Bike racks, which do you prefer? Brand and style...

[Krylon..]

So I am looking at bike racks for my 99 Tahoe. Will be hauling mountain bikes and possibly up to 5 bikes at a time. Cant decide between a roof mount rack or a hitch mount rack.

The roof mount would be nice because it would leave the hitch open if I wanted to bring along my hitch rack for firewood and camping.. But the roof rack seems like it may be a pain to get the bikes up onto.... Then witht he roof mount you have the options of either using the factory rack with attachments that clamp to the factory bows. Or buy a rack with feet and load bars that clamp to the main side rails.....

Hitch mount would be nice since you wouldn't have to deal with getting the bikes up onto the roof, but then you loose the use of the hitch to carry firewood.(if I'm camping). Also if it were a hitch mount, the rack would need to either swing out of the way liek the Yakimas, or tilt down like the others to have rear door access...

I am making this a poll with the option of style(hitch or roof)... But would like to know what style(brand model) of rack you like in a reply afterwards... And also your advice on stuff you have used in the past that you didn't like.

After searching through Thule, Saris and Yakima on both styles and all the models available. My brain hurts! :laughing:

Thanks!

[TiTRD]

I used to have a Yakima Roof mount on my old car and it was great and I prefer a roof mount, but see as you have a Tahoe it could be a pain in the ass to get the bikes up there, maybe carry a small step stool? Hitch racks always seem to be chincy to me and all the nuts and bolts wiggle loose to make the rack sway from the weight of the bikes. I'd go roof IMO

[rockalot]

I use a Yakima roof rack with two Steelheads on each side and a Lockjaw in the middle. I prefer roof racks because its out of the way and a good use of wasted space.

The only downfall I can see with a roof rack on your Tahoe is clearance and lifting the bikes up there. If you have running boards then at least you will be closer to the top. Bikes are twice as heavy after a ride too. I guess you will have to decide on your personal strength and the weight of your bikes. Could carry along a simple step stool?

What I don't like about rear mounted racks: seems they wobble/shake more, tailgaters! backing into something while suffering from a post ride high, easier for thieves to access, uses up your hitch, pain to get to your rear doors.

You might need both racks if you're going to be carrying 5 bikes?
You could get a roof rack like the outfitters use, those would probably hold 5.

Let me know when you get your rack and where we are going, I'll even lift my own bike to the roof if that's what you get :D

[Krylon..]

:D Thanks guys. Right now I am leaning towards a roof rack.. Yakima and Thule seem to be the best and somewhat equal in quality... Only down side I have seen on either(reading reviews ont he internet) is that with the round bars on Yakimas, people have had kayak hold downs come loose to to the stand turning. And only downfall of the Thule was that the rear tire hold down on the V2 was less nicer than the Yakima.

From what I have seen, I dont think I could go wrong with either. I'm going to check out a few local shops soon to see what they offer and go from there.

Dont really need 5 bikes, but just want to have the possiblility... Worst case senario is I could get (4) spots for the roof and have someone get a hitch mount if more are needed! :)

Rockalot - I'd love to ride out west! (and wheel) Someday!!! :D

[rockalot]

Rockalot - I'd love to ride out west! (and wheel) Someday!!! :D

Alright, let me know, we'll save a spot for you!

[themontashu]

Go sport works, they are the only racks that are designed to be used with DH bike. It is the only rack they will use at downieville

[Freerider661]

My dad had to buy a rack for a trip to utah (family reunion/ biking at park city) , to carry five bikes. Well we shoped around and got the hitch mount THULE (can't remeber the exact name), i love it. Some of the other racks i have seen only have a little pin that goes through...like a trail hitch does.... well this has a bolt, which makes it twice as sturdy. I can try to shake it, but the whole van moves. Very sturdy setup. I can hold almost all frame designs too. If i had to buy one i think THULE is the way i would go.

.... also be sure to double check your tire skewrs are on tight.... my dad lost a front wheel on the freeway and had to buy a new one...... now he always ties all the wheels on just to be sure.


