Car Racks
Browse used car racks for sale from riders across the UK. The listings cover towball-mounted platforms, roof bars with fork or frame clamps and strap-on boot racks, in one- to four-bike capacities and with per-bike weight limits that usually sit between 15kg and 30kg. For anyone driving to trailheads or events who would rather not take a wheel out and lay the bike in the boot.
Towbar, roof or boot rack?
A towball platform is the easiest to load and the most expensive, carries two to four bikes low down and often tilts so the boot still opens. Roof carriers leave the boot clear and hold the bike upright, but they cost fuel, mean lifting a bike overhead, and are the ones people drive into low car parks. Boot racks strap to the tailgate and cost least, though they sit on paintwork and cover the number plate and lights, so they need a lighting board.
How many bikes can a car rack carry?
The limit is usually the towball nose weight or the roof load rather than the rack itself: many towbars are rated around 75kg, and a four-bike platform can weigh 20kg empty. E-bikes are where this bites, since at 22-25kg each a pair of them exceeds what plenty of older racks allow — check the per-bike figure printed on the arm before buying.
Car rack or a bike transport bag?
A rack carries the bike built up and outside the car, which suits day trips and weekend racing. A padded transport case is for flying or for fitting a bike into a hire car, and means stripping wheels, bars and often the rear mech each time. Neither should be confused with the racks that carry luggage on the bike itself, which sit under bag and pannier racks.
What should I check on a used car rack?
Straps and rubber perish long before metal does: check ratchet straps for fraying and UV cracking, wheel-tray straps for stretched teeth, and frame clamps for hardened or missing padding that would let the arm bite bare paint. On towbar racks, work the tilt mechanism and the clamp that grips the ball, and ask about keys, because matched cores for the arms and the towball lock are not always replaceable. Test the lighting board on every function and confirm whether it is 7-pin or 13-pin.
How much should I pay for a used car rack?
Towbar platforms hold value best and commonly sell at half to two-thirds of new, so a complete one with keys and a working board is worth noticeably more than a cheap one missing parts. Roof carriers are the bargain, since people sell them when the car goes — just confirm they match your bar profile. Buy new if the weight rating cannot be confirmed or the straps are already perished, because spares for discontinued racks are what leave you stuck. Other car and storage kit is listed under bike accessories.