Bike rack options?

L

lunaticrik

Well-known user
Sep 14, 2012
142
24
Telford, Shropshire
Hi all

I suppose it's next to impossible to find a bike rack that fits a Cougar (the rear mount sort).. does anyone know how any which fit ideally to carry 2 bikes?

Failing that the roof mounted ones... but I bet the roof bars are next to impossible to find? Unless any of you lot have got any lying around? lol

Cheers
 
Not Cougar specific advice, but you can't beat roof carrying for bicycles, if you're a burly trouser-wearing bloke man up and lift the bikes up and down.

Rear carrying is all well and good until you a) need to open the boot and can't b) end up fitting electrics to use a trailer board!
 
Rik, you can get bike racks which fit between the ball and flange of a towbar using longer bolts but that obviously requires the fitting of a towbar.
IIRC Paul (Procomm) had a set of roof bars for sale a while ago; I don't know if they went though.
 
Just to add, if you do get roofbars go for either OE or Thule* if they're available, don't fall for the "one-size-fits-none" sets, they're truly horrendous.

*Thule is pronounced too-la as I'm reguarly reminded by my close friend who works for them!
 
Towbar every time. Hatch ones are better than they were, roof mounts are pro looking and easy to use but not so good for fuel consumption :)
 
If I want to take the bikes out I use my other car.
Never seen the point in buying something that needs a remodel to make it practical.
Learned the hard way with a Rover 75 when after a muddy trip out, the mud and grit dropped down between the bodywork the pads and straps on a Halfords cycle carrier.
Scratched the car to bits.
Lesson learned though.
Roof bars seem way forward as can't imagine why someone would buy a Cougar then want to fit a tow bar.
Just saying.
 
funwoody said:
If I want to take the bikes out I use my other car.
Never seen the point in buying something that needs a remodel to make it practical.
Learned the hard way with a Rover 75 when after a muddy trip out, the mud and grit dropped down between the bodywork the pads and straps on a Halfords cycle carrier.
Scratched the car to bits.
Lesson learned though.
Roof bars seem way forward as can't imagine why someone would buy a Cougar then want to fit a tow bar.
Just saying.
Click to expand...

I made that mistake with a Passat. Scratched to hell:devilish:

I need to put a towbar on, or I won't be able to get a caravan:LOL:
 
Buy a Cougar to tow a caravan????
I think your missing the point.
Just because they have big engines......
If I was you I would buy something more suitable.
It's like buying a Ferrari to do your months grocery shopping.
At least the Cougar has a big boot.
It would also be worth considering towing weights.
I would be amazed if, due to the car weight, it would be okay for anything larger than a trailer tent.
Remember, the idea is to be well below Max if you want to stay safe and not trash your motor.
Just saying.
 
funwoody said:
Buy a Cougar to tow a caravan????
I think your missing the point.
Just because they have big engines......
If I was you I would buy something more suitable.
It's like buying a Ferrari to do your months grocery shopping.
At least the Cougar has a big boot.
It would also be worth considering towing weights.
I would be amazed if, due to the car weight, it would be okay for anything larger than a trailer tent.
Remember, the idea is to be well below Max if you want to stay safe and not trash your motor.
Just saying.
Click to expand...
I want to agree with you, I mean, I really want to agree with you.

For me, no I could never fit a fixed towbar on a car like a Cougar, frankly it looks daft and, hell, just plain no. You're pushing an open door with me on that one totally, completely and utterly.

But, and I stress I've never towed with a Cougar but I can't see why it shouldn't be a reasonably capable towcar, the 2.0 would be hard work I image but the V6 is a fairly torquey beast, it's geared towards nice bolts of lower-down torque, it's a pretty weighty car with a reasonably wide track and a wheel in each corner; it'll do the job admirably.

I towed my last caravan with an Astra SportHatch CDTi and despite getting odd looks from the Range Rover brigade everywhere I arrived with it, it did the job admirably - until it spat 6th gear out one day, but they all do that in the end towing or not. That was towing it right on the limit too, never had any control issues with it and it pulled considerably better than some more mighty towcars I've used.

I do have a dedicated car for towing/camping/dogs though, when I had my Cougar I still towed with the Astra as I couldn't brave a towbar hanging out the back of it. Whatever car I have I personally always fit detatchables too.

..... and that's what I did this afternoon.... Should anybody want to do it on an A4 Avant, my answer is a resounding "pay somebody else..."
 
Well that escalated quickly lol

Well it's all fitted and is working great... getting funny looks round town but the old Cougar does the job just as well as any other car would :D

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Off to find some off-road action!

Nice one(y)


Edit - of course I'd tow a caravan with a Cougar, simply to be perverse.
I saw a Ferrari Daytona hacking up the A34 one day, red faded to pink in patches, dirty and with a old sit-up-and-beg bike on a rack on the back. Awesome(y)
 
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