Guys we only have a small hatch back, but expensive bikes plus kids bikes wondering what is the best to go for, Roof Racks or a Bike Rack on the toe bar? I have used a toe bar bike rack before and it was very unforgiving to the bikes... any advice / opinions appreciated!
Bike Rack vs Roof Racks
TomSynnott
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Guys we only have a small hatch back, but expensive bikes plus kids bikes wondering what is the best to go for, Roof Racks or a Bike Rack on the toe bar? I have used a toe bar bike rack before and it was very unforgiving to the bikes... any advice / opinions appreciated!
I've had roof racks and currently have an excellent Saris Bones trunk rack. But by far, the best way of carrying bikes is inside a vehicle - which you can't do with your current vehicle. It sounds like you need to carry at least 4 bikes and I can't think of a very good way of doing that.
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I like most people who have roof racks, have driven into the garage with the bikes on and ruined two bikes so I prefer hitch-mounted racks.
The best, by a long shot, in my opinion is the 1UP-USA. They are spendy but load/unload in 3 seconds and built like tanks.
Here is 98 pages of reviews:
1up Quick Rack Quick Review.- Mtbr.com
The best, by a long shot, in my opinion is the 1UP-USA. They are spendy but load/unload in 3 seconds and built like tanks.
Here is 98 pages of reviews:
1up Quick Rack Quick Review.- Mtbr.com
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We've had the older style Thule where you just having the bikes on a bar from the top tube. They swing around and bang into each other. I'm not sure but I think newer styles work better. Last year we got a Saris Freedom rack that holds the wheels and down tube. The bikes don't bang into each other at all, they are very stable. I'm happy with that rack.
We have a 1" 1/4 hitch tube on our Subaru hatchback and I've been a bit concerned with its strength when we had our older heavy bikes on the rack. We've got carbon bikes now, half the weight from before, so I'm less concerned about bouncing weight on the hitch system. The weight of the rack its self is a potential issue too. Our old Thule is a big chunk of steel the Saris is steel too but not nearly as heavy.
If I needed to carry 4 bikes I would not want to hang them on the minimal hitch system we have. I think the tongue weight max is suppose to be 300 Lb. at most. 4 bouncing bikes on the back in a heavy rack could maybe be an issue. Other issues with the rear are the spray and grime from wet roads blasting the bikes and the fact you can't get into the rear hatch with the bikes on the rack.
If I was buying a new rack system today I'd go for the roof. The issue there is getting them up on the roof if you're shorter. If you need to remove the front wheels then you need space inside to keep them or another roof attachment for them. Roof systems also seem to be more pricy.
We have a 1" 1/4 hitch tube on our Subaru hatchback and I've been a bit concerned with its strength when we had our older heavy bikes on the rack. We've got carbon bikes now, half the weight from before, so I'm less concerned about bouncing weight on the hitch system. The weight of the rack its self is a potential issue too. Our old Thule is a big chunk of steel the Saris is steel too but not nearly as heavy.
If I needed to carry 4 bikes I would not want to hang them on the minimal hitch system we have. I think the tongue weight max is suppose to be 300 Lb. at most. 4 bouncing bikes on the back in a heavy rack could maybe be an issue. Other issues with the rear are the spray and grime from wet roads blasting the bikes and the fact you can't get into the rear hatch with the bikes on the rack.
If I was buying a new rack system today I'd go for the roof. The issue there is getting them up on the roof if you're shorter. If you need to remove the front wheels then you need space inside to keep them or another roof attachment for them. Roof systems also seem to be more pricy.
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Here is my first question every time someone came into the shop asking roof, trunk or hitch. Does your significant other have the strength and size to place a bike on the roof of your vehicle? Then it's simple, the choice usually comes down to hitch or trunk. If all your bikes are adult size road bikes then the Bones 2 or 3 is great. It is the best selling trunk rack in the world. If you have bikes that include FS or aggressively sloped top tubes or children's or cruisers, etc. then the new type of hitch racks with the trays, such as the Saris Freedom, may be the right choice.
