Brink towbar issue

[Swede]

I've just discovered that my Brink detachable towbar doesn't work with my Thule Easyfold XT 3 bike rack. The rack swings down to allow the tailgate to swing up/open but they clash... I spoke to Nova Leisure who've confirmed that "there are no towbars for this vehicle that allow the rear door to be opened when a carrier is mounted to the towball." Surely that's not right!!!

I just assumed that I could just find a towball with a different side profile and plug it in, but seemingly not...

Any suggestions/experience?

 

[Bav]

Welcome to the forum Swede.

Apologies if I've misunderstood, but if Nova Leisure are suggesting that there's no combo of towbar and bike-carrier that allows the tailgate to swing open on a Transporter, then they're wrong.

The Atera Strada DL3 on a Westfalia detachable towbar works for me. It's not perfect, as you can't position a bike with wide handlebars in slot #1 (nearest the van), but other than that, it works fine.

EDIT: Also, I can't see why the carrier wouldn't work with other towbar makes.

 

[MikeWillmott]

Mine is the same! Can’t remember the make.
They’re designed for cars with a boot lid which swings more upwards than outwards.
You’d need to drop the rack by 90deg to clear the tailgate and that would have your bikes on the ground or underground even!

 

[Bav]

Mine is the same! Can’t remember the make.
They’re designed for cars with a boot lid which swings more upwards than outwards.
You’d need to drop the rack by 90deg to clear the tailgate and that would have your bikes on the ground or underground even!

Doesn't need to be dropped 90deg and can be achieved without the bikes dragging on the floor.

Last year, returning from Cornwall, I neglected to lock my rack in the upright position and it slowly tilted open as we drove along. Unknowingly, I ended up driving for over an hour at 70/80 mph with the rack fully tilted.

Happy to report that there was no damage and neither the bikes nor the rack had made contact with the ground.

 

[MikeWillmott]

I just looked at a video of the Atera Strada DL3 and it’s a very clever design that slides on circular rails so it moves rearward away from the tailgate and tilts where all others I’ve seen are merely hinged so don’t give the appropriate clearance.
I wish I’d seen it before I got mine!

 

[Martin Stockwell]

using this search in google comes up with several which tilt allowing the tailgate of a transporter to be opened! videos as well!

transporter tailgate towbar bike rack tilting

 

[Swede]

I spoke to Nova this morning and it should read "there are no BRINK towbars for this vehicle that allow the rear door to be opened when a carrier is mounted to the towball."

Frustratingly, I went with the Thule rack as i. the internet said that it would work, ii, I got it for a bargain price & iii. I like the aesthetic of the optional cargo box for that swamper look (not that I have one!).

It seems that there are towbar/tilting rack combinations that work and some that don't - I'm in the latter...

Nova confirmed that other detachable towballs will fit but they're not type approved and BRINK won't help/advise in this particular case.

There's a location in space behind the bumper where a towball could be positioned that would allow for the tailgate to swing open but I don't know where that is - I guess some measurements are needed. Once you have a rough position you could then try and find a secondhand one on eBay/FB etc that has the right dims. As you can see the T6 one is a different shape to the "swan neck" one in the adverts.

 

[Bav]

So, are they saying the towbar itself fouls the tailgate? If not, I don’t understand why the Atera Strada wouldn't work.

 

[Bav]

I just looked at a video of the Atera Strada DL3 and it’s a very clever design that slides on circular rails so it moves rearward away from the tailgate and tilts where all others I’ve seen are merely hinged so don’t give the appropriate clearance.
I wish I’d seen it before I got mine!

Yes, effectively the pivot point is moved backwards. As I say, you have to be careful what bike you put in slot #1, but otherwise a great bit of kit.

 

[Swede]

I think I have four options;

• Do nothing.
  • Inconvenient, but I might be able to live with it.
• Find a BRINK towball that positions the ball in the correct location so that the tailgate clears the rack.
  • BRINK aren't going to help so there's a risk that I'll buy something that doesn't work and I'll have wasted my cash.
• Sell the Thule and buy an Atera.
  • The resale value should cover the cost of an Altera - but I like the Thule!
• Keep the Thule and find a towbar that has the right clearance.
  • What towbar? Also it's going to be expensive.

 

[Bav]

In addition to the Atera, I also have a Thule Euroway 944 (used for a previous car). If it helps your decision, I'd say that the Atera is better quality kit than the Thule.

 

[Swede]

Sold the Thule, bought an Atera Strada DL and can now open the tailgate.

Any suggestions for a storage box/trunk? Most seem to be flat at the bottom and the Strada is curved so some fabrication might be needed.