Smallest car for a large frame touring bike?
06-16-18, 05:41 PM
#1
Every day a winding road
Thread Starter
Smallest car for a large frame touring bike?
Because of a tunnel collapse on the Coast Starlight tracks, I might get stuck with driving to Sacramento from Eugene. I'll need to rent a car of course. What is the smallest car you were able to get your bike into without too much hassle?
I have a Forester and with the back seats down I can get the bike into the car without removing any wheels.
Enterprise has a Kia Soul and a Camry for a "decent" price. Would I be able to get it into one of those?
I have a Forester and with the back seats down I can get the bike into the car without removing any wheels.
Enterprise has a Kia Soul and a Camry for a "decent" price. Would I be able to get it into one of those?
06-16-18, 07:16 PM
#2
bicycle tourist
Depending on the price difference, another option to consider is an inexpensive trunk car rack.
Over the years, I've bought four or five of them, e.g. from Walmart, in part because it was cheaper than renting a large enough car that I was 100% certain could fit my bike. I've given them away and also have two left over in my garage from trips that ended at home.
Over the years, I've bought four or five of them, e.g. from Walmart, in part because it was cheaper than renting a large enough car that I was 100% certain could fit my bike. I've given them away and also have two left over in my garage from trips that ended at home.
06-16-18, 07:17 PM
#3
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Take the wheels off, you could likely get a bike in a a Smart Car.
06-16-18, 07:37 PM
#4
Every day a winding road
Thread Starter
I found this
The price for the Soul is not that much more than the economy car. I might go with that. I hope I don't have to because the dropoff fee is unbelievable.
The price for the Soul is not that much more than the economy car. I might go with that. I hope I don't have to because the dropoff fee is unbelievable.
06-16-18, 07:41 PM
#5
Every day a winding road
Thread Starter
Depending on the price difference, another option to consider is an inexpensive trunk car rack.
Over the years, I've bought four or five of them, e.g. from Walmart, in part because it was cheaper than renting a large enough car that I was 100% certain could fit my bike. I've given them away and also have two left over in my garage from trips that ended at home.
Over the years, I've bought four or five of them, e.g. from Walmart, in part because it was cheaper than renting a large enough car that I was 100% certain could fit my bike. I've given them away and also have two left over in my garage from trips that ended at home.
When I go on long road trips, I prefer to have the bike inside. That way I don't need to worry if I make a stop I do like my new hitch rack. It is lockable. It will at least deter someone looking for an opportunity.
06-16-18, 07:47 PM
#6
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I have an 09 Scion XB and I can get most bikes inside without removing the front or rear wheels. Just fold the rear seats down. A KIA Soul is very similar in size.
06-16-18, 08:15 PM
#7
Senior Member
last time i drove x-country, was able to fit TWO bikes in the back seat of a 2-door honda prelude: a small frame touring bike and a 64cm hybrid. racks stayed on, forget if i took the fenders off.
some of the rental agencies have pickups (sometimes cheaper than cars). you could run a cable lock through the tie-down points in the bed.
some of the rental agencies have pickups (sometimes cheaper than cars). you could run a cable lock through the tie-down points in the bed.
06-16-18, 09:32 PM
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This.
FWIW, I've gotten bikes in a Mustang, Cruze, Fusion and Fiesta hatch with only the front wheel off. Ive gotten multiple the same way at the same time in the Mustang, Cruze and Fusion, and multiple in the Fiesta with both wheels off
FWIW, I've gotten bikes in a Mustang, Cruze, Fusion and Fiesta hatch with only the front wheel off. Ive gotten multiple the same way at the same time in the Mustang, Cruze and Fusion, and multiple in the Fiesta with both wheels off
Last edited by jefnvk; 06-16-18 at 09:35 PM.
06-17-18, 01:44 PM
#9
Banned
You can also rent a small van/truck from U Haul and have no space issues at all..
saw a slide blocking the right of way
across the river Vancouver WA, north of Portland , nothing came up to the south..
https://www.oregonlive.com/roadreport/index.ssf/2017/04/landslide_near_vancouver_block.html
....
saw a slide blocking the right of way
across the river Vancouver WA, north of Portland , nothing came up to the south..
https://www.oregonlive.com/roadreport/index.ssf/2017/04/landslide_near_vancouver_block.html
....
Last edited by fietsbob; 06-18-18 at 03:01 PM.
06-17-18, 02:08 PM
#10
Every day a winding road
Thread Starter
06-18-18, 03:27 PM
#12
Every day a winding road
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06-18-18, 03:31 PM
#13
Every day a winding road
Thread Starter
And you can't book from now until the 26th. between Eugene and Sacramento.
06-18-18, 04:07 PM
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I just popped the passenger seat out of my Fiat 500 (the old one), stored the seat behind the driver's seat, and the bike fit in quite nicely on the passenger side of the car.
Here's an old photo of the car. Hmmm... I'm not sure if I have any bike photos with it. Maybe someday.
CliffFiat2.jpg
However, I'm not sure the rental car company would want you removing the seat to get your bike in.
Here's an old photo of the car. Hmmm... I'm not sure if I have any bike photos with it. Maybe someday.
CliffFiat2.jpg
However, I'm not sure the rental car company would want you removing the seat to get your bike in.
06-18-18, 05:18 PM
#17
Every day a winding road
Thread Starter
I just popped the passenger seat out of my Fiat 500 (the old one), stored the seat behind the driver's seat, and the bike fit in quite nicely on the passenger side of the car.
Here's an old photo of the car. Hmmm... I'm not sure if I have any bike photos with it. Maybe someday.
Attachment 609422
However, I'm not sure the rental car company would want you removing the seat to get your bike in.
Here's an old photo of the car. Hmmm... I'm not sure if I have any bike photos with it. Maybe someday.
Attachment 609422
However, I'm not sure the rental car company would want you removing the seat to get your bike in.
06-19-18, 07:42 AM
#18
Senior Member
I regularly pop the front wheel off my bike and put it in a Kia Soul with the back seats folded down.
06-19-18, 09:46 PM
#19
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Because of a tunnel collapse on the Coast Starlight tracks, I might get stuck with driving to Sacramento from Eugene. I'll need to rent a car of course. What is the smallest car you were able to get your bike into without too much hassle?
I have a Forester and with the back seats down I can get the bike into the car without removing any wheels.
Enterprise has a Kia Soul and a Camry for a "decent" price. Would I be able to get it into one of those?
I have a Forester and with the back seats down I can get the bike into the car without removing any wheels.
Enterprise has a Kia Soul and a Camry for a "decent" price. Would I be able to get it into one of those?
06-20-18, 03:40 PM
#20
Every day a winding road
Thread Starter
Looks like it is moot. Tunnel opened today. I suspect the Starlight service will return by the weekend. I have mixed feelings. I was sort of looking forward to the drive. But a tour in that area is being added to my bucket list.
06-21-18, 01:09 AM
#21
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You would be amazed at what you can get inside a Toyota Yarus, they are cheap, and they are tanks from what we put it through.
