Hitch Rack advice needed

"Russ Baxter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I planning to install a hitch on my vehicle so I can use a hitch mount
bike rack. What kind (and size) hitch should I use and what's a good
rack? The rack needs to be able to fold down to access the rear door.
Thanks, o wise usenetians.

If you desire to contact me directly, don't use the spamcatcher
address above, use rbmrwb at yahoo dott com. Thanks.

I installed a 1 1/4" hitch on my van without any electrical wiring because I
don't tow anything but the bikes. If you intend to use the hitch for
anything else you might want to consider the larger hitches. I have a
Yakima bike rack that hauls 4 bikes and swings down out of the way when I
want to access the back of the van. I've had this setup for 2 years and
I've been pleased. It's a little tight with 4 bikes but I seldom haul more
than 3 bikes. The only thing I've replaced are the rubber straps to fasten
down the bikes. They get a little weak after repeated exposure to the
weather.

"Russ Baxter" wrote...

Quoted message said:

I planning to install a hitch on my vehicle so I can use a hitch mount
bike rack. What kind (and size) hitch should I use and what's a good
rack? The rack needs to be able to fold down to access the rear door.

Thule makes a nice one that tilts down. Their website can answer your hitch
size and other questions. REI sells it, among others.

http://www.thule.com/

http://www.rei.com/

JF

Quoted message said:

I planning to install a hitch on my vehicle so I can use a hitch mount
bike rack. What kind (and size) hitch should I use and what's a good
rack? The rack needs to be able to fold down to access the rear door.
Thanks, o wise usenetians.

If you desire to contact me directly, don't use the spamcatcher
address above, use rbmrwb at yahoo dott com. Thanks.

I'm not sure on the percentages but it seems like about half the racks
require a 1-1/4" receiver and the other half 2".

I went with the 1-1/4" knowing that the rack I was planning to buy fit. My
first adventure in hitch mount racks was with the "clamp onto the top-tube
of your bike" rack (swinging bikes). Not a fun trip: required a bunch of
bungie cords and a whole lot of fussin' so that the bikes didn't blow out
with the wind. Good rack if you put your bike on your car once a summer,
not good if you travel with your bike every day. Steer clear of these type
of racks if at all possible. You end up spending WAY too much time looking
in the rear view mirror watching your bike wobble around.

I ended up getting a good deal on the Hollywood Pro Rider 2 and I've had it
for about 2 years. http://www.hollywoodracks.com/2&3.htm#prorider2

Front tire rides in the trunk but they do sell a front tire mount. My
biggest thing was the speed at which I could mount and dismount my bike from
the rack. One quick release on the fork and a strap for the rear tire which
sits in a tray.

One problem with the Hollywood Prorider was the strap for the back tire was
a major afterthought on this rack. They should have used a ratcheting
system with some heavy duty plastic. That's the only ding I have with this
rack. I got rid of the cloth strap and replaced it with a 6" ratchet
buckle.

Good luck.

On Mon, 12 Jul 2004 11:32:08 -0400, "Beverly" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I installed a 1 1/4" hitch on my van without any electrical wiring because I
don't tow anything but the bikes. If you intend to use the hitch for
anything else you might want to consider the larger hitches.

Check the towing capacity of the vehicle, it's in that little book in
the glove box.

If the vehicle is limited to 2000 lbs. or less, usually the only
hitches available are 1 1/4" boxes. A common exception is the Jeep
Wrangler, as the wheelbase limits the on-road tow capacity, but many
owners use the hitch for winches, etc... so 2" boxes are commonly
installed.

If the vehicle is capable of towing more, go for the 2", as the next
owner may want the vehicle for actual towing. Many hitches are sold
as packages, which include the wiring harness The harness usually
simply snaps into a connector provided somewhere in the rear of the
car by the vehicle manufacturer. If included, get it from the hitch
installer, even if you don't want it installed right now.

Adaptors are available to use 1 1/4" or 2" bike racks in the opposite
receiver for about $40-50. I have one of each on my cars, and can use
my racks on either vehicle.

Barry

"Russ Baxter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I planning to install a hitch on my vehicle so I can use a hitch mount
bike rack. What kind (and size) hitch should I use and what's a good
rack? The rack needs to be able to fold down to access the rear door.
Thanks, o wise usenetians.

If you desire to contact me directly, don't use the spamcatcher
address above, use rbmrwb at yahoo dott com. Thanks.

