Bike Car Racks Review

The majority of us don’t live at the bottom of a mountain or next door to our favorite trails, which means we either have to ride to the trails or drive there. Driving is normally the best option as it allows you to take the extras like tools, change of clothes, food, and other kit for the day.

To get the bike there in one piece you’re going to need a bike rack. Many cyclists prefer specific brands such as Allen car racks or Rocky Mounts racks. Which type is going to depend as much on your needs, as the vehicle you’re attaching it to. There are many types to choose from, trailer hitch, roof top, trunk mounted, truck bed and rear mounted bike racks. Before rushing out and buying one, you need to think about it a bit first.

Are you going to need to switch it between vehicles? How many bikes are you going to transport? Are they hardtail or full suspension? What’s the budget? How heavy are the bikes? Once you know the answers to these questions you can start shopping.

Trailer hitch bike racks come in different sizes to match different vehicles. These are the easiest to use, easiest to fit and there is no need to take wheels off the bike or otherwise mess around to mount it. They can be expensive though, they will need a hitch obviously, and leaves the bike exposed if you have a rear end collision. Yakima racks and Thule racks carry Trailer hitch varieties.

Roof top bike racks are very common. They can be attached to the vehicles existing roof rack, or fitted to the rain gutters. These racks can also be quite expensive but keeps the bikes out of the way, doesn’t affect visibility in the vehicle and are very secure when used properly. The disadvantages are that the bike has to be lifted onto the roof, then attached, which can be awkward. If you’ve got a heavy bike this can be hard work, especially after a long ride.

Truck bed bike racks are the same as roof tops ones, with different fittings. They allow the bikes to be carried upright in the bed of the truck, which is ideal.

Trunk bike racks are the most popular right now. They attach to the vehicle using straps that slot into spaces on the trunk, bumper or hatch, depending on the vehicle. They are the most flexible, as they can be changed to fit most vehicles. They are the cheapest option but also have downsides. It’s easy to damage the vehicle paintwork if you don’t fit it with care. The racks can also get in the way of rear visibility when driving, are as susceptible as trailer hitch bike racks to rear collisions, and you lose access to the trunk while they are fitted. Wald racks and Sportrack bike racks carry many rear mountable racks.

A variation of a theme is the spare tire bike rack, which is used on SUV’s that have the tire on the back door. The tire is removed and the rack attached to the mounting bolts. Then the bikes can be mounted directly onto the back of the vehicle. If you don’t have a hitch fitted, then this is often the best option for SUV drivers.

There are plenty of bike rack accessories like padding, extra straps, longer bolts and other things to make sure your pride and joy is secured to the vehicle. Talking to experienced riders or others with bike racks will narrow down choices and maybe suggest specific manufacturers to try. Many vehicle manufacturers make special ones for different models of cars, so it’s worth looking at those too.

Models

More popular models are Rec Rac bike rack and Saris racks.

Pricing

The pricing for these racks varies from manufacturer and fitment. A trailer hitch rack starts at $50 and a roof top rack costs from around $80. A truck bed bike rack from Thule can be had for $30, whereas a trunk mounted version can be bought for around $60.