Forums

grout20

Hi

The maximum width of our motorhome (in old money Smile

) is 96 inches wide measured from the outer edges of the wing mirrors.

Our motorhome BODY is 82 inches wide across the body at the back, where we have a bike rack attached.

Our TANDEM bike is 90 inches long measured from the front edge of the front tyre to rear egde of rear tyre ...... SO .....
when the tandem is on the bike rack it pokes out 4 inches each side of the body (With me so far?! Wink

We'll display a red/white striped Fiamma sign on the back of the bike rack, like many do, and I was also thinking I could put some yellow reflective material on the outer edges of the tyres as well.

In any case I'd hope other drivers may just notice a b****y big motorhome with a tandem on the back Smile

.... BUT ....

1. The wing mirrors can "fold back" in any incident
2. The bike/wheel/tyre would not!! Wink

Anyone else carry a tandem on their bike rack? or anyone know if we'd be committing a motoring offence in any of UK, France or Switzerland when we go in August?

I can always take the front wheel off each time we load up but just hoping to avoid the need! Smile

All advice appreciated

cheers

john

Grizzly

This might help:

clodhopper2006

The way we do it is to slip the timing chain off the front crank then sit the bike resting the bottom tube across the carrier bars (not on a rail) The bars are lagged to prevent chaffing. Then with the wheel turned fully to the right the bike does not protrude at all.

Bob

StAubyns

Passed a motorhome today with a tandem on the back.

He obviously had your problem, because he had removed the front wheel.

regards

Geoff

Hymer_Bay

Hi John,

I had exactly that issue last year and some impatient person squeezing past on the narrow road up to the start of the Cares Gorge walk in Northern Spain, clipped the front wheel! Thankfully no damage despite a jolt we could feel, but made me decide on a better plan this year. I did try turning the front wheel through 90 degrees but it the vehicle length is increased and still comes pretty much level with the sides of our Hymer BE694. As it is a long m/H with a lot of overhang over the back wheels, (the back swings out a scary amount on tight turns), it raised the possibility of side-swiping something with the front wheel. That considered, I have given in and I had some brackets custom made and will take the front wheel out and stow it in a locker. I have not tried it on a trip yet but the initial fit and look is fine, but one problem is lining up the calliper on the front disc again, so it doesn't sound too much like a mobile bacon-slicer.

I considered vertical mounting and hoisting it up onto the roof but discarded both ideas as excessively whacky and difficult to execute.

Hope this helps.

Simon

tuvalu

Hi
I have a Dawes tandem on my Fiat van conversion. Front wheel is turned 90 degrees and its not quiet as wide as the wing mirrors. Have done about 5000 miles in UK & France with tandem on the back. No problems.

Regards
phil

grout20

Thanks for all advice and comments folks! Smile

I asked at my local police station about this who advised if the tandem wheel/tyre edges only stick out a few inches that should not be a problem, but suggested putting some reflective material/reflectors on the outside edge of the bike tyres.

The "red & white striped reflective square thingy" from Fiamma is a good idea but the additional reflective bits were to (e.g) aid motorcyclists Shocked

I hope that any motorcyclist whose eyesight means he/she is THAT close to my 7metre long shiny motorhome gets an eyetest soon....!

So two bits of velcro on some reflective jacket off-cuts will be decorating my tandem v soon.

Probably need to make some spares.... I bet some rascal nicks them!! Laughing

Cheers

john

gerardjanice

Those travelling to Spain with a motorcycle or any sort of rear carrier need to be aware of new Spanish regulations regarding overhanging loads on non-goods vehicles. There is no side overhang permitted. See link;