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

Topic

[DismalScientist]

@Dickie 118753 wrote:

. 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.

Uhhh… Bike in the car, luggage and baby on the roof.

[GovernorSilver]

I’m happy with my Saris Bones 2-bike trunk rack. Bought on sale at Spokes Etc.

[GovernorSilver]

I’m happy with my Saris Bones 2-bike trunk rack. Bought on sale at Spokes Etc.

I did buy my bike before I bought the Bones. I brought the bike home by taking off the front wheel, but it was a bit of work – had to unbolt the wheel, disconnect the brakes, disconnect the wires between the dyno hub and lights.

[DaveK]

The one thing I haven’t seen (and the reason I have roof racks) is for cars that live in particularly dense street parking. In a suburban area I’d have a hitch rack but my bumpers have to live up to their name on a regular basis.

[hozn]

@DaveK 118878 wrote:

The one thing I haven’t seen (and the reason I have roof racks) is for cars that live in particularly dense street parking. In a suburban area I’d have a hitch rack but my bumpers have to live up to their name on a regular basis.

Yeah, I’m glad I don’t have to do tight street parking on a regular basis. That said, the rack definitely helps keep my bumper scratch-free when I do park in the city.

The other thing I’ll say is that a roof rack give a very “sport-loving” look to your vehicle. It proclaims “I ride bike regularly!” [in places that can’t be easily gotten to by bicycle] or, often around here, “I kayak regularly!” (I suspect the latter is actually a lie.)

[notlost]

As others have stated, the hitch rack is money. I have a truck with a rack on the shell, but that is better used for canoes and kayaks while the bikes hang off the back. The Thule I use is a rack type (not a platform) which allows me to lower the rack down with both bikes still loaded and open the tailgate.

[Dirt]

I’m guessing that this is out of the question?

[Jason B]

Don’t know if you have the swing arm on your Cherokee, but this Yakima rack works really well on mine. Basic no-brainer, that I have used on very long rides. (Yes, the bike cost way more than the truck. Priorities Man!!!)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]8973[/ATTACH]

[creadinger]

Hey guys. Thanks for all info in this thread but I still have a big question.

We just got a brand new Subaru Crosstrek (our first ever new car) and I want to get a hitch installed for a hitch bike rack.

Where the heck can you get hitches installed?

Subaru can do it for $$$$.

U-Haul seems to be an option but a lot of threads warn about ever letting them touch your new car. Can anyone recommend anywhere else in the DMV?

[hozn]

@creadinger 142748 wrote:

Hey guys. Thanks for all info in this thread but I still have a big question.

We just got a brand new Subaru Crosstrek (our first ever new car) and I want to get a hitch installed for a hitch bike rack.

Where the heck can you get hitches installed?

Subaru can do it for $$$$.

U-Haul seems to be an option but a lot of threads warn about ever letting them touch your new car. Can anyone recommend anywhere else in the DMV?

It’s typically really easy to do. Apparently you don’t even need a drill (assuming this would fit on your car: http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2015_Subaru_XV+Crosstrek.htm) — *And* that is a 2″ hitch, of which I’m a bit jealous (you could tow 4 bikes on there).

[Judd]

@hozn 142750 wrote:

It’s typically really easy to do. Apparently you don’t even need a drill (assuming this would fit on your car: http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2015_Subaru_XV+Crosstrek.htm) — *And* that is a 2″ hitch, of which I’m a bit jealous (you could tow 4 bikes on there).

+1 I bought a hitch for my Honda Civic about 5 or 6 years ago and it was relatively easy to install as long as you’re comfortable with climbing under your car. It bolted right on to the frame with the supplied hardware.

[KWL]

@hozn 142750 wrote:

It’s typically really easy to do.

+2 If you can work on a bike, you can install a hitch. I installed one on my ’97 Miata years ago. While placing the bike in the passenger seat à la Dismal has worked, the passenger appreciates it if I load the bikes on the rack.

[KLizotte]

@Dirt 118968 wrote:

I’m guessing that this is out of the question?

Story? Please!

[trailrunner]

+3 I installed a hitch on my wife’s Highlander. It was easy – just bolt it on to the frame. It was a bit heavy and hard to hold, so it would have been easier with two people, but I managed to do it by myself.

[huskerdont]

@creadinger 142748 wrote:

Hey guys. Thanks for all info in this thread but I still have a big question.

We just got a brand new Subaru Crosstrek (our first ever new car) and I want to get a hitch installed for a hitch bike rack.

Congrats on the Crosstrek. Love the car mostly. Mine is a 2015, and with Subarus of this engine type you do need to watch the oil even when the car is new. (They have a well-known problem with oil burning because of bad head gaskets. They recently settled a lawsuit, but still good to watch out for. Mine only burned half a quart in the first 3,000 miles, and it has been good since, but they can go down a few quarts easily and damage the engine.)

But I digress. I had my Crosstrek built to order so I could get a stick shift, and I had them do the hitch. It was a bit expensive but just added to the cost of the build it didn’t seem bad at the time. (Another $400 for $20k seems like nothing.) But now everyone here is making me feel bad. I change my own oil and do my own brakes etc. and it just never occurred to me that I could do the hitch myself.

ETA: I was just looking around online and there is some information out there that the Subaru head gasket problem may have been fixed for 2016. Of course, they’ve known about this forever and the dealer told me it had been fixed for 2015. Anyway, may or may not be an issue.

[Author]

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