Hi all,

I've got a volvo v40 with no tow bar and am wondering what is the best way to carry 4 bikes (2 adult mountain - 2 kids 18") whilst on my jollies with the rest of the family, i.e. wife, 2 kids and a boot fulf of stuff. In general i would probably only be using the bike carrier for the odd family hol, perhaps twice per year.

As with everything else I'd like to keep the price down. So do I:

1. Get a tow bar installed and a tow bar carrier
- estimated cost at least £350
- pros: secure, electrics installed, better fuel economy, boot access
- cons: expensive, lighting board needed

2. Get a roof rack installed
- estimated cost around £250 for 4 bikes
- pros: could get it installed in stages thus cheaper, no need for lighting board, secure, boot access
- cons: increased fuel consumption, high load

3. get a rear strap on
- estimated cost £70 for rack (lighting board & electrics installation?)
- pros: cheap
- cons: not as secure, needs lighting board & electrics installation, no boot access

4. hire a bike at holiday destination

any thoughts on all the above would be most welcome...thanks, sd

don't think i would get 4 bikes in the boot and 2 kids on the back seats...

Um, do kids have roof rail fixing points?

sadly not, though it would make my life alot easier

As you are not going to use it that often I think a roof mounted carrier would be the safest bet for carrying four bikes. I'm not a fan of tow bar mounted carriers as in a rear end shunt your pride and joy would be totalled. Don't do what Starsky did with his roof mounted carrier though!

It was Starskys wife, if I recall he didnt speak to her for a couple of weeks.

Here it is. It still makes me whince.