Which bike rack for the car?

[freeheeler1690]

Hello

We have a Subaru outback and want to purchase some kind of rack for the car to carry our bikes (2)

Which is considered the best

Carry the bikes using the roof rack

Attached to the rear by straps

Using a hitch at the back

Any information would be appreciated

Thanks

Martin

[uphillcrash]

You can get hitch racks that tilt to let you get into the back of your wagon ......google is your friend :-})

[config]

I have both the roof and hitch racks but prefer the hitch ones since they're easier to mount/dismount and the gas mileage is not affected as much compared with the roof mounted racks.

[Blackbeerthepirate]

If you go for the hanging hitch rack, get one that will carry 3 or 4 bikes. It will give you the option of better spacing for your 2 bikes. The extra capacity comes in handy more than you would think.

[6_Myles]

1up rack is the best hitch rack I've ever used, not cheap but worth every penny.

[qwertasdfg24]

Roof rack, cheap initial cost, but will affect your gas mileage as mentioned above.

Hitch rack, more expensive initial cost, if you don't have a hitch already installed, BUT, eaiser access, no risk of destroying your bike entering garage(house, parking).

There are 2 types of hitch rack, hanging by top tube, or Platform by the like of Kuat.
hanging by top tube is slightly cheaper, platform can accomodate more type of bikes, it's usually a purchase that will last you a long time, so it's worth it to spend more, to make sure you will be most comfortable using it.

I have a 4 bike hanging hitch, folding version for a small SUV, very happy with it. if you're getting hanging hitch, you definitely need to consider "folding" version, so the bike rack doesn't always proturde like crazy horn in the back side, making parking difficult

[wanderinwalker]

My preference is for the roof rack. Add the caveat, I drive a Corolla so it's low, and I don't park in a garage or have structures to drive under.

Yes, it impacts your gas mileage a bit. This can be a concern depending on how far you're driving. It's also NOISY. As in turn the radio volume up 4-5 notches with the bike on the roof. But I like it because they are safe from being rear ended and won't get in the way of accessing the trunk. Plus a fork-mount roof rack is incredibly secure.

Of course I'm paranoid after being rear ended one day when I was 30-seconds from throwing my bike on a trunk rack. It freaked me out how close the difference was between a little paint damage to the car versus wrecking a bike frame.

[The Tedinator]

Hello

We have a Subaru outback and want to purchase some kind of rack for the car to carry our bikes (2)

Which is considered the best

Carry the bikes using the roof rack

Attached to the rear by straps

Using a hitch at the back

Any information would be appreciated

Thanks

Martin

I also have an Outback. I had a Subaru branded Yakima roof rack. I am currently going to put it up on Craigslist. At highway speeds, you can lose up to 20% of your estimated EPA gas mileage (at least in my experience). I put a hitch on it, and started using an Allen hitch mounted rack that supports the bikes by the top tube. Had been thinking about a platform hitch rack; when a woman who rear ended me speeded that option up. She did about $800 worth of damage to the Outback, but totally wrecked the Allen rack. I did the research on platform racks and purchased a Saris Freedom rack. I paid around $180 when REI had them on sale. What I really like about this rack is that the tailgate of my '11 Outback opens and clears the upright part of the rack by about 3/4 of an inch. Perfect! Like Saris made this rack specifically for me. Also, the rack is made right here in the good ol' US of A, so I can feel all smug for doing my part for America!

[tednugent]

1up USA makes an excellent hitch rack. expensive but IMO worth the money (I had a Yakima Holdup previously) and holds bikes better also IMO

I do keep roof racks as backup (Yakima copperhead)

[AlanE]

Hitch racks can also serve as a makeshift workstand.

[tednugent]

Hitch racks can also serve as a makeshift workstand.

Kuat makes a platform rack with integrated workstand

[MrMook]

I'm a fan of roof racks. Keeps everything out of the way, and they just look cooler. Hitch and trunk mounts don't look pro

My car is also lowered, and I'm 6'4", so reach is not a problem. My wife, however, has trouble loading her own bike.

Love my red Rocky Mounts. So easy to find my car in a parking lot.

[SauronHimself]

I've had the Saris Bones trunk/hatch rack, and it's offered the best versatility. When I had my 2002 Chevy Cavalier Sport, it would fit over the spoiler easily. Now that I have a Focus hatchback, I just had to adjust the angles of the arms, and it works just as well.

[AlanE]

Kuat makes a platform rack with integrated workstand

A bit pricey though
Kuat Racks - NV

[tednugent]

I'm a fan of roof racks. Keeps everything out of the way, and they just look cooler. Hitch and trunk mounts don't look pro

My car is also lowered, and I'm 6'4", so reach is not a problem. My wife, however, has trouble loading her own bike.

Love my red Rocky Mounts. So easy to find my car in a parking lot.

jack up your suspension to an outback... and she'll need a step stool to load a roof rack.

I've seen short women use a step stool to load their bikes on a roof rack on a Outback

[B_arrington]

I was a fan of roof racks when I had a smaller car and both biked and skied. Now that I don't ski, have an SUV, and have kids I prefer the hitch mount rack. I find it easier to load/ unload on a hitch mount and removing the front wheel is not needed. Plus it is far easier to remove and install on a regular basis vs a roof rack.

