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The strap on rakes with today's bikes can be a nightmare with shocks and strange frame designs getting in the way. Get a hitch rack that holds the bikes by the wheels and save yourself the aggravation. Wrestling bikes onto the toptube racks like shown above sucks, even more so if it is a smaller women's frame and it is after a long ride.
Yeah, she should spend $800 for a rack for her $600 bike.
I'm getting a nice bike that I don't want to shove in the back of my car like I do with my 500 dollar bike...
And I have bungeeded Joe's bike to my roof basket before...
The hitch is 120 bucks and the rack can go to the next vehicle and my beater suby runs greats...
1UpUSA makes a sweet hitch rack where if you only need one bike. It tilts up out of the way and is super compact. You can tilt down with a bike to access the hatch and you can add on other 'trays' as your need changes. It'll last a long time.
And I live on the other side of town from the trails..
My experience, it's a pain getting the straps adjusted correctly, then once you do you can't open the hatchback, especially once you have the bikes mounted on it. I was always worried about the straps coming loose too. Contrary to what others have said, the straps don't last forever.Quote:
Originally Posted by plugboots
And...
Say you need to move something big, or take up jet-skiing, or snowmobiling - you're going to want the hitch. Honestly, the only regret I've ever had with the hitch is I didn't get it sooner.
No biggie - whatever gets you to the trailhead though, right?
It's all good. I'm frankly surprised how well my $100 rack has worked. Even the straps are just sun damaged to a nice grey patina. I routinely opened the hatch on the Audi wagon I had before and the Honda minivan I have it on now with 3 bikes on it. No BFD.
You mean the ones that scratch the shit out of your car, may remove trunk access, disintegrate when you repeatedly shuttle, and that you can basically steall off the back of a car with a pair of scissors?Quote:
Originally Posted by plugboots
If she's into riding Galby she'll be getting more bikes.Quote:
Originally Posted by plugboots
Got 1 1/4 on the outback, 2" on the crosstrek...2" much better for bike racks if you're planning on 2 or more bikes. Don't know why people are talking about drilling, since there's plenty of inexpensive setups under $150 that don't require drilling. Someone else already posted install tips. It helps to have a second person.
I'm a big fan of 1upUsa racks but they're not cheap.
Don't get that Northshore. Stick with a wheel holder.
Great for highway driving. Shit for shuttling in tight forestry places.Quote:
Originally Posted by gravitylover
Unless you mean a vertical wheel holder like RatRacks, which is basically the same as a NorthShore.
I have a Hidden Hitch on my Legacy but I think most of them are very similar, having the 1 1/4 receiver has never been a problem. I don't remember having to do any drilling, but there may have been a couple bolts you have to fish thru the frame to holes already drilled. They're not hard to install but they're heavy and awkward, If you don't have the proper tools it may be worth it to have someone install it. I'm sure there's someone around who'd do it for $50.
I love my North Shore, but I bought it for 4 bike capacity and because I drive a modded 4x4 and didn't want to fuck up my ground clearance. For two bikes, unless you need the clearance, I think they're overkill. A tray style rack is cheaper and easier to load.
Not really cheaper, unless you go super cheap. Most, including the 2 bike north shore are 400 and something
Amazon offers free shipping on bulky heavy items like a hitch receiver.Quote:
Originally Posted by mtngirl79
Agree. I bought a hitch for my 2009 Subaru Outback from them and installed it myself. Very easy. Existing bolt holes lined right up. I needed lights, they had a plug-n-play adapter that took under a minute to install. I highly recommend them.Quote:
Originally Posted by jm2e
Disagree. I have a 14 foot Alumacraft boat with a 15hp outboard. Weight with trailer is about 500 lbs. with fuel, fishing gear, life jackets, anchor, and such probably 600 lbs. My 2009 Subaru with the 4 cylinder and 5MT is rated to tow 1500 lbs. I don't even know the boat is back there when towing.Quote:
Originally Posted by XXX-er
I have installed a U-Haul bolt on hitch on 2004 Impreza Sport, and a CURT hitch on a 2006 Subaru Impreza. Easy and straight forward. Totally worth the $120 to be able to mount a 1-1/4 bike rack. I am a big fan of a tray style racks, and have one like this I got on sale for $119. It has lasted over 8 years. I regularly put $15,000 with of bikes on it and trust it %100. I'm not shuttling forest service fire roads for DH trails, but a simple rack to get to the other side of town I would recommend it.
Cheap and easy rack:
Attachment 204080
I've never had a problem towing a trailer with my Subaru, Fully loaded I may only doing 45 the last few miles going over the passes but I'm still faster than the trucks, and it still gets 20 mpg at 60 with the trailer.Quote:
Originally Posted by XXX-er
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/f...lly2008074.jpg
Just stay out of the left lane with that rig.
drag from the wind is the biggest problem, above 60 it wants to lift off the trailer. Towing a 8' wide trailer (with a 7' wide raft on top) with a 5' wide car probably isn't a great idea but it gets 2 - 3 times the mileage of my trucks or van, It made a difference when gas was $5 a gallon.Quote:
Originally Posted by frorider
I didn't realize the 2-bike was so much cheaper than the 4-bike. Carry on. North Shore racks are awesome.Quote:
Originally Posted by mtngirl79
2" vs 1.25". They don't really make much in 2" hitches for tiny cars CYA. They're looking out for your own good. And really, what do 4 bikes and rack weigh? 200 lbs? The safety margin built into any of these racks and hitches makes them work well far past whatever rating they have stamped on them. CYA on the manufacturer's part.