Warwick XL Bike rack

Proud new owner of a 2018 XL but without a bicycle rack. Any suggestions on a supply and fit? Can travel but preference West Yorkshire. We ride a tandem but used a standard Flamma  two bike rack on the previous coach built. It’s no heavier than two standard bikes. We drop the front wheel out and use the front crank and rear wheel in the skids so a standard rack is fine. Never owned a barn door conversion though hence looking for tips! Thanks in advance if anyone has advice....

Just removed and sold our Fiamma bike rack from out Warwick XL. Beware that the bike rack normally fitted to the offside door has the wheel 'skids ' offset to the left so the bikes do not extend out  into oncoming traffic . Depending on the balance point of your tandem it may result in excessive  force being applied to the rack and door of the van .

Taking the weight into account, I would suggest that you secure the cross bars to the door using the security bolts supplied. You have to drill through the door and I used larger penny washers to spread the load, don't forget to paint the newly drilled holes or get the fitter to do it to keep rust at bay.

I have read that the door edges can be damaged if you don't use the security bolts. 

I have not had any trouble apart from having to have a lighting board and a 7 pin socket fitted, I did this as I used the lower mount as you have to lift the bikes up high on the upper mount position.

Beware that opening the door past 90 can hit the rear lens with the bikes on.
-------------
Richard

Many thanks for the reply Richard. Could you point me at a reference for ‘supplied security bolts’ please? 
What’s the preferred rack folks? Something smart and practical for a factory look? Anyone recommend a good fitter? Can travel Cheers everyone.

Hi Camper x the security bolts come as part of the Fiamma rack assembly . You can drill and through bolt the top and bottom rail to the van using large washers to spread the load inside the van door. Many fitters only bolt the top rail using a couple of bolts. When the rack assembly is then fitted the bolts are hidden below the brackets so not seen . The two mounting rails have a moulded rubber section to cushion and protect the paint below but as stated best to paint and protect the steel around the holes to guard against future rust. You also have the outer edge clamps over the door edges and it is literally a 1 hour job including the 45  minute tea break to fit! If you google Fiamma DJ 200 for Ducato X250/290 you will see the rack I fitted. ( same doors on the Fiat Ducato/ Peugeit Boxer/ Citroen Relay )
     If your van is fitted with a towbar it is also worth checking out options which bolt to a flange of the towbar or actually clamp to the towball.  These will provide a higher capacity and be centrally mounted on the rear as opposed to offset to the offside of the van if carrying a larger framed tandem.

Thank you Kaspian, your post has said what I was going to say to Camper-x

Just a point to watch out for, I see they take a tandem and as you have said already, weight and width may need looking into.
---------
Richard

Just in case any tandem people search for this - drop the front wheel and bungee the front handle bars to the bike frame. Offer the bike up and lower into the carrier skids. Rear wheel one side, front crank other. Our tandem ways less than two mountain bikes so a two bike rack should be OK. The weight won’t be offset much as you are using front crank and rear wheel as load bearing contact points so your overhand is only front handlebars and forks. Use washers to spread the stress, presume supplied with bike rack. Richard advises using the higher van mounts I was unaware of these or their location) to avoid need for a number plate and rear light trailer bar or lower mounts (again I was unaware) for easier loading. Just the notion of ‘security bolts’ to clear up - maybe these come with the bike carrier.

I did not fit this bike rack it’s on a van I have just bough ,but will give you a View of how it fits[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Yes in my kit there were 4 bolts but many professionally installed racks  only use the upper 2 . With the Fiamma rack the top cross rail mounts just above the rear window. Have a look online for pictures of fitted rack. Just seen picture posted by freelander ,

Yes has been stated by Kaspian, they come with the kit. Very easy to fit, just make sure you drill, or your fitter does, in the correct place on the van

When I fitted my rack, I fitted it as not using the security bolts and then drilled the holes.

As I have said, only mod I did was to use larger washers inside the door to spread the load, but I may have over reacted and painted the drilled metal.

If you buy a Fammia like mine, make sure you purchase the correct one for your van and it does come with full instructions, but you can download them beforehand.

One point, which I am sure will not be a problem to you, make use of your bikes, having paid out in the region of £500 for wiring, Fammia lighting board +rack we hardly use ours   they sit in the shed, but we do have a dog which makes things difficult and we are getting old. No comments about electric bikes please, not for us.
----------
Richard

Endorse everything that has been said here just like to add the rack is an easy diy fit, did mine in around two hours, and you get to know it’s been done correctly

Toffee wrote:Endorse everything that has been said here just like to add the rack is an easy diy fit, did mine in around two hours, and you get to know it’s been done correctly

Totally agree, could you trust anyone else to do the job correctly? Paint drilled holes etc?

