General Cycling Discussion - Bike Rack Help

Hey, sorry if this is the wrong area of the forum.

I'm just getting into biking and wanted to get some opinions on what the ideal way to carry my bikes is.
I have a 2005 4 Runner and I need to get it set up to carry 2 bikes. I'm not sure if I should go the roof rack route or the hitch rack route.

I was looking at either:

-The Yakima Holdup (http://www.racknhitch.com/Site/Rack_N_Hitch__Hitch_Racks.html) for the hitch rack

or

-The Yakima Highroller (http://www.racknhitch.com/Site/Rack_N_Hitch__Bike_Racks.html) for the roof rack



What are your opinions on these two bike racks?
Are there others that you've found work better?
Is there any particular setup that works best in terms of protecting the bikes from getting scratched up?

Pros and cons to both but I like hitch racks. I have several but my most recent one is a Saris Thelma II. This holds the bike by the tires and wheels with no frame contact. There are lots of hitch manufacturers besides Yakima and Thule. For example, check these:

http://www.etrailer.com/landing.aspx?nav=Bike_Rack&fTab=cargo&gclid=CN73tOjAkKkCFYVx5QodlEp6qA

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1031409_-1_1597011_20000_400170#ReviewHeader

I definitely like the idea of a rack that holds the bike by tire rather than the frame, I don't want to end up getting scratches all over my new bike.

Hello,

Is there any recommendations for a trunk rack?
I am also new to cycling and would like to keep the cost down for now.

Thanks

hitch racks are the only way to go. If you don't have a hitch go to Uhaul and get one installed, it's like 150 dollars or less I think to do that, it's what I did a while ago. Performance has a nice two bike hitch mount rack for like 140 or something. do it and forget about it and you'll be happy. The main reason I didn't like going anywhere with my bike was because I didn't like dealing with putting it on the standard bell rack I had on my trunk that held it up my the frame caues I had to lift it up and stick those arms through my bike and when I did it wasn't even cause I don't have a straight bar and then there would still be some wobble when I'd drive and the pedels would fuk up my bumper and one time someone tried to put on the rack and didn't know how to do it right and totally scratched up my spoiler it's so much trouble. Now with my hitch mouth I just drop it down on on it and tighten the hook on my bar, it takes me 5 seconds or less.

oh and I don't know how people put there bikes up on there roof who would want to do that ever? I can't imagain having to even lift it up that far and clamping it down and taking off the wheel, that's just nuts. roof mount racks just shouldn't exist, not for bikes.

I just bought a 1UP USA rack and use it on my 06 4 Runner, 11 Tundra, and 07 Chevy. All of them have a 2" receiver. I went with a rack that uses the hitch receiver as I could use it on all my vehicles. I am also height challenged at 5'5" and most vehicles are a bit high for me to be lifting a bike up and putting it on the roof rack.

Bit problem with roof racks...they won't fit the Taco Bell drive through.

Trunk Racks are a cheaper way to go if you don't want to install a hitch or roof rack. They are somewhat limited in terms of the number of bikes you can carry though (usually just 2 or 3. Some models can do 4).

The great thing about trunk mounted racks is that they can transfer easily between most vehicles.

You can pay as little as $40 for a no name brand rack or as much as $320 for a Thule Raceway Platform (http://www.thule.com/en/CA/Products/BikeCarriers/RearDoor/9003%20Raceway%20Platform%202%20Bike.aspx)

I would recommend something in the middle pricewise like the Super Joe Pro (http://www.yakima.com/shop/bike/trunk/superjoe-pro-2) from Yakima
or the Thule Gateway (http://www.thule.com/en/CA/Products/BikeCarriers/RearDoor/9006%20Gateway%202%20Bike.aspx)

depending on where you are those bike racks should be between $120 and $170

+ the Fuel consumption is bumped up a bit, with the roof rack,
adding to air resistance, driving.

I finally got my Thule Raceway 9003 (http://www.orsracksdirect.com/thule-9003-raceway-platform-trunk-bike-rack.html) that I ordered in April. Apparently, Thule was slow in sending them, so it took a long time to get here.

I really only had two options for bike racks: 1- roof mount or 2- trunk mount. My main driver is a 91 Civic, which I cannot find any receiver hitches for. They do make a ball mount receiver (not 1" square, but just a tongue with a hole in it for the ball mount), but unfortunately on this side of the Atlantic, we don't really have any ball mount options. That left me with the two aforementioned choices.

I have a Thule roof rack. Trouble is if I accidentally drive into my carport, it'll rip the bike(s) off the roof of my car. Trust me, I've done it once, and that was enough.

One time, I was driving 60 MPH +/- down the freeway and the downtube clamp fell off. My bike fell over onto my roof, scratched the car's paint up, and I nearly lost my bike. Then came the Thule Raceway 9003...

I haven't actually used it yet, but it's much sturdier than I expected. It comes with built in locks, I can open my trunk with it installed (though it's heavy and the trunk won't stay open unless I'm holding it open), there's no aerodynamic/MPG penalty, and I can drive into my carport. It was harder to get it out of the box than to mount it to my car. I think I found the perfect rack, if there is such a thing.

While it took nearly 3 months to get here, I don't blame ORS. In fact, I got such a good deal through them, in hindsight I wouldn't do it any differently. Besides, because it was a manufacturer's delay (according to ORS), it would have taken this long anywhere I ordered it.

Some have said trunk racks result in minor scuffs under where the pads contact the paint. Other than this potential drawback, I don't see any others.

You might go to a auto supply store and get some heavy clear stick-on protective film. You can cut pieces to stick on and protect the paint where the pads rest on the car. I did this on a number of vehicles.

I've seen that hitch weirdness over there and wondered what, if any, the advantages were compare to the square receivers we use here.

You might go to a auto supply store and get some heavy clear stick-on protective film. You can cut pieces to stick on and protect the paint where the pads rest on the car. I did this on a number of vehicles.

I've seen that hitch weirdness over there and wondered what, if any, the advantages were compare to the square receivers we use here.

1- I drive a 91 Civic. I don't really care if I get a little paint rub under the pads. Thanks for the suggestion though. If/when I get a new/er car, I'll keep it in mind.

2- The advantage of a ball rack, in my case, would be that I couldn't find a receiver hitch for my Civic. I could find a bolt on hitch with a tongue for mounting a tow ball. I'm not saying I would have went that route if it had been available, only a commentary about it and that it wasn't available, that's all. Other than that, I'm not sure a ball mounted rack would have any advantages over a receiver rack.