No roof rack available for my car? Now, what?
 

I had planned all along to get a roof rack for my car, because it's a hatchback, and I don't have a hitch, so my options are severely limited. I checked today, and there's no factory roof rack available from my dealer, and when I checked Thule, it says no fit available. My bike will fit in the back, but I have to take the seat off, so I was hoping for another alternative. :(

can you add a hitch at the local U-Haul or similar place?

Hitch rack is better anyway. :p

www.etrailer.com has hitches for almost any car- great prices/service, and they sell bike racks, too.

I don't even know if they make a hitch for my car, and if they did, if it would be invisible. I definitely don't want a hitch ball sticking out the back of my car. lol.

Bones baby... bones!
http://media.rei.com/media/q/1241782.jpg

what car?

+1

I added a class I "hidden hitch" to my hatchback.

No such thing as no rack will fit my car.
Give us the f,n facts and we,ll tell you what will fit(even your Smart Car).

Somebody at my work has that on their Volvo S40. It's a nice looking rack, I may look into it if it fits a hatchback.

Wow, Smart car? lol.
My bike car is a 2008 Hyundai Tiburon.

get a hitch installed and a rack to go with it.

Hyundai?

You're SOL.





Just kidding, get a rack like the bones. I custom made my own bike rack to work with factory rails. Hidden hitch is another idea. I'm sure you'll find something. The car is a 2008, that's the only reason they are being pissy. It's new enough they may not have gotten the thing made yet.

Saris Bones! They will fit about any car for little $$.

Another vote for the Saris Bones. Unless you have a high aftermarket wing, it will fit. If you don't want that, I'm pretty sure they can put a tow bar on any car.

There is a Performance shop on Sawmill rd near you.Not sure what brand they sell.
Also on Thule racks the "foot"of the rack can be bent slightly(in a bench vise) to conform to the door frame angle near the roof.I,ve used the same foot for several cars(Silverado,Taurus,Kia Spectra,Honda SI).You only need aprox. 24"spread between bars and the long rails compensate for the short roof.

I do tend to use the Saris on short trips.

Saris Bones is $129 at Bike Source. I haven't checked with Performance about it. I guess with these recommendations, I can't go wrong with it.

Thanks, guys!

With the rack on

http://www.u.arizona.edu/~hankinsj/rack4.jpg


With the rack off, you ca not see the hitch
http://www.u.arizona.edu/~hankinsj/rack8.jpg

Shame they stopped making that model SI.

One warning about the Saris Bones (or any rack that supports a bike by the top tube). It's easy to position it in a way that makes it rub against the bike, wearing or chipping the paint. Just be mindful with this when putting your bike on. I put my bike in the back seat for most of my trips, but if the back seat isn't available (luggage in the back, more than 2 people going to the ride with me, etc.), out comes the Bones rack.

woudl wrapping the top tube in a towel or something help, or would that just hinder the grip, and make it more likely to slip out. It's rare that I'd be using this on anything more than about 5 miles. Anything longer than that, I'd just use my gf's suv.

Not going to do better than that price,best get your @$$ down there.

Yakima makes 2 gutterless mount system that will work for you. I found them at Rack Attack (www.rackattack.com)

Yakima Gutterless Mount Rack System Option
System Price: $387.20 - Locks Included
Maximum Weight 125 lbs.
Bar Spread 24 inches


This system includes:

Yakima Q Towers - $127.20
Yakima Q78 Clip - $28.00
Yakima Q78 Clip - $28.00
Yakima Q Stretch Kit - $104.00
Yakima 48 inch Cross Bars - $56.00
Yakima 4 Pack SKS cores - $44.00
The Yakima Q Towers shown are sold as a set of 4 towers, and requires 2 pairs of Q Clips, along with 1 pair of Yakima Load Bars and 4 Yakima lock cylinders to complete your base rack system. The Q Clips shown are specific to your vehicle, whereas the Q Towers can be used on most vehicles, as can the Load Bars. If you want to carry numerous accessories you can consider choosing Load Bars which are longer than the ones shown.


Yakima Gutterless Mount Rack System Option
System Price: $283.20 - Locks Included
Maximum Weight 125 lbs.
Bar Spread 18 inches


This system includes:

Yakima Q Towers - $127.20
Yakima Q78 Clip - $28.00
Yakima Q78 Clip - $28.00
Yakima 48 inch Cross Bars - $56.00
Yakima 4 Pack SKS cores - $44.00
The Yakima Q Towers shown are sold as a set of 4 towers, and requires 2 pairs of Q Clips, along with 1 pair of Yakima Load Bars and 4 Yakima lock cylinders to complete your base rack system. The Q Clips shown are specific to your vehicle, whereas the Q Towers can be used on most vehicles, as can the Load Bars. If you want to carry numerous accessories you can consider choosing Load Bars which are longer than the ones shown.

I dug the Honda Civic hatchbacks too, but the above pic is of a Mazda I believe.