Snoopy13
Test Drive
- Location
- Greater Boston Area
What do people recommend for bike racks? Is it better to get a hitch rather than a roof bike rack? I saw some interior bike rack mods does anyone here have that kind of set up?
Bike rack Options
- Thread starter Snoopy13
- Start date
- Location
- Denver Adjacent
With the height of the truck, a hitch rack would likely be easier to deal with. But with a roof rack you would have to move everything to get into the hatch. Just food for thought.
Bushnut
First Fill-Up (of many)
- Location
- Fredericton NB, Canada
As a bike shop employee, I recommend a tray style hitch rack. they hold the bikes via the wheels and keep them nice and level with the bumper. you only have to lift the bike to about knee height so even kids can learn to load their own bikes. they are available from many manufacturers, in 2,3 and 4 bike configurations. I would budget around $100 per bike. Go to your local favorite bike shop and see what they have.
- Location
- 6 Feet Under
I agree with Bushnut, that's the style I run and I love it.
- Location
- Near The Pointy End, NV
If I may make a suggestion..
Take into considerations your needs and your area. By that I mean open minded about all considerations. For example here in Nevada and in general in the west people make use of roof racks for various needs and activities. So its nothing new to see bikes, Kayaks, roof top tents (RTT) tossed up on roof racks. You don't see to many but some receiver hitch mounted carriers here, at least for what its worth, NOT in Vegas so much due to the outrageous amount of failure to stop here, accidents are prevalent and a added part of life here so the thousands of people that come here to bike RedRock and other places aren't dropping $4-9k into a bike for it to be vehicularly force-press into following traffic. Trailer hitches at radiator level don't even ward off the tailgaters here. However, if its a recreational sport you fancy often, it is hard to sell someone on something that would be a menace to your enthusiasm of pulling it off a roof rack, especially if you might be on 35's. Ease of use, something that doesn't hinder your driving, avoids theft issues, and remains functional if not in more than one purpose if possible.
Bushnut made two important comments I'd like to quote:
- "you only have to lift the bike to about knee height so even kids can learn to load their own bikes."
- "Go to your local favorite bike shop and see what they have."
Life lessons and supporting local shops is hard to beat.
Take into considerations your needs and your area. By that I mean open minded about all considerations. For example here in Nevada and in general in the west people make use of roof racks for various needs and activities. So its nothing new to see bikes, Kayaks, roof top tents (RTT) tossed up on roof racks. You don't see to many but some receiver hitch mounted carriers here, at least for what its worth, NOT in Vegas so much due to the outrageous amount of failure to stop here, accidents are prevalent and a added part of life here so the thousands of people that come here to bike RedRock and other places aren't dropping $4-9k into a bike for it to be vehicularly force-press into following traffic. Trailer hitches at radiator level don't even ward off the tailgaters here. However, if its a recreational sport you fancy often, it is hard to sell someone on something that would be a menace to your enthusiasm of pulling it off a roof rack, especially if you might be on 35's. Ease of use, something that doesn't hinder your driving, avoids theft issues, and remains functional if not in more than one purpose if possible.
Bushnut made two important comments I'd like to quote:
- "you only have to lift the bike to about knee height so even kids can learn to load their own bikes."
- "Go to your local favorite bike shop and see what they have."
Life lessons and supporting local shops is hard to beat.
Bushnut
First Fill-Up (of many)
- Location
- Fredericton NB, Canada
Thanks bro, while not a parent myself, kids are the future. and if we don't support local business, were is our money going?
I made my own interior bike rack. I'm way too paranoid about theft to leave my bike on a rack outside my vehicle while it might be parked somewhere. (One of my bikes has already been stolen and recovered once).
It is made from aluminum square tube, a couple of rubber isolators, an off the shelf fork mount and some assorted hardware. The front wheel holder is just aluminum flat bar. I always wanted to repalce the bolts with hand knobs so I wouldn't need tools to put it in the truck, but I never got around to it. If you want more pics, I can get some for you.
Note: I made mine offset as far to the passenger side as possible so I could get away with only folding down the smaller of the two seat backs and retain seating for 3 adults or two adults and 2 kids. Adding another bike would reduce seating to 2. So keep that in mind for interior racks.
It is made from aluminum square tube, a couple of rubber isolators, an off the shelf fork mount and some assorted hardware. The front wheel holder is just aluminum flat bar. I always wanted to repalce the bolts with hand knobs so I wouldn't need tools to put it in the truck, but I never got around to it. If you want more pics, I can get some for you.
Note: I made mine offset as far to the passenger side as possible so I could get away with only folding down the smaller of the two seat backs and retain seating for 3 adults or two adults and 2 kids. Adding another bike would reduce seating to 2. So keep that in mind for interior racks.
- Location
- Near The Pointy End, NV
- Location
- Near The Pointy End, NV
Minor hurdle.. Best part about the free market is you can always improve upon someone else's idea. Matter of fact.. I could even sport you a design you could up that with already.. looking at the two differences. Let me know if your up for a challenge and some ideas/advice 