Transporting my bike

[Dickie]

Hey all, need some advice:

A while back my truck died and with it my awesome home made truck-bed bike carrier. We now have a new Jeep Cherokee with roof rails. I just purchased Thule aero cross bars so I can strap lumber/ladders, etc to the roof so naturally I’m considering a roof rack for my bike. I had truly wanted to buy a platform hitch rack (Kuat or 1UP) as I feel they are easier to use, safer, don’t increase MPG’s, and play nice with my parking garage… but the cost is pretty prohibitive. I can get a bike add-on for my roof rack around $150, a good hitch rack starts at $350.00… but considering I have already dropped $300 on the bars (which I needed for work) the cash outlay is increasing.

Roof Rack

– real possibility of driving into a parking garage and forgetting bike is on roof
– poor fuel consumption
– noise
– I have no lawyer tabs on my forks.
– more difficult to put bike on roof
– front wheel still needs to go somewhere
– come with built-in security (locks on quick release and rack mounts)
– cheaper ($150-250)

Hitch Rack

– interferes with back-up camera?
– requires cable lock or some added security
– heavy
– not fender friendly (in most cases)
– expensive ($350 – 550)
– much safer (other than rear end accidents)
– easier to load and unload
– no effect on MPG’s

Any thoughts or experience would be appreciated

[Phatboing]

Inside car? We used to have a Honda Fit, and with the back seats folded down, you could put a bike, maybe two in there. Presumably a Cherokee could do this. I may be imagining this, but I think I’ve seen pictures of in-car crossbar things that you can clamp the fork to.

[DismalScientist]

If you aren’t carrying a lot of crap in the car, the easiest thing is to just take off the front wheel and throw the bike in the back of the car. (I’ve actually put a bike in the passenger seat of a Mazda Miata.)

The only time I’ve carried a bike outside the car was by tying the thing down (actually three of them) horizontally on a luggage rack with old inner tubes. This is called Beverly Hillbillies-style.

[Dickie]

Thanks guys. The bike fits fine in the Jeep currently and for quick trips it’s a good solution… I really need a solution for long distance trips (like going to see my family in Canada) when the jeep will already be filled with luggage and pretty soon strollers and other needs.

[Emm]

Roof Rack

– real possibility of driving into a parking garage and forgetting bike is on roof
Never done this. Ridden a few thousand miles with bikes on roof and never once forgot they were there.
– poor fuel consumption
yep…no way around this one
– noise
maybe our escape is just loud to begin with, but I’ve never noticed it
– I have no lawyer tabs on my forks.
are those required for a roof rack? I had no idea. All I know is all of our bikes work on ours, including the bikes with disc brakes
– more difficult to put bike on roof
I’m 5’7″, and have no upper body strength. Even I could get my 35 lb hybrid up on top of a ford Escape. It sucks, but I can do it.
– front wheel still needs to go somewhere
Get one of these. They are not perfect, but they do the job.
– come with built-in security (locks on quick release and rack mounts)
Yes, I this. We take our bikes to MI, and being able to park at a rest stop and leave them for a short bit to grab lunch is awesome.
– cheaper ($150-250)

Bonus of roof rack: you can use other attachments. Our roof rack also works with skiis and snowboard attachments, kyack attachments, and bags/box attachments.

[rcannon100]

I have a Thule Rear Hitch Rack on the mini van. Luv it. It folds out of the way so its easy to open the hitch. Holds 4 bikes. Only prob is that it dropped the clearance of the mini van and now the beast can no longer get up the driveway. This was an unpopular decision among some unnamed person, who repeated backed the van into brick walls and other brick-a-brak trying to knock it off.

@Dickie 118749 wrote:

Hitch Rack

– interferes with back-up camera?

Um, turn your head???

– requires cable lock or some added security

You havent heard the stories of the guys who put their bikes up on the roof rack – arrived at the race – only to realize there was no longer anyting on the roof????

– heavy

Compared to what? Wind resistance of the roof

– not fender friendly (in most cases)

Problem easily solved. And would help with your weight weenie issue above.

– expensive ($350 – 550)

Steal one. You have the tools

– much safer (other than rear end accidents)

Oh I guarantee you this will help reduce rear end accidents. People stay away when they think they will be speared.

– easier to load and unload
– no effect on MPG’s

This I doubt. The drag is MUCH less with a rear rack.

Any thoughts or experience would be appreciated

The hitch can also conveniently be turned into other purposes like towing sailboats!

You can always just get the hitch bar installed and mooch the rack from certain unwilling friends

[jabberwocky]

My two cents:

I did roof racks (Yakima King Cobras) for several years on my old Subaru WRX wagon. The King Cobra holds the bike with both wheels on. I transported everything from light road bikes to DH rigs. Advantages are that they don’t mess with the rear door at all, and the bikes are safe from rear end accidents (which I never had, but you never know). Disadvantages were that they were tough to lift bikes onto them (and the rex was a pretty short car; I’d have needed a step stool with an SUV). Gas mileage took a big hit. You needed to be careful with parking garages and drive thrus and such. The bikes are in the air stream and swayed around a lot. The Yakima racks had issues with the trays cracking (I’d take them off and hacksaw the last few inches of tray and reattach them to fix it).

