Post Tagged with: "safety"

Anyone driving with a rear-mounted bike rack on their car must comply with certain legal regulations. In Germany, the Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) and the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO) stipulate how a rear-mounted bike rack may be used. The basic principle is that the rack and the bicycles being transported must not impair road safety. This means they must be firmly and securely mounted so that they cannot come loose or slip during the journey.

Increase visibility with appropriate lighting on your rear bike carrier

An important factor for safe riding with a rear bike carrier is the visibility of the lights and license plate. Obscuring the taillights, turn signals, or license plate with the carrier is not permitted, so an additional light bar with all required lighting functions and a license plate holder is mandatory. The license plate must always be clearly legible and properly illuminated. In Germany, a third, so-called repeater license plate should also be used on the rear bike carrier for this purpose; this plate must match the official license plate number.

Pay attention to the dimensions

The (new) dimensions of the vehicle are also relevant when using a rear-mounted bike rack. In Germany, the load may extend a maximum of 1.5 meters beyond the rear of the vehicle. For journeys under 100 kilometers, this overhang can be increased to up to 3 meters, in which case special markings with flags are required. The total width of the vehicle, including the rack and bicycles, must not exceed 2.55 meters. Care must always be taken to ensure that no sharp edges or protruding parts endanger other road users.

Caution regarding speed!

In Germany, there is no general legal speed limit for driving with a rear-mounted bike rack. The manufacturer’s specifications for both the rack and the vehicle are decisive. Many manufacturers recommend a maximum speed of 120 or 130 km/h.

This applies outside of Germany 

In other EU countries, regulations may differ. For example, in Italy and Spain, a red and white warning panel is mandatory whenever cargo protrudes to the rear. This also applies to bicycles on a rear carrier. Austria may also have marking requirements, and in France, the visibility of license plates and lights is particularly strictly monitored.

Anyone traveling with a rear-mounted bike rack, both domestically and internationally, should therefore inform themselves about the respective national regulations before starting their journey in order to avoid fines and safety risks.

To transport bicycles safely and comfortably, a rear-mounted bike rack is the most practical solution. There are various mounting options for transporting bicycles, which differ depending on the vehicle type and the rear-mounted bike rack model. Generally, rear-mounted bike racks are attached either to the tailgate, the trunk lid, the spare tire, or – most commonly and safely – to the trailer hitch.

Safe on the road: The towbar-mounted bike carrier

The simplest way to transport bikes is by mounting a towbar-mounted bike carrier. This solution is considered particularly convenient and user-friendly. With this type of mounting, the carrier is placed directly onto the tow ball of the towbar. Installation is tool-free: The carrier is placed on the tow ball and then secured – depending on the model – with a tension lever or, for example, a clamping device. Modern systems now feature an integrated locking mechanism that prevents the carrier from coming loose while driving and also protects it against theft.

A major advantage of towbar-mounted bike racks is their versatility. They easily accommodate multiple bicycles, often including e-bikes, and are generally quite easy to load, especially when using loading ramps. Furthermore, such a rack sits very securely on the vehicle, significantly reducing the impact on handling compared to other mounting methods. Many models are also foldable, allowing access to the trunk even when loaded.

When mounting, ensure that the tow ball of the trailer hitch is clean and free of grease, otherwise the clamp will not engage reliably. To mount, place the rear bike carrier onto the tow ball and engage the clamping mechanism so that the carrier securely grips the ball. After mounting, the carrier should be firmly secured and checked for tightness. Only then should the bicycles be placed in the designated rails and secured.

Alternatively: Mounting on the tailgate or the spare wheel

One option is a rear-mounted bike rack. This is attached to the top and bottom edges of the tailgate or trunk lid using straps and hooks. The straps must be pulled taut so that the rack fits as securely as possible against the vehicle. It is particularly important to protect any contact points between the rack and the car with protective film or rubber bumpers to prevent any paint damage. This transport solution is relatively inexpensive and flexible, but often has a limited load capacity and is not suitable for every vehicle.
Another option is a rear-mounted spare tire carrier, which is primarily used on SUVs or vehicles with an externally mounted spare tire. The carrier is mounted directly onto the spare tire and secured with screws. This option is stable, but only suitable for vehicles with a compatible design.

