Seems a great idea, a load carrier for the back of the van that can carry a motorbike (up to 250kg), leaving the inside free for other stuff (within the load limit of the vehicle, of course).
To begin with, I just ordered the larger carrier platform (800mm) and the relevant adaptor to mount it on my T6. Unfortunately, when it all arrived, and I read through the instructions I realised that I had somehow managed to order the adaptors to go with an existing tow bar, which I do not have. This was damned annoying as I have been researching the Cate Carrier for years, and was aware that there were different mounts for vans with tow bars already fitted. I could have got a refund, and then ordered the correct parts, but it turned out that they were out of stock with UK Leisure Parts (who I ordered from), so I checked elsewhere and found them in stock at two German suppliers. However, with postage and exchange rate included these were over £100 more than the ones I had already bought – and you can buy a tow bar for that…
So I ordered a Brinks tow bar from PF Jones, as well as the electrics, which I will need anyway.
The load carrier itself is a tubular frame that attaches to the (vehicle specific) mounts, with supporting bars underneath. There are videos (in German) showing how to attach it and load a motorbike on Youtube. It comes with a smart number plate/light bar arrangement for the rear, which connects to a standard 13 pin socket. However, that’s it. It does not come with any of the attachments needed to support a motorbike, or anything else. All these are extra, so it is an expensive undertaking. However, it does look suitable for fitting a roof bar mounting type cycle carrier (time will tell).
So, to the actual fitting:
My adaptors are to be mounted along with a tow bar, and it is the same disassembly required as for fitting a tow bar. Namely, remove the bumper, whatever is behind it (either a metal cross member or a plastic moulding on panel vans as mine), the spare wheel and the underside plastic trim and heat shield over the exhaust. Mine was somewhat more complicated in that I have an LPG tank in place of the spare wheel (yes, I have a TSI), which was held in place by four fabricated brackets and bolts. But I also had to disconnect the gas feed etc. to the engine. To be honest, the LPG tank is my biggest concern, as it is a heavy old thing and will be awkward to refit.
It was at this point that I started to wonder whether I really needed to have bought the tow bar. Initially I was worried that I would lose out on the rear protection provided by the metal cross member, but when I discovered that mine did not have a metal cross member, but instead just had a plastic moulding, I realised that I could probably have fitted the Cate Carrier adaptors directly without having to fit the tow bar first. Unfortunately I don’t know what is different about the Cate adaptors for no tow bar to be certain whether this is the case or not. Certainly, on my van I don’t see why not.
Anyway, the Cate adaptors are just thick metal plates that sandwich the tow bar fittings inside the rear chassis members. They have their own threaded holes that align with the existing holes in the chassis, and the tow bar mounts. However, as the tow bar plates have nuts welded to them, these need to be removed first. It was a bit more awkward aligning the bolts through the tow bar plates and into the Cate adaptors than it was for just the tow bar, but possible with a bit of perseverance.
So that is as far as I have got so far, but might be of interest to some. I’m not expecting to refit the bumper until next week, as I am allowing tomorrow to refit the LPG tank. At this moment, I’m not sure whether the bumper will need trimming for either the Cate Adaptor or the tow bar. I do know that it will require two holes drilling to eventually allow the Cate Carrier to be mounted.
This is the Brinks tow bar (no ball) fitted loosely with the modified plastic moulding.
The welded on nuts on the tow bar mounting plates had to be cut off.
The bare metal was then primed with zinc primer, and painted with smoothrite.
The tow bar refitted with the Cate adaptors.
Both Cate adaptors fitted either side of the tow bar.
The three mounting bolts (RH) from inside the spare wheel bay.
