Transporting e-bike over 50 kg on the tow bar

[VAG]

Hello everyone,

I have a tow bar on my MG4 Luxury and I would like to find a way to transport 2 x e-bikes that weight each 23 kg.
I am aware about the 50 kg on vertical load limitation, on the tow bar.

In my case, the Thule bike holder weights 20 kg, so in total I'll have (2 x 23 kg) + 20 kg = 66 kg instead of 50.
Even if I remove the batteries, I could never be able to reach the limit of 50.

Has anyone any experience on it and any eventual solution?

 

[Tight Git]

The only correct answer would be to transport them using a trailer or put one of them inside or on a roofrack

 

[Tig170]

Hello everyone,

I have a tow bar on my MG4 Luxury and I would like to find a way to transport 2 x e-bikes that weight each 23 kg.
I am aware about the 50 kg on vertical load limitation, on the tow bar.

In my case, the Thule bike holder weights 20 kg, so in total I'll have (2 x 23 kg) + 20 kg = 66 kg instead of 50.
Even if I remove the batteries, I could never be able to reach the limit of 50.

Has anyone any experience on it and any eventual solution?

I've a 3 bike carrier from Thule, never had an issue (albeit not on the MG4) in the past 15 years, just give the bolt an extra tighten on the hitch (maybe test it with your self weight before you set off)

 

[VAG]

Thank you for your answers.
The Thule of course can handle the 2 e-bikes, I already carried them on a previous car.
Putting one e-bike inside the car can be an option, I need to test if there is room enough.
On the roof I would like to avoid, as it seems more tricky and will also generate a lot of drag, increasing the consumption.
The trailer on the back seems to be quite expensive as a solution and not easy to handle at destination, at least in my case.
I know that people already carry successfully 2 e-bikes on a ZS-EV, which is also limited at 50 kg of vertical load.

 

[DixieTGS]

If you have quick releases on the saddles and wheels, is there any combination of moving these inside that would still allow the bikes to mount safely on the rack?

 

[VAG]

Yes, I could win some weight by removing the front wheels, but the bikes are attached standing on the wheels. This is something that I need to check. The saddles do not have a quick release unfortunately.

 

[tsedge]

There will be considerable margin on the 50kg rating and many people will be completely unaware of it any way and simply attach whatever bike rack and bikes they have.

Officially you shouldn't exceed it and it could have insurance consequences if you do and then there's an accident due to the excess load.

But ultimately the choice is yours.

 

[DixieTGS]

The saddles do not have a quick release unfortunately.

Probably just an allen key to release so would only take 30s to remove. I wouldn't bother though as a saddle with seatpost is well under 1kg (unless you have a bag full of tools hung under it).

 

[Tight Git]

Most e-bikes (MTB) now have dropper posts so not so easy to remove due to cables.

 

[VAG]

Indeed, removing the saddles will not make significant weight win and sometimes because of all these cables it is not easy to do.
I am thinking about finding a way to reinforce somehow the assembly to relieve the whole weight from being on the tow bar.

 

[mikgle]

Can roof bars be attached to an MG4? sorry it doesnt answer your question but I would be interested. Also, a small trailer is not necessarily that expensive, I used to have one but not anymore..

 

[tsedge]

Can roof bars be attached to an MG4? sorry it doesnt answer your question but I would be interested. Also, a small trailer is not necessarily that expensive, I used to have one but not anymore..

Officially no, they haven't certified the car for a roof load in the UK except for the ER and XPower models (50kg). It is a paperwork exercise only I believe.

That hasn't stopped people doing it and the exact same car (SE/Trophy) is certified in Europe for a roof load.

It may or may not matter to your insurer, so worth talking to them. Some have been fine with it so long as the carried equipment (ie rails/roof box) comply with safety requirements.

It would be inadvisable to not tell/consult with them, in the case of an accident you could be uninsured and have full liability including for third parties.

 

[bileva]

Can roof bars be attached to an MG4? sorry it doesnt answer your question but I would be interested. Also, a small trailer is not necessarily that expensive, I used to have one but not anymore..

Roof suction cup bike mount?

https://amzn.eu/d/iKKKuFm

 

[llumpy1]

Hello everyone,

I have a tow bar on my MG4 Luxury and I would like to find a way to transport 2 x e-bikes that weight each 23 kg.
I am aware about the 50 kg on vertical load limitation, on the tow bar.

In my case, the Thule bike holder weights 20 kg, so in total I'll have (2 x 23 kg) + 20 kg = 66 kg instead of 50.
Even if I remove the batteries, I could never be able to reach the limit of 50.

Has anyone any experience on it and any eventual solution?

Hi
I got a tow bar mounted rack for our e bikes from The Roof Box Company great scorpion XL. Work well and fold up and tilts.

 

[mikgle]

Officially no, they haven't certified the car for a roof load in the UK except for the ER and XPower models (50kg). It is a paperwork exercise only I believe.

That hasn't stopped people doing it and the exact same car (SE/Trophy) is certified in Europe for a roof load.

It may or may not matter to your insurer, so worth talking to them. Some have been fine with it so long as the carried equipment (ie rails/roof box) comply with safety requirements.

It would be inadvisable to not tell/consult with them, in the case of an accident you could be uninsured and have full liability including for third parties.

Ah, like when the MG5 came out then.. initially no but later, yes.

 

[MG4ORR]

Hi
I got a tow bar mounted rack for our e bikes from The Roof Box Company great scorpion XL. Work well and fold up and tilts.

Hi. What model of and who fitted the tow ball and how much did that cost?

 

[PVperson]

Hello everyone,

I have a tow bar on my MG4 Luxury and I would like to find a way to transport 2 x e-bikes that weight each 23 kg.
I am aware about the 50 kg on vertical load limitation, on the tow bar.

In my case, the Thule bike holder weights 20 kg, so in total I'll have (2 x 23 kg) + 20 kg = 66 kg instead of 50.
Even if I remove the batteries, I could never be able to reach the limit of 50.

Has anyone any experience on it and any eventual solution?

I would say if you're not going great distances, it's not going to effect the handling of a 1.7t+ car that much, it doesn't exceed the hitch loading by much. you could put then on a roof carrier, then a short ladder will come in useful!

 

[DerekH]

Hi. What model of and who fitted the tow ball and how much did that cost?

I have an MG original towbar fitted to mine by MG at time of purchase. Haggled it, the v2l cable, mg4 car mats, rear bumper protection mat and the MG wall charger. All bundled came to $2,000 AUD. Not sure that helps as not sure what the tow bar component came to separately.

 

[ReintjeWA]

I have an MG original towbar fitted to mine by MG at time of purchase. Haggled it, the v2l cable, mg4 car mats, rear bumper protection mat and the MG wall charger. All bundled came to $2,000 AUD. Not sure that helps as not sure what the tow bar component came to separately.

From memory I think the MG OE towbar is $1000 AUD + fitment costs (nice and ambiguous)

 

[Maculate Quoll]

50kg is the max ball weight, and that’s normally specified around 10% of tow load for small vehicles. It’s a simple answer to a complex question.
I’d be looking at the amount of suspension sag, the vertical and horizontal stability of the bike carrier and your sense of the overall engineering of the tow bar.
You can do a short test drive. Take the batteries out of the bikes, they can weigh 4kg each.
How does the car feel when loaded like this? Is the steering good? Ground clearance OK? Is everything tight?
If you have any doubts then ditch the idea.