How do you guys carry mountain bikes?

[BrianV]

I'm an avid mtn bike rider, as is my g/f and we'd like to begin using the Mounty to go biking, instead of her Camry with a Yakima trunk rack. When I planned on buying an SUV I assumed I was going to buy one that attached into the tow hitch receiver, as my dad has had that on his 4runner and RX330 and it's worked great. On their 91 Explorer back in the day they had a roof rack, but it was a pain in the ... and it acted like a sail on the highway.

What do you guys do? How much does it cost for an undermound tow hitch receiver? I think I can use the Yakima wrack on the Explorer, but it's really more a car/trunk type.

Thanks

PS - I don't really want to throw 2 bikes on top of each other in the truck. Also, sometimes we have friends in town that rent bikes and it'd be nice to get 3 or 4 bikes in/on the car.

 

[celly]

I have a Yakima roof rack and Thule hitch mount (and sometimes use both at once when more than my wife and I are riding). I much prefer the hitch mount. It gets bikes on and off a lot quicker and is better on mileage. Just don't get rear-ended!

My wife and I both have the same racks (she has one for her Subaru). Best rack I've ever used, but unfortunately they don't make it anymore. It was the Thule "Docking Station". Luckily they still sell spare parts for it and I hoarded a bunch so this rack will be going for a LONG time. We've been very happy with it. It wouldn't do a good job with big hit DH or Freeride bikes (probably why it was discontinued). We're both into XC. Between us we have 3 hardtails and two lightweight XC duallies and the rack handles them with ease. The thing I always loved about the rack is that it pivots downward so you can open up your liftgate to get at stuff inside. Awesome for road trips.

Here's a pic of mine on my old Sport with the rack. Notice how much room you have to access the hatch when the rack is swing down. I only had my bike on at the time, but it's equally as simple with two bikes, both pulling down the rack and putting it back up again. The photo doesn't show it well, but bikes are actually cranked down to point where the pedal connects to the bottom bracket spindle. Quite ingenious actually.

My roof rack was also on in this photo. Rarely got used for bikes, but often for skis.

Another shot with both bikes loaded, rack up:

 

[BrianV]

Thanks, so what's the cost of getting an undermount hitch installed?

 

[celly]

Thanks, so what's the cost of getting an undermount hitch installed?

I can't remember what I paid about 5 years ago, but it's irrelevant to you because I'm in Canada anyhow.

My guess would be $100-$200 installed in USD. Make sure to get a 2" receiver. More options re: bike racks and towing in general. The V8 is a great towing engine if you ever go that route.

 

[Skibug]

Thanks, so what's the cost of getting an undermount hitch installed?

I paid $120 for the hitch itself and then installed it myself. I got a 2" hidden hitch. They are not hard to install at all. Drop the spare tire, bolt the hitch up (usually helps with a second person, but I did it alone), put the spare back up and install is finished.

 

[DCExplorer]

I have a ball mount rack, which I simply bolt to the hole in the bumper. Yes, you would have to bolt and unbolt it every time you wanted to mount it on your truck, but you don't have to buy/install a reciever to use it. It works great for me because I can mount the bikes on the bumber and still use my reciever to pull my boat.

 

[BrianV]

I have a ball mount rack, which I simply bolt to the hole in the bumper. Yes, you would have to bolt and unbolt it every time you wanted to mount it on your truck, but you don't have to buy/install a reciever to use it. It works great for me because I can mount the bikes on the bumber and still use my reciever to pull my boat.

Do you have pictures or a link? Does the rack mount to the hole or does it mount to a tow ball?

 

[xmodster3o3]

I just put the seats down, and in they go.

 

[DCExplorer]

Ball mount rack

Here is an example of a ball mount rack. Mine is much older and only holds two bikes. What is also nice is that my friend has a two bike reciever mount rack. We can actually mount both racks to my truck at the same time and carry 4 bikes.

Ball mount racks have a hole in them that is the same size as the hole in your bumber. Just go to the hardware store and get a 3/4" bolt, 2 large washers, a lock washer, and nut. Then just bolt it on.

/edit/ You can bolt it to the bumber using a tow ball, but I find a round tow ball is difficult to grip when trying to tighten or loosen the nut /end edit/

 

[BrianV]

Ball mount rack

Here is an example of a ball mount rack. Mine is much older and only holds two bikes. What is also nice is that my friend has a two bike reciever mount rack. We can actually mount both racks to my truck at the same time and carry 4 bikes.

Ball mount racks have a hole in them that is the same size as the hole in your bumber. Just go to the hardware store and get a 3/4" bolt, 2 large washers, a lock washer, and nut. Then just bolt it on.