I got a Softride hitch mount rack. There are a few things I would do different on it but on balance I think it works quite well. Mainly the straps: it uses rubber straps to d bime on and they can be hard to stretch
especially when cold. Its a 4 bike rack - if you may carry more that one bike get one with a 4 bike capacity. It is a top tube hanging type. The top arms can pivot down when bikes are not being carried. Most important, by pulling a spring loaded pin the rack will rotate down - with the bikes staying level- to allow for loading of bike and accessing the trunk. Huge positive feature to me.

If you go with this rack, consider the quick release hitch pin. Otherwise you. Need a wrench to put it on/off the car. If you may carry more than one bike also strongly consider the version with hydraulic lift assist. Once I get it loaded up with my MTB, wife's MTB, and 2 kid bikes it get heavy to lift and lock into place.

[The Tedinator]

The main reason I ditched the roof rack was that hefting a 30 lbs mountain bike up and on was a pain in the tookus. Road bikes are no problem. Plus, there is always that moment when you drive the bike into a fast food canopy, or, the ultimate horror: you try to drive your bike into your garage. (Confession: I did the canopy thing at a Chinese take out window!). It is kind of like falling with clipless pedals: it is not a matter of if, but when.

[JasperL]

I have the 1Up USA hitch rack and love it. Takes literally 10 seconds to load or unload a bike - no straps, no nothing - just swing the arms open, load the bike, swing them closed, done. It is easy to take on and off the car and folds up nicely to put in trunk or on the side of garage, has a built in "lock" for the rack so no need to lock that to the hitch, and will swing down with bikes loaded to get into the trunk/back of SUV. The rack also only touches the tires, so it won't mar any finish.

You can expand the rack one add one at a time to 4 bikes, but that would be expensive and (roughly $900 I think), and VERY heavy to get on and off the car. We carry one or two and it's just perfect for that. It has no locks for the bikes, so I use a cable and sometimes a U-lock. Wouldn't stop a determined thief with a bit of time, but it's plenty for stops to eat on the way home.

It's one of those purchases I've never second guessed. Can't imagine a better rack for my purposes. Made in U.S.A. too.

[jnbrown]

Won't the bikes fit inside?
I always used roof racks on our 1998 Sienna.
But since I replaced it with a 2010 Sienna (Almost bought an Outback) I can fold the rear seats into the floor and roll all my bikes including the tandem into the rear. No more need for two people to put the tandem on top and I don't have to worry about locking it. Also less wind noise and better mpg. Win all around.

[RoadrunnerLXXI]

My preference is for the roof rack. Add the caveat, I drive a Corolla so it's low, and I don't park in a garage or have structures to drive under.

Yes, it impacts your gas mileage a bit. This can be a concern depending on how far you're driving. It's also NOISY. As in turn the radio volume up 4-5 notches with the bike on the roof. But I like it because they are safe from being rear ended and won't get in the way of accessing the trunk. Plus a fork-mount roof rack is incredibly secure.

Of course I'm paranoid after being rear ended one day when I was 30-seconds from throwing my bike on a trunk rack. It freaked me out how close the difference was between a little paint damage to the car versus wrecking a bike frame.

I have a fairing, thus I don't have any wind noise issue.

[RoadrunnerLXXI]

The main reason I ditched the roof rack was that hefting a 30 lbs mountain bike up and on was a pain in the tookus. Road bikes are no problem. Plus, there is always that moment when you drive the bike into a fast food canopy, or, the ultimate horror: you try to drive your bike into your garage. (Confession: I did the canopy thing at a Chinese take out window!). It is kind of like falling with clipless pedals: it is not a matter of if, but when.

When I have my bike loaded, I always avoid drive-thru. So that's not a problem for me. Plus I always park on the driveway. Bottom line, it's a personal preference.

[wanderinwalker]

I have a fairing, thus I don't have any wind noise issue.

I have a fairing on my Yakima rack too. It's still noisy. Not problematically loud, but I'll never forget it's there.

[RoadrunnerLXXI]

Don't know about Yakima, but I can barely hear my Thule. Tip: Make sure you follow the manufacturer's mounting instruction as to how far back from the windshield to mount the foot mounts. I learned that if I mount it too far forward or too far back, it will create wind noise.

[froze]

I like the Hitch style. The roof rack exposes the bike to accidents such as forgetting it's up there and hit the garage, or a tree, or whatever; plus bug splatter is higher.

Fastening it to the rear is ok but those racks I've seen scratch cars, a lot of them can't be easily used on a different designed car so you may have to buy a second rack.

Hitch racks are nice, they keep the rack and bike a fair distance from the car thus no scratches, you can use it on any car, van, or truck simply get a hitch from Walmart as cheap as you can find (since the hitch won't be carrying much weight), and the hitch style rack can transfer from car to car to van to truck etc. And you can always use the hitch later for say a small trailer to move some stuff, or get stuff from a home improvement store, etc., or a small boat, whatever.

I personally like the BoneLocker hitch rack because the unit is extremely sturdy and you can lock your bikes to the rack far better and more secure then other rack locking systems. See: Bonelocker: Premium Hitch Mounted Bike Carrier for your Truck, SUV, or Car Made in the USA

Of course this is all just an opinion, you have to figure out what works best for you.

[EggSalad]

I'm still new round here but I am also curious about racks. I see in this thread it is mainly either roof or hitch. I know the OP has the outback but is trunk or hatch type mounting just a horrible idea? I have a Civic and don't want to add a hitch so I'm between roof or trunk myself.