Getting Our Towbar Fitted (and Trialling Our New Bike Rack!)
It finally happened. After months of ratchet-strapping four bikes into the back of the van like some kind of Tetris minigame, we’ve levelled up. Whooo!
We’ve finally had a towbar fitted on the van, complete with electrics and everything. And to go with it? A shiny new Atera Strada Evo 3 +1 bike rack that can finally carry all the bikes.
Towbar Fitting
We were kindly gifted a towbar from a family friend (thank you again 🙌) and got our brilliant local garage, Smithfields in Market Drayton, to fit it for us. They sorted everything, including sourcing the right electrics and making sure it was all properly installed. No drama, no fuss, and we’d definitely recommend them if you’re local.
It’s incredibly satisfying finally ticking off a van mod we’ve been waiting to do for what feels like forever.
Bike Rack Choice: Why We Went with the Atera Strada Evo 3+1
We did a lot of research before choosing a bike rack. We knew we needed something that could:
- Carry four bikes
- Be tiltable (so we could still get into the tailgate)
- Be solid and reliable
- Not require a second mortgage
We were recommended Thule (because everyone is, right?), but after comparing reviews, features, and prices, the Atera Strada Evo 3+1 stood out as better bang for buck. It’s slightly more affordable, has a great weight capacity (up to 66kg!), and just felt… tougher.
We purchased our Atera Strada Evo 3+1 from The Roof Box Company. We are not affiliated with them in anyway, but in a bid to share the cheapest options with our readers I wanted to point you there. They offer either the Atera Strada Evo 3 or if you click on this link, it takes you to the “kit” which includes the 4th adapter. Perfect if you’re needing to carry 4 bikes.
What We Wanted but Couldn’t Find
In a perfect world, we’d have gone for one of those sleek rear-mounted racks you see on VW campers – the kind you can fold away and forget about when not in use. But for the Ford Transit Custom, there just doesn’t seem to be anything like that for our 2018 van. Trust us, we looked. Repeatedly. Gutted!
First Trial – Success! (Mostly)
Once the towbar was fitted, we got home and immediately trialled the bike rack. Fitting it was straightforward and it felt really secure. My husband had to install the 4th adapter as there don’t appear to be any actual ‘4-bike’ bike racks out there. They all seem to come as 3+1.
We’re super happy with how it performs – the tilt feature works a treat, loading is easy, and it fits all four bikes comfortably. Sure it took some time to find the right loading order initially, getting to grips with where each bit goes and how the clips fasten, but now we know we should be much quicker next time!
Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear to offer a “fold up” feature when not in use. So if it’s not loaded, it’ll have to come off entirely. And yes, it’s a two-hands-and-a-strong-tea kind of job because it’s on the heavier side.
Why This Is Such a Big Deal for Us
We’ve been cramming bikes into the back of the van for ages. It’s:
- Time-consuming
- Awkward
- A bit sweaty – not from loading, but the fear every time I have to stop quickly that the bikes will move and get wrecked. 😅
Now? Just lift them onto the rack and off we go. We’re buzzing to finally be able to head out on bike days without a 30-minute game of ratchet strap roulette. Excitingly, the kitchen is also within days of being finished, so very soon we won’t have the room inside for them either…
Would We Recommend It?
Yep – if you’ve got a Transit Custom (well, any vehicle with a towbar!) and need to carry 4 bikes, we honestly think the Atera Strada Evo 3+1 is one of the best options out there. We researched, researched some more, now we’ve tested it, and we still agree! Strong, stable, not crazy money, and gets the job done. You’ll just need to find somewhere to store it when not in use!
Quick Summary:
- Towbar fitted by: Smithfields, Market Drayton
- Bike rack: Atera Strada Evo 3+1 (The Roof Box Company)
- Carries: 4 bikes, up to 66kg, ebike friendly
- Why we like it: Tilts, sturdy, decent value
- Downside: Can’t leave it on the van when not in use
- Still worth it? 100% yes
🚴♂️ Coming Soon…
Now we’ve got the rack, it’s time to test it properly. Keep an eye out for future posts as we take the bikes further afield – starting with a few MTB trails and maybe a coast trip or two!
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Oh, the bikes look perfectly placed at the rack. Better travel and no hassle inside. Excited for more of your adventures, EJ
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thank you Hazel! It’s a game changer, we’re really happy with it 😀
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Sounds great. My pleasure, EJ
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Looks great! and much better than putting the bikes in the van 😀
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thanks Jim! Honestly it’s wonderful 😂
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Mine is an Atera 2+1 and it’s a great bit of kit. I assume when you say you can open the tailgate when it’s tilted you still have to remove the bikes to do that like we do. I’ve been looking for one where you can open the tailgate with bikes still on but have yet to find one that would not need me to rob a bank to afford!
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No, we can open the tailgate with the bikes on! We do have a tailgate rather than barn doors though – it was tight past the wide handle bars but we did it 😀 Great underrated brand I feel!
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That’s interesting- might have to look into updating my bike carrier then!
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Its getting close now, think back to how it was when you had the pop top roof fitted and all that drama again. So much better now.
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I know, we’re definitely getting there, slowly but surely. 😊 Our kitchen is several weeks delayed however and I’ve run out of budget for the electrics after having to get the wet belt done again 😭 (all to come in future posts) but at least we can get biking which, tbf, was the biggest reason to getting the van in the first place. Anything else is just a bonus 😊
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Love this upgrade! It must feel so freeing to ditch the bike-Tetris routine. The Atera Strada Evo 3+1 sounds like a solid choice, here’s to smoother bike adventures ahead!
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Thank you! Yes it’s made a world of difference to loading and unloading – definitely smoother bike adventures ahead 😀
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That’s awesome to hear! It’s amazing how the right gear can make everything so much easier. Wishing you lots of fun and hassle-free rides ahead!
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