General Cycling Discussion - Bike rack for a pick up truck

Any ideas on a decent rack to put in the bed?

There are a ton of options, starting with Thule and Yakima, and carrying on into other manufacturers. I use the fork grip type attached to the tool box in the bed of my truck. Seemed a bit wobbly at first, but has been fine, actually.

Did you have something specific in mind?

seriously, google "pickup bike rack" and you'll have a broad range.

A 2x4 cut to length, then drilled to fit multiple bike tights works for me. Cheap and functional. I even painted the board black. Fit it with 2" bolts with washers and wingnuts on the end so you can move it without tools if you wish.

There are a ton of options, starting with Thule and Yakima, and carrying on into other manufacturers. I use the fork grip type attached to the tool box in the bed of my truck. Seemed a bit wobbly at first, but has been fine, actually.

Did you have something specific in mind?

seriously, google "pickup bike rack" and you'll have a broad range.

I will do that. Just bought the truck, and I was just looking for a rack to attach to the bed or the rails. I would prefer one that I won't have to take the wheel off.

Somewhere in these forums...someone has pics and plans for a pvc pickup rack.

looks like a park bickrack..no wheel removal

A 2x4 cut to length, then drilled to fit multiple bike tights works for me. Cheap and functional. I even painted the board black. Fit it with 2" bolts with washers and wingnuts on the end so you can move it without tools if you wish.

This is the same thing I did. I have kept a 2 x 4 in my truck (cut to the inside width) for the last 17 years. I use it to keep things from sliding front to back. I built my bike rack with a pressure treated 2 x 4 I had left over from my shed rebuilding project, 3 Performance Xport Universal Bike Mounts and some big SS screws I had around. The bike rack just drops in behind the other old 2 x 4 (it keeps my handlebars from hitting the back window), and another board goes in between the rack and the wheel wells. It can't go forward or back or side to side. It installs in all of 15 secs. and when I go for the ride, I throw it in the cab so it doesn't grow legs. It works fine with 2 mountain bikes and a road bike. I use 4' bungi cords to strap the front wheels into the bed. Enough pressure to hold them in place, but not so much that it messes up the finish on the wheels. Since I have a little p-up (Mighty Max), I can actually lift the bikes over the side and lock them in place without climbing into the bed. This is about all I use the truck for anymore as it is in semi-retirement (193,000 miles).

................. I throw it in the cab so it doesn't grow legs.............

Funny you should mention that! After 10 years of using it in two different pickups, it "walked off" about three weeks ago. The truck was parked in a church parking lot during the Weds. services. I now take the extra 5 seconds to put it in the cab when I leave.
Being the true Christian that I am, I forgive them, and will pray for them.....

Maybe someone will shoot them the next time.......

some pics of the pickup board thing?

I made one following these instructions. Works like a charm, but I have to put my bikes in front wheel first, to keep the derailler from rubbing the pipe. Total cost $12 + another $9 for a bunch of bungee cords to keep the bikes in there securely:
http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/bikerack/makerack.htm

Personally I wouldn't trust PVC to hold my bike. If you're willing to remove the front wheel each time the 2X4(or 6) is the way to go. I don't know where I saw it, but there was a clip that attached to your bedrail then clamped down on the top tube to secure the bike. Seemed like a pretty neat deal and you don't have to remove the wheel. I would go with the 2X6 personally. It gives you a good excuse to inspect your front fork.

On a side note, you should just ride your bike everywhere instead of hauling it around. Gas is >3.50/gal here in Georgia. I'm thinking of loading up the wife and kid the next time we visit family, 110 miles south of here, and riding my bike. It gets me a whole lot of saddle time and a mode of transportation for when I get there.

I carry mine like this when I don't ride from home. Just some fork mounts on the tool box.
http://img279.imageshack.us/img279/466/imag4vm.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

3 fork mounts attached to the tailgate of my truck with locking nuts/bolts. The bikes then sit level when I put the tailgate up. it also means the bike is in there facing backwards, which makes for loading and wheel dismount happening very easily. Sometimes does mean some adjustment on some handlebars when all 3 bikes are in, but that isn't often. I can also lock the bikes to the tailgate that way.

I built this one out of PVC: http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/bikerack/makerack.htm
I chose this option because I did not want to remove the front wheel.
It works in a most excellent matter. I painted it black to prevent the sun from weakening, over a period of time, the PVC.
You can adjust the width to fit various size wheels.
My wife has a a cruiser with wide tires and my tires are not as wide as her's.
This rack fits perfectly in the bed of my Ford F150.

DaKine pick up pad (or homegrown equivalent) for mtb

otherwise

Thule Instagater