Trunkmonkey update
Unfortunately the makers of Trunkmonkey were unable to fulfill the international orders they secured following a successful crowd-funding campaign. No money was refunded to the backers. We would recommend that prospective buyers avoid this product.
The Trunkmonkey inflatable car bicycle carrier promises to revolutionize the way we carry our bikes by car. The inflatable design does away with the need for steel frames that risk damaging paintwork, and collapses small enough to be carried by bicycle.
The Trunkmonkey inflatable carrier can be inflated in less than 2 minutes using the 12v air pump included and is compatible with most types of car and bicycle frame. You simply plug the pump into your car’s cigarette lighter and the TrunkMonkey inflates in less than 2 minutes. You can also use a bicycle pump to inflate the TrunkMonkey.
Most people will keep the Trunkmonkey tucked away in the corner of their car’s boot, but carrying it attached a bicycle offers up all kinds of possibilities, such as carrying a bike by minicab.
Win your own Trunkmonkey
We have a Trunkmonkey to give away. Leave us a comment at the bottom of this page and we’ll pick a name at random.
How many other cycle carriers pack down this small?
Carrying your bicycle by car
Next time you take the ferry to continental Europe, you have only to look at the number of bicycles on the back of cars to know they have become a must-take accessory for summer driving holidays. After all, exploring a holiday destination by bike is a sociable, practical and cheap way to keep the kids entertained, discover beauty spots and meet the locals.
Choosing a bicycle rack
If you are new to Buying a good-quality, multi-bike rack can seem like an unwelcome pre-holiday expense if it’s something you are likely to use only once a year, so it’s worth asking friends whether anyone has one to lend. Alternatively, buy one between a one or two other families and share the cost. Remember that roof-mounted designs pay a surcharge on many ferry services and are prone to overhead damage. Expect to pay £100 upwards for a good-quality rack able to accommodate three or four bikes. When it goes on general sale, the Trunkmonkey inflatable car bicycle carrier is expected to cost £150. If you use a roof-mounted design, remember that an cycle insurance policy from the ETA covers accidental damage as standard, a low excess and new-for-old replacement however old your bike is.
Europe with your bicycle
Bicycles worth up to £500
Your travel insurance may consider a bicycle as a valuable item and pay out up to £500 in the event of theft, but read the small print as every policy is different.
Bicycles worth up to £1,000 – Standard travel insurance
If your bike is worth up to £1,000, it is covered as standard on a travel insurance policy from the ETA. You need to make sure that if you leave the bike in a public place while you are away, you secure it with a silver-rated lock, but, crucially, if your bike is stolen the policy replaces it on a new-for-old basis no matter the age of your bike. Other holiday insurance policies that include bicycles tend to de-value your bike if it is over three years old. If your bike is worth over £1,000, you will need to look at specialist bicycle insurance.
Bicycles worth £1,000 – £5,000 – Specialist bicycle insurance + travel insurance
Bikes worth over £1,000 warrant their own insurance cover and a good policy will cover you while you are abroad. The ETA offers a fully comprehensive policy that includes 90 days’ worldwide cover as standard. It’s not intended to replace the need for travel insurance – you will need that for medical cover in any case – but the list of benefits included as standard is impressive. Every policy includes cover against theft, accidental damage and vandalism. Crucially, the company does not devalue bikes no matter how old they are and damaged carbon frames are replaced rather than repaired.
This level of cover also covers against theft, accidental damage and vandalism while you are racing. In the case of triathlon, your bike is covered against theft when it is left in transition as long as the area is supervised by a marshal (which is usually the case). You are not covered against third party claims, personal accident cover or cycle rescue while racing. Third party liability is usually the responsibility of the race organiser or may be included as part of your race licence if you have one.
If you are camping, you must ensure that your bike is locked to an immovable object (a sizeable tree would do) and is not left unattended for more than 12 hours.
Travel insurance for you…and your bicycle
Every annual travel insurance covers children, and bicycles up to £1,000 for free.
Why choose us?
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- Generous cover for medical expenses, baggage, lost passports
- Emergency helpline based in Britain on standby 24/7
- Rated by Ethical Consumer as a Best Buy.
- We are 100% carbon neutral
- Every policy you buy supports sustainable transport charity the ETA Trust
Neil Woolford
Oooh, yes please, having struggled with various clumsy frameworks in the past…
Joel
Please pick me randomly 😉
Phil Burrows
Funky trunky monkey. E to the T to the A.
Stuart Russell
Nice ideal. Would love one of these!
Lindsay Southcombe
This looks great. As a relative novice to cycling it looks like something I need.
Sue
Great idea as I’m fed up having the paintwork scratched when taking the bike off at the end of a long day’s riding.
Philip Jordan
Hmm, I wonder just how reasonable it is to insist that those insured have their bike’s locked to an immovable object & is not left unattended for more than 12 hours?!
Nigel Searle
A breath of fresh air in cycle carrier design, Brilliant!
John Fleming
What a great idea! Just what I need – I am keeping my fingers crossed.