I think on here I read that one well known Motorhome dealer fitted one on the wrong door
---------
Richard

Camper x if you do buy a Fiamma dj200 and want to double check before drilling let me know by PM and I will measure exactly the location of the holes on the upper rail above the window . As stated my rack is now removed and the holes plugged with nice stainless cap headed bolts so easy to measure.

Camper X
The picture by Freelander is the rack in the lower position myself mine is fitted to the top holes and my wheels clear the lights .

glyne lock wrote:Camper X
The picture by Freelander is the rack in the lower position myself mine is fitted to the top holes and my wheels clear the lights .

You must be a lot younger than me or stronger, or have you a box to stand on  

Also how do you reach the clamps or whatever they are called, my bikes kept falling off while I tried to secure them?

Tried the upper position, but just to hard to lift the bikes up, no I do not have electric bikes or even want them.
----------
Richard

kaspian wrote:Camper x if you do buy a Fiamma dj200 and want to double check before drilling let me know by PM and I will measure exactly the location of the holes on the upper rail above the window . As stated my rack is now removed and the holes plugged with nice stainless cap headed bolts so easy to measure.

Now that's a good way to plug the holes, I will remember that if I take the rack off as it's not been used for 2 years! At the moment the rack is in the shed, but I have left the bars on the door.
-----------
Richard

Yes couple of neoprene washers to seal the holes under stainless washers and the bolts added and jobs a good ' un. Looks a lot smarter than leaving the bars on if you dont actually use the rack Richard.

kaspian wrote:Yes couple of neoprene washers to seal the holes under stainless washers and the bolts added and jobs a good ' un. Looks a lot smarter than leaving the bars on if you dont actually use the rack Richard.

Thanks and it would stop the questions,"what are the bars for".  It will also help to sell it if and when I finally decide our bike days are over.

I really rushed into it at the time, the one on the Topaz looked a lot better and was not a pain when opening the rear door, we were also younger.
---------
Richard

This is mine and clamps so I can reach them with out any problem . You also find the bikes stay cleaner when on the higher position when driving in wet conditions [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Tried that position, didn't work for me and i am 6'2, I must have muscle loss.
---------
Richard

in my job Richard I do a lot of lifting ref the heavy chains to secure the large plant machines I move when driving my truck so I don't need to go to a gym to keep fit and my hobbies all help. my sea kayak is much harder to lift on the roof. its keeping fit what ever your age .short cycle rides walks but regular to keep the body active.you said your bikes kept falling off that's why I leave the clamps in the position and when lifting the bike up fits directly to the clamp with out having to move it

glyne lock wrote:in my job Richard I do a lot of lifting ref the heavy chains to secure the large plant machines I move when driving my truck so I don't need to go to a gym to keep fit and my hobbies all help. my sea kayak is much harder to lift on the roof. its keeping fit what ever your age .short cycle rides walks but regular to keep the body active.you said your bikes kept falling off that's why I leave the clamps in the position and when lifting the bike up fits directly to the clamp with out having to move it

I used to be used to working 12 hr days 7 days a week modernism telephone exchanges, then I took early retirement when I had built up a nice pension pot. Then did loads of Windsurfing, then age took over and at 73 find lifting bikes a task as also cycling.
Now do a couple of miles a day dog walking, I guess you are younger than me as it's not shown.

I do keep the clamps on the rack when fitted, but found the lower mount requires less effort, but at a cost with wiring and lighting board, which was a nightmare as it arrived from Ireland with the lens cracked!!
--------------
Richard

The Fiamma is the chosen rack of many and I would probably have got one myself but I wanted a black rack which Fiamma didn’t seem to do.
I ended up with a Thule Elite van XT which I’m really pleased with despite the cost.

Note... The Thule is bonded on rather than bolted so those 2 bars are there to stay even if the rack is removed!

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Dbvwt wrote:The Fiamma is the chosen rack of many and I would probably have got one myself but I wanted a black rack which Fiamma didn’t seem to do.
I ended up with a Thule Elite van XT which I’m really pleased with despite the cost.

Note... The Thule is bonded on rather than bolted so those 2 bars are there to stay even if the rack is removed!

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Looks great. Hope the paint is well adhered to the door   Had the same thought when I stuck the solar ( don't start that thread again) panel on the roof.
----------
Richard

Looks great.
A word of warning though, our "new" Duo came with one fitted, like Kaspian we removed and sold it. The rails the bikes sit on, even when stowed as seen in your pic are at precisely the correct height to get you on the head every time when open! It hurts too, and males are incapable of remembering so get hit on head every time.
Other than that...enjoy.
(BTW do you also have a crane to get the bikes on/off?)