overthere

My friend just got a bike and wants to get into biking. I'm trying to convince her to come ride with me, but tells me that REI says she needs $1000 to put a rack on her Honda CRV for her bike??? NO way, typo, thinks I, but no, apparently someone said she needed to weld a trailer hitch, etc... to carry her bike. She doesn't want a roof rack. She's rather slight, and it would be hard to get her bike on and off.

Anyone have a reasonable rack that fits on her vehicle that they use? Thanks.

Berg417448

My wife has a 1999 Honda CRV. I was able to find a hitch for much less than $100 and installed it myself. The CRV also has a rear mounted spare tire so a spare tire carrier is also an option.

https://search.cartserver.com/search/...+CR-V&GO=GO%21

johnny99

You should be able to get a high quality Thule or Yakima bike rack that mounts to the spare tire for around $150. Another option is to put the bike inside the truck. That's why you got a truck in the first place, right? Look at the "Traps" racks at nashbar.com

Bolo Grubb

try hitch rack in search feature and several other threads with lots of info come


I bought a Sportswork Mod because most of the time I only need to carry one bike, but I can get a second bike tray to carry two if I ever need it. It is very easy and quick to load or unlod the bike.

Check out the site below for review on almost every bike rack made.

MTBReview.com


You can see the room I have with my rack with out any extention, just the standard folding hitch.

Cyclingmaniac

On a Honda CRV? Forget the bike rack. Fold the back (small) seat down; pop the front wheel and place the handle bars/ram horns on the folded back seat. A bike fits perfectly. I keep my bike in the car almost all the time.

Try it first before buying a bike rack!

Cyclingmaniac!

KingTermite 

If you want a hitch rack, you can get them for much cheaper (don't forget the price of putting a hitch receiver on if one doesn't exist).

You can also get car "trunk" style racks that will work, like Saris Bones racks.

HiYoSilver

Remember key criteria is easy to load. Thus no roof racks, trunk racks, or hitch racks with telephone poles. Only sensible option is a hitch tray rack. Secondary criteria is probably easy to secure bike.

Some dummy at REI quoted her about 1 grand for a good rack.
The rack is only $99
https://www.rei.com/product/3023559.h...SSHP_RACKS_TOC
Hitch connector is $80
https://www.speedgoat.com/product.asp...t=70&brand=358
Hitch is $90
https://search.cartserver.com/search/...+CR-V&GO=GO%21
Uhaul will install for about $40 or $50.
Lock is $50
https://www.speedgoat.com/product.asp?part=100197

So for $370 she has a top of the line, easy to load rack that saves her $630 over dummy REI estimate.

rlourette

I bought a spare tire bicycle carrier that hangs on the rear tire for $79 At Dicks.

CCrew

I thought the CRV's had that hard shell rear tire cover though? If that's the case the spare rack might be an issue.

rlourette

I bought a spare tire bicycle carrier that hangs on the rear tire for $79 At Dicks. My CRV has a soft cover tire cover that I removed. Since I don't have the hard shell type, could someone verify that if the shell is off that there is access to the tire while it is still mounted?

Berg417448

My wife's CRV originally had a spare tire rack. I'm not sure what you means by "access" to the tire
but if you get a flat you will have to remove the bike rack to change the tire. The rack may not fit well over the deflated tire if you try to swap them out.

BarracksSi

Man, your (or her) REI sucks, or at least whoever was working that day sucks.

Glad that you got some good advice here.

brianmcg123

+1 to this. Why doesn't she just stuff it inside? That was my first thought.

Rex G

I am looking into getting a CRV so I can keep the bikes inside on long trips. I would rather carry luggage inside a "rocket box" or similar, and protect the bikes. I have not carried bikes too much outside vehicles, but have done so with canoes and kayaks. The sun, rocks tossed by other vehicles, and wind-blown sand and such, work much damage.

Keep in mind that the bike needs to be locked up while within a vehicle! People will break a car window to get the change in your console, or a single CD; they will certainly break a window to get your bicycle.

DieselDan

I have one on a '98 CRV that mounts to the spare tire from a small American company called Rage. They have an eBay store.

sweetfixie

My ex-girlfriend has a crv and she got a Hollywood Bike Rack on amazon. It was, of course, a spare tire bike rack style model and worked great for many years. No complaints. Allen makes some inexpensive models as well. If you're trying to save some cash, you don't need to go Yakima or Thule.

gypz

+1 on this https://www.hollywoodracks.com/specia...-tire-rack.htm for less then 150.00 and she is good to go.
I put a hitch on my Dodge Caliber, 150.00, then added a 2 bike rack, thule model 230.00 because i was going to be caring 2 bikes around. I wound up only needing to tote one bike, and it fits in the back even with the front wheel on.

LSvtec03

i have this thule rack on my rav4 (not the same car, but close), and i love it. i much prefer the ones that lock, and you still have access to the trunk with this rack.

nkfrench

I keep the back seat in my CRV folded down. Got a leftover cardboard bike box from the LBS trash and spread it flat . Then the bike easily slides inside the Honda over the cardboard without catching/snagging. No need to remove wheel . For travel, I will cover the bike to conceal it for short stops. Used an old beach towel but a cheap tarp may be more appropriate. The bike comes into the motel room overnight so no hassles getting the car broken into. I can lock it in the car but would still have hassles of broken windows/locks.

Two road bikes fit in easily that way. For stacking, the cardboard goes between the two bikes. Derailleur side always goes up.

kk4df

I ordered a "Hidden Hitch" online for maybe $100(?) and installed it easily myself. Then get whatever hitch mounted bike rack desired. No problem.