Mel Greenwood
Fantastic idea – bikes have been banned from the back of the car since the bike carrier scratched the heck out of it, camping a not as fun when you’ve got to walk all the way to the shower block…
Dan
Inflatable bicycle rack, sounds like a great idea!
Phil
It’s a nice idea – would be interested to know exactly what style cars this would fit. I paid a fortune for my Thule plus a removable towbar (it was worth the money though).
Krzysztof
Fingers crossed. Seems like a great idea.
Jonathan Hunt
I love innovative ideas. This is a good one.
Toity
Great for as and when we get a new car!
Vivienjay
I’d love to randomly win one of these – just right for a trip to the Scottish Islands with the bike at back.
Ali
I’ve had plenty of issues with bike carriers in the past. My bike has also been damaged as a result. This sounds ideal!
Sue
That’s cool, I want one, please pick me!
Toby
Sounds like a wonderful idea. Would stop my mum from lugging around heavy frames and attaching straps to odd parts of the car.
Dominic
I’d love one of these.
Dave Buck
great idea cant wait to try it after ive won it
Sam
great idea to keep deflated in the boot for those times when as a parent I’m called upon to collect children+bikes at short notice
Eric Ludlow
Does it come with a puncture repair kit?
Gina
Really neat idea. Would love one.
Chris Palomba
Carrying your bike couldn’t get any easier !
I want one now!
Lucy J
Yes please!
karen Hooton
This would make life so much easier when I have to go and pick up my son when he has the 2nd puncture!
Sheena Macaulay
Brilliant invention. So many plus points – Protects the car paintwork and the bikes. Love it that it takes up so little space and portable on the actual bike so u can hitch a ride with your bike! Perfect for folk like us who live in a flat and have limited storage space and on the top floor. I want one now!
Richard Newman
Closely related to the bumper baboon.
Thomas Mc Elhinney
A wheally good idea.
Helen
Love this! My car has been scratched & dented so many times by my current bike carrier… AND this one’s portable!
Dick Willis
Looks great but only one bike!
Owen van gijn
Just what I need
Rory Harkins
intriguing.
Justin Douglas
What a great invention – so much lighter than the conventional solution & better in other key respects too: storage, visibility.
Sheldon
Great idea, deserves to sell loads to what is a massive market.
Perfect for one way commutes, I would definitely use one.
Rob Ebbins
Great idea. Will they be on sale in the UK?
Yannick Read
HI Rob
Not sure about their distribution plans here, but you can order one now via Kickstarter
Kind regards
Yannick
Jamie J
Really liking the look of this…
John Whitfield
For clarity and advertising purposes they have omitted the NUMBER PLATE and LIGHTING BOARD, which is a legal requirement, as both are covered or partly covered by the bike and bag.
Caroline Toner
Great idea, perfect solution when you need someone to give you and your bike a ride
David Hewett
I feel sorry for the elephant.
Alan Jones
Need one that carries two now!
darren
I’d be pumped to win this!
Owain
Great idea, but this is even neater:
https://www.seasucker.com/shop/hornet/
Vivien Sproule
I like that you can carry it on the bike – makes it easier to get a lift home.
Andy
Less grease, more monkey. Nice!
Eleanor
Looks a fab idea and hopefully save the clumsy mummy from scratching the car.
Paul Elmer
Good idea – certainly makes multi-mode travel easier.
Tim
Yes please!
Sharon Evans
Count me in
Peter Clark
a lot better than what I use currently!
Glynis Brewer
It’d be great to have something nice and light to put on the car
Anthony Johnson
How novel.
Steve Brewer
Wow! Sounds brill!
Peter Chisnall
What a great product!
Bonnie Kelly
Seems like a good idea but shipping costs to UK seem high compared to cost and size of product
joe davison
Sounds great-but it still has to be attached to the car-how?
Stephen Foster
What a brilliant idea, another one of those inventions that comes from a bit of fresh thinking
Richard cuckson
Interested in how well it works in practice
Steve moorhouse
So clever I want to attach it to the rear of my car and take my bike everywhere with me for that unexpected riding opportunity!
David Hunt
This is a great idea that allows a bike to be fitted to any vehicle quickly and easily. I like the idea of fitting it to a taxi/minicab in a downpour. Sadly though , it can only carry one bike, although the designer hopes to provide multiple bike carriers in the future.
Lucy MacArthur
It IS a shame about the one-bike limitation and I would mostly favour our two bike tow bar carrier but I can still see a lot of potential for it. In an emergency we could just about fit one bike into the car and then carry the other on this carrier or if one of us has to use the car to pick up the other from somewhere without wanting to go home for the tow bar carrier, hey presto!
Graham Chadwick
Looks great. Can’t wait to try one.
Paul Spray
For the British market, it could be called the bootleg. Perhaps not…
Andy
How cool is that ? I want one!
Mary
As long as it is not raining a convertible is a great bike carrier [in the back seat] but in iffy weather bike racks for a convertible are a nightmare .and expensive. Your reply says any car including convertibles?
