ-Fold or the KUAT NV.
As a female that has to do the loading & unloading by myself of my ebike , I find that the Thule EZ-Fold, with a loading ramp makes it fairly easy to get my bike on the rack.
Good tips!!
Kuat NV not rated for RVs. Thule- no information on RV rating. Someone wrote a review saying it's flimsy, so probably not up to the bouncing of RVs.
@@ltcajh I use my Thule EZ-Fold on my CRV. I can’t speak as to whether it is rated for RVs or not. It is not flimsy, and works very well for me.
@@ursuladubrick4434 How long has it been holding up for you?
You spoke about how heavy our ebikes are but no mention about a 65 pound weight for the rack and how the hell an old guy without a garage is supposed to manage it, please add this needed information in your videos
I thought that type of rack couldn’t be used with the rad city step through bikes
because of the fenders.
I just got the Thule T2 Pro XTR and I have a Vado 4.0 and a Rad City 3. Both fit easily. Manual says front tire clamp should not be greater than 1" from forks, but I haven't had an issue yet. You can always take off fender, but mine is pretty secure. I'll probably add an extra tie down at first.
I have a Saris Superclamp HD with Specialized Vado/Como M/S and the bikes tend to creep ever so slightly (despite the wheel straps) when the tire grabber hooks are located at the front fender top. Better to remove those front fenders, especially for a long trip. I also need to position seat-to-seat/bar-to-bar in order to be able to optimally locate the grabbers on that front tire (different bike lengths). I also use two strips of plastic upholstery sponge 12x2” approx 1.5” thick positioned over and under each rear fender at the grabber to protect the fender and better support the bikes.
@@davidmandle317 great idea about using the sponge. if I understood correctly, by doing so you don't need to remove the front fender right? what about the front light mounted of top of front fender ?. thanks!
That is NOT it. You MUST secure the arm-with-hook to the bike either with a bungee cord (my preference), or the built-in cable (too short). I failed to do this and the arm fell down and my bike dragged on the pavement. This advice is vital.
I'm NOT removing fenders and lights to load my bike for travel. Get real. LOL!
You're still lifting a heavy load. I keep looking for a way to buy an e-bike, but I either have to have the Thule rack live on my car or not buy a bike. I can't lift the Thule rack. The ramps that come with the Thule & a few other racks, are the perfect answer, but unfortunately, the rack is way too heavy for me to handle. I need a lighter weight rack with ramps. Don't think they exist, but they should. There are far too many cyclists who are older and/or have issues with lifting.
I wanted to see you load the first bike that's closest to the vehicle. Until there is a bike rack that's made for "grandma and grandpa" like:
th-cam.com/video/8WTCf835Frk/w-d-xo.html
people will just have to have a strong friend nearby.
Workout!
Why not show how to load the first bike?
$700 bike rack!? You can’t hide money ha ha. They are nice but I bought something very similar from Walmart called a fultyme RV for $120 fits up to 5 inch wide tires. 😎
Nice bike rack, but…$800?
That rake is not rated to carry those bikes. It has a 120 lb limit.
I hate to say.. But you can't cover the plate on a vehicle. So you must move the plate.
bro reviews a lot of $5000 and up ebikes. im assuming that rad,.that's just a dessert.
Tip: Lift weights at the gym.
Unfortunately, it seems that from the owners manual for that particular rack, you have loaded the bike improperly. The hook arm over the front tire must be within 1” of the top of the forks…. I.e. the front wheel fender MUST be removed. Many ebike ‘platform’ racks are NOT compatible with bike fenders. Some are (like the “center hook” that you mention). To anyone watching….. make sure to follow your owners manual …..
is it absolutely necessary to have it so close to the hitch, if other straps are used in addition?
So the tip is spend 1000 dollars for the hitch and the rack. Thanks
How is it this channels fault it costs $650 for a rack and $125 for a hitch?
Or, keep an eye out for used racks. I bought our Thule platform rack on Craigslist last fall for about 50% off.
i know im just inquiring because i want to drive from portland to bay area for a month and have my ebike...wondering if its worth it...hmmmmm.single mature female...
What a joke presentation
You should have shown BOTH MOUNTS as well as DISMOUNTS