The most frequently asked question for our customer service is probably about the detachable towbar and whether it must be removed when not in use. First of all, it’s important to note: There are no legal regulations regarding whether a detachable towbar must be removed when not in use and no trailer is attached. There are no regulations regarding this, nor are there any fines to expect.

One argument for removing the towbar, however, is that many people find it annoying because it gets in the way when not in use. Second, it is necessary to remove the tow bar whenever it would obscure the vehicle’s license plate. This is not permitted on public roads.

The removable towbar in the event of an accident

In 2023, 2.5 million traffic accidents were recorded in Germany. This includes minor accidents and rear-end collisions, which often occur even at low speeds. If you haven’t removed your towbar, the towbar is also important in the event of an accident. The installed tow bar also changes the overall length of the vehicle, a factor that shouldn’t be overlooked. With a longer trailer, you’re likely to collide with another vehicle when maneuvering or parking, and even minor damage can occur.

In the event of a rear-end collision, an installed towbar can cause significant damage to the vehicle behind you. The protruding tow bar impacts the vehicle behind you with greater pressure at specific points. Depending on the angle, speed, and location of the impact, the damage to the vehicle varies. Even at low speeds, fenders are often dented or frames are distorted. In a collision without a trailer hitch, the force is distributed more evenly, so the damage is usually less.

Relevant for the insurance

So far, there are no official details or regulations from standard insurance companies regarding this either. However, since the risk of accidents and the extent of damage change with a trailer hitch that is not removed, insurance companies may assume an increased operational risk. This can lead to the vehicle owner being held jointly liable, and you may be asked to pay. There is still no official information on this.

Important to note: Replacing the towbar

If you are involved in a rear-end collision and the rear of your vehicle, including the towbar, is affected, you must absolutely replace the entire towbar. The impact from the other vehicle can damage the towbar, making it impossible to tow a trailer. Even small hairline cracks can be relevant.

After your trailer ride, your trailer must be safely “stowed away” again. We have put together a few tips for you on parking, uncoupling and securing the trailer, which you should pay attention to when parking the trailer.

This is how you park your trailer

Reversing with a trailer can be a bit difficult at times. As always, it is easiest when you have someone to instruct you. And: practice makes perfect. Reversing works best when you know your team really well and can assess how the trailer will react to your steering movements.
Before parking, you should make sure that the space or gap where the trailer is to be parked is large enough and that there are no obstacles in the way. You should also have enough space in front of you for maneuvering. Clear possible obstacles – if  necessary – out of the way and look for landmarks in advance that you can have a good view of when reversing and help you to position the trailer.

If, for example, you have to hit a gap in a number of other trailers, it can be helpful if you are already trying to move the trailer as close as possible to the gap when you are driving forward so that you don’t have to go as far in reverse. In principle, think in advance what you can already consider when driving forwards in order to make it easier for you to drive backwards. Always avoid hectic steering movements. It is better to stop once too much than too little to make sure that everything fits and that you can get the trailer to stop exactly where you want it to be.

Safety first

When you have parked the trailer, you should first make sure that the trailer is secured and prevent it from rolling away as soon as you have released it from the towing vehicle. Use wheel chocks for this and be sure to tighten the trailer’s brake as a first step. Then dissolve the electronic connection between the trailer and the towing vehicle and clear the trailer’s power cable in the receptacle that is often provided for it. Then crank the trailer’s support wheel down and lift the trailer off the trailer hitch. Only as the last step do you loosen the breakaway cable. This is an important point in your hanging out routine and a final safeguard to prevent the trailer from rolling away. Only loosen the breakaway cable if you are sure that you have completed all the other steps beforehand and that the trailer is safe and secure and, above all, cannot roll away.

