Tailgate clearance with OEM Fixed Towbar + Thule VeloSpace?

amitaio · Wednesday at 11:44 PM

I've seen plenty of posts confirming that the detachable OEM towbar gives enough clearance to open the tailgate with a Thule VeloSpace, but nobody seems to mention the fixed OEM version.

Does anyone run this exact setup?

RedWhiteMonkey · Thursday at 6:24 AM

I use a Thule VeloSpace 3 with the additional rail to carry four bikes on a factory fit tow hook. As long as you set it up correctly the tailgate can be opened without any problem.

amitaio · Thursday at 1:50 PM

Ahh music to my ears! Thank you so much for confirming! Gorgeous setup you've got there, even the same colour to ours.

Btw, how does the solar panel work, is it an independent power source to charge the leisure battery?

Also what is that greyish jerrican? with red tap stuck on the left, water?

RedWhiteMonkey · Thursday at 2:13 PM

The solar panel charges the leisure battery using a Victron MPPT that is hidden away in the jack storage area in the back of the van. It means in summer we can run our fridge constantly without worrying about emptying the battery.

The thing on the side is my solution for carrying water and levelling ramps:

amitaio · Thursday at 6:18 PM

Very neat! My Cali doesn’t have the electric hookup socket, does it matter for the installation of a solar panel to charge the leisure battery?

Where do I find this side rack and slim water container ?

RedWhiteMonkey · Friday at 6:16 AM

amitaio said:
Very neat! My Cali doesn’t have the electric hookup socket, does it matter for the installation of a solar panel to charge the leisure battery?

The solar system doesn't really have anything to do with the electric hookup system. As long as you have a leisure battery (do you have that?) you can install and use solar to charge that. There are loads of threads about solar installations on here.

amitaio said:
Where do I find this side rack and slim water container ?

The board, attachment legs, water cannister and holder for that are from a German website - https://adventure-van.de/

I made the levelling ramp holder myself. The version shown in my photos is actually the older version of that, I have since improved it.

The entire setup projects less than the width of the wing mirrors and passes TUV standards here in Germany. I have driven thousands of kilometres with it on the side without any issues, doesn't even wobble when I'm going as fast as the van will go on the autobahn.