Chad

[Monkeybutt]

I've got both a Yakima roof rack and the Thule hitch rack you are speaking of. For a tall vehicle, I would definatly go with the hitch mounted rack. The Thule is bomber and really holds the bikes securely. Also, on a tall vehicle, it keeps you from ripping your bikes off at the drive-through at Tac Bell (don't laugh you fawkers...I was distracted!).

[rockalot]

I've got both a Yakima roof rack and the Thule hitch rack you are speaking of. For a tall vehicle, I would definatly go with the hitch mounted rack. The Thule is bomber and really holds the bikes securely. Also, on a tall vehicle, it keeps you from ripping your bikes off at the drive-through at Tac Bell (don't laugh you fawkers...I was distracted!).

:D I broke a seat going under a carport :shaking:
Long rides have a way of making you stupid.

[Monkeybutt]

Yup, I had my shiny new Tomac on top that I had just finished building. The handlebars caught the awning and it ripped the drop outs off my Fox fork. I had the cheaper Yakima Copperhead fork mount and it never even budged. The thing was, my wife and I were looking for a drivethrough with no awning. Taco Bells ussually don't have one & when we saw no low-clearance bar we thoguht we where good to go....turns out the bar had been knocked down and was lying in the grass.
I bought the Hitch rack soon after and know use it almost exclusively...it's much easier with my heavy-ass bike :D

[Bluewater]

The only problem with my thule hitch mounted rack is the damn starps i recently bought some new straps from a local bike shop. All they had was yakima straps so i decided to give those a try and the are hard as hell to get on. Another thing with the Thule is the seats that hold the bike on the rack sit right on all my cables.

[Krylon..]

I looked at the Yakima, Thule and Saris roof and hitch racks this past Saturday.... The one thing that bothered me about the hitch racks is the hold down straps. Are they really enough to hold a bike on? Thought there would be more than just the strap and hook. Saris's hold down method seemed a little better with a snowboard binding type strap(giant reuseable zip-tie)......

Anyone have any problems with these?

[rockalot]

Yup, I had my shiny new Tomac on top that I had just finished building. The handlebars caught the awning and it ripped the drop outs off my Fox fork. I had the cheaper Yakima Copperhead fork mount and it never even budged. The thing was, my wife and I were looking for a drivethrough with no awning. Taco Bells ussually don't have one & when we saw no low-clearance bar we thoguht we where good to go....turns out the bar had been knocked down and was lying in the grass.
I bought the Hitch rack soon after and know use it almost exclusively...it's much easier with my heavy-ass bike :D

Did you get a new fork out of Taco Bell?
Seems they would be liable since the bar was not in place.

[Monkeybutt]

Nope, I didn't get crap from Taco bell (except for three steak soft tacos & a beef meximelt...MMmmmmmm). I mean, yes, the bar was knocked down- but I was also a bit of a dumbass for not being more careful. My wife was after me to persue the matter & maybe I should have, but as a matter of principle I felt it was my fault and I didn't want ot be another lawsuit monger.

As far as the straps on the hitch mounted rack...know I can't remember if mines a Yakima or a thule (too many racks). The reason I picked it, though, was because it uses rubber "cradles" that the frame actually sits in & beefy rubber straps. You can use as many as three straps per cradle (So that would be six straps per bike!). Also, one cradle has a lower section that attaches to the seat tube to keep the bike from rocking & it works very well.

In fact, my buddy and I just spent a week mountain biking & wheeling. We actually used that hitch rack on the back of my CJ and wheeled through Tellico. They never so much as wiggled & I scraped it a few timpes on ledges and climbs (reckon the warrenty covers that?). I was very impressed with it and would reccomend it to anyone.

[rockalot]

Nope, I didn't get crap from Taco bell (except for three steak soft tacos & a beef meximelt...MMmmmmmm). I mean, yes, the bar was knocked down- but I was also a bit of a dumbass for not being more careful. My wife was after me to persue the matter & maybe I should have, but as a matter of principle I felt it was my fault and I didn't want ot be another lawsuit monger.

