Rear Bike Carrier

Hi everyone
I am a newbie to Autosleeper, having today taken ownership of an Autosleeper Ravenna.   My problem is this.   I have bought an electric bike to go on the already installed bike rack, but even without the battery, I cannot lift the bike onto the rack.   I do not have a towball fitted, and not particularly interested in having one, but is this the only solution to being able to use the bike rack.   So far have come up with an interim solution of putting the bike inside, not very keen on this, what happens when the bike is wet and dirty

You have a problem.  The Ravenna is already a "high up" van so there is not a lot you could do other than maybe look at Fiamma or Omnister Spare Parts in a decent stockists and see if anything off a different model of rack would fit on your existing rack.

I have an electric bike, but it is one of the older variety & rather heavy so there is no way I would  even think of putting it on the Fiamma-rack.

I DID have a ball-mounted rack, this was very low & easily took the weight due to it being on the strong tow-bar & not hanging from the rear panel, the only reason I got rid of it was because it blocked the spare-wheel winding access, 
 something I didn't realise util I fitted it.

Hi there and a big welcome to the forum. I have just bought an electric bike so have the lifting experience to come. First hurdle us to get the fiamma box off as swmbo wants to keep it on 

Hi and welcome

There is a model of bike rack that has a winding handle. This lowers the rack almost to ground level for loading the bikes, then winds it back up into position.

It's not cheap, and the blonde doesn't come with it so I bet you would have winder's cramp after loading the bike - but it could be a comparatively cost-effective answer.

We met an elderly Dutch couple who had one and they were well impressed, saying that it had enabled them to carry on using their bikes when they thought their disabilities had brought it to an end.

http://www.thefiammacentre.co.uk/fiamma-carry-bike-lift-77-cycle-rack.html

Hope this helps

Dave

Hi and welcome to the forum from sunny Bridlington 
Boaby

A chap I once knew named Isaac (I think his surname was Newton) once pointed out that if you lift an object from one end whilst the other end remains supported by the ground, you actually only lift about half the weight !  I put this tip to good use recently when I strained ligaments in a shoulder.
Vis. Stand at the side of the vehicle with the front wheel lined up with the channel of the rack. Lift the front only into the channel and ask your partner to guide it in the channel as you now lift the rear and move it across the rack into place.
Depends on the rack not being too high for this to work. Isaac was silent on a problem like that!

Thanks, one problem with that, I am on my own, 
hence not being able to lift the bike

Hi there,

Welcome to the Forum.

The problem you have has many solutions; but most of them cost money!

The one that costs nothing and may work is if you remove the batteries; which can make up a lot of the weight in an electric bike.

Not only that, you will need to charge the batteries after a decent run so it could be that they will need removing anyway.

Sorry that I can't be more helpful.   

Best regards,