Charlotte
Love the Trunkmonkey! My husband and I have been looking for the perfect cycle rack to take our bikes to the Peak District with us for our 1st anniversary holiday. Please pick me! 🙂
Emma Kenworthy
I’m a 63 year old solo female cyclist, with (quite a heavy) hybrid. Would LOVE one of these as I could easily put my bike on the back of the car 🙂
Rick Cooper
Great idea – need one!
David
Good for hire cars and for city car club cars when you might cycle to pick yup but three bike won’t for in the boot.
Jamie
Great idea. I wonder how easy it would be to get a cab driver to attach use this – I’m keen to find out 😉
Gavin
Nice idea – and not just the usual hot air (pun attempt). Yes please – I would like to win this.
PAUL seymour
Lets see if it fits on an MPV
Cheryl Buxton-Sait
Just what I need!
Nick
Pick me randomly! 🙂
Barbara
Excellent design – brilliant idea
jasmin
Having damaged every car by using normal bike racks, this sounds s wonderful idea- I would love to try it out, please
Lucy MacArthur
Jasmin, have you tried a tow bar bike carrier – if you have a tow bar of course! Ours has transported our bikes safely and smoothly to scotland and back and is mega easy to use – and no damage whatsoever to the car. You do have to have a light/number plate board with tow bar carriers but we have found it worth the cost of these and the few minutes fixing it on and plugging in.
Rick Gregory
Great idea. Want one (please)
Rachel McCabe
This would look SO good attached to my Chevy (well, my Chevrolet Aveo, to be honest!) Having just got roadside rescue from you lot, I think I merit winning this so that even if the car breaks down, I can cycle away on my bike and not trouble you 🙂
Cheuk TANG
Would like to try it out with one.
Geoff Fairman
After 30 years & various carriers for different makes of car this has to be a winner. Well done trunk Monkey!
Steve Prime
Struggled to find the right cycle carrier for my car
This looks an excellent idea
Choose me and I will promote your product via my website and social media – see @RefresingBrand
John Bark
Look a great idea for transporting bikes more easily
Andy G
Looks great! Shame it only carries one bike…
Kathy C
Looks like a really easy option for carrying a bike. would love to win to try it out..
Neil Townshend
Looks a great idea. saves problems with storage and good flexibility for different vehicles
R Gibb
New to cycling and that would be ideal for trips further afield as can’t get bike into car
Sharon P
What a clever idea – I’d love to give this a try!
Donna Cromb
Brilliant idea! Had issues with scratches on car before with metal carriers. Pick me, pick me 🙂
JOHN GRANT
This is an awesome idea!
Liz Cope
Love this idea – with my husband and sons bikes on the roof – now he has no excuse for my bike not to come too!
Lucy MacArthur
Wow, Wow and more Wow! Why didn’t I think of this ……………..
Uncle Rex
It doesn’t say how much it could sell for & Its American ,but they have raised enough funds to start up …
Mary Jefferies
What a wonderful idea. So cleaver.
Barry Baker
It looks a great idea, but it’s a pity it only seems to be able to carry a single bike. That counts out all the couples who like to go on a ride together.
Rob King
Amazing! Enough said, but I want one.
Chris Johnson
A (pump) stroke of genius. A carrier that can be carried on the bicycle, for use with friends vehicles, taxis, buses etc. Brilliant!
Roland Graham
Excellent! I’d like one to carry two bikes.
elizabeth
I love ETA news – read it every week. So many clever ideas, like the Trunk Monkey.
Mike N
Very Interesting, will we see it on Dragons’ Den?
Wondering if it will work on my campervan, and if it could be ‘piggybacked’ on to another to carry an extra bike, problem I had when my kids were young was to manage 4 or sometimes 5 bikes, and couldn’t afford a van in those days
Caz
This would be a welcome addition to our family to reduce our frustration levels – our bike carrier is a pain in the bottom!
Angela Smith
What a good idea! If I don’t win one I would like to buy one. When are they going into production? Are they crowdfunded?
Andy Wadsworth
Wonder if it will fit the (lifting) tailgate on a VW T25?
Hazel
Exactly what I need for hubby & kids bikes (impossible to get all in with powerchair) for using on my mobility car lease, we can’t risk damage.
TrunkMonkey FRAUDS
The makers of Trunkmonkey are frauds and have taken (stolen) money for orders for many kickstarter backers without replying to any queries or delivering any products.
They are probably very good at photoshop though, so if you choose to buy this product send them a photo of yourself.
They can then photoshop you into a picture with the trunkmonkey, and you can show the photo to your friends and pretend it’s a real, and good product.
Alternatively you can just donate the money to a charity of your choosing. You get more for it. Your money will actually do something useful, and you get that warm fuzzy feeling, that you personally have done just a little good in the world. 🙂
Buy this product and you’ll feel just the opposite.
ETA
Unfortunately this is absolutely true. I think that they didn’t fulfill any of the international orders and, as usual, Kickstarter simply washes its hands of the whole affair