Detachable Tow Bar > W209 CLK ?

[fbmills]

Now I have a CLK the problem arises about how to take a couple of bicycles to places far from home , whereas previously I used to chuck the bikes in the back of my C estate .

I can actually wedge my bike into the CLK but there are two of us here to consider , and my thoughts have turned to a tow-bar mounted bike carrier ( no , I don't like them either , but the 'need' is there and a roof system carrier horrifies me as does a universal spidery hook and strap system about the boot area ) .

A detachable tow-bar appears to be the way to go , but which one ? Is there anything else out there that might be recommended other than the Witter ? Are they easy to fit ?

 

[television]

Well at least you do not have to worry about any wiring, the detachable bar is easy to fit,,not for AMG bodied cars

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Now I have a CLK the problem arises about how to take a couple of bicycles to places far from home , whereas previously I used to chuck the bikes in the back of my C estate .

I can actually wedge my bike into the CLK but there are two of us here to consider , and my thoughts have turned to a tow-bar mounted bike carrier ( no , I don't like them either , but the 'need' is there and a roof system carrier horrifies me as does a universal spidery hook and strap system about the boot area ) .

A detachable tow-bar appears to be the way to go , but which one ? Is there anything else out there that might be recommended other than the Witter ? Are they easy to fit ?

Ride the bikes and tow the car.

You will get really fit, and the mpg will be good too.

 

[television]

Ride the bikes and tow the car.

You will get really fit, and the mpg will be good too.

Will you please give us a demo Alex the next time that we meet

 

[fbmills]

Ride the bikes and tow the car.

You will get really fit, and the mpg will be good too.

Aye , just what I needed to know . But , no thanks . I'm feeble enough these days .

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Will you please give us a demo Alex the next time that we meet

I've been recycled before - another demonstration of "going green" should be no problem.

 

[television]

I've been recycled before - :

Well its working, good on you I come under hazardous waste

 

[PeterCLK]

I've not fitted one to the 209 but in years gone bye have tried all 3 types.
The towbar one is the best IMO.
Have seen some good reports on the Thule.
You will need a 7 pin connector for the light board.

 

[*Thumper]

Towbars have to meet a minimum European standard .... Witter are no better or worse than any other .............. Brink make OEM MB bars, and they do a nice range in Swanneck detachables .......which would be completly useless for mounting a bike carrier

What you need is a flangeball type .. the one with 2 bolts holding the ball in place, this is whats used to attach the cycle carrier ................ so your towbar will be on permanant, display.

 

[fbmills]

Towbars have to meet a minimum European standard .... Witter are no better or worse than any other .............. Brink make OEM MB bars, and they do a nice range in Swanneck detachables .......which would be completly useless for mounting a bike carrier

What you need is a flangeball type .. the one with 2 bolts holding the ball in place, this is whats used to attach the cycle carrier ................ so your towbar will be on permanant, display.

No , have done some browsing , and things appear to have moved on some as Thule and others appear not to be fazed by swan-necks at all and declare that they're as kosher as any other tow-ball for clamping their carriers to .

Thanks for the pointer to Brink . I didn't know they were the oem people for Merc' towbars . But I can't seem to find a supplier in the UK for some reason or other . The Brink web-site appears to be down and / or they don't list a W209 option seemingly , despite the handbook listing a detachable towbar . Odd .

 

[bouncer]

Take a look here, CLK detachable is a Bosal joint effort with Oris Merc OEM stuff.
Click on the blue line under the spanner for the fitting instructions.

http://www.catalogue.bosal.com/pages/tow_carspecnr_list.php?query_nr=2&make=MERCEDES&model=CLK

sTeVe

 

[*Thumper]

Thule own Brink ...... so make your own mind up when going for a Swanneck, you wish to use for add ons ............. There is adapters available fro swannecks so you can bolt on a bike carrier ......... but I don't reccomend them.

 

[PeterCLK]

I had a Bosal removable on an Audi and it was very good.
Towed a trailer with it, never used it for the bike rack but I'm sure it would have been fine.

 

[fbmills]

Thanks all for 'links' and general encouragement .

Interestingly , Bosal don't appear to cater for the W209 CLK chassis . Their pdf's cover coupe's upto 2002 and cabriolet only . Their ebay ad's similarly . The only affirmative fixture for the W209 appears to be the Witter option , as I can't nail down anything else with Brink and Bosal .

 

[*Thumper]

There are plenty ..... are you going to fit yourself .or get a pro on the job !

Bumper off for W209 .......... and you lose the bumper inner ........... it's replaced with the bar though.

 

[paulieboy]

cLK TOWBAR FOR CYCLE CARRIER

Don't make the mistake I made by using a boot lid 2 cycle carrier, I now have dents in my boot lid and chipped paint where the carrier straps attach to the boot lid. A very costly experience.