Frequently Asked Questions

Almost certainly. iSi carriers mount to any vehicle with a 50 mm tow bar rated for the load. We hold verified fitment data for a growing library of popular vehicles. Check the pre-configured library for your make and model. Otherwise run the Build Your Own configurator and our engineers will spec the exact system for your setup.

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Yes. iSi carriers are engineered for road, gravel, cyclocross, mountain, fat and children's bikes across tyre widths up to 5.1 inches and wheelbases up to 1600 mm. The Quad Contact wheel cradles support each tyre at four points on the tread and never touch the sidewall. The same carrier handles a 6 kg road bike and a 32 kg e-bike without adjustment hardware.

Yes, with a bike bar adaptor. Step-through and low-step frames have no top tube for the Frame Support Cradle to sit against, so we recommend an adaptor bar, available from any local bike shop or online. It spans from the seat post to the handlebar stem and creates an effective top tube, giving the Frame Support Cradle a proper mounting point. Once the adaptor is on, a step-through bike loads and travels exactly like any other bike on the carrier.

Yes, at full rating. Every iSi carrier is rated to 32 kg per bicycle, which covers almost every e-bike sold in Australia without removing the battery. Load one wheel at a time and the weight stays manageable for one person. The rating holds on road and off road.

The Two Bicycle Carrier is rated to 64 kg total. The Four Bicycle Carrier is rated to 84 kg total. Both carry up to 32 kg per bicycle with 16 kg per wheel. These ratings apply on road and off road. They are tested structural figures that hold on corrugations, not highway-only numbers.

Vehicle bike racks start at $1,149 and caravan bike racks at $1,424, each configured to your exact vehicle or drawbar. Final pricing depends on your mount, support post and wheel sizes. It is confirmed in the configurator before you order. Cradles can be added later at the same per-cradle price, so the rack grows with your crew.

View pre-configured racks and pricing →

Every iSi carrier is designed, fabricated, finished and assembled in our Mitcham, Victoria facility, as they have been since 2007. We build with Australian high-strength mild steel and stainless steel. Every stage is controlled in-house, from CAD modelling and FEA analysis through to final assembly. iSi is 100% Australian owned.

Yes. Every carrier is rated for on-road and off-road use, proven over corrugations from the Simpson Desert to Cape York. The Quad Contact wheel cradles and zero-load frame supports are designed to absorb the high-frequency vibration of outback tracks.

Yes. iSi carriers hold bikes without straps and without tie downs. The frame support cradles carry no structural load. A wide, soft rubber profile co-developed with Australia's leading rubber labs steadies the bike without clamping the frame. The bike sits relaxed with all load transferred through the tyre tread, exactly as the bike was designed to carry it. That makes the system safe for carbon fibre frames and painted finishes alike.

A rack and four bikes can add 40 kg or more to your ball weight. Position matters as much as mass. iSi systems keep the load low and close to the van, which is how we measured a 19 kg reduction against a forward-mounted rack carrying the same four bikes. If you have any questions about weights, speak to our sales team. We will help you calculate your loads.

Read the tow ball weight case study →

If your loaded bikes obscure the number plate or tail lights, Australian road rules require an auxiliary plate and lights. The details vary by state, so check your state's requirements. The iSi Lightboard is designed to integrate with the carrier and keep you compliant.

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Yes. While towing, the bikes ride on the drawbar-mounted rack. Once you set up camp, the same carrier pins off the drawbar and bolts to the vehicle mount in under a minute, no tools required. The bikes go exploring with you.

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The rear of a trailer is the harshest place you can put a load. Dynamic forces there are severe enough to compromise the chassis, the mounting point and the rack itself. That is why the A-frame is our preferred mounting point: structurally stronger, dynamically calmer, safer for other road users. Rear mounting can be engineered when it is done properly. Talk to our engineers and we will assess the right solution for your trailer.

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The pivot base is engineered to mount directly to a chassis-mounted tow bar with nothing in between. An extension or side swing adaptor lengthens the lever arm between carrier and chassis. Every road input is amplified into uncontrolled pitch, roll and yaw, multiplying the loads on the carrier, the bikes and the tow bar. For that reason iSi carriers are not certified for use with them. If clearance is the problem an extension seems to solve, contact us first. There is usually a configured solution.

At home, with basic hand tools. Every system ships with all required hardware and a comprehensive installation manual. Step-by-step guides for every configuration are in the iSi Guides section. No drilling, no welding. Your chassis warranty stays intact.

View installation guides →

Yes. Integrated pivot stops let the fully loaded rack pivot up, or up and over, clearing the drawbar, gas bottles and front compartments without unloading a single bike.

Watch the demonstration

Yes. The vehicle-mounted carrier pivots all the way to the ground, clearing the full swing arc of side-hinged rear doors. Slide-out drawers and rear-mounted fridges stay fully accessible with four bikes on.

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One wheel at a time. Rather than lifting the whole bike, you place one wheel then the other. Each Quad Contact wheel cradle holds the wheel captive at four points on the tread. Not two points, not a rail the wheel wants to slide off. The geometry halves the effort and keeps heavier e-bikes under control throughout.

Watch the demonstration

Pair a high quality security cable with a combination or keyed padlock. The carrier offers multiple lock points. On a vehicle mount, run the cable from the bikes through the carrier to the tow bar. On a drawbar mount, run it from the bikes through the carrier to the van chassis. Bikes, rack and vehicle lock together as one.

No. At highway speed a cover acts as a sail. Wind buffeting adds significant load and vibration to the bikes, the carrier and its mounting points. Covers are not to be fitted while the carrier is in use. Bikes travel better exposed.

Get in touch with a sales specialist. We will look at your bike rack model and configure the appropriate drawbar solution for your van. Every mount and StrongArm Support Post is specced individually to your trailer's geometry, so your existing carrier bolts straight on.

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The system is modular by design. When your vehicle or caravan changes, you replace only the affected component, typically the mount or support post. The carrier stays with you. You never start over. If you would rather move into a new configuration, ask about our Buyback program.

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Every iSi carrier is backed by a lifetime warranty. We build with the highest quality Australian steels and materials available, so we stand behind the structure of every carrier for the life of the product. Surfaces are sandblasted, zinc primed and finished in textured Dulux powder coat, salt spray tested for Australian conditions. Finish care and coverage details are in the Care and Maintenance guide.

Care and Maintenance guide →