Mercy sakes,,bicycle racks for trucks or cas,,,saw some for 599 bucks,,mercy sakes....what kind do you guys use??we have a F150 ,so if we get one it will attach to the receiver hitch..
Bike racks
- Thread starter CourierDriver
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AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
You need a $600 rack for your $50 bike. Only advice I have is to get one that clamps down on the top of the tire instead of holding the frame somewhere unless you don't care about scratches. Look on Craigslist if you have it locally and find a deal on one. FYI you can spend $1000 on high end 4 bike racks.
I use a Thule T2. It was pricey but so are my bikes. It holds them by the wheels and really protects the frames from getting marked up.
Amazed at how few people who use receiver tube mounted rack DO NOT stabilize the rack back to the vehicle. They bounce and undulate. Can't be good!
The GTI I sold to my brother has a hitch and I'd use a hitch bike carrier I got at Walmart.
I bought a trunk mounted bike carrier for the Elantra. Tip: Make sure the vehicle is clean when using a trunk mounted bike carrier so you don't mar the paint.
I use Gear Ties to secure the bikes better.
I have this:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Allen-Sp...Mounted-Bike-Rack-Carrier-102DN/23810511
I bought a trunk mounted bike carrier for the Elantra. Tip: Make sure the vehicle is clean when using a trunk mounted bike carrier so you don't mar the paint.
I use Gear Ties to secure the bikes better.
I have this:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Allen-Sp...Mounted-Bike-Rack-Carrier-102DN/23810511
My Thule mount has this bolt-pin thing that threads through the hitch and loads it against the side. A small lock goes on afterward. Works mint.
I bought a cheap Bike rack of Kijiji (just like CL) for $50. I would look for a rack (even if you want an expensive rack) on CL. I'm sure there are few people that are looking to sell a bike rack at a steep discount.
I've got an old nashbar rack on my roof crossbars. My son has a saris trunk mounted one. It hasn't marked up the paint and he puts plenty of miles on getting to races. He uses Velcro ties to keep the bikes even more secure, the straps on the saris do a pretty decent job. If you spend money on a something, you should take care of it as best you can.
Originally Posted by NYEngineer
My Thule mount has this bolt-pin thing that threads through the hitch and loads it against the side. A small lock goes on afterward. Works mint.
It takes up the slack in the receiver tube? The Mazda Australia-sold "tow bar" (receptacle type platform hitch) has a nut tackwelded to the outside of the receiver tube, a hole thru the receiver tube where the nut is, and a short bolt... to load the element which fits inside the receiver tube. Result, no more slack, no clanging. Sounds similar. Regardless (and in addition to this) I advocate for tie-back stabilizing straps drawn up moderately.
My Thule mount has this bolt-pin thing that threads through the hitch and loads it against the side. A small lock goes on afterward. Works mint.
It takes up the slack in the receiver tube? The Mazda Australia-sold "tow bar" (receptacle type platform hitch) has a nut tackwelded to the outside of the receiver tube, a hole thru the receiver tube where the nut is, and a short bolt... to load the element which fits inside the receiver tube. Result, no more slack, no clanging. Sounds similar. Regardless (and in addition to this) I advocate for tie-back stabilizing straps drawn up moderately.
When racks fold up and down, for trunk access, that's just another pivot point for the rack to move.
Originally Posted by Cdn17Sport6MT
Originally Posted by NYEngineer
My Thule mount has this bolt-pin thing that threads through the hitch and loads it against the side. A small lock goes on afterward. Works mint.
It takes up the slack in the receiver tube? The Mazda Australia-sold "tow bar" (receptacle type platform hitch) has a nut tackwelded to the outside of the receiver tube, a hole thru the receiver tube where the nut is, and a short bolt... to load the element which fits inside the receiver tube. Result, no more slack, no clanging. Sounds similar. Regardless (and in addition to this) I advocate for tie-back stabilizing straps drawn up moderately.
Exactly. It goes in from the right side and pulls the rack in toward the right side interior wall of the receiver hitch. Works great.
Originally Posted by NYEngineer
My Thule mount has this bolt-pin thing that threads through the hitch and loads it against the side. A small lock goes on afterward. Works mint.
It takes up the slack in the receiver tube? The Mazda Australia-sold "tow bar" (receptacle type platform hitch) has a nut tackwelded to the outside of the receiver tube, a hole thru the receiver tube where the nut is, and a short bolt... to load the element which fits inside the receiver tube. Result, no more slack, no clanging. Sounds similar. Regardless (and in addition to this) I advocate for tie-back stabilizing straps drawn up moderately.
