2018 Bourton Bike Rack

Thought I'd try loading our two ebikes on our new van today. Image taken from 5 meters back from the rear with camera at eye level, say ~5'6"
Whilst the new low loading position is great I can't help feeling this wouldn't be legal. I haven't put the reflector signal board on. The registration plate isn't visible underneath (fine for speed cameras!) and all the lights are on but you can't really see them. So it looks as though an additional lighting board will be required plus the related electrics. Sigh! Anyone else had an issue like this and how have you resolved it.  

Definitely illegal, number/lighting board required.

I have single 7 pin (Black) electrics on my van and a trailor board like this
http://www.fiammastore.com/Carry-Bike-Accessories/Fiamma-Carry-Bike-Licence-Plate-Carrier#

Expensive but makes every thing legal

David

Thanks All. I guess the disappointment lies in the fact that benefits of a low loading rack can only be taken when you've parted with more money. I wonder if the designer of this approach actually loaded some bikes and tried it out? I'm guessing not...

Might be cheaper than getting a fine or at the worse a rear end shunt if no lights showing.

I see so many chancers on the road with bike racks, cars and vans, with lights and number plates hidden.

Sorry for your dilemma, but was it your choice to have the carrier fitted so low? My question being in relation the Autosleepers instruction in your owner's manual. 'In order that a cycle rack can be fitted, the rear panel coach work has been strengthened accordingly. Timber is bonded into the bodywork immediately above the rear light units, laterally across the vehicle. This allows the lower mounting brackets for the Fiamma Pro C cycle rack to be fitted in a suitably reinforced area. Not wishing to cause further alarm, but if fitted as recommended, the problem with obscured rear lights and registration plate would not have arisen. Regards.

Only a tenner for a board...don't be so tight  

I know what the manual says - the mounting bars on the rear panel are there as standard. The cycle rack is then attached to these. The problem appears to be that you can't have a low loading rack with low lights as you can see in the picture I posted earlier. Interesting design conflict. The only way out that I can see is a lighting board on the end of the carrier.

If you left the cover off, could you see the lights and number plate then...?

bolero boy wrote:If you left the cover off, could you see the lights and number plate then...?

Do you think I haven't thought of that? The number plate is obscured by the rack and the wheels line up with the lights as you can see from the shape of the cover.

Thanks for the useful comments. Nothing further to discuss on this topic now.

Another satisfied owner with comments from this excellent and informative forum.

https://www.caravanguard.co.uk/news/2018-auto-sleeper-bourton-motorhome-14597/

Looking at the second photo in this review of the 2018 Bourton the fixtures for the bike rack are already in place, presumably by AS. Will it not therefore be the case that all bike racks on these new rear panels in the Bourton will obscure the number plate and lights when the bikes are on, and particularly when covered?

Harry

Well spotted Harry, appears the shape of the rear panel below the kitchen window determines the Fiamma fixtures seemingly at an all time low by normal standards for the Pro C carrier.

Yes, had a look at the photos in a dealer’s website and the Fiamma fittings are there on a 2018 model. Not sure this is workable without a lighting board and electrics?

I cannot believe that AS did not consider this issue when they decided on the location to embed the bike rack fittings on the rear of the vehicle at the build stage.
Are they located in the same position on all of the MB vans or is it just the rear window models that have this problem?

harrysp wrote:Yes, had a look at the photos in a dealer’s website and the Fiamma fittings are there on a 2018 model. Not sure this is workable without a lighting board and electrics?

Trust me - it isn't. I don't think it had been thought through properly.

Inclined to agree with you LDPF. Call the AS service centre, they may have a solution. Please let us know if they can help.

Good luck.

We have just taken away our bikes and they seem to be fine - maybe slightly over to the left but can see number plate ok . Bit worried now re indicators !

I don't suppose it's possible for your dealer to exchange your bike rack for one like the Fiamma lifting one? We have that - bikes sit high, above all rear lights, but wind down low for easy placing of the bikes on the rack.

Mind you, if the only mounting boards are now at low level, with nothing up near the window, even the Fiamma lifting rack couldn't be mounted high above the lights.
Cymro

Yes I agree - difficult !

I chose not to use the fiamma rack, went for a towball thule rack which has built in lighting board and numberplate  holder. no more issues with obscured lighting or reg number

LDPD wrote:Thanks for the useful comments. Nothing further to discuss on this topic now.

That is rather ungrateful , when members have only tried to help you. that attitude a put off for helping, good job most are pleased for any help that's is given in good intent.

A thankful member here, who has had a lot of help from this forum for a few years, and in return I have tried to help others.

Yes, Daisy Mae. I also detected sarcasm in LDPD's post. I had raised my eyebrows at his somewhat waspish phrase - in his post sent 8 minutes earlier - "Do you think I haven't thought of that?".

No doubt LDPD is justifiably upset that the bike rack isn't appropriately mounted, on a new van. But he should understand that Forum members are offering constructive suggestions in a spirit of mutual help. It's the outstanding hallmark of this Forum.

As a Newbie I welcome all this information .
Many thanks .