Do you want to escape from your motorhome or caravan for the day?
One of the easiest and most popular ways for campers to get around is by bicycle. It’s much easier than trying to drive an RV through a town or city. It’ll also help you get your bearings in your new destination while enjoying the great outdoors.
However, if you want to take your bikes with you on holiday, you’ll need a caravan bike carrier or rack. Avid cyclists understand the value of this purchase because it’s an easy way to carry your bikes while keeping your caravan clean and safe.
Let’s look at some of the best caravan bike racks in Australia now!
| Fiamma Carry Bike Caravan XL A 2 Bikes | Fiamma Carry Bike Pro C For Rear w/ Mount 2 bikes | Coast Super Bike Rack | Quick Fit XF2 Folding Bike Rack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | best for motorhomes  | Best Value  |  | |
Caravan A frame bike rack | Caravan bike rack rear | Bicycle roof rack | Bicycle towbar rack | |
35 kg | 60 kg | 15 kg | 60 kg | |
2 | 2-4 | 1 | 2 | |
5.3 kg | 10 kg | 2.9 kg | 17 kg | |
1 year | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year |
Best Caravan Bike Racks Australia
Fiamma Carry Bike Caravan XL A 2 Bikes
Honourable Mention
This caravan A frame bike rack is a convenient option.
It’s easy to install and fits easily onto the A frame of your van. Meanwhile, it has a pivoting frame so you can access the storage compartment underneath. It’s unobtrusive and compact as long as there are no gas bottles in the way.
The Fiamma Carry Bike Rack can hold up to two bikes with a max load capacity of 35kg. We should note that there are other styles of bike racks that can handle up to 60kg. However, that’s the compromise that you have to make with an A-frame rack.
One issue with this product is that Fiamma doesn’t provide the best instructions. However, that isn’t a slight on the bike rack itself.
Meanwhile, you need to shop around for this one. The discrepancy in prices is quite staggering. It can cost anywhere from $200 to $400 with a 1 year warranty.
If you can source it for close to the lower end of the price range then it’s worth it. But I don’t recommend spending almost four hundred bucks on it.
Fiamma Carry Bike Pro C For Rear w/ Mount 2 bikes
Best For Motorhomes
Fiamma also designed a rear-mounted bike rack that is specifically designed for motorhomes. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely to be suitable for most caravans due to the weight and style.
However, RV and campervan owners will appreciate this caravan bike carrier. The basic rack can hold two bikes. It’s simple to install and has an impressive 60kg maximum weight capacity.
Simply mount the rack beneath the rear window of the RV. It requires a mounting space of 40-50cm.
Furthermore, it’s possible to upgrade this rack to hold four bikes if you purchase an optional kit with extra rails and support arms. This could be useful if you have growing children who will have their own bikes in the future.
There’s no pretending that it’s not expensive. But it’s not unreasonable either at close to $500. The ability to upgrade this bike rack is a definite advantage and the weight limit is great.
Coast Super Bike Rack
Best Value
The Coast Super Bike Rack is the cheapest in this guide but it’s arguably the best caravan bike rack available. It’s less than $100 and comes with a 1 year warranty, which just goes to show that spending loads of money doesn't always get you the best deal.
This roof-mounted rack is very light at just 2.9kg. It’s designed for upright assembly and is suitable for most bikes and tyre types. This is important because mountain bikes have chunkier wheels than touring bicycles.
Coast preassembles this rack for you so that removes a lot of stress and hassle. Meanwhile, the wheel holders are fully adjustable.
It even comes with extra mounting brackets so you have the option of putting it on your car roof. The load capacity is just 15kg and it’s only designed for a single bike. But even if you buy two of them, it’s still cheaper than all of the other options in this guide.
The main negative is that it’s only compatible with Jayco or Coast roof rack systems so it won’t work if you don’t have one of these.
Another issue is that some people may find it challenging to lift the bikes onto the roof. Bicycles are cumbersome so anybody with physical or mobility issues may struggle.
Quick Fit XF2 Folding Bike Rack
Best Premium Option
Quick Fit wanted to make the best caravan bike rack that money could buy.
They came up with the XF2 Folding rack. This system is very easy to set up and install. It relies on a patented quick connector that slots onto most tow bars.
Like most bike racks it holds up to two bikes. The XF2 also has a superior maximum weight capacity of 60kg which offers a lot of freedom. The advantage of this style is that it’s tiltable and foldable so it will never be in your way.
Quick Fit even supplies a carrier bag to stow it away when you’re not using it. Rest assured that this aluminium and coated steel carrier will last for a long time.
