special roof rack for tandem
 

I'm trying to help out my local bike guy (he's not too computer literate and I have much more free time than he). He has a customer who is looking for a tandem roof mount.

I once worked a car show where I saw a roof rack made from light weight aluminum. You would place your bike next to the driver's door and rear passenger door, flip down an arm or arms from the roof and then clamp that/those arm(s) to the top horizontal tube of the bike. It one quick motion the bike would be locked in place on the roof of the car. It was very quick and easy.

At any rate, I'm trying to locate the name of that manufacturer to see if that can be used also for a tandem. The model I saw looked just for 'regular' bikes.

I looked through the thread here on carriers, but did not see what I am specifically looking for. Any suggestions?

I should perhaps also add that the bike in question is a Koga Twin Traveller. Thanks, Dave Horne

While I was waiting for a reply from this forum, I rec'd a reply from a British store. I was advised to look at the Atera Bike Lift.

If anyone can suggest anything else, I'd be grateful.

Thanks, Dave

What you are describing is the "Bike Lift", as already noted in your follow-up. There was also a product called the "TandeMover" that is no longer available that grabbed a tandem by the handlebars and seats, then was flipped onto the roof via a hinged section that allowed it to be carried inverted.

If they are looking for a roof-mount system that makes lifting the tandem easier but is not as complex as the "Bike Lift" I would have them look at:

1. ATOC Tandem Topper: http://www.atoc.com/
NOTE: ATOC also produces a similar tandem mount marketed under the Thule name.

2. Yakima's Sidewinder: http://www.cambriabike.com/car_carri..._roof_rack.htm
http://www.yakima.com/home.html (New Yakima Web site is awful; all Java so you'll have to navigate to it)

Other systems to consider if it doesn't have to be a roof mount are:
Badger Racks: http://www.badgerrack.com/tandem.htm
Draftmaster: http://www.draftmaster.com/t.html

Of those listed above, the ATOC is the one I would buy if I was looking for a tandem lift aid. Charlie Buchalter is the owner/developer at ATOC and will be glad to talk to you about his products.

Mark Ritz is the guy you'd want to talk to at Yakima regarding the Sidewinder.

www.sportworks.com/stbob.asp

Sportworks has THE best roof rack on the market. As of last year at InterBike they now offer the same set up for tandems. The "U2" rack will fit on either Thule (that's what I'm using) or Yak load bars.

We've been using the U2 since March and have no complaints. The cool factor of this rack is 1.) One person can load the tandem by themself. 2.) No wheels are removed. 3.) The rack does not contact the bike anywhere other than the rubber of the tires so, no worries about paint damage.

My wife is 5'7" and can load our Co-Motion on her Explorer all by herself. It's kind of hard for her to do as her vehicle sits up pretty high but, if she had to she could. I'm 6' and have no problem loading at all by myself on her Explorer and I can do it in under a minute or two. Since you dont take wheels off there is nothing to it. If you are going to use this on a car it'd be easy for anyone over 5' tall

Check it out, you'll be glad you did!

Thanks guys! I've passed on your info to my LBG. He's not too computer literate and I've helped him out on occasion when he had a virus.

At any rate, from the info you supplied and the info I discovered (basically the same through google), he has enough to work with.

The bike racks on the roof with the hydraulic assist seems like a great idea and is probably what I saw years ago at a car show.

Thanks! Dave

Hello Dave,
I have the same problem sourcing for a tandem rack in Malaysia. It cost way too much for me to import a tandem rack from States and one of my riding tandem buddy decided to fabricate one. It will be posted on my web site once it is ready. I have a page on tandem and bicycle fabrication. Refer to link

http://www.geocities.com/cyclingmala...ful_fabric.htm

The type of carrier I like best loads the tandem flat on the roof.
The carrier hangs at the side of the car for loading, the carrier is then slid onto the roof bars.

Try Honley Cycles, 47 Bradshaw Road, Honley, Huddersfield, HD9 6DX UK +44(0)1484 661672

Tandem Lift by BTS. This is a gas strut lift.
Try www.sjscycles.com

Another type is made by Neilo +44(0)1460 72329

I have no commercial interests in these companies.
E-mail me if you want anymore info.
www.tandem-club.org.uk

I am also in the market for a tandem hauling system that will also carry a single bike or two at the same time.

During this past week's RAGBRAI event, we met our "team" at a certain location and drove to the beginning of the route. Then at the end town, we loaded up our bikes and drove back to where we all had met a week earlier. Anyway, the team leader just loaded our tandem bikes up on a normal single bike rear rack on the back of his van (where the bikes hang by two positions of the top tube), turned the front wheel around and roped it to the frame. This was one of those rear racks that clips on to the rain gutter of the old van's roof, the sides of the rear door and under the bumper. He said the rack costs less than $75. After thinking through some of the expensive Yakima and ATOC solutions - it all seemed so simple and easy with this uncomplicated and inexpensive rear rack. I was surprised that the tandems even fit the width (granted he had an old wide Dodge Ram van), but wondered if anyone here uses some sort of a rear hitch or rear rack on their vehicle designed for any sort of bike and has good success with it. Since we now tool around in a Mercury Villager mini-van, mounting something on the rear (which would involve installing a hitch) might be the most practical thing for us. I have a Yakima roof rack on our Honda Accord station wagon that could accept some of the standard tandem trays and there seems to be no shortage of solutions to meet that need (except for the $$$$$), but I need a rear solution for the mini-van since that is the vehicle we will be taking on longer trips and bringing bikes that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

That link that Mark provided to the Badger Bike Racks looks like it can be used in the vertical or horizontal method. The one picture of the pick-up truck and the tandem mounted on the hitch mount rear rack shows that the width is not a problem for that type of vehicle. My question is if one is using the hitch mounted rear rack system, why would one need the Badger used in the way it is shown behind the pick-up truck with the tandem loaded in the tray? Why not simply use a rear hitch rack that has the tandem hanging from two positions of the top tube? Simply turn the front wheel around and tie it to the frame and off one could go. Or am I missing something?

BB

I just found this previous thread with regard to tandem racks and hauling tandems:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...threadid=17884

BB