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Thinking of removing bicycle rack

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Thinking of removing bicycle rack Empty Thinking of removing bicycle rack

Post by Seastones Mon Apr 15, 2019 4:37 pm

I have just given my Autosleeper Cotswold an overdue good wash and polish pre our Easter adventure, and I was thinking.    
I never use the bicycle rack on the back of the motorhome and the position of it makes it more difficult to wash and dry the back of the motorhome. 
Has anybody removed their bicycle rack ?
It looks pretty straight forward to take it off but the mountings on the back of the motorhome would look pretty unsightly, because these would have to remain.
Is there a kit of blanks to fit into the mounting brackets to tidy it up a bit ?

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Post by Quilter Mon Apr 15, 2019 5:01 pm

We removed ours when we had a chassis mounted Alko bike rack fitted. The 4 fixing points on the back of the van are covered with branded Fiamma covers. See:

https://www.fiammastore.com/

They seem to have done their job as we have had no water ingress over the past 3 years.
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Post by PLOUGHLIN Mon Apr 15, 2019 5:11 pm

I think the mounting kit originally comes with blanking plugs. Assuming it is a Fiamma Pro-C rack. https://www.fiamma.it/en/spare-parts/spare-parts/spare-parts-carry-bike/bike-carriers-for-motorhome-819668155/carry-bike-pro-c-en

Thinking of removing bicycle rack Kit-agga-sup-cb-m6x5598656-409-108

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Post by Dave 418 Mon Apr 15, 2019 8:37 pm

This is something I have thought about doing with our Rienza. The bike rack came with the motorhome, to date we have only used it for hanging washing on. Our Duetto had brackets but no rack leaving just the brackets looking untidy.
I think I have worked out what model bike rack we have fitted and I found the mounting kits on The Fiama web site. Next move will be to see if we can buy the bits in the uk rather than buying direct from Fieama.
I will have a suss and boggle at the mountings this week whist management is at work. think_smiley_46 .
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Post by Quilter Mon Apr 15, 2019 8:45 pm

The link I gave in my post is for Fiamma’s UK agents.  They are in Pembroke Dock.
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Post by Dave 418 Mon Apr 15, 2019 9:11 pm

Thanks, I missed that link, the other one is the Fiama web site. To my surprise the bits I think will be needed are quite not too expensive. Another project that shouldn't take too much out of the traveling funds.
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Post by Seastones Mon Apr 15, 2019 9:41 pm

Thanks guys for the suggestions and the web link to Fiamma.

However, the ears belonging to my significant other pricked up when I read the post from Dave 418 who said that he used their bicycle rack for hanging out the washing, obviously we had never thought of that, so I now might have some opposition pursuing my plan to remove the bicycle rack, we shall see.

Thanks again for the contributions and help.

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Post by Dave 418 Mon Apr 15, 2019 11:27 pm

We put our towels on ours during our stay in Rhudesheim last summer before we went out for the day. On return to the site there were lots of vans with bike racks down with washing on them. The camp site boss lady said it was a good idea. It was difficult to tell if she was being sarcastic. Whistle1 .
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Post by harrysp Tue Apr 16, 2019 8:01 am

We removed ours, using the same things Quilter recommended and replaced it with a tow bar and rack when we got a 2nd ebike. Since then I’ve remarked on countless occasions that I miss it for hanging wet towels and other small bits of washing!

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Post by Seastones Tue Apr 16, 2019 5:35 pm

I asked you guys for help, but what has now happened is for my wish to remove the bicycle rack being overruled and I am now the proud owner of a rear mounted washing dryer rack, and I have strict instructions not to remove it.
☹️

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Post by Quilter Tue Apr 16, 2019 5:38 pm

I can’t imagine hanging towels or washing on our old Fiamma bike rack without all the faff of cleaning it first. It was always heavily encrusted with greasy road dirt and worse: not something I’d want on my towel anyway !
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Post by Bad Penny Tue Apr 16, 2019 6:02 pm

Hi Quilter. Have you made another big change to your MH yet.

Leighton.
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Post by harrysp Tue Apr 16, 2019 8:46 pm

Seastones wrote:I asked you guys for help, but what has now happened is for my wish to remove the bicycle rack being overruled and I am now the proud owner of a rear mounted washing dryer rack, and I have strict instructions not to remove it.
☹️
I am envious

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Post by Dave 418 Tue Apr 16, 2019 10:42 pm

At some point during our Duetto ownership we bought a drying rack that fixes to a window frame so we will dig that out. We didn't have room to store it in the Duetto.
It appears the bike rack is fitted with two Philips screws at the top and bolts through the frame at the bottom. I know what model the rack is so I will order the covers after easter. I will report back when it's done.
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Post by Dave 418 Tue Apr 23, 2019 11:46 am

allthumbz One bike rack removed  and blanking covers fitted. Quite an easy job considering how long it must have been fitted.
After unscrewing the 4" long screws for the top brackets I found if you undo the bolts through the bottom brackets you can unhook the top brackets without taking the screws out.  tap_fingers  
No matter the Rienza looks tidy without the bike rack and will be much easier to clean. What to do with the rack ?. It wont fit in the shed until daughter and co find there own place and it aint going in my workshop. I suppose it has been out side up to now so it can go in the dont know storage down the side of the workshop. Any one want a bike rack maybe.
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