Fifty Plus (50+) - Bike rack for small pick-up

Hubby's looking for a bike rack in which to set the bikes in the back of his small pick-up. Anyone have an easy, good, stable, and not-too-expensive solution? Currently, he uses ties to anchor them to the hooks on each side of the truck bed; it keeps them very stable. We have a hitch-mount bike rack for the other vehicle.

I saw one of these (http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/bikerack/makerack.htm) last weekend. It looked nice in black and really seemed to work well. You sure can't beat the price.

I saw one of these (http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/bikerack/makerack.htm) last weekend. It looked nice in black and really seemed to work well. You sure can't beat the price.

Bud of mine uses a steel one similar to the pvc one above. Just hooks in in with bungee cords and the same for the bikes. Not very elegant but it does work. About 25 bucks at BigLots, I think.

Buy one of these for each bike. http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=3702


Get a board at Home Depot, cut to width of truck bed, mount the XPORT Universal Bike Mounts to the board with wood screws.

Piece of cake.:)

I've heard good things about the Yakima Beddy Jo:

http://www.rackattack.com/product-pages/yakima-beddy-jo.asp

And Thule has these answers:

http://www.rackattack.com/thule-truck-bed-bike-racks.asp

look at a Thule "Instagator".
Have one in the bed of my Ranger most of the time,
Two will fit.
very convenient to use,
helps keep road slop off your bike,
and protects your bike from damage during transport.

Buy one of these for each bike. http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=3702


Get a board at Home Depot, cut to width of truck bed, mount the XPORT Universal Bike Mounts to the board with wood screws.

Piece of cake.:)

This works very well. If you place the fork mounts at an angle (about 30 deg) to the cross truck board, then bikes can be placed close together because the handlebars will be turned and will not interfere with each other. This type of mount does require that the front wheel be removed.

+_1 on the Beddy Jo. The thing installs in seconds and does a really nice job holding 2 bikes. I really like mine

This works very well. If you place the fork mounts at an angle (about 30 deg) to the cross truck board, then bikes can be placed close together because the handlebars will be turned and will not interfere with each other. This type of mount does require that the front wheel be removed.
Yup, it's cheap and effective. The front wheel can easily be stood up next to the bike and secured to the bike with an old toe strap or bungee.

Yup, it's cheap and effective. The front wheel can easily be stood up next to the bike and secured to the bike with an old toe strap or bungee.

The same folks that sell the mounting block sell an inexpensive metal bracket that looks like an upside down fork that can be screwed to the wood between the mounts. That holds the front wheel with grace and aplomb. (how many a's in grammar?) :eek:

Stole this link

http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/bikerack/makerack.htm

from a thread in General Cycling Discussion

Stole this link

http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/bikerack/makerack.htm

from a thread in General Cycling Discussion

That looks familiar! :rolleyes:
(see post #2 in this thread) :)

Thanks everyone, lots of good suggestions here. Hubby might be interested in making the PVC version, he's very handy and good at assembling things. He'd like to be able to carry 3 bikes at a time, and mentioned to me the advantage of mounting at an angle as mentioned above. Whatever we choose, I will much prefer this over hauling them on the back of one of our vehicles, especially in the heavy traffic full of aggressive drivers.:eek: Oh well, if they hit us, their insurance company will just have to buy us a new pair of bikes. :D

I bought a used Yakima rack from Craigs list. It's a roof rack
but I was able to turn the towers around (the tightening knobs
to the inside) and the rack clamps onto the rails of my Tacoma
just fine. I have the option of using one bar up front and leaving
the rear wheels on the bed of the truck or mounting both bars
on the truck. $50.00 and some unconventional inginuity and away
I go. DF's, Recumbent or Tandem all on the same bar and mount.
Sometimes life just up and gives you a big hug! It did when I stumbled
into this rack, for sure. :)

This works very well. If you place the fork mounts at an angle (about 30 deg) to the cross truck board, then bikes can be placed close together because the handlebars will be turned and will not interfere with each other. This type of mount does require that the front wheel be removed.

Or use two 2x4s...one near the cab w/ two or three fork mounted carriers (bicycles facing forward) and one near the tailgate with two or three additional carriers (bicycles facing backwards). You just need to offset the carriers enough so the bicycles line up side-by-side.

You could use one of these, and hold it in the bed with the hooks and tie-downs, then take it out and have a 4-bike rack in the garage:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=6000118&subcategory=60001132&brand=&sku=7657&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Storage%20Racks
Of course, you'd have to tie the wheels to the rack, or find a way to hold them in there securely, but looks like it would work.

Thanks again, everyone. Hubby bought the Beddy Jo (love that name). It sets up quickly and works very well. It requires removing the front wheels from the bikes, so now he's looking for a way to protect them in the back of the truck. Is there anything special for those too?

My Ranger has an extended cab and the front wheels go in there

Tip: If you need to temporarily lean your front wheel(s) against something while loading up, make sure it's the drivers door of the vehicle you're about to drive away in.

Just sayin'...

Thanks again, everyone. Hubby bought the Beddy Jo (love that name). It sets up quickly and works very well. It requires removing the front wheels from the bikes, so now he's looking for a way to protect them in the back of the truck. Is there anything special for those too?

What about using a small piece of velcro or bungie cord to hold the front wheels side-by-side to the left side of the rear wheel?

Buy one of these for each bike. http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=3702


Get a board at Home Depot, cut to width of truck bed, mount the XPORT Universal Bike Mounts to the board with wood screws.

Piece of cake.:)
+1
So easy and cheap you'll think your cheating!
http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/500/00-1616-NCL-ANGLE.jpg

Buy one of these for each bike. http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=3702


Get a board at Home Depot, cut to width of truck bed, mount the XPORT Universal Bike Mounts to the board with wood screws.

Piece of cake.:)

I had 2 of those mounted in the back of my last Honda Element and, have them in my current Element. THEY WORK GREAT!!!!

I had 2 of those mounted in the back of my last Honda Element and, have them in my current Element. THEY WORK GREAT!!!!
Yup, first time I saw that set-up was in a friend's Element.

I just got a new HHR so I picked up two XPORT's at Performance. Just haven't gotten around to looking for a board yet.