It does fit but a spacer plate is a good idea if you don't want it to rub the bumper. The offset one gives no benefit in this regard. The problem is that the towbar drop plate does not quite protrude clear of the bumper. All it needs is a spacer plate to overcome this issue. Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.
Winston Churchill.

Mzplcg - Thanks for the clarification - do you have a spacer plate fitted as well ? and if so is it a 1/2" or 1" spacer that is required ? 2006MY Supercharged LPG Autobiography - Zambezi Silver with Sand/Jet/Jet Oxford Leather.....

I have thought about getting a bike carrier...but then have been put off by the confusing (to me) number of choices.
And from a bad experience a few years back when I bought a bike carrier for mountain bikes - only to find the tyre width of the bikes was too wide for the carrier......

If you go onto the Thule web site, there are dozens of choices. Why are the prices so different between the choices? Will they hold mountain bikes? I have heard that the cross bar of MBs make it difficult for the hanging style racks to fasten securely. And if I buy a top hanger, do I still need a light board? And who makes up spare number plates for the light boards if I do? (My MB is a mongoose.)

I did contact maxx racks - and they wanted photographs of the swan neck. Unless I am mistaken, the swan neck of the FFRR is standard, no? So why would they want photos before agreeing the premier rack would fit? And if they are so easy to fit, why on the web site do maxx racks want the racks to be professionally fitted?

Anyway, final thing for me was when I saw a bicycle fall off a rack on a 4x4 on the M1. Carnage....bloody carnage. And a huge insurance bill no doubt.....would hate think what happened to that driver's premiums after that one.

So I haven't got one.
I would like one....but am put off by the complexity of what should be simple for mountain bikes with wide tyres and thick cross beam.

CG-SC wrote:

Mzplcg - Thanks for the clarification - do you have a spacer plate fitted as well ? and if so is it a 1/2" or 1" spacer that is required ?

My set up for carrying 3 full size mountain bikes:

1. LR Multi height tow bar fixed into armature with pin. The bar is removed and put in the garage when not in use.
2. A three bike Thule bike carrier fitted onto tow bar ball and electrics. This fits with the tightening of a nut and spanner and takes seconds. The carrier tilts even with the bikes on so the rear boot opens. The wheels and frames of the bikes sit in place and strapped to the rack securely.
3. The rack has a light board incorporated with a number plate from Halfords.
4. I then thread a thick cyle combination lock wire type through the towing eye, through the bike rack and each rear wheel of the bike (just in case it all falls of, at least I will drag it with me until I stop).

It really is that easy. Current:2011 4.4TDV8 Vogue
Gone:2006 Vogue SE SC + RSE

AMD

Thx for the post. Can I ask which model Thule you have?
Is it the one which looks like the tyres sit into some widegrooves which they call "pump brackets".
and presumably you have the 13 pin electrics and not the 7 pin?

@ Rambles, I use a similar set up to AMD.

I use this from Thule which is about the cheapest for this style

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/...yId_165477

Light board is built in to the carrier and plugs into the black towing socket.

Thanks Simon,
Yep, that's the one. Cheap, cheerful and effective. It folds flat when not in use and hangs on the garage wall. Current:2011 4.4TDV8 Vogue
Gone:2006 Vogue SE SC + RSE

http://www.pfjones.co.uk/cycle-carrier-3-4-bikes-zx89.html

thats the one I have, works fine with 3 bikes so far and comes with extra bits to carry a 4th

you leave the socket mounted permanantly on flange style towbar and then the pole and carrier just clip on

it was a cheaper solution, but it dosent fold, so you cant access the rear without removing bikes cheers
bogie

OK, thanks

so i just need the 13 pin version of that....

I always thought those Thule ones were for swan neck tow bars only - learn something new every day.....

If you can't find a 13 pin version then tou can source adapters easily enough though I'd probably just buy a 13 pin plug & re-wire it.

Pin rather than bolt for the drop plate tow bar is a must - I've never seen the point of the 2 part swan neck - it leaves so much on the car when the ball is removed that you might as well not bother. The drop plate is a much neater solution when removed.

I bought a new drop plate - but it came with the bolt / nut / split pin and not just a pin......so will take a bit more effort to fit and remove.

I read somewhere that they changed the design to a bolt because of some issues with noise / rattling ?

Anyway, I agree that the drop plate looks like the neater arrangement. (especially as I only paid £100 new on eBay !) 2006MY Supercharged LPG Autobiography - Zambezi Silver with Sand/Jet/Jet Oxford Leather.....

I have had a maxraxx for years. Used on P38, L322 (spacer on flange mount), Freelander 1 (needed a wider plate) and a couple of non LR vehicles. 4 mountain bikes need the straps up top but awesome.

Nick 2012 MY 4.4 TDV8 Vogue Fuji White
52 Freelander TD4 - Offroader
'98 MX5 1.8
gone
56 VSE 3.6 TDV8 Tonga Green, 56 SC 4.2 VSE /LPG Rimini Red, 56 3.6 TDV8 Vogue Stornaway, LS1 powered P38 Vogue50 Atlantis Blue, 91 4.6 RR Classic LPG Ardennes Green, 72 RR Classic Lincoln Green, 95 P38 4.6 HSE Willow, 91 VSE 3.9 Classic Romon Bronze Amarda Gold, 88 3.9 Classic Supercharged Silver, 94 TDi 200 Vogue Montpelier Red, 85 3.9 Auto Classic (294k miles) Venetian Red/Mosswood, 76 3.5 2dr Tuscan Blue