Audi A4 Avant B8 with Menabo Merak Tilting Plus, Race 4 and Foxhound 4 towbar bike racks

For the Audi A4 Avant B8 we present four towbar-mounted bike racks: Menabo Merak Tilting Plus, Merak Eco Plus, Race 4 and M-Way Foxhound 4. The image in the post is a Menabo catalogue photo, and we fit and test the racks in our SuportBicicleta.ro shop in Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania.

About the car: Audi A4 Avant B8 (Typ 8K)

The Audi A4 B8, with the code Typ 8K, is built on a variant of the Audi modular longitudinal platform (MLB). The estate version, the A4 Avant, was shown to the public at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2008, and the B8 range received a facelift in early 2012. The Menabo catalogue image in this post shows a grey-silver A4 Avant 2.0 TDI with a Menabo towbar rack.

On an estate like the A4 Avant, a towbar rack leaves the roof free and keeps the bikes low, where they are easy to load. That leaves the tailgate: an estate is often loaded through the back, and the Merak Tilting Plus tilts precisely so that you can get into the boot with the rack fitted.

What we fitted on this Audi A4 Avant

Menabo Merak Tilting Plus for 3 bikes is the Merak Tilting with the Menabo Merak extension kit. It bolts onto the towbar, tilts, takes e-bikes and carries a maximum of 25 kg per bike. It is made of aluminium and TÜV approved. If you do not need tilting, Menabo Merak Eco Plus for 3 bikes keeps the 3 places and the 25 kg per bike limit, also with a bolt-on fitting.

For a family with four bikes, Menabo Race 4 and M-Way Foxhound 4 have the same main figures on the product sheet: 4 bikes, a maximum of 15 kg per bike, 60 kg total load and 18 kg own weight. Both have tail lights and a 13/7-pin plug, do not tilt and are not suitable for e-bikes or fat bikes. On the other hand, the product sheets list them as compatible with the Menabo Nekkar box.

Video: Menabo Race 3 towbar bike rack – video

Video: Menabo Merak Tilting tilting towbar bike rack

Video: Menabo Merak Eco towbar bike rack – video

Technical details and what to watch for

• Menabo Merak Tilting Plus: 3 bikes of up to 25 kg each, suitable for e-bikes, tilting, bolt-on fitting, dimensions 121 x 35 x 18.5 cm.
• Race 4 and Foxhound 4: the limit is 15 kg for each bike, not just 60 kg in total.
• Towbar calculation: the Race 4 weighs 18 kg, so with 4 bikes of 15 kg each you reach 78 kg behind the car; compare that with the maximum tow ball load of the towbar in the Audi's owner's manual.
• The bikes can cover the tail lights and the number plate, so plug in the 13/7-pin socket and check the rack's lights before you set off.
• The lock for the bikes is optional on all four racks (art. 000026400000); the instructions and specifications are on the product sheets as PDFs.

Instructions and documents

• Fitting instructions - Menabo Race 4 (PDF)
• Specifications - Menabo Race 4 (PDF)
• Fitting instructions Menabo Merak extension kit (PDF)
• Fitting instructions Menabo Merak (PDF)
• Specifications Menabo Merak (PDF)

Frequently asked questions

Which towbar bike rack fits the Audi A4 Avant B8?

On an Audi A4 Avant B8 with a towbar and an electrical socket you can use Menabo towbar racks such as the Merak Tilting Plus for 3 bikes or the Race 4 for 4 bikes, bolted onto the tow ball.

Can I open the boot of the Audi A4 Avant with the towbar rack fitted?

On the Audi A4 Avant, yes with the Menabo Merak Tilting Plus, because it tilts; the Menabo Race 4, M-Way Foxhound 4 and Merak Eco Plus have no tilting function.

What is the difference between the Menabo Race 4 and the M-Way Foxhound 4?

On the product sheets at suportbicicleta.ro, the Menabo Race 4 and M-Way Foxhound 4 have the same main figures: 4 bikes, 15 kg per bike, 60 kg in total, 18 kg own weight and compatibility with the Menabo Nekkar box. You can find more in the article on the M-Way FoxHound and in the article on the Menabo Race 4.

Can I carry e-bikes on the towbar of an Audi A4 Avant?

Yes, if you choose the Menabo Merak Tilting Plus or Merak Eco Plus, which take e-bikes of up to 25 kg per bike. The Menabo Race 4 and M-Way Foxhound 4 are not suitable for e-bikes, as their limit is 15 kg per bike.

We are waiting for you in the showroom

Our SuportBicicleta.ro shop is in Drumul Lunca Corbului 2, Sector 3, Bucharest, Romania , where we show you a tilting rack and a fixed one. The other models are at towbar-mounted bike racks and roof boxes, and you can reach us through contact us through our contact page or at [email protected].

You can also message us on WhatsApp.

Sources: Wikipedia: Audi A4 (B8 generation, Typ 8K) · SuportBicicleta.ro guide: M-Way FoxHound, towbar-mounted bike rack · SuportBicicleta.ro guide: Menabo Race 4, the ideal bike rack for trips · product pages on suportbicicleta.ro