Educate me on bike racks please!

[Keengreenbean]

Hi, I’m buying a camper van (hooray! V. excited), but confused about bike racks. It’s a Toyota Alphard, older model with a rear door that opens up, not side opening if that makes sense. It has a pop-up roof, so roof rack not possible.

I was thinking about getting a tow ball fitted and bike rack onto that. Does that sound like the best option? We’ll have 4 bikes. How do the lights work on the tow ball racks? Please help!

Hopeful bump!

You either need a tailgate bike rack (probably find a fiamma that fits your van) or a tow bar bike rack.
A tow bar ones means its a pain to access the tailgate without taking everything off unless you get a tilting one. The tow bar on your van will be wired up to your electrics and the tow bar bike rack will plug into that.
If you go for a tailgate van mounted rack you might need upgraded gas struts on your tailgate if you want to open it with the bikes on.

Tow bar is the best way to go. Thule are the leaders but expensive. The electrics connect via a plug into your car electrics. Tow bar and electrics have to be put in. Prob £500 at least for everything. Get a rack with a lock so no one steals the rack off your Tow bar and a tilt function. Best strap mount is prob Saris. But note comment about weight in above post

Thanks both, I really appreciate your help. Sounds like I should start my googling for a tilting tow bar rack with a lock!