You are about to start your first trip with the trailer, but you have not yet attached it yourself? We have a few tips for you and explain the most important steps for securely and easily attaching your trailer.

Driving to the trailer backwards

When approaching the trailer, you should focus on precision and take your time. First, pay attention to where your trailer is. For example, is there a enough space left and right and behind the trailer? Are there possible obstacles that you should not only have in the back of your head, but should also be cleared out of the way beforehand? It is of course easiest if you have a helper whom you can place beside the trailer and who will then instruct you. But even without a helper, you can attach the trailer by yourself with a little practice.

Make sure that you drive as straight as possible in front of the trailer and that your trailer hitch is positioned as centrally as possible towards the trailer. With a little practice, you can also identify landmarks on the trailer that will help you to center the towing vehicle backwards towards the trailer.

You should be careful not to drive too fast. Especially when you are alone, it is better to slowly make your way towards the trailer than to risk a dent in the back of your car. A mark on the ground may help you to better estimate the distance so that you don’t have to get out of the car to check the remaining distance to the trailer. A mirror that you mount on the trailer or a rear-view camera for your vehicle (if this is not part of the equipment already, the camera can also be retrofitted) will help you approach the trailer.

Attaching the trailer

The time has come, your towing vehicle is centered in front of the drawbar of the trailer. Now you slowly crank the support wheel down, making sure that you hit the trailer hitch on the towing vehicle as precisely as possible. On some trailers, cranking down is hindered by the trailer’s parking brake. You should only solve the parking brake once you have made sure that the trailer cannot roll forwards or backwards. It is best to use wheel chocks if you have to release the parking brake early.

If you have cranked the trailer down so far that it is in contact with the towbar, the trailer may jump onto the towbar by itself and lock into place. If this is not the case, you lift the lever on the ball coupling slightly and use it to open the trailer coupling so that you can place the trailer on the trailer coupling and attach it. When you let go of the lever, the ball hitch lock should automatically click into place. To be sure that the lock has worked, you can crank the support wheel up a little. If the trailer does not detach from the towbar, everything is locked correctly.

Security check: Is everything correct?

With the locking of the ball coupling on the trailer coupling, you have already passed the first security check. Then you attach the breakaway cable and plug in the plug for the power connection between the towing vehicle and the trailer. Now all you have to do is check the support wheel and, if necessary, bring it into its parking position, release the trailer’s brake, remove any wedges and you can drive out of the trailer’s parking space. Also, briefly make sure that all lamps and indicators on the trailer are working correctly. Then you are ready for your journey.

You can read about how to correctly secure your load when driving a trailer in our blog post.

It’s slowly getting nicer outside and you can take a ride on the bikes. Even a more distant round can be easily taken into account with a short transport of the bicycles. Rear bike racks are best for transporting the bikes. What do you have to pay attention to with your rear bike carrier?

The number of bikes in transport

With each rear bike carrier model, it is precisely specified how many bikes can be transported with it. On the one hand, every bicycle must have its own rail on the carrier, as this is the only way to ensure secure attachment. On the other hand, the number of bicycles is also relevant in terms of weight. After all, the rear bicycle racks are not only designed and tested for a certain number of bicycles, but also for their weight. If, for example, baskets or bags are still attached to your bicycles, it may be advisable to remove them in terms of weight.

The compatibility of the trailer hitch

Rear bike racks, which have a quick-release fastener for mounting on the towbar, are very easy to use. You can also see this in our German video.

As a rule, such closures are compatible with the common towbars, so that there are no problems for you.
If you don’t have a trailer hitch, you can of course also attach a bike rack to your tailgate or, for example, transport the bikes on the roof.

