ATERA STRADA Towbar Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - Full Review

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ATERA ATRADA TOWBAR BIKE RACK - This video gives a FULL review of what we feel is the Best Bike Rack for a VW California T6 or T6/T5 Campervan or Van. We reveal why we changed from the VW Tailgate rack to the Atera Strada as we feel it is a better solution for carrying up to 4 bikes. A full detailed review of the rack, how it works and how to load up.
Please drop any questions in the comments below and I will be happy to help !
Campervan Journey will focus on Tips, Trips and our experiences from over 5 years of VW T5 Camper and T6 California Beach Ownership. From making the move from being a young family of tent campers with a car, to buying and converting our first VW T5 Kombi, selling the T5 and buying our latest T6 California Beach.
We'll share lots more of our experiences and trips that we have had along the way and how buying a VW Campervan was the best thing we have ever done ...!
Please remember to Like and Subscribe if you enjoy our videos and vlogs.
I will try and release a new video every week !
Please leave comments or questions below, we would love to hear what you think of our content and keep an eye out for more coming soon from Campervan Journey !
Thanks for watching Van Fans !

Опубликовано:

26 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 47

@CampervanJourney 4 года назад

If you have enjoyed this video, check out My California Accessories and Options Playlist here: ru-vid.com/group/PLsk3ipkN5qB5unsvXHjlCEB8RghDBzoEJ Video reviews of VW Awning, All Season Tyres and More...

@broadpete 4 года назад

By far your best video to date. Very well explained.

@CampervanJourney 4 года назад

thanks for watching and for your feedback, glad you liked it !

@ivanaizpurua8090 2 года назад

Thanks! Your detailed explanation is GREAT.

@CampervanJourney 2 года назад

You are very welcome ! Thanks for watching. JT

@paulbond284 4 года назад

Got a 2 bike version, same high quality and convenience. Very helpful video, thanks guys,

@CampervanJourney 4 года назад

Paul Bond thanks for your feedback! Glad you enjoyed the video.

@IcarusR 4 года назад

Hi Paul, do you have T5 or T6. Does it allow tailgate to open ? I have strada DL2 on my T% & I can't open tailgate.

@fergy1ful 4 года назад

Hi, another great vid, thank you. Decisions, decisions... There's still part of me would like a towbar mounted rack for the ease of loading and unloading but I settled for the Atera Linea instead which is a beefed up version of the VW rack. You can raise the tailgate quite easily with bikes on, you just need the right struts and this gives you open access to the rear. It also leaves your towball free for a trailer as well and your reverse sensors work as normal. The bikes sit a little lower than the VW one so don't impact on overall height. I've never found rear view visibility an issue as I use the door mirrors and reverse sensors anyway but my biggest issue with the tow bar mounted racks is length. I have a LWB so it just gets silly. I can still use a normal parking space with the Linea rack as the car behind's bonnet is lower than the rack, this is also true when being loaded on ferries. In an ideal world, I'd have one of each!

@CampervanJourney 4 года назад

Thanks for watching Mike and your kind comments. Sounds like you have a good solution for your needs there. We only tend to use our rack when on camping trips or occasional days out at home so the length does not cause much of a problem for us. Enjoy your trips ! Remember to subscribe to my channel if you enjoy my videos. Thanks again. JT

@andrewwalker7013 3 года назад

Need to buy a tow bar mounted rack since we’re getting a taller car (Volvo XC60 instead of a V60CC). Will have to check if this rack is available in Sweden as Thule have a massively dominant market share. Cheers for the comprehensive guide.

@CampervanJourney 3 года назад

You’re welcome- good luck with your search !

@alexandradahl7924 Год назад

Struggling to find such a carrier to open my Toyita Hiace tailgate. Tried all the buzzracks, no luck. Will this let me open my Hiace tailgate?

@CampervanJourney Год назад

Hi thanks for getting in touch. I have only had experience fitting the rack to our VW California. If you are in the uk try contacting the distributor for Atera, they may be able to help....

@stuartjames3406 2 года назад

Thanks for the video. Quick question regarding the height issue. I was considering attaching a roof box to my California beach. Did you come across height restrictions often?

@CampervanJourney 2 года назад

Hi, thanks for watching ! If you have an autoroute tag, some of the tag lanes especially the 30km/h ones do have a 2m height limit, but there is generally at least one lane with no height restriction for HGV's. There are some low tunnels around Paris, that also have a 2m height limit, we were nearly caught out by one of them...! If you book the Eurotunnel it will ask you for your vehicle height on booking. Hope this helps, cheers JT

@OlyLowe Год назад

Many thanks for the video, it has helped a lot. Do you find you have to specifically arrange the pedals to ensure that they don't rub the neighbouring bikes? Do any other parts (typically forks or rear stays) rub other bikes? We have a cheap 3 bike Thule at the moment, which I find is too close to the van and is a nightmare to arrange the bikes... which then rub too! Thanks!

@CampervanJourney Год назад

Hi Oly, thanks for watching and getting in touvh, glad you found the video useful. It is a bit of a knack to arrange the pedals so they don't bash/rub on the other bikes, but it can be done. We also lock the bikes with chain locks whilst on the rack and find that can also be used to stop pedals moving around. With careful positioning and 4 bikes on the rack it is possible to open the tailgate with clearance of the pedals on the tailgate, but it does take a few goes to find the perfect position / set up for all bikes. I also tend to alternate front to back, left to right as well so you have front wheel next to rear wheel of the next bike. Oh and take a picture of how you've loaded them so when you come to reload yo can try and match it ! Hope this helps, cheers JT

@OlyLowe Год назад

@@CampervanJourney many thanks for the reply, greatly appreciated 👍. I know what you mean and facing them alternating left and right as you load. Do you also position pedals one horizontal then the next vertical?

