BIKE RACKS AND CARRIERS FOR CARS MEGATHREAD - all questions asked and answered here

[Jordy]

I have not once said that you should be legally liable, I've clearly noted that you seem to be across the legal issues. I've just said that I won't drive behind one of your racks because the likelihood of it being shoddily constructed is too much for me to chance the potential consequences. I am confident in my assessment of that risk given my experiences. I similarly avoid other products and facilities (and people!) that concern me, as I am sure that you do too. Pretty standard behaviour for normal folk.

The baseline of what I pick and choose to target? I think you might be over-reacting. I saw your product discussed on this website and I discussed how it made me feel. That's all that is happening here - a couple of people are having a chat about an MTB related product. We're allowed our opinions, as are you.

No problems mate - you can make your own risk decision as much as you’d like. Might be a little difficult to avoid travelling behind my racks with over 250 sold across the country in 6 weeks. But if it makes you feel any better. Majority of those have gone direct to boiler makers.

 

[Dales Cannon]

Multiple suppliers now won't load cars and trailers if the load won't comply with local regulations. Bunnies seem to do the head in sand but steel, timber and aluminium suppliers I use are all over it. One supplier now has a big sign about no private cutting tools to be used on site, a buyer used his cordless sabre saw to cut material to length and his thongs didn't stop the saw almost cutting a toe off, apparently.

Roof racks etc give a limit and refer to vehicle limits too. People abuse roof racks and specifically ignore the off road derating. This is like the 60%. Dealers sell 4wds to people with no clue, I know because I have dragged their sorry arses out of the shit. Dealers sell awds and pretend to the customer these will go anywhere a 4wd will. They won't, see dragged out comment above... but they are not selling kits made to create a specific thing. @johhny gets it. I don't think you are covering your liability at all. I spent over 35 years dealing with standards, risk and exotic materials in environments where injury would be a good result if there was a failure. I even have a cert 10 tucked away somewhere so I could write PQRs for AS and ASME. Standards are deemed to apply even if not prescribed. Onus is on the defendant to show the relevant standards both explicit and silent are not applicable. But as I said good luck.

 

[johnny]

No problems mate - you can make your own risk decision as much as you’d like. Might be a little difficult to avoid travelling behind my racks with over 250 sold across the country in 6 weeks. But if it makes you feel any better. Majority of those have gone direct to boiler makers.

Well, if it gives you a laugh, a close mate just welded up an off-road trailer up from scratch - the first welding job he's ever done. I'm sure as fark not going to be driving behind that thing!

All the best with the business, I genuinely hope that my concerns are overwrought.

 

[Mattyp]

Just a quick reminder...any drop kick can walk into super cheap auto and buy a set of brake pads for his EA Fairmont, slap them in at home with stripped threads and kinked brake lines and then go and drive 100kmh through a school zone.
Supercheap auto will not be liable for his fuckwittery.

 

[Jordy]

Just a quick reminder...any drop kick can walk into super cheap auto and buy a set of brake pads for his EA Fairmont, slap them in at home with stripped threads and kinked brake lines and then go and drive 100kmh through a school zone.
Supercheap auto will not be liable for his fuckwittery.

Exactly - shame we live in a world where I can develop something that gives riders a better option. money to everyone involved. And a very small minority have this idea that the first thing In their mind is “who do we take to court if it fails though?” Thankfully - not my intended market whatsoever. And it’s all been opinions rather than factual.

 

[moorey]

Just a quick reminder...any drop kick can walk into super cheap auto and buy a set of brake pads for his EA Fairmont, slap them in at home with stripped threads and kinked brake lines and then go and drive 100kmh through a school zone.
Supercheap auto will not be liable for his fuckwittery.

I’m not really sure we are comparing apples and cracked oranges here.

 

[johnny]

Exactly - shame we live in a world where I can develop something that gives riders a better option. money to everyone involved. And a very small minority have this idea that the first thing In their mind is “who do we take to court if it fails though?” Thankfully - not my intended market whatsoever. And it’s all been opinions rather than factual.

Seriously, for some one who doesn't like the bickering on forums, you're sure giving it a good crack yourself.

Nobody has come with the attitude that you've portrayed above. You just can't defend against the claims people are making so you have to falsify their arguments. You act like a victim who can't defend yourself and don't like to argue, but that's precisely what you've done in this thread! And don't come with that fake altruistic BS about putting money in people's pockets - you're running a business, just like everyone else in the market.

 

[Jordy]

Seriously, for some one who doesn't like the bickering on forums, you're sure giving it a good crack yourself.

Nobody has come with the attitude that you've portrayed above. You just can't defend against the claims people are making so you have to falsify their arguments. You act like a victim who can't defend yourself and don't like to argue, but that's precisely what you've done in this thread! And don't come with that fake altruistic BS about putting money in people's pockets - you're running a business, just like everyone else in the market.

dude - you went from accusing my products of not being legal - to arguing the point. To avoiding any comparisons with existing things on the market to telling me you agree I’ve got all my legal bases covered but you won’t drive behind anyone with my products on. I’ve literally defended and covered my bases on every single point you tried attacking the product on. There is no fake BS about putting money in people’s pockets - I have fabricators in newcastle, Wollongong, central Victoria. Jindabyne. All building and making a substantial income off these rack systems. Again - the only people who have an issue. Aren’t my intended market. But everyone’s a hero on the forums…..

