Ti Guy

I was considering roof racks and my LBS is suggested the installation of a receiver hitch as they are much easier to deal with. I already have a four bike hitch rack that I used with my 4Runner, so expense wise the installation of the hitch is the better option. Are there any benefits with going with a roof rack system? Are there any drawbacks to the installation of the receiver hitch? If I switch to a roof rack will I have issues with a carbon fork and 58mm deep carbon rims? Thanks for the help.

H1449-6

Can't answer your question, but how do you like the Sportwagen? What powertrain do you have and can you comment on power/handling/fun to drive factor?

AngryScientist 

IMO, nice bikes should be supported from the wheels, where they are meant to be supported from. if your hitch rack holds the bike from the top tube, i wouldnt use it myself, those usually lead to paint scratching and whatnot.

a roof rack on the jetta wagon will a)look good, b) allow easy liftgate access, c) be easy to access due to the car being low to the ground as opposed to an SUV, and c) save the bike in the event of a rear-ending.

just my 2 cents.

kuan

On the roof, by the fork, using Rockymounts.

You really don't want the hitch rack getting in the way of your liftgate.

And get one of these

foresthill

I ran a bike into my garage on a roof rack. I will never use one again. Most decent hitch-mounted racks will tilt back to get out of the way of the rear door. Plus, the impact on your mileage is much much less, especially with a wagon or SUV.

However, your 4-runner has a 2" hitch mount, and the one they'll put on your Jetta is almost certainly going to be 1.25", so unless your 4-bike rack will also fit a 1.25" hitch mount, you'll need an adapter or a new rack.

Grasschopper

My guess is that your SUV hitch rack is a 2" receiver...I doubt (but could be wrong) the hitches made for the Jetta Wagon are 2"...more likely 1 1/4".

Hitch rack makes for better fuel economy if that matters to you.

StanSeven

I have roof racks. Next time I'm getting a hitch. A hitch is easier gettting bikes on and off. You don't have to remove wheels. I hear stories about what happens with rear end collisions - that should be the least of your worries if you are involved in a wreak. A hitch keeps the bike cleaner - my bikes get covered with bugs and road tar on the roof. You also don't have to worry about running into low objects. While most people remember bikes on top before pulling into their garage, it's hrad to remember other places like fast food drive-ins and parking garages

KrisA

The JSW with TDI would definitely be at the top of my list if I NEEDED a car (my family gets by with one). I fantasize about having two bikes on a roof rack and two on my wheel support Swagman hitch rack to take 4 bikes with no chance of transport damage.

str8jakett

It's a VW, a roof rack is required .

saratoga

Hitch. Knowing someone that de-biked his car via garage door is all it took for me to decide against ever putting bikes on top of a car.

Ti Guy

Went with the TDI, it is VERY quick and great handling and ok to drive. I am averaging 34 to 36 mpg right now. It is taking a little while to adjust to the smaller (much smaller) vehicle.

The rack is 2" and I know that I will have to get an adapter. It does have the tilt back feature, worked great on the 4Runner and I assume that it will work on the Jetta, especially with the adapter which will push it further from the hatch area. The top tube paint peeling does not affect me, Ti.

I do have to say that when I am watching bike races on TV all of the wagons with the roof racks do look good. I am also of the opinion that a VW should have a roof rack, however, my biggest concern is the dreaded bikes into garage.

With the opinions being about even I will have to go with the most economical. Looks like I will be looking for somebody to put a receiver hitch on the back.

trojanman

Hitch Rack. It is really easy to forget you have a bike on top, no matter how often it is up there. It only takes one time.......
Plus, I think you have less debris issues with the bike in back, less wind drag, and you're less likely to drop one. oops.

roof racks do look nicer on cars, but I am a convert and really like my hitch rack.

fauxto nick

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Man I love the Sport Wagon I was looking at leasing one to replace my MKIV GTI 337 Edition, but sadly I think the monthly payments are just a bit out of my reach responsibility wise.

RudeSiggy

I don't know how many times I've seen this debacle on all sorts of cycling forums... it's just plain up to you because for every rack with a pro there is a con. I chose a roof-rack for my mazda 3 hatchback because I also ski/snowboard and kayak. They're just more versatile for me.


Speak for yourself here... YMMV. If you've got a wagon/car and not an SUV, a roof rack is pretty darn simple. Most hitch racks I've seen (that hold the bike by the top tube) have too many straps all over the place to make sure the bikes don't swing and the wheels don't spin. I could put 3 bikes on my rack and be ready to drive off before my gf can put 1 bike on her hitch. You can also lock bikes onto most roof racks with mount locks and not having to put a cable or U-lock on when you stop somewhere, and then take it off before you drive again.


