YoKev

I used to exclusively use a Thule roof rack. Then, I started driving 34k a year, and I quickly ditched that setup due to the daily mileage penalty.

There aren't any bikes that can't fit in to my Jetta Sportwagen, tandems included (both wheels off). Road bikes and mountain bikes fit with both wheels if just carrying one, front wheels have to come off if I have two.

I also have a Kuat hitch rack that is nice when the bike is muddy. Also, no MPG penalty either.

Hoss Cartright

I bought a nice Thule from the local CL. Had to buy the foot kit to fit my 2009 Yaris S. I've noticed no MPG loss really.
My car is actually kind of tall, it is a reach to get the bike up there.

Bobtoo

I use a roof-mounted carrier.



I find it easier to lift the bike onto the roof than to thread it onto the rear-mounted carrier, and I don't have to worry about obscuring the car lights.

non-fixie 

SJX426 

The picture is not indicative of the about of overhang. if the sides of the Jeep were straight, the plane would intersect just in front of the back of the rack and the stem on the right. Pictures are perspective images.

RobbieTunes

I have a 2014 Chevrolet Impala, a simple, overpriced American sedan.

With pedals removed, wheels removed and bagged, and a protective cover over each crankset-RD-FD assembly, I can get 5 classic steel bikes inside the car, no problem, with plenty of room for luggage, rccardr, rccardr's bags of chips and pretzels, and a cooler. I don't generally carry any bikes outside the car, but if I did, I have a Walmart 3-bike rack, bungee cords, and all kinds of excess bar wrap with which to wrap the bike rack and protect the bikes. I'm not sure where I'd go with 8 bikes, but it's a thought. This is with the back seat folded down.

I've been looking off/on for a couple of years for a 1995 Honda Odyssey, the 4-cyl version. With 4 car-type doors (and windows), removable center buckets, and a rear seat the folds down into the floor, it would be my ideal choice. I could likely get 10 bikes inside it, but would probably only install racks for 4. Failing that, I'll likely end up designating my 2003 Honda CRV as the bike hauler in a couple of years, when it's finally turns 200K miles, and will be able to permanently modify the cargo compartment, i.e. no one can complain.

crank_addict

Back when I was into mtb's, hauling the dirty bikes were mandatory on a roof rack (Thule) or my little pick-up with front axle clamp mounts on the front edge of the truck bed.

After losing some road bikes to theft, I have a different perspective today and more about hauling in the vehicle. I use a washable and thick vinyl backseat cover (pet stores sell them). The most I can jam in a mid-size sedan is three (two in the cabin and one in the trunk, wheels removed) leaving room for a front passenger. I've also done the Rubics cube fitting a Santana tandem in the sedan cabin leaving NO room for front passenger.

On occasion I drive a little German air-cooled rear engine jobbie and one bike fits, broken down with wheels, seat post / saddle, and bar assembly. I've thought of getting a SeaSucker for this car if with a passenger / extra bike. Scary design using suction cups.

The Astro AWD van was the best but totaled head-on by a crazed illegal alien young mother. I walked away from that one with a only a shoebox size cavity remaining for my feet. I wouldn't mind getting another older clean one like it, but they're virtually non-existent.

Ed.

You've seen this in the Lars Anderson thread:



Carries everything. It's career started on a 1966 Ford Fairlane wagon. I really don't know how many cars it's graced. Design by 'Chick' Mead, a Boston area bicycle persona in the 60's and 70's.

One bike, wheels removed, in my GTI.

non-fixie 

dddd

For bike exhibits and swap-meets, I've "stacked" 8 bikes front-to-back, each with a wheel or two removed. Surplus toe traps hold things from moving, and thin, recycled sheets of closed-cell foam keep bikes from gnashing against one another.

On a recent 300-mile bike-buying trip, I put 7 bikes in, stacked left-to-right, i.e. with the bikes aimed front and back. Again, straps secured bikes together and against the sides of the bed to prevent motion while cornering. I was able to do this in low light, almost pitch-dark by the time I was done. Lots of toe straps prevented relative motion and held brake levers engaged so the load remained stationary.
Carpet/padding leftovers on the floor allow comfortable maneuvering inside while positioning things and provide traction for the bike tires to grip.

