Car Racks & Rivs

[Michael Hechmer]

I have been riding bikes with fenders for about 15 years now and have only found one downside - they often don't play well with racks, neither locking racks nor car racks.

We have a Saris  TBones Hitch rack on our Prius and I found it worked well with both my Saluki or Ram and Pat's Sequoia.  However I have never liked having the weight of the bikes up that high with the additional stress it puts on the rack and hitch.  Now Pat has switched to riding a Betty with Albatross bars and I am always struggling to make the two bikes fit.  It is doable as a two person job.  I bought and tried one of these parallel TT but it made the situation worse. It's a challenge to get the her handle bars & my front rackto clear.  Likewise my bars & her rear rack.  Since both bikes have racks & fenders, they are fairly heavy as bike go today but still within the racks spec.  Still the vertical support flexes some under load.

So... I have been looking at a new hitch racks, especially ones where the bikes sit in a well and get clamped around the tire.  Does anyone have experience with these to share?  Do you have to put the top clamp around the tire, or is it OK to put it over the fender?  The Yakima rack installation instructions specifically say to put the top hook within 2" of the fork, which clearly rules out using it with any top rack, like my Mark's mini.  The Saris instructions don't say that is necessary, but the video on their web site shows them setting it up that way.  Finally, how close together are the wells; is there sufficient space for Albatross bars?

Michael

[Ron Mc]

only with a p/u truck, but the Softride tailgate pad works great with fender bikes and mixtes

      

in the second photo, hauling four bikes, including my buddy's Santana tandem, though for it we added transverse straps across the front of the bed, grabbing the rack lugs on the seat stays 

[Jim Bronson]

That's about the only thing I miss about having a pick'm'up truck, it's great for hauling bikes around.

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Keep the metal side up and the rubber side down!

[jinxed]

Michael, be sure to check out 1up USA. I cannot stress how much I love their hitch rack. Working in the industry, I've sold, installed, and used every rack under the sun, and this one is by far the best I've ever seen. It's also made in the USA.

I don't run fenders so I can't comment on that compatibility, but the only issues I could imagine would be protecting them from the clamping arms.

https://www.1upusa.com/bicycleracks.html

[Mathew Greiner]

I have a Saris that works great. Rock solid. Made in the US. It's a two-biker, and the two I haul most frequently both have Albas. I mount them tail to head. Not sure that's required. It's just what happens. 

Mine is not the top clamp version, it's the less expensive Freedom 2 model with zip straps. No fender problems.

[hsmitham]

Michael,

Pretty sure you've already tried this but I'll forge ahead anyway. My wife and I both have Riv's with Albatross bars outfitted with racks, bags and baskets, using any rack is a challenge. I've used a number of them over the years.

Currently on my Miata I use a Saris Freedom hitch rack https://www.saris.com/product/freedom-2 ( tray type with central mast that attaches to the down tube)

And on our truck with camper I have a swing away hitch rack ( the type that suspends the bike from the top tube) to have access to the rear.  http://www.yakima.com/shop/bike/hitch/swingdaddy An arm adapter is required on this one with the Mixte.

In both cases I have to loosen the stem and rotate the handle bars and either lower or raise the seat to clear each other. I make sure to mark seat and handlebar height/position obviously. 

I used to have a Thule hitch rack like the one you're considering. The stabilizing arm ideally makes contact with the top of the front tire. I suppose you could cheat it a bit forward to clear the leading edge of the fender but that wouldn't be optimal.

https://www.thule.com/en-us/us/products/carriers-and-racks/bike-carriers/hitch-mounted-bike-carriers/thule-t2-2-bike-916xtr-_-916xtr 

In one of the pictures in the above link  you can see where the stabilizing arm makes contact with the front tire. I sold mine when I sold our other truck and bought the Miata. The Saris is much lighter weight. All have pluses and minuses.

Hope I was of some help.

Tail Winds,

~Hugh  

[John]

We use a Thule Apex 4 for my 54cm Hunqapillar & my wife's 47cm Betty Foy on the back of our Honda CRV.

Works well with Rivified bikes with fenders, racks & baskets.

John

[Hugh Smitham]

John,

Do you need an adapter to mount your wife's betty?

~Hugh

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” ― Albert Einstein

http://velocipedemusings.blogspot.com/

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[Ron Mc]

Jim, 

it's great for kayaks, too

[John]

Hi Hugh,

   I tried a stem-to-seatpost adapter, but it just didn't seem secure enough, so I just tilt the frame and use the Betty's "top tube."

I had to remove one of the two water bottle cages. If we ever go somewhere she'll need two water bottles, I can always bring a cage & two bolts. Or use a couple of Randi Jo M.U.T's.

