Can your towbar carry two e-bikes? Check the weight limits first
Updated: 6 hours ago
Two spaces on a bike carrier do not automatically mean it can carry your two e-bikes. Check the vehicle, towbar and carrier limits together, including the weight of the empty carrier. Then check each bike against the carrier's individual bike limit.
The lowest applicable limit governs the setup. The arithmetic is only one part of approval: the carrier must also be suitable for the vehicle, towball and bikes.[1][2]
Write down the separate limits
Before buying, collect these details from the vehicle handbook and the exact towbar and carrier instructions:
Detail | What you need to establish |
Vehicle and towbar | The permitted load for this carrier setup, including any specific carrier restrictions |
Empty carrier | Its fitted weight, including accessories that stay on it |
Carrier payload | The maximum combined bike load |
Individual bike limit | The maximum for each bike position or rail |
Actual bikes | Each bike's weight in the condition in which it will travel |
Do not use the vehicle's trailer towing capacity as the bike-carrier allowance. For a carrier, you are supporting a load on the towbar. Westfalia's guidance specifically includes the carrier's own weight in the calculation and tells owners to check the installation requirements.[2]
A worked example
Here is an illustrative setup, not an approval for a particular car or rack:
Applicable vehicle/towbar carrier-load limit: 70 kg.
Empty carrier and fitted accessories: 20 kg.
Carrier's stated bike payload: 60 kg.
Individual bike limit: 30 kg.
Two bikes as transported: 26 kg each.
Subtract the carrier from the applicable supported-load allowance:
70 − 20 = 50 kg available for the bikes.
The two bikes weigh 52 kg, so the complete setup weighs 72 kg. Each bike is within the 30 kg individual limit and their combined weight is below the advertised 60 kg carrier payload, but the setup still exceeds the 70 kg applicable limit by 2 kg.
This illustrative combination fails the supported-load check even though it passes the two rack-capacity checks. It should not be treated as an acceptable setup.
This is why the rack's headline payload is not enough on its own. Record all the figures before buying, rather than discovering the limiting value after fitting.
Check the individual bike limit as well
A carrier can also pass the total-load calculation while one bike is too heavy for its position. Do not divide the overall payload by the number of spaces and assume that produces the individual limit.
As a real example of separate specifications, Thule lists both a 60 kg total payload and a 30 kg maximum bike weight for its EasyFold 3 three-bike model 945200.[3] Those figures describe that model; they do not establish what your vehicle can support or recommend it for your setup.
Weight is not the only fit check
Check wheelbase, tyre width, frame-clamping compatibility and the manufacturer's loading order. Also check the permitted clearance and whether the carrier can be used with the particular towball. Follow the instructions for detachable-neck engagement before loading.[1][3]
Some vehicle guidance also restricts how far the load sits behind the towball. Volvo's V60 guidance explains that increasing the distance to the load's centre of gravity increases the load on the towbar.[4] Treat this as a reason to read your own vehicle's carrier instructions, not as a specification for every car.
If you plan to remove an e-bike battery for transport, check the bike manufacturer's instructions and use the actual remaining bike weight. Do not assume a battery is removable or subtract a guessed figure. Secure anything carried separately in the vehicle.
What to send when requesting a towbar quote
Send your registration and postcode, the exact carrier make/model or product link, and the weights of your bikes. Mention any accessories, unusual frames or plans to add another bike later. If the vehicle already has a towbar, include its identification details where available.
Ask about the carrier's lighting connection at the same time. A mechanically compatible carrier still needs the appropriate electrical connection and a clear arrangement for rear lights and the registration plate.
We can discuss your intended use when checking towbar fitting options, including detachable towbars. Confirm the full vehicle, towbar and carrier combination before ordering the equipment.
Sources
Checked 17 October 2026.
Thule: rear-mounted bike-carrier safety instructions, English loading and towbar sections.
Westfalia: towbar-mounted bike-rack considerations, technical load guidance; not used as UK legal advice.