Atera STRADA DL 2015 - How to fit - tow ball bike carrier

Click here www.roofbox.co.... for more information.
Atera's STRADA DL are one of the best designed and engineered tow ball bike carriers on the market. Light and easy to fit and also compact enough to fit in your boot.
This is the Roof Box Company's official 2015 fitting guide for the Atera STRADA DL. Follow the links within the video to see the most recent update for the STRADA DL.
This video illustrates just how easy it is to fit the STRADA DL to your tow ball and your bike to the STRADA DL. We have tried to highlight all the essential fitting queries that our customers have ever asked as well as our own essential fitting tips.
As well as an excellent fitting guide this video also shows all the key features that make the STRADA DL stand out amongst the rest.
Only available from www.roofbox.co.uk with UK legal fog lights
We reckon that Atera's STRADA DL tilting racks are the best designed and best engineered tow ball carriers on the market, bar none. This page shows the 3 bike version; an adapter (listed below) can be added for carrying a 4th bike. Apart from its all round style, what's so special about the STRADA DL?
(1) Fundamentally, it slides away from the vehicle, rather than tilting, i.e. the cycle 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.
(2) It fits to 'bolt on' or 'swan neck' tow balls (including detachable tow bars) without any adjustment; you just place it on the tow ball and push down the handle - no spanners or Allen keys are required.
(3) It's very easy to carry - it won't bump your shins if carried properly - and as soon as you place it on the tow ball the weight is taken, so you can straighten up and rest your back. Other carriers require you to support the platform with one hand while fiddling with the fixing system with the other.
(4) It's much the lightest of the 4 bike tilting wheel support racks on the market.
(5) Furthermore, it's the most compact 3 to 4 bike carrier available (also available as a 2-3 bike rack). At only 1 metre wide it should fit into most if not all car boots, allowing you to park safely without risk of the bike carrier being damaged. You only need to flick up a couple of cam levers to fold the upright bike holder support.
(6) The bike frame holders are also without a doubt the best available, incorporating a ratchet tightening mechanism. They fit oval and other outsize frames as well as round ones, wrapping a strap right around the frame for safety and security. (This looks like a simple plastic strap, but it is in fact 'sandwiched' around a spring steel core.) All bike holders have swivel joints, and the long holder has a slight curve in the aluminium support rod to increase the opportunities available. We haven't yet come across any combination of bike sizes and styles that can't easily be locked into place (using the same key which locks the whole unit to the tow ball).
(7) 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.
(8) The fog lights on this special 'GB' version (022 603) - which will work if you have a continental '13 pin' socket - are UK legal, i.e. the fog light is on the right / offside of the car. Other bike carriers with fog lights have these on the left / nearside of the car, which is illegal, (even when the car is used on continental roads!) Atera gets around this problem by using the lighting rig which they supply for BMW bike carriers. This includes a fog light on both sides, and there is nothing illegal about this!
Click here www.roofbox.co.... for the Atera Strada 3 bike
Click here www.roofbox.co.... for the Atera Strada 2 bike

[@roofboxcompany]

Hello, thanks for the comment! With our set up on this van, we were able to open both rear doors with the Atera Strada fitted and loaded. Of course it would depend on the size of your bike wheels/tyres and how far your tow ball is fitted away from the rear bumper.

[@TheAkesta]

Hi, it's possible open the door of this van with the Atera installed? Thanks

[@mac243877]

Saw photos on amazon of Thule plastic frame and wheel clamps melting from hot exhaust gases, does this design have any problems in this regard and does exhaust stain frame and bikes

[@roofboxcompany]

Thanks for commenting. We have never experienced any issues with exhaust fumes.

[@DJJENKO]

I'm about to buy this kit off you guys. Can you confirm if my VW T5 barn doors will fully be able to open like the van in the video. I'll be also getting the 4th bike extension. Also which is best this or the Thule equivalent ?

[@roofboxcompany]

+DJJENKO Thanks for the comment. I'm afraid we can't say for sure. The AteraStrada DL 3 slides away furthest from the vehicle so this would give you the
best chance. The frame on the DL3 is longer than on the DL2 so it would be a
much better option as the longer frame means it slides away more than the two
bike version. It depends on the angle and position to which your tow ball is
fitted - feedback from previous customers would suggest this rack slides far
enough to open the barn doors on some T5s but not others.The Strada would be a much better option
than the Thule equivelant as the Strada slides rather than just tilting so you
get more room to potentially open the barn doors.