Volkswagen Jetta Owners - Bicycle Racks and Questions
 

Hey everyone.

I recently finally got around to replacing my old vehicle with a 2009 VW Jetta Sedan. it did not come with roof rack rails installed and with that I have a few questions.

Do the rail-less systems work well enough? If so any recomendations? if not, should is there is a big difference beetween all of the brands? I am also considering a hitch so I can carry 2 kayaks and 2 bikes when needed. Any help is greatly appreciated. If you have a picture of your setup I can possible see how these systems work. Any other suggestions or directions to research would also be of great help. Thank you.

I currently have a Thule Trunk mount 3 bike rack. but the issue is, I don't like using that for my carbon bikes and again i would love a roof rack.

-X

Sorry, have Jetta but not roof rack. I use a trunk mount that was given to me years ago. I don't like attaching anything to my car, especially a black car, but it was wrecked before I bought it, not the best shape astetically so I don't care if I scratch it all up. As long as it runs to 200k miles or better I don't care what the work runner looks like. My new to me Rav4 now is different with only 40k miles on it. It looks brand new and will stay that way. The Jetta I bought with too many miles for too cheap to worry about it's looks.

I do have a Thule trunk rack but I don't like hanging the carbon bikes on the rack like that. Plus the roof rack will come in handy with the kayaks. I have found a few online but some of the brands I don't know too well and I didn't know if I should even waste my money on the inexpensive ones?

Just googled installing a hitch for your car, doesn't look to hard. Then you have multiple options open to you regarding bike and kayak hauling.

Yeah, i am probably going to do that as well. I still want the roof rack though. I have found a couple, but will probably just suck it up and go with Thule setup.

FWIW, once you have the receiver hitch , you can even buy a trailer and not a pickup truck.

the euro approach ... I noted, on my bike tours, big private pickup trucks are rare , there .