/edit/ You can bolt it to the bumber using a tow ball, but I find a round tow ball is difficult to grip when trying to tighten or loosen the nut /end edit/

Awesome, that fits the bill perfectly. I assume I can just put it on using adjustable wrenches with the necessary hardware from a hardware store. Do you know of anyone who makes a 4 bike setup?

 

[DCExplorer]

Glad I could help.

You can use whatever tools you would normally use to attach a tow ball. I assume adjustable wrenches or maybe even channel locks will work just fine, but I actually have combination wrenches and sockets that fit.

Sorry, I don't know of any 4 bike racks, but I really haven't looked for any. They may be out there, I just don't know.

 

[BrianV]

If I can get three on the rack and one inside the car that would be ok. Can you fit a bike in the trunk WITHOUT putting the seats down (in a 4dr)?

 

[TheFox88]

You would have to take off both wheels and store the frame sideways in the back, but you could do it. I personally just fold the seats down and put the bikes in the back. I have a hardtail and am getting a 6 in. trailbike soon and this method should still work for me. Unfortuneatly, there is no room in the back for people when the seats are down, so i'm limited to shuttle runs with one other person. I'm too cheap though to invest in a good rack. Let us know what path you take.

 

[celly]

PS - I don't really want to throw 2 bikes on top of each other in the truck. Also, sometimes we have friends in town that rent bikes and it'd be nice to get 3 or 4 bikes in/on the car.

p.s. Forgot to mention, with the Thule "Docking Station" you can score an extra piece that allows 4 bikes to be carried. I remember seeing the racks themselves on eBay a year or so ago for a lot less than I paid. The cool thing about this setup as well is that you can buy different upper attachments to fit on the lower base to carry different things.

I looked at those ball-mount racks. I'd be wary of many of them myself. Racks take a beating on bumpy roads. I had a cheaper version of a hitch mount collapse several years back from all the jostling. My buddy and I had to bungee the bikes to the trunk of the car ('88 VX Fox) to get them home. You get what you pay for in this market.

Between my wife and I, we have a LOT of $$$ tied up in our bikes (Trek Fuel, Rocky Mountain Instinct, complete with custom high-end parts). The last thing I'd want is damage to the bike because of rack failure. I have caused some pretty serious paint damage to bikes with other lesser racks as well. Hitchmounts do fit bikes together pretty snugly and some designs are just horrible. Bring your bikes with you when trying out designs because some racks don't work well with certain designs, especially if you have a rear shock on the bike.

You can carry 4 bikes on roof racks as well. Some designs work well with the OEM crossmembers too.

 

[BrianV]

p.s. Forgot to mention, with the Thule "Docking Station" you can score an extra piece that allows 4 bikes to be carried. I remember seeing the racks themselves on eBay a year or so ago for a lot less than I paid. The cool thing about this setup as well is that you can buy different upper attachments to fit on the lower base to carry different things.

I looked at those ball-mount racks. I'd be wary of many of them myself. Racks take a beating on bumpy roads. I had a cheaper version of a hitch mount collapse several years back from all the jostling. My buddy and I had to bungee the bikes to the trunk of the car ('88 VX Fox) to get them home. You get what you pay for in this market.

Between my wife and I, we have a LOT of $$$ tied up in our bikes (Trek Fuel, Rocky Mountain Instict, complete with custom high-end parts). The last thing I'd want is damage to the bike because of rack failure. I have caused some pretty serious paint damage to bikes with other lesser racks as well. Hitchmounts do fit bikes together pretty snugly and some designs are just horrible. Bring your bikes with you when trying out designs because some racks don't work well with certain designs, especially if you have a rear shock on the bike.

You can carry 4 bikes on roof racks as well. Some designs work well with the OEM crossmembers too.

Yeah my dad has a hitch based rack from Park I think that handles four bikes. It was really expensive, like $500 and does the same folding thing yours does. It has a built in lock and is super easy to install and store in the garage (folds up nicely).

I may go your route if it only costs $100-$150 to get an undermount hitch.

 

[celly]

You can definitely get a hitch for under $150. As someone else mentioned, these things are bolt ons as well so you could save some $$$ and do it yourself.

 

[DCExplorer]

Installing a class III hitch is the way to go if you don't mind spending the little extra cash. It's well worth it. Then just get a 4 bike rack and you are set.

Just be careful which hitch you get. Some are intended for a 16" spare tire while others only work with a 15" spare tire.

 

[EMG7895]

I have an old Rhode gear (now made by yakima) 4 bike carrier. It has worked very well but they dont make it anymore. Very very heavey duty and barely flexes at all. The arms the bike sit on fold down, and all the mounts are moveable. the whole unit also tilts down.