Loading and securing the load on the rear bike rack

Safe loading is also very important for a safe journey. As already mentioned above, you should always keep an eye on the permitted values ​​for load and weight. Also make sure that you always secure the bikes well. On the rear bicycle racks from our shop, fastening devices are provided in the wheel shells as well as a device for fastening to the frame of the bicycle. In this way, your bike will be fixed in three places. You should attach the fastenings tightly and – if possible – lock them so that everything is lashed as well as possible. At the same time, everything that is attached to the bike (such as bags or baskets) should be removed. These items are often bulky and prevent the bikes from being securely attached to the rear bicycle rack.

If you load your trailer, you may have to attach a warning sign to the trailer, of course this must be done before the journey. But in which cases is a sign required and what should it look like?

Red flag as a warning sign in the event of a towering load

The maximum length for your team is specified in the road traffic regulations and must not exceed 20.75 meters. At the same time, the width and height are also defined and important values ​​that you should consider when driving. With the exception of agricultural and forestry vehicles, normal vehicles and their cargo must not be wider than 2.5 meters and not higher than 4 meters. The load must not protrude to the front, this is only allowed for vehicles that are higher than 2.5 meters. But even then, the load may only protrude forward by half a meter.

If you are transporting cargo that protrudes to the rear, an overhang of 1.5 meters is still permitted. However, loads that protrude more than 1 meter beyond the reflector must be labeled. For this you need a red flag. This must be 30×30 cm. A red, cylindrical body with a diameter of 35 cm is also permitted. You have to attach both below a height of 1.5 meters so that it is visible to the following drivers in traffic.

Warning signs for trailers and rear bike carriers

If your trailer is too long, red and white warning signs are required. When you buy a new trailer, these are in most cases pre-assembled. Otherwise you can reorder them online.

Such warning signs are also compulsory in some countries when using the rear bicycle rack. In Spain and Italy for example, you have to mount a warning sign on the rear bike rack. This is also red and white, square and usually made of aluminum. If you do not mount the warning sign and are checked at a traffic control, you will be charged a penalty. Since the regulations for these warning signs are not uniformly regulated across the EU, you should definitely inform yourself before going on holiday abroad in order to avoid these sometimes sensitive penalties.

What should you pay attention to as part of an annual check-up – regardless of whether you travel a lot with the trailer or whether you drive less with it? We have put together the most important points for the annual check-up of your towbar, after all, your towbar accompanies you all year round and in the true sense of the word.

For detachable towbars: cleaning the mount

If you have a detachable trailer hitch, then rinse the coupling for the towing hitch, i.e. the sleeve into which you insert the ball rod during assembly, once a year with some water. There used to be a so-called protective plug that prevented the sleeve from being contaminated. This plug is no longer required due to a product optimization of the intake. A simple rinse is sufficient, as the holder is now designed in such a way that, in principle, significantly less dirt can adhere to it.

If you’ve been off-road, of course, after such a trip you should take a look at the towbar anyway, rinse it off briefly and, if necessary, check whether there are any small branches or mud crusts in the mount.

Functional test of the removable and swiveling towbar at the check-up

If you travel a lot with the trailer or the rear bike carrier, then you already use your trailer hitch a lot and use all functions regularly. However, if you have not used the trailer hitch for a longer period of time, it is advisable to assemble and disassemble both a detachable and a swiveling towbar from time to time. In this way you can rule out that processes may no longer go well or that something gets stuck in the automatic system of the towbar. This is also good for the lock of the trailer hitch, at the same time you know your way around the product better and are prepared for every journey.

Where is the spare key?

If you order a trailer coupling, we will supply you with two keys with every detachable and swiveling trailer coupling. These are for the theft protection of the towbar. One of the two keys is intended as a spare key. You should keep it in a fixed place and best of all with a key fob, as the keys have a red handle, but are still quite small.