My current car (Ford Explorer) I went with a hitch rack (Yakima Holdup 2). Its substantially easier to load, doesn’t hit gas mileage to a noticeable degree, and holds the bikes securely. I have transported my touring bike with fenders on it; I just clamp the wheel bar to the fender. As an unexpected benefit it also blocks the license plate when folded up, which is nice in MD. Disadvantages are that it makes the rear door harder to use (rack needs to fold down to access it), it does mess with the backup sensors (it beeps constantly whenever I’m in reverse) and I guess if I ever get rear ended with bikes on there it will be expensive.

Given the choice I’d do a nice hitch rack.

[AFHokie]

I have a truck and I’ve mulled over a hitch rack or bars over the bed due to needing bed space for other gear.

I think Thule makes a roof mount that doesn’t require removing the front tire. That’s my biggest hang up with most roof racks.

Hitch racks also interfere with opening/closing the rear gate & window. Some models swing away like an external spare tire mount, but I assume that adds to overall cost. Also, do you have space to store the hitch rack when not in use? Leaving on the vehicle is an option, but not the best solution if you find it in the way.

However, one low tree branch or ‘opps’ moment driving into a garage and the fix/replacement costs of the bikes and damage to the vehicle will pale in comparison to the cost of a hitch rack.

[hozn]

+1 for the hitch racks (especially if you already have a trailer hitch?– done!)

I’ve used both. I had a Thule roof rack for a long time on my Prelude. That car was so low that I could ride with my bike under some low-clearance bars — But I would always drive with my sunroof open when the bike was on the roof so I wouldn’t forget it was up there. That is a real concern. I’ve known a couple people to destroy bikes by forgetting. Plus it’s pretty inconvenient to realize you can’t park in a parking garage (or on upper decks that have height restriction bars) — or go through a drive-through!

The MGP effect was significant (10-15%?) and the noise was quite significant — especially before I had the fairing installed. Plus it made my sunroof less enjoyable. Both my cars have roofrack systems now, so I imagine that as I eventually need to transport more bikes, I’ll get some cross bars again, but I far prefer the hitch racks.

I’ve had a few hitch racks since the roof rack. I have a Kuat rack now — bought it because it’s aluminum and hopefully won’t rust to pieces like my Raxter did [in two years]. It’s also pretty light for what it is. The integrated lock is easy to use (my hitch pins are locking, so the cable just goes onto the pin).

I also love how quick it is to throw a bike onto the back. If I really take my time, it might take 10 seconds.

And I would be screwed with a roof rack with my multiple fork axle systems (QR, 15mm). Yes, there are adapters, but another thing to have to mess around with.

In general the only disadvantage with the hitch rack is access to the rear door. And if you’re constantly opening and closing that door, this might be worth considering.

[vvill]

My 2c: I have an entry level trunk rack that I’ve started getting sick of. I’ve considered getting a hitch rack, but never a roof rack. I’m not tall and don’t like lifting above shoulder level, would likely drive into a garage one of these days, and I dislike having to remove a wheel (also the fork axle thing that hozn mentioned). I keep a spare u-lock and cable in the car as it is for my trunk rack so locking wouldn’t be an issue. I’d never even considered the MPG but now I’ve heard about that, I would definitely go with a hitch rack – cost-wise, you’ll make up a good part of the extra $300 in initial outlay in gas assuming you drive a decent amount.

[Crickey7]

I like having a hitch rack that holds 5 bikes. Note that for little kids’ bikes or any bike with a step-through frame (don’t laugh), you will need to buy a bar adapter.

[Dickie]

Thanks everyone… lots of great info. I already have a tow package on the Jeep so hitch is available without added cost. I can justify the expense of just purchasing roof cross bars as I’ll use them for work and other possible add-ons down the road. I’m leaning hitch rack… love the 1up especially as I can buy 1 bike first and then add-on as needed, although the Kuat NV looks pretty awesome as well…. ughh, money money money!

[Steve O]

@Dickie 118749 wrote:

Roof Rack
– real possibility of driving into a parking garage and forgetting bike is on roof

I know someone who did this (put the bikes on inside a commercial garage & then tried to drive out). Totaled both bikes and tore up the top of the car. A very expensive mistake. Also ruined his weekend getaway.

[ShawnoftheDread]

I have a roof tray on my Honda, and getting a bike on top of an SUV if you’re not well over 6′ tall is a pain. Now have a Thule hitch rack. You should be able to find a used one for $100 or less.

[jabberwocky]

@Dickie 118769 wrote:

…although the Kuat NV looks pretty awesome as well…. ughh, money money money!

FWIW, I really wish I’d spent the money for the Kuat rather than the Yakima I have. The Yakima works ok but has numerous issues and annoyances. If I could go back in time I’d get the Kuat for sure.

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