Recreational & Family - Five (5) bike rack? How to transport a family's two wheelers..??

Looks like we're getting into riding bikes as a family activity. We're all decked out with two hybrids, two 16" bikes, and a trailer for the smallest member. Now what do I do about getting these things hauled around?? Thinking ahead, we could be a 5 bike family within a year or so. The two 16" bikers will soon be 20" bikers..

I need some input from those out there about how to haul all these bikes! I would prefer a hitch mounted setup vs roof as we have a minivan and we're a tad veritically challenged..

Thanks ahead of time,
Brian

i think someone out there sells a 5 bike hitch rack: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Allen-Deluxe-Hitch-Mounted-5-Bike-Carrier-for-2-Receiver-Hitches-Model-552RR/13070209?sourceid=1500000000000003260420&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=13070209

To add a few details. I have mens hybrid, wife has womens hybrid (easy step through), two different styles of 16" bikes and we drive a dodge grand caravan. I did some searching this afternoon and seen this type of wheel cradle style:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-4-BIKES-RACK-HITCH-MOUNT-CARRIER-CAR-BICYCLE-CRADLE-/370400066165?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item563d907a75

This could get us by until we have 5 bikes. I would also consider purchasing another add on which is for 2 bikes, replace the square tube that goes into receiver and have a 6 bike rack..

Anyone have any experience for this type of rack?

when i was a kid my dad converted a small trailer to haul 6 bikes.

I thought about a trailer but there are a few drawbacks:
1) wife doesn't want to pull a trailer..
2) no space to store trailer
3) maintenance, registration, etc.. added expenses

I am considering a cargo carrier that goes into a hitch receiver that is outfitted to carry bikes by using wheel chocks or some type of tie down. I would love to hear about experiences with this type of venture, including pics.

May not want to pull a trailer , but Get a strong receiver hitch as if you were, there are platform carriers that can carry wheelchairs , and moto stuff , and certainly bikes .. There are Hang from a hook type reciever mount racks , But get the whole thing welded up with overkill strength ..
I dragged a loaded Receiver mounted rack off the roadway , a couple summers ago,
after it fell off the back of a passer-by's Rig .. Key welds failed. dropped the whole family's bikes on the pavement.
I think there were 5 on the rack. 3 were kids bikes

T-Rax 5 Bike --> http://saris.com/bike-racks/vehicle-racks/hitch-racks.html

Anyone have experience with the Swagman XP5?

http://www.swagman.net/product_singlearmxpracks_xp5.php

Two racks, one on the back and one on the front. I'm sure you can engineer something.

Brian, I used a roof rack plus a hitch rack on a Cherokee. I have a Softride 2" hitch rack which at first seems overkill 'till you load the combined weight of a few kid's bikes.

Brad

Air resistance and thus lower MPG is the down side of stuff on top of the vehicle .

Surely with all the membership someone has used or is using the swagman xp 5?

this is the one i plan to get as an upgrade to my 4 bike schwinn rack, very sturdy, my buddy uses it and the price is right!
http://www.junkyrustybikes.net/product_info.php?cPath=82_84&products_id=489

I have an older Saris T-Rax, works just fine. Their customer service has been second to none when I've need replacement parts. All mailed out to me N/C

You'll also never go wrong on a Yakima or Thule product

Maybe jam the kids' bikes into the back of the minivan and mount the adult bikes on rear bike rack, especially if you remove or fold down half of the 3rd row bench.

I have a Thule Roadway 5-bike rack, and it's working out great. Smaller children's bikes have to be attached upside down, which feels a little dodgy at first. But once everything is loaded it's all quite stable.

I'm going to have the same problem in a couple of years. Right now when we go camping we have bikes on a rack, stuff tied to the roof, and a Town and Country full to the brim. In a couple years the kids will want to bring their bikes so I am strongly considering getting a hitch installed and using a trailer for future trips. I have access to free use of a trailer from my neighbor on a limited basis.

I currently have a Bones2 carrier and I can't imagine holding up much more weight on a gate mounted rack. Certainly no more than three bikes.

We have been camping for 8 weekends in a row now with our family of 4 and we generally bring along 2 adult bikes, 2 20" kids bikes and 2 trail-a-bikes. We do have a minivan and last year I outfitted it with a Yakima roof rack that I pieced together from Craigslist. All summer I have been mounting the 4 bikes on the roof using a mixture of Yakima, Thule, Rocky Mounts and Graber mounts (I have used several different versions of the bike mounts since I buy and sell them regularly). I have 2 folding trail-a-bikes and I put them inside the van now although I have mounted them on the roof too using a Yakima Raptor mount and some creativity.

I use the roof rack because my camper does not have a rack and I don't want to put any holes in the roof, I don't have room for a hitch mounted rack while pulling the camper and the rear strap on style is a pain because you can't open the rear hatch with the bikes mounted so this works best for us. As with everything, I recommend buying used if you can find the parts to save a bundle.

For camping we use a pickup truck with a 5 bicycle vertical rack that installs in the bed. If you are camping and pulling a trailer, we've found this to be the best configuration. With the new "crew-cab" pickup trucks, you get ample room for family, and the whole bed for bikes and other gear -- as well as the typically greater horsepower for trailer pulling.

Just do a google search for pickup bike rack -- and you'll find many options.

Let us know what you decide.