You're a good man Monkeybutt!

[FlexyTJ]

Thule 2" hitch mount rack- custom reinforced :flipoff2:

its the only thing I feel confident shuttling 4 50lb DH bikes on an offroad trail to get to the trailhead...

[longboy]

Thule or Yakima on the roof, and Rockymounts (http://www.rockymounts.com/) for the bike trays.

[thirdgrader]

I prefer the roof mount, but............... who the hell here drives a stock height truck to put one on? So I go with hitch mount so the wife can unload the bikes for me. :D

[rockalot]

I prefer the roof mount, but............... who the hell here drives a stock height truck to put one on? So I go with hitch mount so the wife can unload the bikes for me. :D

My daily driver is stock height!
A '96 4-door pos Chevy Corsica would look pretty silly with a lift on it :flipoff2:

[trailblazer]

i have a thule swing away hitch mount bike rack... works good for my needs. it does seem to bounce around a little, but too bad. it's the only rack i found that would hold 4 bikes and swing away with only one hand. i hate those drop down models. the swing away allows me to access the camper easily when loaded on the pick up and tranfers over eaily to the blazer (way too high for a roof mount). it's even got a built in cable lock to secure the bikes and the hitch screw is locked also.

[MudTJ]

i've got a chep thule hitch mount that works great, i used to use it alot when i DD's the jeep but now that i have a truck i barely ever need to carry more than 2 bikes so i made a wodden rack with 2 yakima fork clamps on it, it just drops in the front stake pockets in the pickup and i throw a stap over each side to keep it there, i also run a bungee from the seat down to the rear stake pocket. works great and it cost like $40 to put together. i need to scrap the wood though and weld up a thin box tube frame instead though, the screw keep trying to come out where it goes down into the stake pocket.

[Traveller]

For a car I would always recommend a roof rack, for an SUV a hitch type is much better. You can get an extended style hitch rack that will allow you use a trailer.

Yakima is a good brand, though as a bike dealer I've always favored Thule. Pep Boys has been clearancing Thule hitch mount racks recently, for about half normal retail, it might be worthwhile to see if any of the stores in your area have any still left in stock.

[jollypirate]

thule roof rack.

Ive had 4 about 50 pound bikes strapped on mine and it held up perfect,and didn't move at all.

[longboy]

thule roof rack.

Ive had 4 about 50 pound bikes strapped on mine and it held up perfect,and didn't move at all.

Jesus! 50lb bikes? I wouldn't even ride if my shit was 50lbs :D

[BigHG]

If your packing 4 bikes on a hitch rack watch out for contact points between the bikes. I have a Hollywood rack that I carry 4 bikes on the back of the jeep which gets towed behind the motorhome. Even just an occasional rub on the big bumps over a few hundred miles can ruin a frame. Plumbing insulation is your friend when used liberally.

[christyle]

i like hitch mounts. its easier to see them and make sre stuff is ok, easier on/off, i think its sturdier than mounting to the roof. It is a pain to get inside once on on some models. I like the idea of the hitch racks that you set the bike in trays and a piece rotates up to clamp them down. easy, simple and secure. I have the cheapest hitch rack available (just bars to set your bike on, you strap it to it to secure it). I just use 2 ratchets to hold it resonably steady side to side and then use the remaining tie down webbing to keep the wheels from spinning. 1 backpack tie down cinch strap per bike is usually adequate for me. I still am nervous havig it back there since its not the most secure item. It also rotates down, and ive had no problems getting in and out, but i usually dont have to do it much. roof mounts are bad though, then can be nice, just a pain some times, thats also very high, tough on clearance (as mentioned before)

[pimptony]

I had a '00 Tahoe, with a Yak roof mount two viper's I think. But I like it, you never have to waste time getting out the bike rack. Or it getting in the way loading stuff in the back.

Roof all the way.

[FourBanger]

I'd prefer a roof rack, even though it'd be a pain to get the bikes up that high. They just seem more secure than hitch carriers.