I've been really impressed by the Thule Apex 4. At first I was terrified to put our babies out back on the rack, but it's a right sturdy rack.

John

[Michael Hechmer]

Actually the adapter made it even harder.  It's always a bit of work to get the cradle through the  sloped tubes but that puts her bars above my rear seat.  With the adapter her bars and my seat or rear wheel want the same space.

Michael 

[Michael Hechmer]

Wow, that 1up rack looks really nice but they don't exactly give them away!  And their web site could use some help.

[blakcloud]

Toyota does not recommend hitch racks on my car so that leaves a roof rack for me. When I looked at buying a roof rack to accommodate a Betty Foy and Sam Hillborne with Fenders and Wald baskets the price was a real sticker shock for me. At well over a thousand dollars (Canadian), I decided to just use our Bromptons instead. They aren't as comfortable, in fact they are horrible but until I pony up for a roof rack, then they will have to do. 

And I wholly agree with Michael, the 1up website really needs some help.

Still dreaming of a roof rack though.

[jinxed]

Yea, the site is pretty clunky. i also thought they were spendy till I started looking at the other offerings. For me, it ended up being a wash because I only needed to carry one bike, but it had to be a tray style. Every other offering was 2 or more bikes and cost equal or more even with my shop discount! I actually became aware of them from another parent at my daughters school. I kept seeing their car with the rack on it, and honestly thought it was custom made. I finally waited by their car one day to ask them about it. (Is that creepy?) They were totally happy to chat about it and gave me a full demo taking their bike on and off, and the rack on and off. I was sold and frankly amazed they are not more prevalent.

The 1UP not only ticked my known requirements, but surprised me with some I didn't know. It fits very close to the car when the tray is in use and pivots up even closer when empty. I LOVE that it can be removed in seconds, folded, and stowed in my tiny hatchback trunk when not in use. Although my need is one bike at the moment, being modular, I can add two more trays if need be. It's also extremely stout with nary a wiggle from the bike once locked in. On top of all that, it looks like it should have "paul" machined into it someplace. It's the new retro of hitch racks.

For the record, I have no affiliation with these guys and paid full retail.

[Jon Dukeman in the foothills of Colorado]

The 1UP looks like a nice unit. I watched the video but didn't see them install or remove a bike. I'd like to know if it would work with fenders and or basket.

I have fork mounts on the front wall of my pick-up bed but the front rack and basket negate using that.

For now I just lay my bike down in the bed of my pick-up and bungee it and wrap towels around the Brooks and where the handlebars touch the bed.

[KC]

I started a similar thread about a month ago when we needed to purchase a new bike and I wanted a platform as my hanging one seemed to be killing my mixte.  We were concerned with both a mixte and fenders.  The 1up was highly recommended to me and confirmed that it was fine with fenders Here's the comment re that sent to me off-list "I have fenders on my Surly Long Haul Trucker and I bought the foam pad thingy 1Up makes for a few extra dollars which works very well and doesn’t crush the fender. I did notice that on the back fender that the struts (the arms that straddle the wheel) actually touch the fender struts which connect it to the back stays - at first I was a bit worried about bending them & then I realized that if anything, it kept the bike more securely upright in the rack, without me needing to “clamp” the fender/wheel as hard, and that it had no ill effects on the fender alignment."

I really liked everything I saw about the 1up, but we ended up going with the Hollywood Rack instead (also recommended in the thread).  It was about half the cost and seemed fine, even if not quite as substantial.  The initial install was pretty easy - you have to set the platforms in the proper positions for the specific bikes and that takes a couple of minutes.  For $350 we got the carrier that works either as a 2-bike carrier or adds the extension to make it a 4-bike.  To this point we've only used it for the 2 and haven't even attached the extension.  It loads so fast it is amazing.  As a non-tall woman I love that I can easily lift my bike on/off and that it puts things at eye level. 

The bar is nicely padded and clamps on the top tube of the bike and on my mixte it nestles perfectly where it meats the seat tube.  The instructions are to place the bikes opposite one another but when we did that, there was some slight interference and we put them the same direction instead of messing with seats, etc.  And it worked perfectly.  Both are very secure.  It is a little concerning that the tires extend through the platform so I have visions of crunching my bike if the tires hit on an incline.  But it is very clear that the bottom of the carrier will hit first since the platforms sit up higher, so I know they are safe.  We are able to keep the rack on all the time and tilt it for access to the back of the car, not quite as nice as the swing-away hanging rack we had before, but not bad.  And it is so easy to unload/load the bikes that even if we have to remove them to do something (like pull a kayak off roof), it's not a big deal.

