How all do you carry your bikes......

[Corey]

My rack worked out great, even over pot holed washboarded roads up where I went camping.
Checked the rack when I got home, all is tight.

The Thule T2 is a great off road rack for back country exploring.

Used a 7' Kryptonite cable and padlock at night to secure the bike to the trailer hitch ring where you mount the chains.

 

[Funrover]

In my Dodge I use fork mount

Yakima on the Mercedes

Yakima on the Rangie

Not pictured is the swing away hitch mount Yakima on the Disco

 

[theMec]

I have a Yakima Bighorn 4 bike hitch mount - got it off Craigslist for $120 brand new.
Here's a picture of the bikes dropped down:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/s_mestdagh/3813712990/sizes/l/in/set-72157622015943910/

Pluses:
I don't have to take off the bikes to drop it down. (at least on my truck)
MPGs aren't affected as much as a roof top system.
The curvature of the receiver attachment doesn't kill the departure angle too bad.

Minuses:
Even w/ the bolt anti rattle setup, it wobbles around like hell on moderate off road. I would not take this on a even a moderate 4WD road. Thules look to be of similar design.
The bikes get caked w/ dust.



Anyone have a better option for a hitch mounted system?

 

[FreeManDan]

Items: 2x4 from construction trash heap, fork holders, screws, cable lock to bed

 

[DaveInDenver]

I kinda do whatever works. Much prefer a good roof rack layout, works out best off highway to keep the bikes from banging around. The fork mounts in the bed work very well for that, too, although with the topper that is less practical for me if I need to carry more than one bike. But the height is an issue in some places, low branches, low rock overhangs (like on White Rim, at the bottom of the Mineral Bottom switchbacks, don't ask how I know that) force a hitch rack.

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[Lemsteraak]

The Thule T2 is a redesign of the Sportworks rack. I have one of the old Sportsworks and it is a really strong rack all welded like the racks they make for buses. I had it on my truck for years with a big 2" hitch. We just crossed the country with my wife's car and the best I could do is one of the wimpy 1 1/4 inch hitches on her car, I was a little unsure at first but it performed brilliantly with two touring bikes on the back.

I was concerned about how the 1 1/4 inch hitch would handle the torque twist going over large bumps so I attached two lines from the rooftent back to the bicycles to help stabilize things. Don't know if it was necessary but it might also help on the Thule T2. It was great having both the rooftent and the bicycles. We could park anywhere and then explore. Had a folding two man expedition kayak in the trunk but were so busy with the bikes, never got out kayaking.

Travelled over 5K and averaged over 23 MPG fully loaded. Two-thirds of the nights were spent in the tent. It gave us a great deal of freedom, may look a little odd but had no problems doing the 75 - 80 MPH you need going through Montana and Wyoming.

 

[JamesDowning]

I fashioned one up for about $35 using a DeltaCycle Bike Hitch (below), some U bolts, and some rubber strips. Very simple. I made it work in conjunction with my Baja Rack... since I couldn't find any other products that would work.

The end result:

 

[chris_the_wrench]

Thule Revolver. It's big feature is it swings away from the receiver to allow us easy entry into the camper. Holds 4 bikes, locks to receiver, built in cable lock, arms fold down when not in use. Retails around $480'ish

 

[ttora4runner]

Okay, I've narrowed it down to two one is a hitch mount the other is a roof type carrier.

Roof carrier - Yakima Forklift, it fits directly to my factory cross bars. No fit kit needed.

Disadvantage is having to lift my bike up there. Did a dry run where i saw if I could lift my bike up to roof of my 4runner and I'm a little short

Hitch Mount - Thule Parkway 2, no stores around here carry it so it would have to be ordered. One of the things i like about it is that it folds down allowing you acess still to the rear hatch.

Disadvantage someone hitting you from behind and if I want to tow a trailer I can't (then again I can just put the bike inside my 4runner then).

So that's what I'm looking at. Both of these are about the same price and the most I that want to spend at the moment.

 

[Silver dude]

Go hitch mount, nothing is easier to use. All of the Yakima racks fold down as well. Its just so nice not having to break the bike down at all. After riding throw it on the rack drive home. You can drive as you normally would, no worries of low drive through windows and forgetting to take the bike off before driving into the garage. Minimal wind drag, no bugs embedded in you bikes finish.

With the overhead rack I have to remove the front wheel. In my case I have to rig up a 20mm fork adapter. I then have to lift it carefully over the body of the truck. Fasten it down, suffer with the bad highway mileage and watch for low overheads to the trail head. Once I get to the trail head I have to reassemble my bike I have use a brake pad spreader to spread my pads so I can get the wheel back on. The only time use the overhead is if my brother borrowed my rack or when wheelin out west. Here in the Midwest roof racks are no good for wheelin, to many trees.

 

[MIGZ]

I have used these racks for the past 4 years and I would uses this over any Yakima or Thule.

Reason being is weight and easy of storage.

http://www.raxterracks.com/

Look them up on MTBR nothing but good things.

 

[ttora4runner]

Well, I picked up a Thule Roadway 2 today.

The only thing I really don't like about it is that is sways left to right while driving. Is there anyway to fix that?

 

[Silver dude]

If its like my Yakima you just have to tighten the hitch bolt up. Yakima has a threaded pin, not sure if Thule does?

 

[theMec]

Well, I picked up a Thule Roadway 2 today.
The only thing I really don't like about it is that is sways left to right while driving. Is there anyway to fix that?

Assuming you're using the threaded receiver pin to reduce hitch/ receiver movement, you'll have to live w/ it. Drive real slow off pavement. In the instructions you find a statement about not recommended for off road use. My drop down Yakima is the same.

I'm thinking the tire supported hitch mounts would have a reduced sway off road due to a reduced vertical moment arm.

 

[ttora4runner]

Assuming you're using the threaded receiver pin to reduce hitch/ receiver movement, you'll have to live w/ it. Drive real slow off pavement. In the instructions you find a statement about not recommended for off road use. My drop down Yakima is the same.

I'm thinking the tire supported hitch mounts would have a reduced sway off road due to a reduced vertical moment arm.

We will see about that. :sombrero: