Atera Strada DL 3 022601 Bicycle Carrier - Clutch Carrier

Product Information

The 63kg weight limit of the Strada DL3 means that it can comfortably carry a couple of electric bikes which typically weigh 20-25kg each. Three ebikes may be a stretch though in terms of both size and weight. 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 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. 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.

3 to 4 bikes - Atera STRADA DL 3 Reviews

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. 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.

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. 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. 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’. The frame is triangular which allows you, when the bikes have been slid out of the way, to stand almost right up against the tow ball. This means you can lift items into and out of the boot both safely and easily. This is not a trivial benefit - most other bike carriers have rectangular frames and although you may be able to open the tailgate easily enough, you usually have to lean across the bike carrier frame to reach the boot space, which is definitely not ergonomic.

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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. 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 extra straps supplied with the fourth bar are worth using - seen comment elsewhere suggesting that they're not essential - but they do reduce flex/bounce with 4 bikes on. I'm sure the carrier would cope without, but there's less going on in the rear view mirror with them fitted. Note for vehicles with a rear mounted spare wheel: You may not be able to fit the STRADA DL to vehicles with a rear mounted spare wheel - you usually need to remove the spare wheel. This will allow you (1) to fit the carrier onto the vehicle (the upright usually hits the spare wheel), (2) to fit all the bikes onto the carrier, (3) to remove the carrier after use (the removal handle usually clashes with a spare wheel).

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. 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! First things first, the build quality of this is excellent and feels very solid although not too heavy; it's an easy one person job to lift it on and off your towbar.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.