I have been using this Yakima Class III hitch rack. It can be configured for 2 or 4 bikes. One of the reasons I like non slopping TT's!
[IMG]WP_20140308_007, on Flickr[/IMG]

The rack on the bike is a Topeak, of which I have three and two different size trunk bags for different purposes.

I have one of these, but unfortunately it only fits on my wife's minivan these days.



it's nice in that it doesnt touch any part of the frame.

I jinxed myself. Somehow my rack bar connection to the car (the car has studs where the yakima rack clips connect) on the passenger side got loose, went over a speed bump and bike was now have horizontal.

after a few choice words, and more when I figured out I didn't have rack lock key managed to get the bike off and then the front bar off.

no damage to the bike

the bike rack looks like no damage

one of the Q-clips is all bent

nice dent just above the driver's door (it is a 1997...so am not too stressed)

had a beer when I got home

No pic, but a really heavy nameless rack plugged into the trailer hitch on my wife's Honda S2000. Works fine. I really, really want a hitch on the Porsche Boxster so we don't have to swap cars when I want to take a bike somewhere.

On every car I've bought, aside from the Triumph and MG, I always have a 2in receiver and harness installed, even though I don't own a boat or trailer. Thus I have one of those fancy Saris racks that holds a bike by the wheels only. It's the double model, but no way the bikes can contact each other during transport. Tim

I have had for many years a Graber (pre Saris ownership) T-Rax 4 bike set up for my 1 1/4" receiver car. Empty nesting I bought a Yakima Ridgeback 2 that fits both my 1 1/4 and 2" receiver vehicles scratch & dent at REI. I also have some Thule 2 bike truck mount from when I had a sedan around with no hitch, also REI S&D sale.


All work just fine. On hitch mount racks I've found that the # of bikes it says it fits isn't always true. There is no way I can fit any 2 bikes I own on the Yakima.

My bikes ride "in" with the rear seat down:

1 bike: remove front wheel. Lay bike into the trunk, front wheel back there, too.

2 bikes: same, with an insulated blanket between them, then something between the wheels.

3 bikes: I remove both wheels, use my bikebag.com drivetrain protectors, and lay the frames across the car behind the front seat, protection between frames, bars turned 1/4 turn. Rear wheels in bags in the back, front wheels in bags used to protect between the frames.

4 bikes: Same, but one bike is in the back, 3 behind the front seat, and the wheels get put where they fit. Always use protection between frames.

That's the limit in my Cruze. When I drove an Impala, I'd store 4 behind the seat, with wheels, and leave room for Doc's (rccardr) bike in the trunk area, where nothing would touch it. Respect for my elders, basically.

I'm not into racks.

I like the Honda Element for bike storage, sans front wheel, up against the side. I think they even make a mount for one MTB for those. You can always put the kayak on the top if you are doing the Outside Magazine poseur thing.

I like the approach with small and large SUV's and vans that use fork-mounting holders. Easy in, easy out.

When I get a truck, I'm going with the half-shell bed cover, from behind the cab for about 3'. I'll use a fork-mounting bracket to store 2 bikes and their wheels, up under the cover and out of the rain, but open at the rear for easy removal. If I get derailed into a Subaru Baja, I'll figure something out.....

One of my friends bought a high-dollah tilting hitch rack, put it on 2016 Honda Odyssey. Of course, she can roll her bike right into that cave, so she never uses the rack. She has to move it down and out of the way to get to her bike. Yes, she's a Cubs fan.

My perfect bike wagon is a 95-97 Honda Odyssey. 15" tires, Double-DIN stereo slot, 8 speakers, 4 cyl, rear air, sunroof, all 4 doors are regular hinged doors, big 3-way hatch. Rear seat folds into the floor, mid seats (buckets) come out with a click. Instant bike caveatorium. Easily holds 6 bikes, plenty of room, speakers not covered up, and 25-28 mpg. They are hard to find in decent shape. With two bikes, sleeps 2 easily. And cup holders. Not that I've really thought much on the subject.... yeah, cup holders.

just got the excise tax bill for my Dad's '94 Camry that I took possession of this summer. $22.50 ... gotta love classics ...

My wife claims this is overkill. Using a 1 ton work truck to haul a couple bikes around but I call it using what you have handy.

When by myself I just slide a bike in the back seat area but when we both are heading out I use this. I had the Yakima roof rack back in the 80's mounted on my '86 Thunderbird. After removing the towers and sourcing 4 longer bolts I put this together.

It's quick to put on, quite secure, and keeps the bikes up out of harms way.

Yakima 1 by Ed Lutz, on Flickr

Yakima 2 by Ed Lutz, on Flickr

I'm living a stereotype but I traded in my convertible 2 seater for a Chrysler Town & Country when the kids showed up. No rack needed.

I might put a spoiler on the van and maybe a hood intake to make it a bit sportier.

I haven't actually used it yet, but I had the same plan in mind for the Thule rack I bought for $1 at the flea market. I have a Ford Sport Trac with a hard bed cover. A couple ratchet straps should hold it in place. If I need to take 4 bikes and people, I can add the hitch rack.

My step-dad used to pull his 5000 pound car trailer with a Mack semi tractor. He didn't own a pick-up, so he used what he had.

[MENTION=61707]squirtdad[/MENTION] I have that same yak tray. 2 of them to be exact and one fork mount tray in between them. The frame clamp style work well, except that they are hard on paint. I don't care for my mountain bike and CX, but the nicer bikes go on the fork mount.

I have VW's bolt-on transverse load bars and Yakima bike holders for my wife's Passat wagon. I keep them made up as a rectangular assembly, which I suspend over her car on bicycle storage hooks (seemed appropriate) screwed into the garage rafters. They were handy for a family reunion trip with four people in the car, but if we have just one or two people, it is easier and safer just to flip the rear seat cushions forward against the backs of the front seats (neat exclusive B5 generation Passat wagon trick) and fold the seatbacks all the way down for a 6-foot-long level cargo bed. Pull the front wheels and lay two bikes in back.