Bicycles have accompanied our family journeys for as long as we can remember. Whenever an opportunity arises, we simply pack the bikes onto the roof of our car and hit the road. We’ve taken our bikes to Croatia, Lake Garda, and Kashubia, among other places. Recently, we actively spent cycling time on the Polish coast. It was during this latest trip that we had the chance to test the new Thule Easy Fold 3 bike carrier.
O tym przeczytasz
Electric bikes on Easy Fold 3
This is essentially the biggest change in the new Thule carrier model. Unlike older versions of the Easy Fold model, we now have the ability to safely mount electric bikes. You might ask, what exactly has changed? The “gripping” arms for bikes have changed—we now get three of them included. And let me tell you, these arms truly provide incredible flexibility when it comes to accommodating various frame thicknesses. As you know, frames on new electric bikes vary greatly in shape and thickness. The flexibility in mounting these arms is sufficient even to attach them onto vertical parts of the bike frame.
The arm system is designed to be detachable with one hand, both on the bike fastening side—where there is the well-known and widely used ratchet strap—and on the side attaching to the carrier frame itself. In practice, I’ve successfully repositioned the arms many times without major issues, although sometimes I struggled with the release button for a moment. Perhaps it’s a matter of getting used to it. Besides, once we find the optimal configuration for our bikes, there’s usually no further need to remove these arms from the carrier.
Thule considers those with limited space
It’s said that you shouldn’t change a winning team. To paraphrase, with the Thule Easy Fold 3, one might say that good solutions shouldn’t be altered. Thule’s philosophy of user-centric thinking always amazes me with every product.
The carrier retains two wheels, which facilitate easy transport. It also continues to include a special pedal that allows you to tilt the carrier, granting access to the car trunk without having to remove the bikes. Of course, the “fold” element in the name obliges, and the carrier indeed folds to occupy as little space as possible.
Easy Fold 3 also inherited the simplicity of hitch attachment. Just place the carrier onto the hitch, set the clamp force, and close the lever. It’s a simple yet satisfying solution. Additionally, when connected through the 13-pin plug to the car’s hitch socket and the ignition is turned on, the carrier performs a test of all li
Easy Fold for four bikes
The Thule Easy Fold 3 comes standard with space for three bikes, with a maximum load of 60 kg. When mounting electric bikes, removing the battery during transport is recommended not only for safety but also to reduce bike weight. Thule, however, goes a step further. If you wish to carry four bikes, Thule allows this too. You only need to purchase additional rails. They are mounted at the level of the license plate. Both mounting and removal are tool-free. With this setup, remember to place the lightest bike last. In our case, it was our son’s electric woom UP 5.
So, if you’re looking for an excellent family bike carrier, and storage space is important to you, the Thule Easy Fold 3 is for you.
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The bike carrier for testing was provided to us by Thule.