We tow our jeep behind an rv with the rack mounted to the jeep.  The instructions say not to use it for a tow vehicle or on a trailer, but it seems to be just fine and it seems like a standard thing with all the racks and we've always done it w/o problems.  So just hoping it is just a standard disclaimer which must be related to the added length affecting how it handles on an incline but we have to be careful of that already (the hitch between the rv and car would likely hit so we'd be forewarned) 

Here's a picture attached) of our 2 bikes on it the first time we used it.  Not sure it's the greatest picture but could take better on Mon/Tues when we load up for our big trip.  We will also probably be putting the added attachment on at that time so we have the flexibility to carry other bikes with us since it's a group trip. 

  

(We had also considered the Kuat since it seemed great, but never had an opportunity to see one and it was very pricey also.  Saw one week before last in a parking lot and it is a beautiful, sturdy-looking frame.  Looks much more substantial than ours, but we are completely happy with our purchase) 

[Michael Hechmer]

If you look on their website, under accessories you will see an adapter for fenders $13 each.

Michael

[Jon Dukeman in the foothills of Colorado]

I see that now..Thanks!

Jon

[Stephen D]

Great question - we've had the same question for quite some time and just haven't pulled the trigger on anything yet.

Jinxed's response got me curious about 1Up with fenders -- I found this: http://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/902008-1up-usa-rack-fender-cushions-question.html.

I've often wondered about Yakima and Thule hitch racks that have trays but use a clamp on the top tube instead of the tires, likes this:  http://www.yakima.com/shop/bike/hitch/twotimer or http://www.thule.com/en-us/us/products/carriers-and-racks/bike-carriers/hitch-mounted-bike-carriers/thule-doubletrack-2-bike-990xt-_-5776509.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Stephen

[Cecily Walker]

I have an earlier model of one of these on my Ford Focus: http://www.rackattack.com/product-pages/yakima-highlite-2-silver-hitch-bike-carrier.asp . The bike doesn't sit in a well, it's suspended from the rack with ties and other gizmos.

The best part was it came with a "sissy bar" that I can put on the Betty (or any other step-through bikes) so I can keep it level with my ex-husband's diamond frame bike. I've had no trouble with fenders, baskets, giant Bosco handlebars, or anything. I've even carried a 42-pound Dutch upright city bicycle on the back of the Focus without problem. 

The installation, chassis work and rack cost us about $900-ish, but it was money well spent. 

On Friday, June 12, 2015 at 5:52:05 AM UTC-7, Michael Hechmer wrote:

[Michael Hechmer]

Interesting Cecily, I have a similar suspension rack from Saris and found that the "sissy bar" put her albatross bars right into the real wheel and rack on my Saluki.  Without the bar we can struggle to mount the bike between the down tubes but then it will clear the rear of my bike.  And if the two of us work together I can get my drop bars disentangled from her rear, large Nitto rack.  All in all, annoying.

Anyway,  I made the financially unwise decision to go ahead and sprung for the 1upUSA.  When I get it I'll post a review.

Michael

[MKahrl]

Hitch racks that support the wheels and have a hook to hold the top tube such as the Swagman do not work well if you have two large frame bikes to carry.  

The Thule doubletrack 990 does handle big frame bikes well.   It's also easier to move the wheel holders and the wheel holders have clamps over the rims.  And everything is lockable.  And you can open your trunk while the bikes are there.  And the rack folds up when the bikes are off.   And all these features are easy to use.

 I use a roof rack in the spring and summer when I haul lots of bikes frequently but it's nice to remove the roof rack in winter and use this hitch rack.

[BenG]

This discussion has been helpful for me. Want to carry a big Long bike and a tiny Betty Foy, both fendered, and the LBS acted justly by withdrawing their offerings. Looking forward to your review!
Ben

[hangtownmatt]

I suggest you take a look at these Sport Rider racks:
:
http://www.modernbike.com/hollywood-racks-hitch-racks

 

On Friday, June 12, 2015 at 5:52:05 AM UTC-7, Michael Hechmer wrote:

[Cecily Walker]

I hope it works out for you, Michael. Good luck!

[Tim Gavin]

Ben-

I also recommend the Hollywood sport rider.  The wheel wells are very adjustable (for your different wheel bases), and the frame clamp is secure.  The frame clamp may reach low enough to grab the mid-tube on your wife's Betty, or you may want to add a clamp-on crossbar.

The threaded hitch bolt on the Hollywood helps reduce sway.

Other racks with a similar tray-and-frame-clamp design:

Saris Freedom

Swagman XC and XTC

The big wheel holders on the Saris Thelma interfere with fenders, FYI.

Tim