Cycle carrier fitting in Exeter
Professional cycle carrier fitting services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-£85
Typical Duration
30-60 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Cycle carrier fitted securely to your car's towbar or boot. I'll test stability, check lighting connections, and show you how to load bikes safely.
Get Your Bikes On The Road
Bought a cycle carrier still in the box because fitting it looks complicated? Straps everywhere for boot mounts. Electrical connections for towbar mounts. Weight limits and loading sequences. And the nagging worry it'll fall off on the motorway with your bikes.
💡 Pro tip: An poorly fitted cycle carrier isn't just annoying - it's dangerous. Bikes falling off cause serious accidents. Get it done right.
Installation Done Properly
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Done Wrong |
|---|---|
| Towbar carrier fully engaged, safety pin in | Carrier wobbling, pin missing |
| Boot straps tight and positioned correctly | Straps loose, resting on paintwork incorrectly |
| Lighting tested and working | Electrics not connected, no lights |
| Weight limit checked and explained | Bikes loaded beyond safe capacity |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Compatibility Check | Verify carrier fits your vehicle safely |
| Installation | Towbar mount fitted and secured, or boot straps positioned |
| Electrical | Lights connected and tested (if applicable) |
| Testing | Shake test, weight check, demonstration |
📦 You're Left With
- Carrier fitted securely
- Lights working (if applicable)
- Clear instructions on loading bikes
- Confidence it's not going anywhere
Pricing Guide
| Carrier Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Towbar mount (no electrics) | 30 mins | £60 |
| Towbar mount (with lights) | 45 mins | £60-£85 |
| Boot-mounted carrier | 45-60 mins | £85-£60 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Assumes you have towbar already fitted.
Perfect For...
✅ New carrier - just bought it, need it fitted properly
✅ Different car - carrier worked on old car, need it set up on new one
✅ DIY gone wrong - tried to fit it, not confident it's secure
✅ Holiday prep - want it checked before long journey
Why Choose Us for Cycle carrier fitting in Exeter?
Secure fitting to towbar or boot
Tested for stability before you drive
Advice on safe loading and weight limits
Lighting connection checked (towbar mounts)
What to Expect
Step 1: Compatibility Check
I verify your carrier actually fits your car properly. Some boot carriers don't work with certain rear window shapes or spoilers. Better to know now than on the motorway.
Step 2: Fitting
Towbar carriers bolt on and get safety-pinned. Boot carriers need all straps positioned, tightened, and checked for paintwork protection. Everything tested for movement and stability.
Step 3: Electrical & Demo
Lights connected and tested (towbar mounts). Then I show you how to load bikes properly - which bike goes where, how to secure them, and what the weight limit actually means.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to fit your own cycle carrier? Here's how to do it safely:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Spanners (for towbar carriers)
- Padding/cloth (for boot carriers)
- Your vehicle handbook (check max towbar load)
- Bike carrier instructions
🚗 Boot-mounted carrier fitting
- Clean your boot lid/hatchback where straps will contact
- Position top hooks/straps first, then work down
- Ensure straps aren't crossing over paintwork edges
- Tighten gradually - alternate between straps
- Shake test - should barely move
🔩 Towbar carrier fitting
- Check your towbar weight capacity (should be on towbar plate)
- Slide carrier onto towbar ball
- Tighten locking mechanism fully
- Insert safety pin through towbar ball
- Connect lights (if fitted) and test all functions
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Over-tightening boot straps (damages paintwork or cracks plastic)
- Forgetting safety pin on towbar carrier (carrier can detach)
- Exceeding weight limit (handles bikes plus carrier weight)
- Not testing lights properly (assume they work because they're plugged in)
💡 Pro trick: Load heaviest bike closest to the car. This keeps the weight distribution better and reduces bounce/sway when driving.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🚗 Need a towbar first? Towbar fitting is a separate specialist job. Once you've got one fitted, I can then install your bike carrier on it - much more secure than boot-mounted options.
Multiple bikes? Check your carrier's weight limit includes the weight of all bikes PLUS the carrier itself. Most 3-bike carriers are rated for lighter bikes - don't try loading three electric bikes on a carrier designed for racing bikes.
Number plate visibility? If your carrier obscures your number plate, you legally need a secondary plate mounted on the carrier. Same for rear lights. I'll advise what you need to comply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you fit any cycle carrier to any car?
No - towbar carriers need a towbar fitted first, and boot-mounted carriers don't fit all car shapes (especially hatchbacks with spoilers). I'll check compatibility before attempting to fit it.
What's better - towbar or boot-mounted?
Towbar is more secure and easier to use, but you need a towbar fitted first (separate job). Boot-mounted is cheaper initially but can scratch paintwork and is less stable. For regular use, towbar wins every time.
Will it scratch my car?
Boot-mounted carriers can mark paintwork where the straps contact. I use padding and position straps carefully, but some marking is almost inevitable with heavy use. Towbar carriers don't touch your paintwork.
How long does fitting take?
Towbar carrier about 30-45 minutes including electrical check. Boot-mounted can take up to an hour getting all the straps positioned right and secure. I test everything before you drive off.
Do the lights need connecting?
Towbar carriers with lights need connecting to your car's electrics - usually just plugging into the towbar socket. Boot-mounted carriers use magnetic lights or number plate lights. I'll check everything works.
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