Atera Strada DL 3 022601 Bicycle Carrier - Clutch Carrier

Product Information

Changes in vehicle design are making it less viable to carry cargo on the roof, too. Many SUVs have surprisingly low maximum roof load limits, as do cars with multiple sunroofs, which are becoming popular. And long gone are the days when gutters, or raised roof rails, meant that a set of roof bars would fit most vehicles. Now, when you change your car, a new set of model-specific bars is almost always required. The 4th bike adapter: Most of our customers also buy the 4th bike adapter. This includes two straps which were suggested by TÜV before they tested this carrier, the aim being to prevent any side to side movement. Be assured that these straps are not required, and that the carrier does not move from side to side! The same self adjusting tow ball fitting is used on other STRADA models (e.g. EVO), without any requirement for straps. In due course we hope that Atera will retest the STRADA DL, without straps, so that they are no longer included. To show the overall strength of the STRADA DL we have had two heavy people standing on the 4th bike adapter in the slid out position (maximum leverage) with no adverse effects noted. Don't try this at home because an extra 185kg may damage your tow ball mounting! The fog lights on this special 'GB' version are UK legal, i.e. the fog light is on the right / offside of the car. Other bike carriers with fog lights have these on the left / nearside of the car, which is illegal, (even when the car is used on continental roads!) Atera gets around this problem by using the lighting rig which they supply for BMW bike carriers. This includes a fog light on both sides, and there is nothing illegal about this!

It's also supposed to be really light etc etc. it's still a big bike carrier and can be a a bit cumbersome and is not light as a feather. If you are an outdoorsy person, riding bikes is probably something you enjoy. However, anyone who rides a bicycle knows the exertion and extra effort of transporting it. If you plan on going somewhere scenic and need to bring your bike, you know that trying to shove your bike in the trunk will do no good.

To find the spare parts you need, please see the diagram below, identify the product codes, then choose them from the list below. If you need more than 1 of any item, change the quantities in the Shopping Basket. First of all, this is a very well engineered product - well built and well designed, very strong, very usable. I am very happy I bought it.

A central U-Shaped support bar which is folded flat during storage, but lifted up and clamped in a vertical position in use at a 90° angle to the base. Deciding which bike carriers to buy is not always easy, especially as you may not have had experience of using bike carriers before. We hope that our buying guides provide useful guidance about which bike carrier 'strategy' will be most appropriate for your circumstances, as well as highlighting the best features of particular models. We also have troubleshooting FAQs - for example, some customers struggle at first to fit four bikes onto a tow ball carrier, and wonder whether a different carrier would allow the bikes to be spaced wider apart. (It won't, but we have some good tips which make bike fitting much easier.) The Strada has 2, 3 or 4 transverse rails for the DL2, DL3 or DL4 versions with clamps and ratchets for both front and rear wheels of each bike to be secured to the frame. If they are plugged into 7 pin electrics via an adapter then the fog light should work, but the reversing light on the bike carrier will not work. Bike carriers which are supplied with 13 pin plugs include a fog light and reversing light, as well as rear lights, brake lights and indicator lights – which is why they are often called ‘5 function lights’.Fundamentally, it slides away from the vehicle, rather than tilting, i.e. the bike carrier takes the weight of the bikes, rather than you, and there's tailgate clearance even for vehicles with vertical tailgates. It's by far and away the easiest tilting carrier to use. Unusually, Thule bike carriers with 7 pin plugs also include a fog light; this works when plugged into 7 pin electrics, but it does not work when plugged into 13 pin electrics via an adapter. We used the Atera Strada DL3 with 2 e-bikes attached on our trip to Spain and Portugal pre-Covid 19 this year. When we first got it I was concerned about the about of movement in the carrier itself. The curved slide mechanism adds to some movement. However, after using continuously on our 4,500 mile trip, it was never removed and did not budge. It was completely fault free and served us very well. Wheel support bike carriers which are supplied with 7 pin plugs usually only include rear lights, brake lights and indicator lights, which is why they are often called ‘3 function lights’. Often, you will find yourself in need of grabbing something from the trunk. Usually, you would avoid doing it since you will have to unload the bikes first then access the compartment. Atera Strada has developed a unique solution that allows you to open your tailgate without unloading everything.

The sliding/tilting frame mechanism is easy to use and again there is an indicator to confirm when the frame has returned to its secure position. We have a 2009 Mondeo and we've used this feature several times to gain access to the boot and it's been a huge benefit! Firstly, I own a VW T4 with a tailgate and wanted a carrier that would allow me to open the tailgate with mountain bikes on. Having researched options, Atera Strada seemed best option vs Thule.A full set of tail lights and indicators which are connected to your tow ball electrics using a standard EU 13-pin connector We have moved from the VW T6 tailgate mounted carrier to a tow ball mounted Atera Strada DL3. The main reason for the move was that you cannot open the tailgate when the bikes are mounted (and it is less height to lift an e-bike!) This was a pain on our travels when stopping in Aires and wild camping for a night. The Atera Strada is at the upper end of the price range for bike carriers, however as the saying goes You get what you pay for! This is expensive but it is well made and does everything as advertised to a high standard.

The width of the Strada is only 100cm and therefore it has a bit of a problem with the largest XL ebikes with 29” wheels and very long wheelbases. We recently tested a Trek Rail XL electric mountain bike for instance, and it could not fit on. Better to search out something like the Thule EasyFold XT 3 which is 123cm wide if you have a very long wheelbase bike. Probably the best bike towbar carrier available today and far better than Thule and others. No fuss fitting. Not overly heavy. My wife can fit it on the car. It makes sense when using this carrier to place a safety strap around all the bikes and the bike holder support frame. We're therefore providing a free strap with each carrier - one strap per carrier. As well as providing peace of mind the strap will also help to minimise vibration. The three of us are out cycling whenever we get the chance and the Strada has been brilliant. Don't underestimate how useful its ability to move away from the tail gate is, when you inadvertently leave something in the boot and you haven't positioned the bikes so you can only the tailgate. Not a problem with the Atera Strada :) The first thing I did was to decide the type of cycle carrier, which for me was a no brainer as I had a tow-bar fitted to my RX400.Our bike carriers Exchange Scheme covers roof mounting and tow ball mounting bike carriers only. Rear door mounting / strap on carriers are not included, and nor are roof bars. It allows you to exchange within 90 days of invoice date. Most exchanges are for roof mounting upgrades, or are tow ball carriers with very basic tilting systems being exchanged for easy to use sliding / tilting carriers.