Types Of Bike Carriers For Vehicles
Different Bike Carriers For Different Vehicles & Purposes
When transporting a bike by car, it is often easiest to use a car mounted bike carrier of some form. These carries come in many varieties for different cars, bikes and location preferences. The more common ones are roof, hatch or trunk and hitch carriers for cars and SUVs. Pickup trucks can be modified with mounts on the walls of the bed to accept front forks to lock in place. We will take a brief look at the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Roof Mounted Solutions
A very popular bike carrier type is the roof mounted option. This typically uses some kind of roof rack to anchor the bike to. Roof mounted carriers are great as they keep most of the other vehicle functions unrestricted. The bike is mounted vertically from points on the back tire and either the frame or the front fork (where the front wheel is removed). A major limitation here is the height of the overall vehicle is much higher with a vertically mounted bicycle on top. Many people before and after this article will hit their garage doors, overpasses and other lower hanging hazards usually passable san bike on roof. One major thing to keep in mind if this option seems attractive. Roof racks can range from ~$100 to multiple hundreds of dollars.
Hatch/Rear Trunk Options
Also a commonly seen choice is a rack mounted to the rear hatch or trunk of a vehicle. These are usually held on by straps and metal or plastic bars that create two points the bike frame rests on. Straps or rubber fasteners secure the bike from flying off at high speeds. This type removes height from margin of error and doesn’t effect aerodynamics as much as the roof options. Visibility may be affected if the bike creates partial blind spots in the rear window or side mirror pictures. Some also inadvertently cover up the license plate or registration. They are good options but may create wear points or scratches on finishes such as paint. Hatch and rear trunk mounts can be priced lower than roof or hitch types, depending on options or features.
Hitch Bike Racks
A very good type of rack is one which is hitch mounted. This will not affect your vehicles finish in any way from normal use. It offers the benefits of minimally effected aerodynamics and the height is not a factor. Hitch mounts are used as the anchor point for these types of racks. They support a lot of weight and can carry many bikes as a result. Some designs swing out and/or fold up when not in use to reduce their overall size. The hitch racks are commonly the most expensive of the regular mounts on the market.
Truck Bed Fork Mounts
Possibly the lowest cost mount is the truck bed fork mount. This uses a small front fork lock which is either bolted or welded to the top edge of the top front bed wall. The rear bike tire is freely rested on the bed floor during transit. Without effecting much of the aerodynamics or overall dimensions over the truck’s roof, these are the most minimal and least invasive options. You don’t need to worry about running into much or damaging painted finishes. They are simple, effective and easy to use.
Which Is The Correct Choice?
A best overall choice is highly subjective. Depending on the rider, the vehicle, bike and circumstances, many factors will influence the best overall decision. If price is a concern, you may want to start out with a lower cost option like a trunk or hatch mount. If money is no object then you cannot go wrong with a hitch rack. For pickup trucks with bed space, the bed mount can be ideal. Think about what effects you and use this to make an informed decision.
