VW T5 T6 rear bike rack spare wheel carrier options

The Problem

The owner wanted to convert their existing VW rear bike rack to also carry a spare wheel and a Peli-style protective case. They were looking for DIY or affordable alternatives to the expensive HESS rack system. Because the ready-made options are sold by Swiss and German suppliers, UK buyers also need to account for shipping and post-Brexit import VAT/customs charges, which affect the real-world price of each option.

Solution

Pricing note: the 'premium / mid-range / budget' framing below reflects the relative cost of each option, not fixed figures. Prices change frequently and the overseas options attract shipping plus post-Brexit import charges, so get a current total landed price (item + delivery + any VAT/duty) from each supplier before deciding. (Verify current prices with the supplier before ordering.)

1. Premium ready-made solution — HESS spare wheel and carrier rack (ordered direct from HESS in Switzerland):

   • Payment must be made via bank transfer in Swiss Francs (CHF) as they do not accept credit cards — factor in the exchange rate at the time of transfer.
   • As Switzerland is outside the UK and the EU, ask HESS to confirm shipping cost to the UK and whether duty/customs handling is included. UK buyers will normally pay import VAT (20%), and potentially customs duty plus a courier handling fee, on delivery — budget for this on top of the CHF price. (Confirm shipping and any import charges with HESS before ordering.)

2. Mid-range option — 50gradnord.com rear carrier conversion kit, which retrofits onto an existing original VW bicycle carrier or a Thule Wanderway rear carrier:

   • This kit converts the rack into a spare wheel carrier and accepts tyres up to 255/65/18; it is a valid option for T6.1 owners but is still relatively expensive.
   • 50gradnord.com is a German supplier. Confirm with them that they ship to the UK and what the delivery cost is. Since Brexit, UK orders from the EU are typically subject to import VAT (20%) and possibly customs duty plus a courier handling fee — these are charged on top of the listed price, so confirm the full landed cost before ordering. (Confirm UK shipping and import charges with 50gradnord.com before ordering.)

3. Budget DIY solution — mount a Challenger TR5013 spare wheel carrier onto your existing bike rack:

   • No rack modification is required, which is why this is the cheapest route.
   • Installation: offer the TR5013 carrier up to the existing rack and identify a flat, structural rail or mounting bar to attach it to (not the bike-clamp arms alone). Use the carrier's supplied U-bolts/clamps to secure it to that rail, positioning it so the spare wheel sits centrally and does not foul the bike clamps, the number plate, lights, or tailgate opening. Hand-tighten, check the wheel clears the bodywork and tailgate through its full opening arc, then fully tighten the clamps. Fit the spare wheel and verify all fixings are torqued down and that nothing rattles or shifts when you rock the wheel by hand. Re-check the fixings after the first short drive and periodically thereafter. (Follow the torque/fitting figures in the Challenger instructions supplied with the carrier.)

4. Before fitting any spare wheel carrier, check whether a tailgate strut upgrade is needed for your specific generation:

   • T6.1: at least one dealer confirmed the T6.1 comes with the strongest strut option as standard, rated to hold the tailgate open with 4 bicycles plus up to an additional 50 kg of load, so an upgrade is unlikely to be necessary.
   • T5, T5.1 and T6: these earlier vans may have been fitted with lower-rated tailgate struts depending on age, spec and any factory bike-rack option. Do not assume they match the T6.1. Before loading a spare wheel and case, weigh the combined load, check the tailgate holds open fully and safely with that weight added, and confirm the correct uprated strut/gas spring part for your VIN with a VW dealer or strut supplier. (Confirm the correct uprated strut and its load rating for your T5/T6 with a VW dealer before fitting.)