Personally I'd rather remove a quick-release front wheel than block my rear hatch door. Again, YMMV. If you've got a car with a rear hatch and it's shape allows it to open while your hitch rack is on, kudos to you. Curvy SUVs usually have better luck with this than wagons, though.



Driver error will happen anywhere. A roof-rack driver might pull into a garage and a hitch-rack driver might back into another parked car. I've seen them both happen to friends/teammates within the last 2 years. In the roof accident the fork, bars, and seat took the damage; in the hitch accident the frame and fork were trashed. In fact, in the hitch accident, it was the hitch-rack and the other bike that majorly damaged the inside bike (not the impact from hitting another car). The downtube went into the steel rack. Carbon fail.

If you consider it, sometimes wagons are pretty long vehicles. Add a few feet of bikes on a rack and those suckers will be sticking out of parking spaces. Just consider that. I'll admit, though, I've had to park at a fast food joint because I doubted if my roof rack could make it through. Oh well.


I find that my bike stays cleaner (re: still gets kinda dusty on LONG drives) on my roof rack than on my gf's hitch rack because of the road-muck being recirculated behind her SUV's rear tires. (Before you say it, those little rubber things meant to stop crap from flying behind the tires, they never work well enough.)

So I've had mixed results with both. Generally when the roads are wet, your bike will get sloppy either way, no matter what. On a roof rack it's from the spray of the other cars; on a hitch it's from the pocket of air circulating behind the car.

Now, big plus for hitch-racks? Mileage, no doubt.

RacerX

hitch racks without a doubt. faster loading, better mpg's, easier on you, don't worry about low overhangs, bikes always in view, not affected by crosswinds.

roofracks blow but do have higher poser points.

saratoga

Totally OT, but is the Revo tuner available for the diesel like it is for the GTI and GLI? Those little SOB's haul some serious ass with that 260hp tune and the DSG.

fauxto nick

I'm surprised the new TDI is as fast as it is... the MKIV TDI's were popping only 90hp but had good torque, I think these are what like 140 150 hp with 260 torquelbs.

saratoga

It's something like 140/240 hp/tq. Common rail diesels can crank out some beans with pre-packaged tuners. Bad part is now they all have more emissions garbage a la diesel particluate filter on them which limits how much you can turn up the fuel.

PedalMasher

75% of the people i know with roof racks have put a bike into the roof of the garage. There are others who probably won't admit it.

Roof racks look better, but I would never ever ever consider one. If I brain fart just once and put it into the garage, I would kick myself into tomorrow for not getting a hitch rack.

Cactuskid

I too have a 2009 VW sportwagan, LUV it, altough I wish I got the TDI, I am happy with the 2.5 I5 engine. I put the back seats down and my bike fits in fine without taking any wheels off. I still wonder about a roof rack myself they look cool, but I hate the idea about them getting filthy with long travel/rain...wonder if you can get bike covers

TruckerMike

You can do like Cactuskid - just get a www.chaincondom.com to keep the grease off you new VW. You paid all this $$ for a high mpg diesel - why go mess is up with a roof rack increasing your wind resistence? If you need to carry more than 2 bikes on a regular basis, go hitch rack. I have a hitch rack, but still put it inside for periods when the car is parked and I can't see it.

Dantebfd

My advice is to fill your garage with enough junk that you can't possibly park in there and then buy the roof rack.

When my Passat lease is up I am buying the TDi wagon- with a roof rack since, in order to get into my garage, I have to move 5 toy strollers, a makeshift nursery for the dolls that go into the 5 toy strollers, 2 big wheels, 3 other bikes, 2 scooters, a hockey net, 2 wagons, and various other toys both large and small.

njkayaker

The trailer hitch rack will also allow you to carry other things (eg, kayaks) on your roof.

I think the bikes stay cleaner on the roof. (Keep in mind how dirty your rear window gets.)

mazdatech10

get a hitch mount, better mph and mpg , even with no bikes, less bugs hitting your bikes on the drive home, your only getting 36 mpg , we have customers that are getting >45 mpg avg. ( i work at a vw dealer). they have been hot sellers.make sure you use 5w-40 syn oil during oil changes during and after free services, some dealers will put in non syn oil. don't really like the rear end on the car, think passat is better looking. but have fun with it.........P.S. roof racks suck in windy conditions.

abqhudson

Hitch rack - safe and secure. Easier to use than a roof rack and less danger for the bike. I put one on the Rabbit I had for awhile and it worked great and have used a hitch rack on my BMWs for many years.