Bicycle Travel > Gear Talk

Bike Rack Advice

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Andra2000:
After tossing the road bike into the back of the SUV over the past year, I am looking to invest into a bike rack. I am preferring to get a hitch mounted rack. I prefer to not take the rack on and off all the time.
I am not too worried about how many bikes to carry.

90% of the time it's just me, 10% carpooling with another rider. Thus a 2 station rack will be more than fine.

However, I am looking for something that is convenient to use when the rack is on the back of the SUV while running errands (make way for the Costco run).

With all the brands and features out there, I am looking for feedback on how the bike is with the rack (movement, locking), how easy the rack is to live when not hauling bikes and how is it to put on and take off the nullcar.

Any thoughts, suggestions and advice will be greatly appreciated.

pdlamb:
I'd suggest a trip to your local bike shop (LBS), REI, or similar outdoor gear store.  You can look at the various racks, touch them, heft them, and talk to people knowledgeable about them.  While you don't have the infinite availability of different models you'd get on Amazon, you can bet they carry good racks, and can show you how to install it on your car, and how to install the bike on the rack.  Finally, you don't have to pay shipping!

2riders:
We found the Thule Doubletrack XT to be the perfect rack for our SUV.  We were in the same situation...we have a Lexus RX330 and after a year of throwing the bikes in the back we were looking for a rear mounted hitch rack.  We like the rack in that the tires set in a tire tray and both bikes stay level, not all cockeyed.  Then a clamp bar comes down on top of the the frame and can be locked down as well as the pin in the hitch to the car is locked so we feel very secure leaving it.  When the bikes are not on, the rack swings up behind the rear SUV door.  As far as shopping, the rack does not drop or swing out of the way.  But we find no problems loading items through the side door.
We really do like this rack and suggest you look into one.  Easy to load, very stable, can be secured.
Check this site:
http://www.thule.com/en-US/US/Products/Bike-Carriers/Hitch/990XT-Doubletrack

JetAgeHobo:
I'd second the Thule Doubletrack.  Had an old Sportworks Transport (basically the predecessor to the Thule 917XT) I had recently bought on Ebay on the back of my Prius, works well too, but if you're bike has fenders the clamps will tend to rest on the fenders.  Unfortunately we got rear-ended at a stop light with the rack on the car, Rack destroyed, and actually the rack did more damage to the car than the collision would have if it weren't on the car at the time.

Insurance replacing the rack, trying to get them to go with the Doubletrack, since the wife's bike has fenders.  See how it goes.

DaveB:

--- Quote from: JetAgeHobo on November 17, 2012, 09:59:49 am ---  Unfortunately we got rear-ended at a stop light with the rack on the car, Rack destroyed, and actually the rack did more damage to the car than the collision would have if it weren't on the car at the time.

Insurance replacing the rack, trying to get them to go with the Doubletrack, since the wife's bike has fenders.  See how it goes.

--- End quote ---
This vulnerability to a rear end collision is often quoted by roof rack fans as a reason not to use a rear mounted rack .  However, as you noted, insurance (usually the other driver's) will pay to fix the damage.  If you drive under a low overhang or into your garage with bikes still on the roof rack the damage is strictly your responsibility and this type of forgetful accident is probably as common as rear end collision damage.

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