Interior bike rack
 

Hey guys or gals with experience with this:

I have a 2002 Nissan Xterra and i'm definitely going to need a bike rack, but don't want to throw it on the top nor do I want to rack it in the back only because I live in Boise, but commute 60 miles one way everyday through the Hell that is Mountain Home Air Force Base. I've already got rocks chipping away at my windshield and a friends' car actually made it's way through the windshield and land in the console. This is why the idea of having a carbon bike (or any material for that matter) exposed in an asteroid field known as Simco Road does not bode well with me at all.
I've read that there is an interior bike rack made by Yakima some time ago and still is currently available. Unfortunately, the pictures only show MTB's being racked on there. Has anyone used this rack (or similar types that I am not aware of? homemade or otherwise) successfully with road / tri bikes?
I didn't want to just throw in the back either laying on the side, flopping every which way.

You might take a look at this .. seems it could be adjusted/modded to fit your Xterra .. hope it help ..

There are a couple kinds that work in the bed of a pickup. Maybe those would work. You could also just pick up some fork mounts, and screw them into a 2x4 and rig that into the back of your truck.

^^ is the cheapest way.. i've seen folks suggest 2x6 or 2x8 for better stability

I also just got some fork mounts (from performance) and bolted them on some wood. since my bike is small, I can fit my bike in an suv without lowering the seat.

I carry two bikes in my van using a 1x8 or 1x10 board that is the width of the interior and has two front fork traps bolted to it. I load the bikes rear wheel first and then secure the forks in the traps. The traps are far enough apart so the handlebars of the two are barely separated from each other. I've fastened several pieces of heavy duty velcro on the bottom of the board to prevent it from sliding around when loaded. When I'm not carrying bikes I simply remove the board or stow it lengthwise inside the van. A pretty simple set up and cost only the price of the two traps.

+2 on the make your own.

I got a dealer fitted fork rack for my Forester similar to this:

http://66.160.188.111/.eea17a6/cmd.2...edded..eea183f

I think I've used it twice.

I usually just take the wheels off and throw the the pieces into the back. I throw a blanket over them so they parts don't jump around. Messing around with the rack and folding the seats etc wasn't wort the effort for me.

That is what I did with my Ford Explorer and it works great :thumb:

great ideas guys .. thanks !
will go with the 2 x 4 one.

if you mount the fork racks at an angle you can get up to like 5 or 6 bikes since the handle bars do this ///// instead of this ----