Halfords High Mount Cycle Carrier - for Ford Mondeo hatch (post 2002 model)

Quoted message said:

Question - has anybody used one of these carriers with a similar design
of tailgate, was it OK to install and did you put any foam protection
around the area to be clamped to protect the glass?

I don't know about the particular model of carrier but when I bought
mine I had to get a special pair of straps to replace the metal hooks
to allow it to be used with an edge-to-edge glass tailgate. The new
straps have a plastic dumbells on the end which go inside the boot with
the straps being fed out around the edge of the tailgate. When you
pull the straps tight they pull through the gap between tailgate and
frame until the dumbells but up against the frame.

POHB said:

Quoted message said:

Question - has anybody used one of these carriers with a similar design
of tailgate, was it OK to install and did you put any foam protection
around the area to be clamped to protect the glass?

I don't know about the particular model of carrier but when I bought
mine I had to get a special pair of straps to replace the metal hooks
to allow it to be used with an edge-to-edge glass tailgate. The new
straps have a plastic dumbells on the end which go inside the boot with
the straps being fed out around the edge of the tailgate. When you
pull the straps tight they pull through the gap between tailgate and
frame until the dumbells but up against the frame.

Interestingly enough these dumbells are supplied for the straps that go
into the TOP of the tailgate, but not the side ones ... I'll see if
Halfords can supply additional dumbells. Thanks for that.

Quoted message said:

I wonder if anybody can help ... I've purchased one of these for my
Mondeo (and my wife's Peugeot 307) as my little lad is getting quite
into cycling (especially whilst he sits in the baby seat doing very
little but pushing me in the back giggling 'FASTER! FASTER!'😉.

I went to install this on Sunday and everything was going fine until I
came to install the side straps. These have a metallic 'hook' that
goes around the side of the tailgate. Now, on the Mondeo the tailgate
is glass from left to right (albeit supported with some metal on the
underside) but I got a little nervous at that point and held off going
any further.

Question - has anybody used one of these carriers with a similar
design of tailgate, was it OK to install and did you put any foam
protection around the area to be clamped to protect the glass?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Paul

ISTR having the aforementioned dumbells supplied with the carrier (~6 yrs
ago). My latest vehicle has the same problem as yours, but I've just
re-routed the side straps to the metal bottom of the tailgate, and had no
problems with lateral movements, even carrying 2 adult bikes. Obviously this
is not how it's supposed to be used, so don't do it, but I'm just reporting
my experience. I've had more trouble finding somewhere to attach the straps
that go underneath. I have to screw in a towing hook & clip to that on one
side. My car (Octavia Estate) seems to be almost completely boxed in under
the back end.
--

Martin Bulmer