The extra weight of the spare wheel mounted ones will damage the door hinges but only if the spare whee is mounted to the door, which will also damage the door hinges. If the spare is on a swing away I can’t see it being a problem. The tow ball mounted ones I would have thought are best but I don’t know if there any that stick out far enough after the rob ball to clear a rear mounted wheel. On a car they can go straight up because the tow ball is the farthest point back but this is not the case on a Land Rover.Do any of you lot have any experience of, or recommendations for any rear mounted bike racks?
The spare wheel mounted ones look tidy and easy to gain access to the back but does the extra weight damage the door hinges?
Is it a safer bet to use a tow ball mounted version?
As long as your spare wheel sits on a swing away mount there is no adverse load from the spare wheel type, and you can still open the door (at least partially and with some care) and access the back of the truck. You have to take the whole lot off to get in if you have it on the tow ball.
Ive got this type ball mounted....
Didn’t think your last name was witter
I thought exactly the same thing when I first used it - "why can't I get both prongs through the frame?" I wondered. After some Google image searching, I discovered that I was using it incorrectly. Only one prong goes through the frame and the other sits between the fork and the downtube beneath the headset.I have the spare wheel one mounted to a swing away carrier. If fact I've moved the wheel to the bonnet, so there's very little load on the carrier - this makes the door easy to open and close.
I went for the paddocks version, I did have to adjust the distance between the prongs by making a little cut and welding it up as they were too far apart for our adult bikes.
@dag019 Yeah I have seen plenty bolted to the outside of the wheel, I was thinking that can’t be good. And a bit pointless too if you can’t actually use the door anyway?
One I have liked the look of is the MaxxRaxx
View attachment 270191
it bolts onto the tow ball and can clear a spare wheel.
https://defenderupgrades.co.uk/product/land-rover-defender-maxxraxx-explorer-easyfixx-bike-rack/
I thought exactly the same thing when I first used it - "why can't I get both prongs through the frame?" I wondered. After some Google image searching, I discovered that I was using it incorrectly. Only one prong goes through the frame and the other sits between the fork and the downtube beneath the headset.
I was all set to get a mate to modify it for me, but thankfully I didn't need too. I'm glad it wasn't just me