mx5 towbar

Exocet Australia · Postby **Exocet Australia** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 12:51 pm

They fold down too for easy storage

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Exocet Australia · Postby **Exocet Australia** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 1:19 pm

I don't have a scale here but less that 10kg all up. The mount under the car would only be 4kg max

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Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 2:35 pm

You would need to make a working model and test its efficacy. Problems may be- method and time to attach the rack to the vehicle - and detach it bearing in mind you cannot legally drive a vehicle with rack on and no bike attached. Also would the extension create a grounding point for gutters / driveways / speed humps etc and would it flex. With a tow bar it becomes a much easier proposition as there are racks that attach and the attachment point for the rack is above the ball height. .

Exocet Australia · Postby **Exocet Australia** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 3:13 pm

You would need to make a working model and test its efficacy.

See photos of prototype

Problems may be- method and time to attach the rack to the vehicle - and detach it

30 seconds

bearing in mind you cannot legally drive a vehicle with rack on and no bike attached.

Agreed. Thats why it folds up and stores in the boot

Also would the extension create a grounding point for gutters / driveways / speed humps etc

Yes. Steep driveways and gutters if reverse parked

and would it flex.

No

With a tow bar it becomes a much easier proposition as there are racks that attach and the attachment point for the rack is above the ball height.

Problem with a towbar is that Australian design rules apply here. The car isn't rated for one. It's why Hayman Reece stopped making them for the NA when the ADR's changed for towing.

Regardless of people's promises that they would never use it to tow, I can't believe them. What happens if and when they sell the vehicle with towbar attached? My name is attached to that towbar. I understand people's good intentions but I have to protect myself first. No sane engineer will put their name to a towbar on a vehicle that isn't rated for towing and neither will I.

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Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 3:32 pm

I guessed that was the reason the big guys were not making the tow bars and most should know the MX5 is not recommended for towing- you can bet people would ignore the recommendation.

Exocet Australia · Postby **Exocet Australia** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 3:41 pm

Yeah pretty much. I spoke to my Hayman Reece supplier and he said they had never seen them. Was only after he called Melbourne we found out why.

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Exocet Australia · Postby **Exocet Australia** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 3:45 pm

booerns wrote:Quite interested in this. What would the weight capacity be on it? Could it support 2 x 20kg dh bikes? And how wide are the tyre/wheel slots? I run 2.7 and 2.5 inch tyres is all, so quite larger than normal

2 DH bikes won't be a problem. The wheel slots in the pics are just for the mock up. I'll have proper ones bent with cutouts for velcro straps when orders/group buy is placed, so your extra wide tyres won't be a problem. Just remind me when ordering so I can have some made larger.

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Exocet Australia · Postby **Exocet Australia** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 3:54 pm

I'll make this shorter with a telescopic tube inside so it's height adjustable for you taller guys. Swivel saddle clamp so it can grab your seat post and lock in.

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Exocet Australia · Postby **Exocet Australia** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 4:52 pm

Ok guys so you've now got the idea of where the design is at, what it looks like and how it all works. All that's left is to look at the hardware. Clamps, straps etc. If you're interested let me know. I have no need of a bike carrier for an MX5. I have a ute and these won't really work on an Exocet, so this can be shelved until orders are taken.

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dmad_dood · Postby **dmad_dood** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 9:06 pm

Exocet Australia wrote:Ok guys so you've now got the idea of where the design is at, what it looks like and how it all works. All that's left is to look at the hardware. Clamps, straps etc. If you're interested let me know. I have no need of a bike carrier for an MX5. I have a ute and these won't really work on an Exocet, so this can be shelved until orders are taken.

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Lets try get some numbers together. Who ever's been reading and likes the way things are going just say so.

Vat · Postby **Vat** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 9:46 pm

Definitely interested - would like to see how the unit's actually mounted under the car, and maybe a longer shot with a bike or two on it to get an idea of the scale of it. Also, any idea on dollars?

Thanks for your efforts on this, BTW. Nice to see someone having a crack at it.

Exocet Australia · Postby **Exocet Australia** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 10:03 pm

I'll take my road bike out tomorrow so you can see 2 bikes on there. There is also room unferneath to lift the rack another 50mm. I'll take some photos of the mount tomorrow.

Dollars you're looking 450 (NA) 490 (NB). Haven't seen under a NC so can't price it but I assume it'll be around the same dollars.For a group buy I'll drop $80 off the price of each model.

Finish will be Black Gloss Powdercoat.

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Exocet Australia · Postby **Exocet Australia** » Tue Apr 08, 2014 5:35 pm

Sorry guys. Days been bonkers. I'll get some pics tomorrow morning

Exocet Australia · Postby **Exocet Australia** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 6:02 am

They'll pack onto a pallet nice and easy. I can ship them individually or if there are a few buyers in cities I can send them to someone's address and they can be picked up locally.

Exocet Australia · Postby **Exocet Australia** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 9:32 am

It needs to be angled up which is easily fixed. Plenty of room for 2 bikes, even DH bikes. They're leaning against each other because I haven't fitted seat post clamps.