Transporting A Recumbent
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 112
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From: Southeastern Louisiana
Bikes: Road
Transporting A Recumbent
I know there has to be a way but I can not find it.
How do you transport your 2 wheel recumbent from one place to another besides riding it? Does anyone make a hitch rack that is wide enough to carry a bent?
I live in a very rural area. Riding out here is nice sometime but mostly we like to ride in other areas. One of my research subjects into buying a bent for me and my wife is to make sure I can carry it on the back of my Jeep Grand Cherokee in a fashion somewhat similar to how I carry our DF bikes.
Thanks
How do you transport your 2 wheel recumbent from one place to another besides riding it? Does anyone make a hitch rack that is wide enough to carry a bent?
I live in a very rural area. Riding out here is nice sometime but mostly we like to ride in other areas. One of my research subjects into buying a bent for me and my wife is to make sure I can carry it on the back of my Jeep Grand Cherokee in a fashion somewhat similar to how I carry our DF bikes.
Thanks
#3
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: TONAWANDA,NY
Bikes: GREENSPEED GT3 RANS V26
Recumbent racks
Hello,
Yes there are several racks available that will handle recumbents. I use a Hollywood rack with longer extension arms to handle my long wheel base bikes. A short wheel base may actually fit on a standard mountain bike type rack. Do a Google search on "Recumbent bike racks" and you will have many hits.
Also Google recumbent dealers and you will find a good selection.
I use the hitch type mount with wheel loops that are adjustable to the wheel base of the bike. In the
center there is a arm that slides down to secure the frame of the bike.
Good Luck,
Rich............
Yes there are several racks available that will handle recumbents. I use a Hollywood rack with longer extension arms to handle my long wheel base bikes. A short wheel base may actually fit on a standard mountain bike type rack. Do a Google search on "Recumbent bike racks" and you will have many hits.
Also Google recumbent dealers and you will find a good selection.
I use the hitch type mount with wheel loops that are adjustable to the wheel base of the bike. In the
center there is a arm that slides down to secure the frame of the bike.
Good Luck,
Rich............
#6
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 112
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From: Southeastern Louisiana
Bikes: Road
BP - I'm not sure what kind of recumbent yet. The transportation issue may possibly control the issue of a SWB or allow a LWB. I'm in my mid 60's so I want comfort. I have to believe a LWB is more comfortable than a SWB.
My LBS sells SUN but I am not adverse to buying a previously owned bike off the net. It looks like you can get some good prices on Tour Easy's and several other bikes with a good name. There is a RANS dealer down in New Olreans. I'm going to give him a call to see if he has any in stock that I could test ride.
As I said in my OP, transporting by car on a rack is an absolute necessity. I was wondering if anyone made a rack that would carry a LWB. I am going to Google recumbent bike racks this morning and see what I get.
Thanks
My LBS sells SUN but I am not adverse to buying a previously owned bike off the net. It looks like you can get some good prices on Tour Easy's and several other bikes with a good name. There is a RANS dealer down in New Olreans. I'm going to give him a call to see if he has any in stock that I could test ride.
As I said in my OP, transporting by car on a rack is an absolute necessity. I was wondering if anyone made a rack that would carry a LWB. I am going to Google recumbent bike racks this morning and see what I get.
Thanks
#7
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 12,547
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From: Middle of da Mitten
Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Catrike Speed
Sun, RANS, and a lot of others can be carried on a standard 2-arm trunk or hitch rack. A LWB being carried that way may be wider than the car, but it can be and is done all the time. I use a Rhode Gear hitch rack to carry my V-Rex and (formerly) my wife's Nimbus. My lowracers won't go on the rack, but they have unusual frames.
#8
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
My LBS has a local supplier that makes extra long racks for bents. Contact them; they can either get you one or refer you to their supplier.
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 72
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LWB bents on hitch rack
We routinely carry 3 LWB recumbents on a 2 arm hitch rack. We have a Stratus, V2, and Tailwind. As long as you have the type of rack that has the 2 arms that go under the top tube of the bike frame it should be no problem. We stagger ours front to back so the seats don't hit each other. The rubber pieces that cradle the frame tube on ours need to be turned sideways for the V2 frame to slip over because it has a rather narrow space between the main frame tube and the smaller lower frame supports. The Stratus and Tailwind don't have any issues.
#11
Approaching Nirvana

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,223
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From: Tomah, WI
Bikes: Catrike Expedition
Sun, RANS, and a lot of others can be carried on a standard 2-arm trunk or hitch rack. A LWB being carried that way may be wider than the car, but it can be and is done all the time. I use a Rhode Gear hitch rack to carry my V-Rex and (formerly) my wife's Nimbus. My lowracers won't go on the rack, but they have unusual frames.
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#15
I carry my Sun EZ Sport on a regular 2 arm hitch rack. No modifications required other than I use two rests for the fore and one for the rear, only because the Sport has those double bars going down to the dropouts. Used to carry it on a Prius without removing wheels too, maybe that's why I got the mid-finger salute from time-to-time
#16
I use the Xport Flatbed 2 bike hitch rack from Performance Bicycle. It's mad for them by Hollywood. The Hollywood version is the Sportrider. You can buy the LWB arms for it and replace the ones you have. Two people should replace the arms, or one can do it if he/she has three hands. You can also do it by yourself if you are exceptionally good at cussing. I didn't like the plastic 2" to 1 1/4" adapter, so I put on a 2" to 1 1/4" adapter from U-Haul.
I drilled the end of one hoop today and bolted a fork mount on it. This took a little over 10" off the length of the mounted bike. I positioned the left hoop so it's even with my driver's mirror, and the bike sticks out about 8-10" on the right side. I drive a Jeep Wrangler.
https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...00_20000_36006
https://www.hollywoodracks.com/hitch-...hitch-rack.htm
I drilled the end of one hoop today and bolted a fork mount on it. This took a little over 10" off the length of the mounted bike. I positioned the left hoop so it's even with my driver's mirror, and the bike sticks out about 8-10" on the right side. I drive a Jeep Wrangler.
https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...00_20000_36006
https://www.hollywoodracks.com/hitch-...hitch-rack.htm
#18
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 754
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From: Enola, PA
Bikes: Too many to count. Changes on a frequent basis.
I carry both my CLWB and SWB on a standard trunk rack. No major problems, just have to be sure to secure tightly. I drive a Bronco II, and run a bungee off the factory roof rack.
#19
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 961
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From: the Georgia Strait
Bikes: Devinci Caribou, Kona Dew Plus, Raleigh Twenty
There are roof racks that will accomodate a LWB bent, a friend has a Yakima roof rack with "tandem topper".
#24
I also use the local bus company to transport my recumbent. It drops right in to their Sportworks racks.
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#25
Bike Tourist
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 16
Likes: 10
From: Bakersfield
Bikes: Specialized Turbo Vado SL4.0 EQ ST
All you ever see is receiver hitch and car top racks . . . nice, but expensive. I've used a cheap trunk mounted rack for years to transport my long wheelbase recumbent. I don't even take off the wheels, just turn the front one and (of course) remove the fairing. Goes everywhere without problems.