But it’s not perfect. Firstly, the weight of XF2 is slightly concerning. At 17kg, it’s by far the heaviest in this guide. That’s something to think about when it comes to your payload.
It’s also staggeringly expensive compared to the Coast Super Bike Rack. Even if you contrast it with the Fiamma Pro C it loses out because you can’t upgrade it. You’d also expect more than a 1 year warranty if you purchase something for over $600!
This is a premium, designer bike rack with a lot to like but you need to be an avid cyclist for it to represent good value.
Points To Consider When Buying A Caravan Bike Rack
Now let’s look at some important aspects you should think about before buying a caravan bike carrier. Check them out now!
Types of Caravan Bike Rack/Carrier
Let’s look at the pros and cons of the different styles of carriers so that you can buy the best caravan bike rack for your needs!
Caravan A-Frame Bike Rack:
A-frame mounted racks are very easy to install. As we saw with the Fiamma version above, newer models pivot so that you can access the storage compartment without taking the bikes down.
The main cons are that you need to have free space on the A-Frame. If a jockey wheel or gas bottle is blocking it, then you’ve got a problem. Another potential issue is that many of them have a lower max weight capacity and can only hold two bikes.
Rear-mounted Bike Racks:
This is another convenient option for motorhomes because they have a flat rear wall.
The advantage of these bike racks is that they tend to have a larger weight capacity. Some, like the Carry Bike Pro C, are upgradeable so that you can increase the load from two bikes to four.
They tend to be expensive but they’re a convenient option, especially for a family.
Just be aware that placing a rack and bikes here might obstruct vision on your reversing camera.
Roof-mounted Racks:
Roof-mounted racks are popular because they’re an inexpensive option. You can attach them to the roof of your car or even an RV trailer.
The main downside is that they can be awkward. Some users may find it difficult to lift a large bicycle onto the roof of a car. In sum, they’re not suitable for everybody.
Towbar Mounted Racks:
These are the most expensive option but they do bring a lot of conveniences. The frame mounts around your towbar so you can still pull your caravan. Even if you’re not camping, it’s still useful because you can just take your bikes out for the day.
You can tilt the frame out of the way when you want to access the boot of your vehicle. The main issue is that they are costly so you must use them a lot or it may feel like a wasted purchase.
This one is for serious cyclists.
No matter which type you go with, you may have to remove the carrier when the caravan is in storage if you want the caravan cover to fit snugly around your vehicle.
Weight
Weight is always an issue for caravan owners. Your bicycles and whatever rack you choose will affect your payload. Remember, A-Frame and towbar racks can adversely affect your overall noseweight.
The rack itself will also have a weight limit.
That’s why you should weigh your bikes before you make your purchase so you don’t inadvertently create problems for yourself. You don’t want to face issues with stability when you’re towing your caravan.
Use some caravan weight scales to check your load before setting off.
For more info, check out the Tasmanian government's advice on bike carriers and racks.
Growing Children
Six months is a long time when it comes to children. They will experience sporadic growth spurts which aren’t ideal if you’re buying new shoes or clothes for them. Unfortunately, it’s not a good idea to buy a bigger bike for them than they need.
But you can plan for the future by choosing a bike rack with a larger weight capacity because it will give you more options. The Fiamma Pro C is great in this regard because you can increase the limit from two bikes to four.
Cover Your Bikes
Protect your bikes from the elements and flying debris with a cover. It will also be a deterrent to would-be thieves when you’re parked up.
Electric Bikes
Remember that electric bicycles weigh more than standard bikes because of the battery pack. Always check your bikes’ weights before using a carrier.
Final Thoughts
A caravan bike rack is an essential accessory if you want to bring your bikes with you regularly.
Rear-mounted bike racks like the Fiamma Pro C are great for motorhomes because of their large capacities. They’re also unobtrusive which is great.
If you want to save money and have the capability to use a roof-mounted rack, the Coast Super Bike Rack is a great option. Admittedly this won’t be suitable for everybody but they represent great value.
Avid cyclists will appreciate the Quick Fit XF2. But it’s not worthwhile if you aren’t going to make regular use of it. Finally, A-frame racks like the Fiamma version are good for a couple of bikes but always check weight restrictions.
Please leave a comment below if you’ve any questions about these products or caravan bike carriers in general!
This article may contain affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you choose to purchase a product or service after clicking on my link. This helps pay for the cost of running the website. You will not be disadvantaged in any way by using my links.
Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.
