busymom

I just found this forum and am hoping you can help. I am a "dummy" when it comes to mechanical stuff, but willing to learn. I have an older Honda CRV and am looking for a bike rack that can fit 3 bikes so our family can drive out of the city and enjoy the trails at the edge of town. I see that most models of bike racks require a trailer hitch which our car doesn't have. How and where would I get one installed, and it is expensive? Also what brand of rack would you recommend for a medium budget?

I would appreciate your feedback on this. Thank you!

Box worthy

Hi
Welcome to the forum.

IMO a hitch mounted rack is better then a rack that hangs off the car, more so for more then two bikes.i would also look for racks that put the tyres in trays as you put different type of bikes on them and protect them banging against each other better.
I had my hitch put on at my local dealership but I am sure if you have a mechanically inclined person around you could do it at home. I have a Hidden Hitch on my van. We do not have the electronics wired as we do not plan on towing anything in the near future,if we needed to we go back and have it retro fitted.

I have an Hollywood SE1400 and I very happy with it,the bikes do not move while I am driving. The arms fold down easily with the bikes off if you need to get into the back of V. Other members have recommend Swagman racks.



Hollywood Racks HR1400 Sport Rider SE 4-Bike Platform Style Hitch Mount Rack (2-Inch Receiver) by Hollywood Racks
Permalink: https://amzn.com/B000QJC4AY

mel2012

Uhaul installs tow hitches-- they were the cheapest I found I called around for estimates locally. It was about $150 for the hitch and installation without the electrical wiring (which you only need if you are going to tow a trailer). Once you have the hitch installed, I would look on your local craigslist for used racks. I like ours because the bikes are supported at both the top and bottom (the tires set in "trays"), so they don't swing around.

rumrunn6

a cheaper and more stable option, but harder to find are the racks that are about 4 feet tall and actually sit on your back bumper. they have straps for the top and sides of your hatchback. they are perfect for 3 bikes. I love mine, don't know the brand and it is probably 10 years old. I don't have good pictures of it but you don't have to pay for a hitch installation, hitch rack, and deal with the big ungainly thing bouncing around behind you. again, the weight of the bikes is not on your window. it's on your rear bumper. a portion of the rack rests on the top of the hatchback too. good luck finding one though. here are a couple pics, I hope you can get an idea from them. I really should take a better picture of just the rack on my car.

I've used it on my 4Runners, Escape and now my Forester. You can barely see it on the back of the black Escape. One year I tied it to my patio railing as a work stand. Now I'm using it conjunction with a hitch rack because more than 2 bikes on my hitch is not recommended and I need to carry 4. I used to carry 4 with this rack when the kids had little bikes. I know that last picture is nasty but you can kinda see how the top padded bar rests against the top of the hatchback.

rumrunn6

found some you might like, they don't all carry 3 biles, but searching for a tall hatchback bike rack found these you can use without installing a hitch

https://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Rack...449080-0258634

https://www.amazon.com/TRUNK-MOUNT-CA...449080-0258634


https://www.amazon.com/BuzzRack-Skipper-2-Bicycle-Hatchback-Cradle/dp/B004JKUDNQ

https://www.amazon.com/2-Bike-Hatch-M...im_sbs_auto_14

https://www.amazon.com/SportRack-SR31...im_sbs_auto_21

https://www.amazon.com/Trunk-Mounted-...im_sbs_auto_48

https://www.amazon.com/SportRack-SR31...im_sbs_auto_21

https://www.amazon.com/Thule-911XT-Pa...sim_sbs_auto_4

https://www.amazon.com/TRUNK-MOUNT-CA...449080-0258634

this one looks best

https://www.amazon.com/SportRack-SR31...im_sbs_auto_21

and this one looks tall so it wouldn't rest on the glass
https://www.amazon.com/Trunk-Mounted-...im_sbs_auto_48