I bought this 4-cylinder Isuzu truck for motorcycle (dragster) racing in early 1989 and it's been really useful and economical ever since. Never broke down once over 26 years of (mostly light)use.

The Golden Boy 

I have a BMW 5 series wagon and my wife has a Honda Odyssey.

We had a Saris rack that worked nice on my wife's old minivan, but it didn't work on my wagon- there wasn't the gap between the gate and the body of the car to put the clips in. After getting the Odyssey- it's built the same way. We ended up giving the Saris to some friends who use it a lot.

So now bikes just lay down in the back of the wagon or stand up in the minivan.

JReade

I have a truck, so yeah, the bed. My SO has a hitch mounted rack for her Jeep grand cherokee that we use when we take her car.

However, this always makes me question things with the truck owner..



Why have a truck in this situation? I see it once a week at least.

Ed.

Certainly is a backwards way of doing it...

non-fixie 

So you can move the kids AND the bike in one haul?

JReade

I guess if the kids are riding in the bed, sure.

non-fixie 

Well, I haven't found a decent kids' rack yet, where they can't loosen the straps ...

brandenjs

This is not mine, but I spotted it one day.. Pretty cool.

brandenjs

I know trucks are obvious, but I'm proud to say we can carry 9 bikes (7 outside-2 inside) on our truck. We do a fundraising ride every year called Outspoken for 4-H and our truck is the best crew truck ever.
WVU Ext - Outspoken for 4-H | Home

non-fixie 

I had this as my only car for a while. It would take two bikes, one in the trunk and one on the rear seat. Remove wheels, seat, loosen bars and in they went. Worked pretty well as long as there were no fenders and racks involved.

Large frames (my size) with frozen seat posts (my luck) were an issue too.

Dfrost 

We greatly prefer our bikes inside the car for lots of reasons. Here they are (64cm Rambouillet and 53cm Erickson) in the back seat of the 2011 Kia Optima:



When the trunk is full of luggage, I've been able to nestle the wheels in amongst the frames or between them and the front seat backs. I've never had a problem with bikes flipping forward under hard braking, but a bit of bungee cord around the seatposts and the nearby headrest would prevent that.

Key to making this work (besides a wide enough back seat) are: upholstery cover for the back seat (made from some curtain backing fabric), a strip of carpet runner over that to catch chain grease and avoid punctures, old towels between the bikes, chains on the big ring (also prevents punctures), and I like these Pedro's Chain Keepers:



On trips where the dog comes along, we use Thule roof carriers (prefer the fork-mount versions), sometimes protect the pretty frames with something like these protectors, and bite the bullet with lower gas mileage.

Drillium Dude 

5-Series wagons don't have the little "fixpoints" on the roof? Underneath the little trapdoors?

I've been thinking of a new(er/ish) car that can take a roof rack and has room to sleep in if need be. Sorta for cross-country use, 4WD a plus for driving up into the mountains. Audi wagon, maybe? But I've always been drawn to those 5-Series wagons.

DD

The Golden Boy 

I've got luggage rails on the top, but no cross bars or supports. My car also has the moon roof- and aside from my lack of confidence of lifting any of my bikes onto the roof of the car- I'm really not in favor of possibly shattering my moon roof.

The 5 series wagon is the PERFECT size. I've had a Ford Taurus wagon, a Honda Accord wagon, two Outback wagons and the 525iAT. It's very close in size to the Accord wagon, but much nicer- because it's newer- it has a lot of more modern features than the Accord had (as a 1994).

squirtdad

+1 like this for me. I use Yakima (you are either a Yakima or Thule kind of person). I use a 25 year old bike holder on thingy (Lock Jaw I think) from yakima...very stable even at speed.

Pars 

Saris bones 2 bike if I'm not alone, otherwise I just take the wheels off and pack it in the trunk of my Accord.

72Paramount

I usually take a wheel off and put one bike in the trunk and one in the backseat of my cadillac dts. Tons of room in that thing. When taking more than that I rent a van.