A bike rack for skis
5.2.2019
Translation: machine translated
For me, ski racks used to belong on the roof. The Towcar Aneto taught me otherwise, because it sits on the rear of the towbar.
I was three years old when I skied for the first time, which was a tragedy. I just cried and hung on the boards like a sack of potatoes. A year later, the world looked very different. Since then, I've been drawn to the mountains for a few days almost every winter. It's a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of the city. The very first breath of fresh, icy air sends me downhill and the Alpine panorama never ceases to amaze me. On my skis, I'm right in the middle of it all, whizzing down the slope and taking a break for a Jägertee in between. Pure relaxation, if it weren't for the journey there.
No other holiday requires so much equipment: Ski jacket, trousers and boots, gloves, helmet, hat and much more. And then of course skis and poles. These are usually stuffed into the car through the boot or transported in a roof box. The Teufelberger family used to go on skiing holidays with the trailer: Two adults, five children and a dog filled the car completely even without luggage. I was sure that I knew all the ways to get the stuff to my holiday destination until I stumbled across the Towcar Aneto in the shop. It works like a bike trailer, but for skis and snowboards. I want to try that out.
The first impression is right
The delivery man rings my doorbell two days earlier than expected. This is also a rare occurrence and makes me feel positive. However, the weight makes me realise once again why I ordered the thing home: the carrier weighs 23 kilograms and comes in a somewhat unwieldy box. When I unpack the carrier, I'm relieved to see that it comes in one (folded) piece and can be fitted to the towbar straight away. Yes, your car absolutely needs a towbar for the Towcar Aneto
.
Quickly mounted
Fitting should not present you with any major challenges. Simply slide the ski carrier over the towbar in one movement, then press the lever on the right-hand side downwards to secure the whole thing. If you also push the handle to the left, the carrier is locked and can only be released with a key. To ensure that the ski rack is really secure, you now need to tighten the nut on the bracket. The spanner for this is included. For the rear lights to work, they need power. To do this, simply plug the connector into the towbar and turn the housing slightly so that the connector clicks into place. Don't worry if it doesn't fit: An adapter is included. Make sure that you route the cable to the car via the Aneto, otherwise it will drag on the ground while driving.
Almost everything fits
Now you can load up. The carrier holds four skis/snowboards or two of each. Not enough for the entire Teufelberger family, but probably enough for most people. The individual carriers can also be locked with a key. This also works quickly and easily. The Aneto has a tilting device so that you can still get your belongings out of the boot despite the trailer. If you pull the handle on the right-hand side, which is simply labelled "Pull", the entire ski carrier swivels downwards. You do the same to move it back up again. And that's a bit of a problem. When the Aneto is fully loaded, it weighs quite a bit. You have to move this load with one hand, as the other hand pulls on the side handle. A foot pedal that releases the ski carrier would be more convenient.
Now everything is ready, skis and snowboard are on the carrier and the journey can begin. Okay, maybe not quite yet. First I have to tighten the threads everywhere, because every mechanism can be fixed. One star grip thread is for the swivelling mechanism, two more for the rear lights. Everything runs smoothly on the journey. I don't even notice anything hanging off the back of the car. This is probably because the ski carrier is suspended in the air and has no wheels of its own. So it doesn't hinder me in any way, even at high speed. The rear lights work in the same way as those on the car and are bright enough. The Aneto also holds up well on snow. The skis don't move an inch the whole time.
Conclusion
The Towcar Aneto has passed the test. The winter sports equipment is transported safely and every movement can be carried out easily. I like the fact that the ski rack is attached to the back of the car and not on the roof as is usually the case. As a person who is not too tall, this makes access much easier for me. You should also use a little less petrol as the carrier is in the slipstream of the car. It would just be nice to have a foot pedal to activate the swivelling mechanism. And then there's the tiresome topic of price. At 612 francs, the Aneto is at the upper end of the price scale, but you are independent of roof rails and other mounting systems. What you do need, however, is a towbar.
For me personally, the Towcar Aneto is not worth it at the moment, as I usually only need to transport my own skis. And the price is too high for that. Nevertheless, I can recommend the winter sports carrier with a clear conscience. But not only that, I can even give away the one I tested.
How to take part
All you have to do is click on "Take part" and then keep your fingers crossed. The closing date for entries is 15 February 2019.
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My life in a nutshell? On a quest to broaden my horizon. I love discovering and learning new skills and I see a chance to experience something new in everything – be it travelling, reading, cooking, movies or DIY.
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