Exactly. It goes in from the right side and pulls the rack in toward the right side interior wall of the receiver hitch. Works great.
https://www.harborfreight.com/Two-Bike-Hitch-Mount-Bike-Rack-63924.html
got this one last week, used twice, works ok, did not break the bank, cheap and cheap, took maybe 10 min to install, does not shake or rattle and holds our Cannondales ok, with some adjustment,,,yes its cheap but it works, amazing... if it walks off I dont care,,,lol
got this one last week, used twice, works ok, did not break the bank, cheap and cheap, took maybe 10 min to install, does not shake or rattle and holds our Cannondales ok, with some adjustment,,,yes its cheap but it works, amazing... if it walks off I dont care,,,lol
Can't get it anymore, but if you find one used, it's a good unit.
https://www.rei.com/product/813783/yakima-kingjoe-pro-2-bike-trunk-rack
Under $200. Worth it when you have 20x that tied up in the cost of your bike(s)
https://www.rei.com/product/813783/yakima-kingjoe-pro-2-bike-trunk-rack
Under $200. Worth it when you have 20x that tied up in the cost of your bike(s)
Been using a Saris Thelma 2 for many years (8-9), I think it's been discontinued. It has a large bolt that goes through the receiver to draw up the slack. Light enough that I can hang it on my garage wall. Bikes are stable with no damage.
https://www.saris.com/product/thelma-2
https://www.saris.com/product/thelma-2
Not sure if they are still making this model but I've had many years and miles of success with my Thule T2
Bike geometry has changed a lot in recent years, so those old school racks where the bike hangs by the frame don't work very well anymore. That's why the "tray style" racks that carry the bikes by the wheels have become popular. Of course, they're also much more expensive.
This is what I'm using. It's very sturdy and can carry pretty much any kind of bike from a skinny tire road bike up to a big fat tire bike. The swing away feature is a huge plus too. I didn't pay this price for it though, REI had them on sale at a pretty big discount when I got it.
https://www.rei.com/product/116601/rocky-mounts-backstage-swing-away-platform-2-bike-hitch-rack
This is what I'm using. It's very sturdy and can carry pretty much any kind of bike from a skinny tire road bike up to a big fat tire bike. The swing away feature is a huge plus too. I didn't pay this price for it though, REI had them on sale at a pretty big discount when I got it.
https://www.rei.com/product/116601/rocky-mounts-backstage-swing-away-platform-2-bike-hitch-rack
My Thule T2 has been on the back of my truck so long, I'm disassembling it to have it powdercoated. Works great, looks terrible. My wife was after me to replace it. It will look brand new for 120 bucks.
Originally Posted by NYEngineer
My Thule T2 has been on the back of my truck so long, I'm disassembling it to have it powdercoated. Works great, looks terrible. My wife was after me to replace it. It will look brand new for 120 bucks.
I think that is what I paid for my Swagman something-or-another 2 bit setup (the sort that goes into the hitch). I left it on the car in one rain and it did start getting some rust; now I take it off when not in use. It's just one bolt after all. Toss into trunk when not using.
My Thule T2 has been on the back of my truck so long, I'm disassembling it to have it powdercoated. Works great, looks terrible. My wife was after me to replace it. It will look brand new for 120 bucks.
I think that is what I paid for my Swagman something-or-another 2 bit setup (the sort that goes into the hitch). I left it on the car in one rain and it did start getting some rust; now I take it off when not in use. It's just one bolt after all. Toss into trunk when not using.
Originally Posted by supton
Originally Posted by NYEngineer
My Thule T2 has been on the back of my truck so long, I'm disassembling it to have it powdercoated. Works great, looks terrible. My wife was after me to replace it. It will look brand new for 120 bucks.
I think that is what I paid for my Swagman something-or-another 2 bit setup (the sort that goes into the hitch). I left it on the car in one rain and it did start getting some rust; now I take it off when not in use. It's just one bolt after all. Toss into trunk when not using.
This thing is huge. The only place I really have for it right now is on the back of the truck. It was expensive enough to justify having it refreshed.
Originally Posted by NYEngineer
My Thule T2 has been on the back of my truck so long, I'm disassembling it to have it powdercoated. Works great, looks terrible. My wife was after me to replace it. It will look brand new for 120 bucks.
I think that is what I paid for my Swagman something-or-another 2 bit setup (the sort that goes into the hitch). I left it on the car in one rain and it did start getting some rust; now I take it off when not in use. It's just one bolt after all. Toss into trunk when not using.
This thing is huge. The only place I really have for it right now is on the back of the truck. It was expensive enough to justify having it refreshed.
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