GripSport Caravan Bike Racks Explained

At Carac, we consider ourselves specialists when it comes to the GripSport caravan bike rack range. Not because we read the brochures, but because we genuinely love the product and use our experience every day to help customers find the right setup.

Over the years, we've installed and supplied countless GripSport Racks for caravans, camper trailers and motorhomes. One thing keeps coming up in conversations with customers: they want a bike rack that is practical, easy to use and doesn't create headaches every time they need access to their van.

That is exactly where the GripSport Van-Rack stands out.

No more unloading bikes to access your van 

The GripSport tilting Van-Racks mean you never have to choose between your bikes and your gear. Access your toolboxes, gas bottles or storage in seconds, fully loaded. Is there anything more frustrating than having to unload every single bike just to get something out of your van boot or change a gas bottle?  With the GripSport Van-Rack, you don’t have to. The smart tilting design allows the entire rack—bikes and all—to swing forward smoothly. You get instant access to your storage boot, gas bottles, and toolboxes without touching a single strap.

The five questions we always ask 

When customers contact us about a GripSport Van-Rack, we always start with a few simple questions.

1. How many bikes are you carrying?

Do you need capacity for two bikes or four? This immediately narrows down the options and helps determine the best mounting solution.

2. What type of bikes are you carrying?

Standard mountain bikes, road bikes, e-bikes, fat bikes and children's bikes all have slightly different requirements. Fortunately, GripSport racks are among the most versatile systems available and can accommodate almost every style of bike.

3. Do you have tool-boxes and gas bottle holders that you are wanting to avoid?

Many caravan owners have front-mounted storage boxes, generators or gas bottle holders that can interfere with some bike rack designs. The amount of clearance required will influence the mounting kit selection.

4. What space do you have on your A frame?

Every caravan setup is slightly different. Available drawbar space helps determine which mounting kit is most suitable.

5. Do you have a suitable cross-member?

Some installations can utilise an existing cross-member, while others may require the addition of a universal bolt-on cross-member to create a secure mounting point.

Our most popular GripSport packages

Through experience, we've found that the overwhelming majority of caravan applications utilise the Tall Bolt-On Mount Kit. To make the process easier, we've bundled together complete packages that include both the rack and mounting hardware.

2 Bike Tilting Tall Bolt-On Kit

GripSport Van-Rack 2 Bike Tilting Tall Bolt-On Kit

4 Bike Tilting Tall Bolt-On Kit

GripSport Van-Rack 4 Bike Tilting Tall Bolt-On Kit

The Tall Bolt-On Mount Kit provides up to 787mm of drawbar clearance, making it ideal for caravans with front storage boxes and gas bottle arrangements. For installations requiring less clearance, the Short Bolt-On Mount Kit provides up to 392mm of clearance.

Will my bike fit?

This is probably the most common question we hear.

The good news is that GripSport racks are designed to accommodate an enormous range of bikes.

The standard hoop and taco configuration included with the packages above suits tyres up to 3 inches wide, covering most mountain bikes, hybrid bikes, gravel bikes and e-bikes.

If you're carrying children's bikes with smaller wheel diameters, GripSport also offers Wheel Hoop Reducers that allow bikes with wheels as small as 12 inches to be carried securely.

GripSport Wheel Hoop Reducers (Pair)

Did you know?

• GripSport racks are fully e-bike compatible, built and tested to handle the extra weight without compromise.  Most e-bikes tip the scales at around 25kg — no problem for us.  GripSport’s Platform Racks are built to handle the extra weight, supporting up to 30kg per bike position without breaking a sweat. Same rock-solid fit, same trusted performance — just ready for whatever you're riding.  

• GripSport are 100% Australian made and owned - designed, built and tested right here! At Carac we love supporting local jobs and local innovations.

One Rack, Two Vehicles

One of the clever accessories in the GripSport range is the Van-Rack Towbar Adapter. It allows you to quickly transfer your GripSport Van-Rack from your caravan to your tow vehicle, giving you far more flexibility for day trips and local adventures.

Built from heavy-duty zinc-plated steel, the adapter is designed to suit standard 50mm (2") square hitch receivers and provides the same secure mounting system GripSport is known for. If you're using a 50mm towbar receiver, we also recommend pairing it with a Hitch Stabiliser to minimise movement and create an even more solid setup.

For many customers, it turns their caravan bike rack into a bike rack they can use every day.

Gripsport Van Rack - Tow Bar Adaptor Tilt 1-2 Bike

Gripsport Van Rack - Tow Bar Adaptor Non Tilt 3-4 Bike

The accessory we recommend most

Without question, one of the best GripSport accessories we sell is the Loading Ramp Kit. Once you've loaded a heavy e-bike using a ramp, it's difficult to go back to lifting one onto a rack. The ramp allows you to simply roll the bike into position, making loading quicker, easier and significantly kinder on your back. For many customers, it quickly becomes one of those accessories they wish they had purchased sooner.

GripSport Loading Ramp Kit (2 Bike)

Don't forget safety and compliance

If you're mounting a GripSport rack to your vehicle, there are a couple of accessories worth considering.

Hitch Stabiliser

A hitch stabiliser helps reduce movement between the towbar receiver and the rack adaptor, creating a more stable and secure setup.

GripSport Hitch Stabiliser

Rack Lights and Number Plate Holder

When bikes obscure your vehicle's tail lights or number plate, additional lighting becomes essential for both safety and legal compliance.

Particularly during winter, when daylight hours are shorter, visibility becomes even more important.

Gripsport Rack Light

We are here to help

Hopefully this clarifies things and makes the purchasing process nice and simple. However, if you still have any questions, we would love to hear from you.