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^^^^^ This! It is for this reason that we have a hitch-mounted carrier (trunk is not an option with either of our cars).
Not sure what you mean by "toe bar", but I'll guess trailer hitch. If so, then you had a bad carrier. I have a Thule T2, and the only thing that get's touched on the bike are the tires. The standard is the 2-bike model, but it can be extended to 4 bikes. Many other like the 1UP carrier - same principle. Both are excellent carriers.
We had a recent discussion on hitch-mounted carriers here. You will find a number of recommendations in that thread.
I like most people who have hitch racks, have been rear ended with the bikes on and ruined two bikes so I prefer roof mounted racks.
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I should mention that I have come to like the wheel loop hitch rack best.
Especially with ultra light carbon bike. I believe some warranties can be voided on carbon frames if dangled from the top tube, or at least have read that.
When we started having more carbon bikes than others, I decided this was a good idea.
I also keep my Scott on the inner loops when one bike is on the two position rack. With the prayer if I do get tagged in the back it might have that little better chance.
Especially with ultra light carbon bike. I believe some warranties can be voided on carbon frames if dangled from the top tube, or at least have read that.
When we started having more carbon bikes than others, I decided this was a good idea.
I also keep my Scott on the inner loops when one bike is on the two position rack. With the prayer if I do get tagged in the back it might have that little better chance.
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I like platform style hitch racks.
Really, if you have the correct hitch size. Then that would be the way to go. Roof racks are nice and if you don't care about tossing your bike on to the roof of your car after a long ride. You can safely mount a couple of bicycles there.
However, if your entire family goes out for a daily ride. There are plenty of platform hitch racks that can accommodate up to four bicycles at a time. With a good platform hitch rack. No bicycles will come in contact with each other. Most newer platform racks don't even come in contact with the bicycles frame for mounting.
Anyway, that's my recommendation.
Good luck..
Really, if you have the correct hitch size. Then that would be the way to go. Roof racks are nice and if you don't care about tossing your bike on to the roof of your car after a long ride. You can safely mount a couple of bicycles there.
However, if your entire family goes out for a daily ride. There are plenty of platform hitch racks that can accommodate up to four bicycles at a time. With a good platform hitch rack. No bicycles will come in contact with each other. Most newer platform racks don't even come in contact with the bicycles frame for mounting.
Anyway, that's my recommendation.
Good luck..
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Just for emphasis.
Saris, on their website, say not to use a Class 1 hitch with a couple of their 4 bike racks. Be sure your rack manufacturer says you can use their 4 bike carrier on a Class 1 hitch. Also note that the weight limit for your rack does not take into account the weight limit for your hitch.
FAQs - Saris
"1 ¼" hitches come in class 1 and class 2. Class 1 has a tongue weight rating of 200lbs and class 2 has a rating of 300lbs. You need a minimum 300 lb tongue weight rating, or class 2 hitch, to use to use the 4-bike Freedom or 4-bike Freedom SuperClamp racks."
They don't mention their other 4 bike hitch carriers but I wouldn't recommend any 4 bike carrier on a Class 1 hitch.
Saris, on their website, say not to use a Class 1 hitch with a couple of their 4 bike racks. Be sure your rack manufacturer says you can use their 4 bike carrier on a Class 1 hitch. Also note that the weight limit for your rack does not take into account the weight limit for your hitch.
FAQs - Saris
"1 ¼" hitches come in class 1 and class 2. Class 1 has a tongue weight rating of 200lbs and class 2 has a rating of 300lbs. You need a minimum 300 lb tongue weight rating, or class 2 hitch, to use to use the 4-bike Freedom or 4-bike Freedom SuperClamp racks."
They don't mention their other 4 bike hitch carriers but I wouldn't recommend any 4 bike carrier on a Class 1 hitch.
