Motorhome Bike Racks

It is not unusual to find equipment or parts priced at substantially different prices depending on the vendor. Vendors operating in and selling primarily to the leisure market are often substantially more expensive than those operating and selling the same equipment or parts into the ordinary vehicle or domestic market.

If fitted a bike rack yourself it is important to know where the correct mounting area is in the rear wall to avoid subsequent damage or worse still the rack and bikes parting company with the motorhome

Yeah a towbar mounted one seems like the most handy. Unfortunately I don't have a towbar. Probably not too much hassle to attach it to the chassis but I don't know anything about that.

I have a PVC and opted for bike rack mounted on towbar for several reasons. Made it more expensive(400 for towbar and 400 for bike rack) but now I have a bike rack I can use also with car and if someone messes with it trying to rob the bikes then unlikely to damage the structure of the camper. Also lower to lift onto and with the potential of electric bikes which weight a lot more typically the towbar mounted will take more weight.

Your primary consideration should not be cost. The most important thing if fitting to the rear wall is where are the structural members inside the wall. If you observe fitted racks, you will see some mounted low, some mid high and even some so high, it would be difficult to get bikes up there and fix them into position.
Our first Moho was imported from the UK and came with a bike rack already fitted. After some use I started to notice the wall deflecting where the bolts holding the lower bracket were inserted. After removing the rack and brackets, I discovered whoever had fitted it had simply drilled holes through the rear wall and not used any support members. Not good !!
On advice, I then fitted stainless steel plates standing on the floor on the inside of the wall to try and provide some structural support. Shortly after I bought a tow bar rack and stopped using the rear wall rack altogether.
It's only when following a motorhome with bikes off a ferry or over silent policemen humps that you see the stresses that bike racks & bikes create.
Knowing where structural members are in a rear wall is not easy, but experienced eyes can do it.
My advice is to go to a motorhome dealer for a fitting. They will know which size to purchase. You will also have come back.
If you go down the tow bar route, you will also need a type approved tow bar fitted. You will also need a socket fitted for the lights fitted to the bike rack on the tow ball. Neither solution is cheap but whichever you choose, do it right first time.

I totally agree I would never fit anything to the back wall of any van. Back walls are not designed to carry any weight.

I've a rear wall fitted bike rack just like hundreds of thousands of others.
If professionally fitted using the built-in supports installed in the wall by the motorhome builder there shouldn't be any problem.
If the mounting points are too high there are versions which can be lowered for putting on and taking off the bikes
A tow bar can seriously reduce your payload and the contents of your wallet

First of all, I'm a big fan of towbar mounted bike racks for cars but there are also limitations to their use.

I'd advise checking the vertical load rating for the towbar, this can often be in the order of 70 to 80kg. Not a big deal for a trailer if you load it correctly with the weight balanced over the axel.

With a towbar mounted bike rack, the weight of the rack and the bikes must be carried as a vertical load since there is no axel to add support. The weight is also hanging out beyond the towbar so has a greater vertical moment on the towbar. For regular push bikes you'll be fine but with e-bikes, there's a bit of extra weight.

A PVC will typically have opening rear doors so every bike rack is a compromise but on a coach built MoHo, a wall mounted rack (properly fitted) will probably be a better solution.

If you know somebody with a good thermal imaging camera, it can be used to find structural studs etc in all sorts of walls incl moho's. Also a useful tool for finding damp.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I do need to get one fitted because I'm going away for a few months in the van and cycling will be our only means of transport when parked up. So it's just a matter of which type I get now.

If any of you know of a place that does installs I'd appreciate the name. Some places I've called that you would think might do them actually don't so I'm still looking for someplace reputable.

Yeah they were the first call I made. They don't fit bike racks though.

Try Vehicle repair solutions in Cloyne, Co. Cork. They do excellent work so they are very busy.
Phone Jason or Ollie on 0868607289 or 0858683899

Good idea, if caught for space in the garage a back box on a bike rack could be used for some light bulky stuff.
I've a bike rack and have often thought of swapping the bikes into the garage for security and putting some of the light and bulky stuff in a back box fitted to the rack

There are well over a million motorhomes in Europe and the majority have rear wall mounted bike racks. Mh manufacturers build in special mounting areas. A dealer for your make should know precisely where the manufacturer recommends a bike rack should be fitted plus any recommended weight limit.
It's a bit baffling why you can't fined a professional here in Ireland to supply and fit one, it must be an 'Irish' thing.

Have you considered contacting a McLouise dealer around Cherbourg, and have one fitted when you land,you have the time.?
Or give this one a call, they have service workshop and accessories, off the motorway about 15 min from the boat.
CAMPING-CARS JACQUELINE CHERBOURG, N13, 50470 Tollevast, France
https://www.ets-jacqueline.com/

Finally found someone that can look after it for me!
Maynooth Motorhomes. Told me to drop it up to him next week. €500 give or take should cover the rack and installation.