Somehow getting kids bikes on outside of car

[sheeplikessleep]

So we want to take 2 kids bikes (for 4 year old and 6 year old) on holiday. The guy in halfords said the carriers on the back are only suitable for adult bikes. But we are using a full width roof box, so can't get a carrier for the roof.
Surely there's a bike carrier for the back of a car that suits kids bikes?
We've got a Touran if that's any help.
Thanks
Ps DH might take his bike too, if we can fit
Pps DH thinks if they go in the boot, then I will have to pack lighter. This isn't going to happen

So my question is for those who've carried kids bikes on a carrier on the back of a car, which one did you buy? Thanks

Do you have a towbar? We have a towbar mounted Thule bike rack, and ds's bike goes on there fine

I don't think we have a towbar. We haven't fitted one, unless it comes as standard. Did you buy from halfords?

the guy in Halfords is talking blx

Ours go on the carrier on the back no problem. Don't think we gave it much thought when we bought it! Dh just ties them on with a bungee thing.

The guy in halfords is talking crap. I had a 3 bike rack from there and my sons bike and mine fitted on the back. Only thing that I would suggest is that although the rack stated it fitted 3 bikes we tried and didn't feel comfortable at all.

Thanks for posting, I am going to go to try a bike store in town ...

Even a small bike? DS2 is still on his first Thomas bike, which used to have stabilisers. I'm not sure size, definitely smaller than 14inch (size of ds1s bike)

The main restriction is the spacing of the prongs of bike rack versus the length of the top tube on the bike. As long as the bike can fit over the prongs, you should be ok. The beauty of the Saris racks in linked above, is that it just clamps round the top tube. The smallest bike we have used on it was 16", but we didn't ever have a smaller bike. Might be easier to put DH's bike on the outside and pack the little one(s).

you don't know if you have a towbar????????

remember that if the bikes are blocking the rear lights or numberplate, you need a lighting and numberplate board. Which means you need towbar electrics.

Thanks bikerunski, that's helpful. Another woman in halfords this afternoon said whilst it might not fit 'properly', we should be able to get secure enough.

I am going to chat to DH tonight about it, thanks all for posting.

Special subject- i didn't know if I had a towbar off the top of my head no. As I said, I didn't think we did. I've since checked and we don't. Is it that unbelievable that it wasn't something I was 100% sure on without checking?

I've got a saris bones rack and I reckon you'd be able to fit any bike on it, even a first size......securely if not properly.

Youd clamp one of the rack clamps round the top bar of the bike. Te top bar won't be long enough to reach the second clamp. So slightly precarious I guess. Then you buy some webbing straps and thread them round your bike and onto the rack.

Thanks all, I'm going for the saris bones rack.
Thanks for posting, glad I've got my boot back now for suitcases :)