banjaboy

Hi all, Looking to get a hitch mounted rack to carry carbon bikes. I am located where I need to transport my bike for a real training ride, its a carbon frame and the regular dangly carriers just dont make my bike happy. Any ideas for a trough type hitch mounted carrier? Cant do roof mounted as I have a shoulder injury that makes lifting almost anything above my head impossible

Mojo31

Kuat and Thule both make highly rated platform carriers.

I've been very happy with my Kuat Transfer 2 carrying 2 carbon bikes behind my Jeep. I did have to get a hitch extension since I have an oversized spare hanging on the back of the Jeep.

c_m_shooter

1up USA

topflightpro

Kuat, Thule, Yakima and 1Up all make solid racks. You cannot go wrong with any of the options from those brands.

jadocs

Any rack that secures the bike by the wheels. 1UP USA is my rack of choice.

mstateglfr 

I have a Thule T2 and love it, but its a heavy beast. Its indestructible, but it may be cumbersome for some to attach due to the weight/size.
Given the injury you mention, you may want to look at aluminum tray racks.

GlennR

Inside is the safest. I've seen too many frames marked up.

Fendertele

Very pleased with my Kuat Transfer 2.

alcjphil

My carbon road bike told me that she prefers to ride inside the car where she feels much safer

GlennR

Most cars have a fold down rear seat. I've seen cars rear ended and the bikes on the back damaged.

Atlas Shrugged

I have seen the insides of many cars marked up by people cramming their bikes inside.

GlennR

I never said which type of carrier.

fietsbob

An enclosed cargo trailer.. towed behind your car. (securely locked, to car trailers get stolen ending band tours if full of their equipment)..

Inside on the floor of the trailer you build a Pro Tour Team Support worthy Roof rack ..






....

GlennR

Subaru Impreza... a compact car. Cramming not needed.




If i remove the rear wheel I can easily fit it in the trunk with the back seat up.

GlennR

https://bicycleuniverse.com/laws-reg...ke-racks-cars/

State Laws Around Bike Racks

Every state has some sort of laws around safely transporting bikes with your vehicles. Some of them are vaguer about the whole thing than others, but it’s safe to say that the following should be kept in mind:

• Most states require that license plates and taillights be visible to other drivers while on the road. This means that if you’re using a rear mount, you may need an auxiliary plate.
• Virginia state law is explicit in the fact that it is illegal to obscure a license plate with a hitch, let alone with anything else. (VA code 46.2-716)
• Note that we said ‘most’. Utah state law is the opposite! License plates can be obscured by a trailer hitch, a wheelchair lift, a trailer, a bike rack, or any other cargo carrying device, as long as the installation instructions were done properly. So that’s a bit strange! Still, for the sake of other people on the road, it’s probably best to keep your license plate as clear as possible.
• In Michigan, the law was amended to allow bike racks to block license plates as well.
• Racks also have to be properly fitted for the vehicle and the bike themselves must be properly secured.
• It’s been noted that states can vary in how they treat racks and license plates and even police officers may differ in whether they bother to pursue the matter or not. This means that it’s always best to err on the side of caution and check our local laws. You can do this by checking in with the place where you purchase your bike rack as the sellers should have the best idea of the legalities.

tomato coupe

Bikes are like dogs -- they prefer to have the wind in their faces.

alcjphil

Mine is more like a cat

Mojo31

But, what if you wanted to carry two?

tomato coupe

Doesn't like water either?

GlennR

My wife doesn't ride and 99% of my rides start from my house.

genejockey 

This is the advantage I have by being misanthropic preferring to ride alone.

Batstar

Depending on the type/configuration of the vehicle, you could always mock up your own in-car rack. This is the system that I've been using to transport carbon bikes and it works great for our specific needs particularly if we plan an overnight trip. There is still room for gear and the front wheels are stowed behind the front seats in padded bags. I’ve seen Honda Fit owners use the same method.

Mojo31

Lol. Don't forget, he lives in New York (NTTIAWWT). Many places are quite different. I (and very many others in my state) don't run front plate even though required, dark tinted windows are the norm, Jeep and truck wheels/tires extend past the fenders, rear plates are blocked by all sorts of things, 15 over the limit on highways is pretty common, etc., etc. Just don't "f" up and you're typically good. Driving and drinking is pretty much frowned upon though.

Koyote

A tray-type rack will not mark up a bike frame. It doesn't even touch the bike frame. The only contact points are the tires.

I do agree that inside the vehicle is safest, and it's what I did for years. I got tired of packing everything in like a Jenga puzzle, worrying about my cargo sliding into the bike, the inability to carry more than one bike at a time. So I bought a Thule XT Pro 2 and love it. I can load up a bike, or unload it, in about 15 seconds, and no wheel removal is required. And I can still carry all the cargo and passengers that my vehicle normally carries.

Gundo

1up doesn't touch the frame, only the tires. Easy and fast to use.