 

[johnny]

@Jordy - No, I didn't make that accusation, I said that I was surprised that it was legal. Ah fuck it, this is a waste of time. You're not actually reading what people are saying, you're just going off because people pointed out some negative aspects about your product and backed it up with pics (yay for facts!).

You can bicker and argue all you want, I don't care, save to say, thank goodness that you got into engineering as your skills would have been wasted on a career in public relations!

Merry Christmas!

 

[Labcanary]

Roof racks question:

What's a good option for 2 MTB's, wheels on, for a smallish hatchback? Clamping to frame, yay or nay?
Brother in law has front wheel off racks and hates the faffing with wheels and different axle standards.

 

[dirtdad]

I figure I'm in the "not for me" camp with the weld-it-yourself bike racks.
Could I weld one up safely – no. Could others – sure. Do I want to be involved in an accident due to someone's shoddy welding – of course not. Would I run shuttles on a mate's rack that he/she welded up – um... maybe if I hung off it first myself?

Ultimately, if you weld up a shitty rack and your bikes fall off on the hwy and it causes damage, you should be liable in some way. Let the lawyers figure out the details. Just like someone not tying down a load properly, or adding any other unregistered accessory to their car.
I don't see how the steel supplier is liable, unless there is some defect with the steel quality or the design of the rack that contributes to the failure.

What's the alternative to post-incident litigation? Registration and periodic safety inspections for bike racks? And rego for every other non-OEM accessory hanging off a car over say 1kg. Sounds OTT to me.

 

[Dales Cannon]

Roof racks question:

What's a good option for 2 MTB's, wheels on, for a smallish hatchback? Clamping to frame, yay or nay?
Brother in law has front wheel off racks and hates the faffing with wheels and different axle standards.

Not garages.

 

[Labcanary]

Not garages.

Nor undercover carparks, as he discovered the hard way.

 

[Jordy]

@Jordy - No, I didn't make that accusation, I said that I was surprised that it was legal. Ah fuck it, this is a waste of time. You're not actually reading what people are saying, you're just going off because people pointed out some negative aspects about your product and backed it up with pics (yay for facts!).

You can bicker and argue all you want, I don't care, save to say, thank goodness that you got into engineering as your skills would have been wasted on a career in public relations!

Merry Christmas!

thankfully I’ve done my time in public relations appeasing people such as yourself. Now I’m in a position where I can say it like it is and not give a single fuck…..

I would like to congratulate you though! You’ve officially made it for Jerry of the week. In a couple of months time I’ll be drawing out all entrants and you may win a completed Deathrack. Completed by myself - with your own custom Jerry logo!
Keep an eye on the Deathrack Instagram page for when it’s drawn cheers.

 

[Dales Cannon]

Send me a kit, I will weld it and paint it and donate it to the local mtb club.

 

[Jordy]

Send me a kit, I will weld it and paint it and donate it to the local mtb club.

Dm me your details and I’ll be more than happy to do so - I’ve no problems doing that.

 

[Jpez]

I’ve got no dog in this fight. I’ve bought a 3 bike kit not because I’m cheaping out and don’t want to spend the coin on a bigger name brand rack but because a full tow hitch rack doesn’t suit my purpose. I will be making it up myself. And for what it’s worth yes I can weld. Experience in structural steel and architectural steel work so I know my way around a welder. I have no need to pay someone else to do what I know I’m very capable of doing and have full confidence in doing.
I don’t see the issue that others are seeing but I’m no risk specialist. But from an everyday Joe perspective this to me is no different as mentioned than all the DIY mod parts for vehicles or whatever.
If my welds fail and drops a bike into a car bonnet I certainly won’t be pointing my finger at anyone else.

 

[Jordy]

I’ve got no dog in this fight. I’ve bought a 3 bike kit not because I’m cheaping out and don’t want to spend the coin on a bigger name brand rack but because a full tow hitch rack doesn’t suit my purpose. I will be making it up myself. And for what it’s worth yes I can weld. Experience in structural steel and architectural steel work so I know my way around a welder. I have no need to pay someone else to do what I know I’m very capable of doing and have full confidence in doing.
I don’t see the issue that others are seeing but I’m no risk specialist. But from an everyday Joe perspective this to me is no different as mentioned than all the DIY mod parts for vehicles or whatever.
If my welds fail and drops a bike into a car bonnet I certainly won’t be pointing my finger at anyone else.

Yours left today and I even sent some extra stickers to keep your mates ute looking fresh !

 

[droenn]

Roof racks question:

What's a good option for 2 MTB's, wheels on, for a smallish hatchback? Clamping to frame, yay or nay?
Brother in law has front wheel off racks and hates the faffing with wheels and different axle standards.

stands on chair and gets megaphone out
Thule 598 has been great on my little car - the clamping to the frame is fine for my alu and steel bikes, i did put some clear gorilla tape on downtube where it connects so that if it was dirty it wouldn’t rub the grit into paint etc

 

[Labcanary]

stands on chair and gets megaphone out
Thule 598 has been great on my little car - the clamping to the frame is fine for my alu and steel bikes, i did put some clear gorilla tape on downtube where it connects so that if it was dirty it wouldn’t rub the grit into paint etc

In my defence, I'm partially deaf!

Thanks @droenn, was hoping it would be a simple answer like this.