Remove the trailer coupling when not in use and stow it safely

If you do not use your towbar, it is advisable to always remove it or to fold it in with the swiveling towbar. A rigid towbar naturally remains on the vehicle. By removing it, you reduce the risk of damage to the trailer coupling in the event of a possible rear-end collision. Otherwise the towbar would have to be completely replaced, and many insurance companies also require the trailer hitch to be folded in or removed when not in use.

To safely stow the detachable ball rod, we provide you with a practical bag in which you can store the ball bar in the trunk, for example. Make sure that the towball cannot fly around in the trunk, for example when driving or braking.

A slippery road surface often makes driving with a trailer difficult, with autumn there is now more moisture and leaves on the road surface, so it can quickly become slippery. It is not only important to let your trailer hitch “hibernate” accordingly in autumn, but also to prepare yourself for the trip with the trailer in foliage and cold weather. We have put together the most important points for such trips on slippery roads for you.

Appropriate coupling

Before each trip with the trailer, you should take a careful look. Is the trailer hitch correctly installed? Is the detachable ball rod correctly engaged and locked? Is the trailer also correctly positioned on the ball bar and also engaged? Has the tear rope been attached correctly? Once all these points have been worked through, you are at least a little bit closer to the trip with the trailer. In principle, the points mentioned should of course not only be checked when driving on slippery roads and in cold weather and leaves on the roads, but before each trip. Your safety and that of other road users is particularly important and can quickly be adversely affected by a detached trailer.

Check lighting – before driving

Before driving with the trailer, make sure that the lighting of the trailer and the electronics are checked. Do all turn signals work? Especially when driving in the dark, it is very important that you are seen and safely participate in road traffic.

Slippery road surface: the right tires are essential

Winter tires are mandatory for motor vehicles and enable safe driving in wet, frost and snow and also on a slipper road. For the trailer, you should also make sure that it is correctly and above all frosted. Otherwise, a slippery road quickly becomes an unwanted adventure. Depending on where your journey takes you or where you are traveling, snow chains are also a sensible investment for the trailer. Make absolutely sure that it is ensured as far as possible that the trailer and the towing vehicle cannot slip.

Pay attention to the speed on a slipper road

As with all trips with a trailer, you should always make sure that you keep to the permissible maximum speed. This is not only important to avoid possible fines, but also to ensure the safest possible ride in the rain and wet or frost.

Secure cargo

It is clear that the load must be secured against slipping on every trip in order to prevent the trailer from swaying as far as possible. Should you get stuck in the snow, for example, then you can use a sensibly planned and loaded load to your advantage and rearrange it so that you can easily free yourself from the situation. For everything, safety always comes first. For the transported goods as well as for the whole team!

Before driving with the trailer, it is important to also deal with the cargo. Finally, this can affect the driving behavior of the trailer. If you’ve gone through the checklist, you’ll also be dealing with the cargo and loading it within the trailer. Maybe you have already loaded the trailer, but maybe you also have to accommodate some parts. It is important to be clear about a few points. The center of gravity of the trailer is usually centered, slightly ahead of the axle. It is important when loading not only to know where the center of gravity is, but also to plan it when distributing the load. Above all, you should pay attention to distribute the load evenly at the center of gravity and around the center of gravity. Better you load the goods a little further forward than too far behind. If you overload the rear part, there will be a negative vertical load, which can cause the team to skid during the ride.

In addition, you should make sure that large, heavy cargo pieces are stored as far down the ground as possible. A lying cabinet is easier to transport than a standing, finally, this cabinet springs from movements and can move its own focus unintentionally, for example, when driving around a curve. On the other hand, if the cabinet is transported horizontally, the center of gravity of the cabinet is also significantly lower, significantly reducing the handling of the trailer and the entire yoke. It is also important that you always secure your cargo well. Lashing straps and nets are a good way to secure loads, and in the worst case, even the smallest of loads can become dangerous missiles. Even cartons with books in a move are heavy and can adversely affect the trailer, so you should load them in the trailer safely so that the range of motion is limited, in case of doubt, it is best to use safety straps.