We've towed our Troll across Europe and England with 2 bikes on the back without any noticeable I'll effects.
Don't have a problem with nose weight as the batterys at the front.

I don't think you need worry too much about the pendulum effect on Eriba size caravans i.e. excess weight up the back causing it to swing out of control. I suspect that there's so little length between the middle and the end of the van that the forces involved can't come into play as they do on much longer vans.

I've had to remove one of our gas cylinders from the front of our van and put the whole of our 35kg awning right at the back to get the noseweight under the maximum allowed. There's been no sign of instability. In fact the awning poles and bag are 4ft to 5ft long, so when placed on the floor at the rear they reach more than halfway to where the axle crosses under the van.

Putting stuff like that over the axle of a Puck and it'll only leave the odd foot empty at either end.

We used to carry 2 full size folding mountain bikes in the old 430, wedged between the heater and fidge.
We always check the nose weight of the van before setting off on a trip and try to replicate the packing of the van for the return journey.
Off to Switzerland again this summer

Quote: Linda J wrote in post #11

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Does anyone have the drawbar (not the back of the caravan) bike rack fitted and if so how do you like it? They seem to be very expensive!

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Hello Friends,
this was funny because i was reading the topic from te begining, and say to me "i´m gonna put here some photos of my cycle rack" to show that is possible to transporte on the nose of the eriba without disturbing the manouvers with car and avoying seasours effect.

Ok i´m gonna show some photos and listen to your questions


This is on the body shop to do the suport


Molding


Final aspect


Leveling the suport with the frame of the caravan


Some adjusts





Finaly on the rack and aproved for doing manouvers without touching the rear bumper (for milimiters !)

The cycle rack that i´ve buyed was from Thule Xpress Bike Rack 2 like this one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJr8DV4BnMs

Very easy to set up and with the advantage when i´m nott towing i can use with the ball in the car.
I know that this is not new for you because, this idea i see on some pages on google.

On last summer i was asked how did i manage to put the cycle rack withoutt touching the car ...well i put only the bycicles on it and rest was measures and mathematics as you can see on the photos!
I do one trick that is to put my wifes bicycle in last pushing the front wheel up.

I hope that is clear for you and if you have any doubts please ask.

Regard´s
Cumprimentos
Ricardo

Thanks for that Ricardo.

Easiest way is through the rear window and onto the bed, but it is a two person job.
We use one of those cheapie picnic blankets (those with plastic on the underside) to lay them on,
and a pipe lagger foam thingy for window sill protection.

I'm thinking there's got to be a market for 'bike bags'. A big one for the frame andrear wheel and a smaller one for the front wheel. Protects bike and van interior.