A roof rack needs bars first, and the bars are often the larger cost · review
A tailgate-mounted rack for up to three bikes to a stated 45 kg (99.2 lb), needing no towbar and fitting without tools, with rubber buffers and rubberized hooks.
Our conclusion The cheapest way to move three bikes, provided you accept a lighting board and no boot access. On a car without a towbar it is the realistic option.
VDP’s Travel is the boot-mounted answer for cars that have no towbar and are not getting one.
Universal compatibility with most saloons, hatchbacks, minivans and SUVs, mounting on the tailgate with no towbar required. Up to three bikes to a maximum of 45 kg (99.2 lb), stated as suiting touring, road and mountain bikes. Four rubber buffers and rubberized metal hooks to protect the bodywork from scratches. Tool-free fitting with a compact construction for easy fitting and removal.
The plate and the lights. A rack across a tailgate hides both. In most European countries that is a legal problem, solved with a lighting board carrying a duplicate plate — a separate purchase, and one that needs the car’s socket. Read the requirement for each country on your route from the authority that publishes it.
Boot access. With the rack loaded, the tailgate stays shut. On a weekend away, that means loading the luggage first and in the right order.
A car with no towbar, occasional use, and a budget that will not stretch to fitting a towbar. Under those conditions it is the honest recommendation, and 45 kg (99.2 lb) over three bikes is a real capacity.
No such listing: the American Amazon shop answers the reference with a search box rather than a page.
Read from Keepa on the day this page was last revised; stock and price both move without notice.
A listing is not an offer: the reference exists on these stores, availability changes daily.
| Capacity | 3 bikes, 45 kg (99.2 lb) maximum stated |
|---|---|
| Mount | Tailgate, no towbar required |
| Protection | Four rubber buffers, rubberized metal hooks |
| Fitting | Tool-free |
| Amazon reference | B085DSLNDN (identical on 5 markets) |
| EAN | 4063719881113 |
No. VDP states compatibility with most saloons, hatchbacks, minivans and SUVs, mounting on the tailgate without a towbar.
A boot-mounted rack normally obscures the plate and rear lights. Requirements for plate visibility and lighting are national and vary; check the rule for the countries you will drive through, and budget for a lighting board separately.
7.5/ 10
The cheapest way to move three bikes, provided you accept a lighting board and no boot access. On a car without a towbar it is the realistic option.
Occasional transport on a car with no towbar, where cost matters more than convenience.
Specifications: the manufacturer sheet for bike gear and the matching Amazon product page. Prices and availability: Keepa. Every figure on this page names its source.
1 bike · folds into a supplied bag · individual frame holders
An ultra-compact boot rack for one bike that folds into a supplied carry bag small enough for a rucksack, with individual quick-install frame holders.
Best for: Travelers and commuters who need a rack that disappears when it is not in use.
≈ $90
Roof mount · fits bars to 48 mm (1.89 in) · two hand knobs · 1 bike
A simple single-bike roof carrier that clamps to crossbars up to 48 mm (1.89 in) across, fitted with two hand knobs and stated to suit all bike models.
Best for: Adding a bike to a roof rack you already own, for the price of a set of tires.
≈ $110
Aluminum crossbars · 90 kg (198.4 lb) capacity · open rails · 20 mm (0.79 in) channel
Not a bike carrier but the aluminum crossbars a roof carrier needs, rated at 90 kg (198.4 lb), for open roof rails, with a 20 mm (0.79 in) channel that accepts a range of accessories.
Best for: Cars with open roof rails, as the foundation before any roof carrier is chosen.
≈ $185