@katharinehowell6999 2 года назад

Hi - thanks for the video.. would you be able to tell me the dimensions of your tow bar i.e. height from the ground and distance from the door? Really considering this but want to make sure we have the clearance? Our towbar wasn't fitted by VW.

@CampervanJourney 2 года назад

Hi Katharine, we will be installing our towbar and bike rack shortly ahead of our next trip away, I'll try and get the measurements to you then.. Thanks for watching and getting in touch ! JT

@CampervanJourney 2 года назад

Hi Katherine, just fitted the towbar for our next trip. The top of the tow ball is 50cm from the ground, it’s 5 cm gap to the rear bumper. Hope this helps ! Thanks JT

@stevecoates2270 4 года назад

Great vid, thanks. This has persuaded me to buy one for my family of 5. You mention carrying a 5th bike in the van, where does that fit best and how is overall space with 5 people and luggage as well? Many thanks.

@CampervanJourney 4 года назад

Steve Coates Hi Steve, thanks for watching and your feedback ! Our fifth bike is for our seven year old, so when we are loading the boot I place this bike in sideways directly behind the rear seats, twist the handle bars through 90 degrees so they are line with the frame and then secure with a bungee cord to the back of the seat. We then load the rest of our camping kit, tent etc in and the bike is very secure. It works with a smaller bike by luck as the bike is the same length as the width of the Cali’s load area. Hope this make sense !

@stevecoates2270 4 года назад

@@CampervanJourney Thanks, we pick up our Beach tomorrow so I shall try the same with my youngest (9 yrs old).

@stevecoates2270 4 года назад

@@CampervanJourney Also, what do find works best regarding sleeping arrangements for the 5 of you?

@CampervanJourney 4 года назад

So @steve Coates we take a tent with us and pitch alongside, similar to a drive away awning but we feel it works better. One or two of us will sleep up top in the van and 3 of us usually in the tent, when we go away we tend to be at a site for 3 or 4 nights at a time and find the extra space the tent provides Beneficial.

@CampervanJourney 4 года назад

@ Steve Coates if you haven’t had a van before you’ll love it !!! We are on our second and it is the perfect family vehicle for us.

@jeromem75 4 года назад

Great video, thank you. I have 2 adults bikes and a child bike (7yrs old). Will the 3rd arm reach it or do I need the 4 bikes adapter to reach the smaller frame in an angle?

@CampervanJourney 4 года назад

jeromem75 thank you for watching and your feedback. The long arm should be fine to reach the third bike, it can be positioned so it reaches through the other two bike frames . The extra , shorter, clamp came with the fourth bike extension. Hope this helps.

@piotrekskowron2660 Год назад

Hi. I have short question. Do you use securing straps wich are attached to 4th bike extension?

@CampervanJourney Год назад

Hi Thanks for getting in touch. we don't use the additional securing straps, but we do use bike lock chains to secure all 4 bikes together. The plastic also wheel straps hold the wheels securely in the guides.

@piotrekskowron2660 Год назад

@@CampervanJourney Thanks a lot. I ordered extension for DL3 but I saw those straps in user manual after. There is mentioned tah you can't use extension without straps. Unfortunately my car have composite tailgate and I'm afraid about it. Producer replied me only with screenshot from their FAQ. Now I'm wondering what will be better. Take a risk and try putting four bikes on it without straps or send extension back an buy one roof holder...

@andrewweir747 4 года назад

Thanks for the video. If you have the securing bar down and no bikes on the rack is it possible to open the boot door without sliding the rack back?

@CampervanJourney 4 года назад

Hi Andrew, Thanks for watching and your feedback. Yes, if the bar is down and no bikes on the rack I am sure you can open the boot without sliding the rack backwards. I recall trying to open the boot last summer with no bikes on, but I will check and report back for you. Thanks again for watching, remember to subscribe if you've enjoyed my videos and I'd be grateful if you share with anyone else who you may think would be interested !

@davidgriffiths6179 7 дней назад

It's OK but in use we found the wheel rachet straps a bit of a nightmare. Being plastic doesn't help. Otherwise it's a good rack.

@CampervanJourney 6 дней назад

You're right. The ratchet straps can be a bit fiddly, but in general they are OK. Overall it is a good rack for the price. Thanks for taking the time to give your feedback Cheers JT

@aligolds 3 года назад

Could you tell me which model this is? I will be getting a new Cali Coast next year & the rack needs to clear the tailgate when opened.

@CampervanJourney 3 года назад

Hi there, thanks for watching. It is the Atera Strada DL3 with the extra 4th bike attachment. Thanks for watching, please remember to hit like and subscribe if you enjoy my videos! JT

@aligolds 3 года назад

@@CampervanJourney Thank you for your video & this very useful info. Kind Regards, ali.

@steverose3860 Год назад

The rear reversing sensors presumably don't work with this rack..

@CampervanJourney Год назад

That’s correct, they are deactivated when the towbar electrics are plugged in. You need to remember that the rack is fitted !

@tooyoungtobeold8756 Год назад

Spot on video. I am currently looking for a bike rack, because of the height issue. We did hit a car park barrier in France (at low speed) last year. In Spain this year we parked in a multi-story car park - no chance with bikes on the back using the conventional bike rack..

@CampervanJourney Год назад

Thank you so much! How much our bikes stood proud of the roof when loaded on the old rack was a real wake up call ! So glad we switched to a towbar mounted carrier. Thanks for watching and taking the time to get in touch. Cheers JT