Recreational & Family - Car Bike Rack Hitch Question

Hi everyone, I'll be picking up a bmx bike soon and I want to be able to transport it places for me to ride. Unfortunately both of my cars are roadsters (S2000 and Miata) since I race them in competitions. The Miata has a hidden hitch which I use for my tire trailer. Normally I would just get a normal bike rack hitch and be done but since this one is hidden it points downwards at a 45 degree angle. Is there a company that makes adjustable bike racks for custom hitches or a bike rack that either replaces or uses the ball on the receiver arm?

http://i389.photobucket.com/albums/oo337/ravynxmiko/miatas/silver00Miata/trailer/photo4.jpg

http://i389.photobucket.com/albums/oo337/ravynxmiko/miatas/silver00Miata/trailer/365fcd12.jpg
http://i389.photobucket.com/albums/oo337/ravynxmiko/miatas/silver00Miata/trailer/fc22ffed.jpg

I neither know of a ball mount bike carrier nor a hitch manufacturer that makes carriers for custom hitches. There are definitely custom carrier makers but that is more along the lines of team race cars and such. Along the same lines, you could probably find a local metal fab shop that could make you a custom adapter that would enable you to use a standard hitch mount bike carrier. You'll only need to decide what size receiver you want, 1.25" or 2".

If nobody makes a 45-degree receiver adapter, how about simply using that tire trailer to transport your bike?

I neither know of a ball mount bike carrier nor a hitch manufacturer that makes carriers for custom hitches. There are definitely custom carrier makers but that is more along the lines of team race cars and such. Along the same lines, you could probably find a local metal fab shop that could make you a custom adapter that would enable you to use a standard hitch mount bike carrier. You'll only need to decide what size receiver you want, 1.25" or 2".
Yeah that sounds like the solution I would have to go with. I have a couple of friends that can weld. It's a 1.25" receiver.


If nobody makes a 45-degree receiver adapter, how about simply using that tire trailer to transport your bike?
I could in a last ditch effort but small trailers are impossible to back up. I'd also have to take up an extra parking space or pull in and cut 3-4 of them off.

How the current receiver bar and hitch look like...
http://www.hitchesonline.com/hitches/11755.jpg

Although my hitch mount rack came with an insert from factory, it is a single bolt (just like the ball) to remove from the insert.
I suggest looking around, you may find one with a single bolt that you can simply remove from the factory insert and bolt onto your receiver.

Like this.... (mine is more like the second one.)

http://www.discount-trailers.com/hitch-ball-bike-rack.htm

or this

http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/xport-freeloader-3-bike-hitch-rack-ball-mount-reviews

Although my hitch mount rack came with an insert from factory, it is a single bolt (just like the ball) to remove from the insert.
I suggest looking around, you may find one with a single bolt that you can simply remove from the factory insert and bolt onto your receiver.

Like this.... (mine is more like the second one.)

http://www.discount-trailers.com/hitch-ball-bike-rack.htm
Excellent, thank you! This will work perfectly. :)

Although my hitch mount rack came with an insert from factory, it is a single bolt (just like the ball) to remove from the insert.
I suggest looking around, you may find one with a single bolt that you can simply remove from the factory insert and bolt onto your receiver.

Like this.... (mine is more like the second one.)

http://www.discount-trailers.com/hitch-ball-bike-rack.htm

or this

http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/xport-freeloader-3-bike-hitch-rack-ball-mount-reviews

I had not seen these before but I had not looked either. I hope they work for you. I assume they will since it seems like you only want to carry the one bike, maybe two. Let us know what you think of the product if you get it.

Good luck.

Will do, I'll keep you all posted. :)

BTW those were just examples of a concept I posted, nut a suggested retailer or anything. I just posted the first two I saw.

BTW those were just examples of a concept I posted, nut a suggested retailer or anything. I just posted the first two I saw.
lol, no worries. I'm not holding you responsible. ;)

whewwww - I'm no purchasing consultant... lol

Here is one that attaches to the ball on the hitch

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441893729&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302692829

Yakima makes racks that have an interchangeable part that allows for switching to 1'1/4" to 2" ball. I think it is the "Bighorn" model but maybe more (call them). You could take the mount arm to welding shop and have them heat and bend it to the right angle for you. Since the part is replaceable you would not be taking a chance on the whole rack.