Suppose you want to put your brand new Thule bike carrier on your towbar, the first thing you need to know is the nose weight of your car or motorhome. The nose weight is the maximum vertical load your towbar can carry. For small cars, it is often around 50 kilos. Larger cars are usually around or above 75 kilos. You do need to add the weight of your bike carrier to the weight of your bikes. You can always see the maximum drawbar load on the tow bar of your car. This is stated on a clear plate, often made of metal.