I use a hitch rack. 2" receiver. I have two racks, an enormous Thule (5 bike capacity) and a Thule Helium Aero. (3 bikes) I love these things, although I don't use the big one very much at the moment as my kid spacing has the oldest two out of the house and the youngest two have them right at the transition between tiny balance bikes and small pedal bikes.
I've not had any issues with the bikes swinging. There are seat tube brackets that reduce this, plus I use several short and long bungees when holding multiple bikes. For me, keeping the front wheel in line with bike and providing a bit more damping is the key there.
I've had roof racks on two cars and really didn't like them. Between damaging one bike in a Mall parking lot and the wear and tear and struggles to get anything but a light road bike in place, I much rather deal with putting them on the rear.
I bought a Saris Bones for my daughter. I thought it a good, cheap solution. I didn't like the abuse it gave the paint job anywhere anything touched, even with a constant wipe down prior to putting in place.
I've not had any issues with the bikes swinging. There are seat tube brackets that reduce this, plus I use several short and long bungees when holding multiple bikes. For me, keeping the front wheel in line with bike and providing a bit more damping is the key there.
I've had roof racks on two cars and really didn't like them. Between damaging one bike in a Mall parking lot and the wear and tear and struggles to get anything but a light road bike in place, I much rather deal with putting them on the rear.
I bought a Saris Bones for my daughter. I thought it a good, cheap solution. I didn't like the abuse it gave the paint job anywhere anything touched, even with a constant wipe down prior to putting in place.
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I'm really happy with my Kuat NV.
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Some good answers here, but you really need a new vehicle.
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How often do you get rearended without bike on your car? It doesn't/shouldn't change with bike on there.
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This is actually an interesting topic. I have a cheap Allan 3 bike hitch mount from Wally World. I have had it for years and only use it to take my bikes to the shop, which is 3 miles from the house. The thing scares me for HWY purposes.
My son is now old enough for MTB and he just got a new bike as did my wife. The rack will not hold 3mtbs or my son's 24". It can hold mine and my wife's but that is not ideal because the women's bike is rough to fit. I was thinking about getting a roof rack for my son's bike and just keeping the hitch mount rack for the others or getting a new hitch mount rack all together.
In the end, I have opted to go with a 4 bike platform rack instead. I simply can't justify the price for the 1up though. I do not go far or often with my bikes because of where we live. We are lucky in that. The price on the Nashbar Shadow is $199 plus a 17% discount. The Performance transit is $269 with a 20% discount.
Has anybody tried these? or would they go with the Roof rack instead.
I have ruled out the bar racks because I do not like my bikes to get scratched and dinged up. They simply do not fit 3-4 bikes with ease.
Any thoughts on these generic platform racks would be much appreciated.
Has anybody used
I would go with the roof racks. As has been said previously, 1 1/4 hitch, with rack and bikes is going to put too lateral stress on the tongue. Couple of bumps in the road and something bad will happen. 1 or 2 bikes is okay, anything more, no.
I prefer the roof racks anyways. For my car, I did not have a choice (they don't have receivers for my car anyways). I would also throw something like this on, especially if you are running DI2.
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I prefer the roof racks anyways. For my car, I did not have a choice (they don't have receivers for my car anyways). I would also throw something like this on, especially if you are running DI2.
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Just common sense and math. My Del Sol has 150lb tongue weight limit. Let us assume this is conservative.
Two zoot carbon bike and rack = less than 1/2 that, Lets say 1/2. Ad in one good hard bump that causes 1G and you are at tongue weight.
This set up with two steel adventure or touring bikes and the rack, 2 Gs math tells us that hit is getting well over 150, more like 250lb even right?
My Scott @ 16 lb with all the crap on it alone I have no worries what so ever, honestly with two carbon bike I don't really. Rear end collisions with a roof rack like the one my wife's car got 10k damage may well have dislodged the entire system. maybe less damage, but who knows...
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