N_C
03-31-04, 07:50 PM
Recently put the sportworks bike carrier back on my Jeep. It goes in the 2" reciever hitch. Sportworks is a tray style carrier. Mine folds up when not in use, when folded down it sticks out from the back of my Jeep about 3'. It is set up to carry 2 recumbents. www.sportworks.com
The thing is painted black. When I bought it last year I knew I'd need to put reflectors & reflective tape on it so other motorists would notice it better and hopefully not hit it, especially when it is folded down with to expensive bikes on it. So I did, several reflectors & quite a bit of black on yellow & red on white reflective tape. When I was done using it last year and took it off the Jeep & hung it in the garage for the winter I realised it was not enough.
Since it's been on the Jeep this year I've been adding more tape & reflectors. I'm not done yet, it is kind of spendy to buy all that I need. But the important thing is that it is working. More is in deed better in this case.
Now yes it looks pretty gawdy and when it is all done you will hardly be able to see any of the black paint, but that is the point. I want it to be noticed by others. That way, just maybe it won't get hit by another motorist, especially at night.
The only color reflector I am not using is green, for the simple reason is green means go. Don't want motorists thinking they can "go" ahead and hit me. The colors of the reflectors are as follows: red, amber, white & blue.
So far other motorists are keeping a safe distance behind me when the both drive and stop. For example when the carrier is not on the Jeep & a small passanger car stops behind me I can never see the head lights, meaning they are way to close. With the carrier on with all of the reflectors, etc I can see the headlights, grill & most of the hood, depending on what model of car it is. With pick-up trucks I used to not be able to see the top of the bumper, which means they were way to close. Now with the carrier I can see the entire front bumper. Which is the way it should be all the time, bike carrier or not.
It is to bad it takes a bike carrier that is covered in reflectors & tape to get the point across to stay the hell back at a safe distance. If it wasn't for the nasty Iowa winters I'd keep the carrier on year round.
The thing is painted black. When I bought it last year I knew I'd need to put reflectors & reflective tape on it so other motorists would notice it better and hopefully not hit it, especially when it is folded down with to expensive bikes on it. So I did, several reflectors & quite a bit of black on yellow & red on white reflective tape. When I was done using it last year and took it off the Jeep & hung it in the garage for the winter I realised it was not enough.
Since it's been on the Jeep this year I've been adding more tape & reflectors. I'm not done yet, it is kind of spendy to buy all that I need. But the important thing is that it is working. More is in deed better in this case.
Now yes it looks pretty gawdy and when it is all done you will hardly be able to see any of the black paint, but that is the point. I want it to be noticed by others. That way, just maybe it won't get hit by another motorist, especially at night.
The only color reflector I am not using is green, for the simple reason is green means go. Don't want motorists thinking they can "go" ahead and hit me. The colors of the reflectors are as follows: red, amber, white & blue.
So far other motorists are keeping a safe distance behind me when the both drive and stop. For example when the carrier is not on the Jeep & a small passanger car stops behind me I can never see the head lights, meaning they are way to close. With the carrier on with all of the reflectors, etc I can see the headlights, grill & most of the hood, depending on what model of car it is. With pick-up trucks I used to not be able to see the top of the bumper, which means they were way to close. Now with the carrier I can see the entire front bumper. Which is the way it should be all the time, bike carrier or not.
It is to bad it takes a bike carrier that is covered in reflectors & tape to get the point across to stay the hell back at a safe distance. If it wasn't for the nasty Iowa winters I'd keep the carrier on year round.