Tandem Cycling - Not sure I like our new Draftmaster

Just put together and installed a new Draftmaster rack. I'm not sure I would buy it again at this point. Mostly because it sticks up so high, and out so far in the back.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i165/bobstewart/draftmaster-1.jpg

We already have a Yakima roof rack, with a tandem attachment, but not the sidewinder. The height of theDurnago made it very dificult for one person to get the bike on the Roof rack.

One option was buying the Sidewinder. I decided against this because it still would have the disadvantages of a Roof Rack (low gas mileage,and running into things.

However, after spending all the money for the draftmaster the bike sticks up so high, it's virtually like being on top of the car, and it sticks out hugely in the back as well, so I didn't really accomplish my objectives. And the thing is heavy as heck.

As far as ease of putting the bike on, I still have to fiddle with getting a Fork with Lawyer tabs in a QR mechanism almost 8 feet in the air. (If the rack stays I'm upgrading to the QR mechanism that has enough travel to close over lawyer tabs.) Never having used a Sidewinder, it appears at least that the sidewinder would be about as easy if not moreso.

To give credit where its due, the Draftmaster was easy to assemble and appears well engineered and constructed.

Man, you are going to have to be careful about running into low things and/or being rear ended.

I'm thinking there has to be a better way.

The tongue on my Draftmaster doesn't stick out nearly as much as yours. I wonder if you can order a shorter tongue. As for the height, I don't mind stretching to release the QR, I sure beats lifting the beast up onto the roof.
http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp200/mountainaerie/IMG_1888-1.jpg

Wow, that thing is huge. We use a Sidewinder, and loading is easy enough on our minivan, but usually I just stick it inside. Since it rotates after you lock the fork, there really isn't much lifting.

Nice house!

I had to make a few adjustments to my Draftmaster. You can move the rack closer to the vehicle by drilling a new set of holes in the bar that goes into the hitch(don't cut the bar because your next vehicle may need the extra length). You can also lower the rack by adjusting the clamps on the beam. Just be careful you don't put the back wheel so low that it hits the pavement when backing out a steep driveway.

We've got good friends who use the Draftmaster. As noted above, theirs has a considerably shorter tongue, and doesn't ride nearly as high in the air.

We've had it configured to haul two tandems, and pulling the pin allows the bar to drop to the ground, making fastening the bikes up there really easy.

Sam can actually usually get his bike loaded on the rack just as quick as I get ours clamped into the back of the pickup.

I suggest a red flag on the stoker seat. I think cars following you may have a hard time judging how far the bike protrudes from the back of your vehicle.

I think I can adjust it so it will be about a foot closer to the truck, and perhaps a foot lower. It's still going to stick up above the car in garage bashing range however.

I did a quick search for kicks and found that most states put a limit, such as 5 feet, for protruding objects and require a light and flag with varying conditions. The other consideration is the cross sectional dimension i.e. greater than 16 X16 is okay. You may want to consult a transportation attorney.:D

Comparing your photo with this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/2kings/2731368854/ it appears that your bike is mounted higher on the rack. Being a truck, your hitch is higher off of the ground so that adds to the problem. Because the sedan allows the bike to protrude over the trunk it also appears that they can get their rack closer to the back of the car. I've driven behind the car in the photo and it is indeed tall and awkward-looking; it sways and bounces a lot. However, the owners like it and have used it for thousands of miles.

Damn - all that to just carry a tandem. I'll keep my Sidewinder - and since I have an Avant - not an SUV - I simply lift it onto the rack - just like a regular bike. I also can carry a ton of stuff and still put the tandem on top - along with 4 other bikes or a cargo box. Of course the benefit is also getting 28mpg on the freeway over a 16 hour trip with the wife, 2 dogs and gear - oh and the tandem on top. :thumb: Your problem isn't the rack - its the SUV. :)

Damn - all that to just carry a tandem. :)
We will do anything for our double bikes won't we.:thumb:
I bought mine a new truck and shell.:D

yeah, ours go inside the Durango fine, which is one reason to have the big truck. However, with the bike inside we're limited to 3 passengers.

yeah, ours go inside the Durango fine, which is one reason to have the big truck. However, with the bike inside we're limited to 3 passengers.I'd put extra passenger seats on the back bumper or roof before I would put my bikes there.;)

Looks like you have a model designed for an SUV with an rear mounted spare tire.

Inside a van or suv is the only way to carry a tandem in my opinion. What do i know?

I have the draftmaster too on a Ford Focus and we get 32 mpg with the tandem on the back. I bet done the vans or suv are even close.

I have a sidewinder on the roof of my Focus wagon. But a draftmaster on a Focus? Would that be a 2" receiver hitch? I assume that was not a listed application for the hitch!

I still miss my 95' extended body Aerostar. Best biking buddy road trip vehicle ever. Four reclining captian seats, ample room inside for four bikes, luggage, and multiple beverage coolers. All that and decent mpg. I'm sure my tandem and possibly a second tandem would have gone between the middle seats. Wishing now that I had kept it!

Hope to see y'all on the road!

They make a 1 1/4 version too. I have the 2" with a 1 1/4 converter. We drove six hours plus with it last weekend, it was very quiet and rode great.

I have the draftmaster too on a Ford Focus and we get 32 mpg with the tandem on the back. I bet done the vans or suv are even close.
But we don't have to worry about height limitations or getting rearended. Not to mention theft or vandalism while stopping for lunch or rain and road grit.
I'll pay a few bucks more for fuel myself.:thumb:
My Tacoma with shell gets 23mpg average.

I use a swing away rear receiver hitch rack and just take off both wheels. It doesn't stick out any more than the mirrors on my Titan and not bad on our Honda Element... and I still have full access to the back, fits tight against the back and no height limitations...

But we don't have to worry about height limitations or getting rearended. Not to mention theft or vandalism while stopping for lunch or rain and road grit.
I'll pay a few bucks more for fuel myself.:thumb:
My Tacoma with shell gets 23mpg average.

I can throw the Tandem in the Avant if I want - but kills the use of one of the two rear seating positions. I've never worried about any of the above - having bikes on the top of my cars for 35+ years - you learn to adjust.

This is my first post on your forum. I’ve been on RBR for quite a few years.

I have a Draftmaster rack, that I used on my SUV in the USA, and my bike rides much lower on the hitch than yours. Have a look at the attached photo. I agree the bike does stick way aft, and rides high; however, it is very easy to mount and dismount the bike from the rack. When I lived in Japan I used a Tandem topper on my Toyota Caribe that works great with the low vehicle height. I tried the Tandem topper on my Toyota Fortuner (SUV) in Bahrain, and I couldn’t drive the SUV in the garage with just the rack on the roof (very low entry – see photo). I’m now stuck with stripping my Rio down to transport inside my Fortuner. Fortunately, Bahrain is a small island and most of our rides start/end from our villa.

Ours doesn't stick up at all?

http://www.glausers.org/pics/draftmaster1.jpg

That's with a hitch extender / raiser to bump it back past the spare. On our regular car it goes right in the hitch.

In all seriousness, ours doesn't stick out to the rear nearly as much as your picture. You really got the bonus length hitch.

yikes- that is out there. We bought the topper ATOC, even on top of the minivan and it works great! I don't think I could get used to the extra rear and top clearance requirements for the draftmaster. but what really pulled us to the Topper was the lack of hitch.