I want to cycle to work. Nice short 4,2km trip. BUT, I need my car at work during the day to drive to sites .... Aaaahhh, I can leave the car in the secure basement parking at work. But dropping the car at work, and getting home to use the cycle .....
Okay, easy solution - bike in the car, drive to work on Monday. Cycle to and from work a couple of days, then drive home again with the bike in the car.
Bike wont fit in the car ....
I do have a Thule back rack that fits on a towbar. But surely a towbar is an expensive item ....
So I go looking for one of those bikeracks that fit onto the back of a hatchback .... NOPE
![Naah :naah:](./images/smilies/nea.gif)
Okay, so how much would a towbar cost ? Nope !! Not about cost ... NO towbar for an Etios ....
Now if you know me, then you know I dont give at that easily !!
The Etios is too light to tow a trailer, thus no towbar on the market. BUT, I just need it to mount a bike rack ... Nice light-weight structure. I dont even need a trailer plug for this project.
But if I am going to build something I might as well try to make it look nice.
And so the search starts for "swan-neck" towball. The typical "goose-neck" bolts on with two bolts, out in clear sight ... Finally, LUCKILY, found one at a tire fitment outlet. And as it was in the spares box I got it for an absolute steal.
![Thumbup :thumbup:](./images/smilies/icon_thumbup.gif)
![CoolDude :cooldude:](./images/smilies/cool.gif)
Off to the steel shop in search of a short piece of rectangular tube to serve as the receptor for the towball. Finally found a piece of about 27cm in their scrap bin.
![Thumbup :thumbup:](./images/smilies/icon_thumbup.gif)
![Thumbup :thumbup:](./images/smilies/icon_thumbup.gif)
Cutting, grinding, welding, some more grinding .... and finally the project takes shape.
WOW, time flies when you are having fun !! Much later in the day -
And then it was time to finish it off neatly, and to apply some Hammerite paint
Final fitment tomorrow
![Celebrate :celebrate:](./images/smilies/celebrate3.gif)
![Celebrate :celebrate:](./images/smilies/celebrate3.gif)