How can you get the bike on the pack rack?

I have done a couple of things. First I fiited a rack to the draw bar of the van and it worked great but I had to skew the patrol slightly to open the large door. Then we changed bikes and they dont fit to good on the carrier due to different sizes and frame shape. Now they go up on the roof rack and I have some fittings that hold the forks in place with the front wheel removed. They travel very well but I have to be wary of low tree branchs etc.

Getting them up and down I do manually as good bikes weigh bugger all. I load three up easily by climbing up, bike in one hand and hanging onto the vehicle with the other. So I have to do it three times. If on occasions I have another family member available it is even easier. Thule make a great carrier which negates the need to remove the front wheel however removing the front wheel lowers the height of the load.

Bikes are great things and they are one of the only items that you really get what you pay for. Kind of like skateboards! Pay for a good bike and you'll never go back to a cheap one and you'll love riding it and therefore get the use out of it.

Mary,
I recall having seen a bike carrier somewhere on the web. It is similar to the the swing out spare wheel carrier on 4wd. I think it fitted into the receiver type hitch so could be removed when not in use. Come on you EO viewers, someone may be able to help and design one. I'll keep looking.

Regards,
Ross

Having travelled outback including a Simpson Desert trip with three bikes on top of a hardfloor camper I'd be putting them on the roofrack if possible. The dust and rocks really knock them around when they are down low, not something I'd like to do to a good bike.
Pretty simple to make brackets to hold them on a rack, U shaped bracket with threaded rod for the front forks, Channel section for the rear wheel and then a ratchet strap down from the frame to the rack on either side.
Or if you cannot make something there are Thule bike carriers for the roof bars, Rhino make one as well.
I can carry mine inside the Humvee tied to the cargo barrier.

The "bikes" I ride are just too heavy to carry up top.
You need a bike trailer:-))

Beginning to think I should abandon the treadily idea in favour of an electric powered scooter kept permanently charged via the solar panel.Just the shot for those quick erands-milk bread etc when in CP's He.He .
Cheers,
Mary