If your vehicle can take a 2" hitch, that would be the best choice.
However, the manufactures rated towing capacity and the hitch manufactures
mechanics in creating an attachment to your vehicle will ultimately
determine if you can take a 2" vs 1 1/4" hitch. For most sedans, they just
don't make a 2" hitch. Even though the total weight of the rack + 4
bicycles is under the tongue weight towing limit for even the lightest duty
hitch, I'm now aware of any 1 1/4" bicycle carriers that handle more than 2
bicycles. I guess they also have to consider the dynamic loads of a rack
and bicycles bouncing up and down. You can find adapters to go from 1 1/4"
up to 2", but using such a hack is probably not wise.

As far as carriers go, I like the Sportworks Transport rack. Holds
virtually any bicycle very stable with zero possibility of them bashing into
each other. It also folds down to gain access to the trunk, and folds up
when not in use. Sportworks also sells the part of this rack that goes into
the hitch receiver as a separate item so you can adapt this rack to either
2" or 1 1/4" down the road if your needs change. The Saris "Cycle-On"
model is a obvious rip-off of the Transport design at about the same price,
but it's not as nice as the Transport. Ordered my Transport through REI.

On 12 Jul 2004 06:36:06 -0700, [email hidden] (Russ

Baxter) said:

I planning to install a hitch on my vehicle so I can use a hitch mount
bike rack. What kind (and size) hitch should I use and what's a good

A 2" receiver will work with any rack (1 1/4" can go in with an
adapter), but are more expensive. Just something to consider...
--
Rick Onanian

RE/

Quoted message said:

What kind (and size) hitch should I use

Different racks, different tradeoffs....

One thing to consider is what happens if you back into something or somebody
kisses your bumper. Some racks expose themselves and contents more than
others.

I went with the Yakima folding rack where the bike hangs on it's two wheels.
That way, if somebody bumps you, the bike tends either to be over the other
guy's bumper or, at least, it swings with the pressure.

Their method of keeping the bike(s) from rocking back-and-forth sucked pretty
bad and their rubber thingies for securing the wheels don't last long in the
sun...but once I replaced the securing mechanism with something form half a
windsurfer boom the whole thing worked pretty well.
--
PeteCresswell

I have the Thule hitch mount for 4 bikes on my Volvo wagon, and with the
"zip stick" it's great at stabilizing the bikes. Look at the REI web site.

"(Pete Cresswell)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

RE/

Quoted message said:

What kind (and size) hitch should I use

Different racks, different tradeoffs....

One thing to consider is what happens if you back into something or

somebody

Quoted message said:

kisses your bumper. Some racks expose themselves and contents more than
others.

I went with the Yakima folding rack where the bike hangs on it's two

wheels.

Quoted message said:

That way, if somebody bumps you, the bike tends either to be over the

other

Quoted message said:

guy's bumper or, at least, it swings with the pressure.

Their method of keeping the bike(s) from rocking back-and-forth sucked

pretty

Quoted message said:

bad and their rubber thingies for securing the wheels don't last long in

the

Quoted message said:

sun...but once I replaced the securing mechanism with something form half

a

Quoted message said:

windsurfer boom the whole thing worked pretty well.
--
PeteCresswell

[email hidden] (Russ Baxter) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I planning to install a hitch on my vehicle so I can use a hitch mount
bike rack. What kind (and size) hitch should I use and what's a good
rack? The rack needs to be able to fold down to access the rear door.
Thanks, o wise usenetians.

If you desire to contact me directly, don't use the spamcatcher
address above, use rbmrwb at yahoo dott com. Thanks.

Thanks for all the advice.

RE/

Quoted message said:

I have the Thule hitch mount for 4 bikes on my Volvo wagon, and with the
"zip stick" it's great at stabilizing the bikes. Look at the REI web site.

Looks like a more elegant implementation of what Yak supplied. My problems
with it were:

- Time-consuming
- The need to bend/squat way down there to attach/detach
- It seems to negate the "go with the flow" minor impact advantage of hanging
the bike
--
PeteCresswell

Quoted message said:

Different racks, different tradeoffs....

Another thing to think about: the foldaway feature that lets you open
the rear hatch.

Some fold down, others fold to the left or right.

Mine folds down and if I did it again, maybe I'd prefer left/right.

To strap the bike takes about 20 seconds. The zip stick makes it very
stable--especially with multiple bikes. Wouldn't be without it.

"(Pete Cresswell)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

RE/

Quoted message said:

I have the Thule hitch mount for 4 bikes on my Volvo wagon, and with the
"zip stick" it's great at stabilizing the bikes. Look at the REI web

site.

Quoted message said:

Looks like a more elegant implementation of what Yak supplied. My

problems

Quoted message said:

with it were:

- Time-consuming
- The need to bend/squat way down there to attach/detach
- It seems to negate the "go with the flow" minor impact advantage of

hanging

Quoted message said:

the bike
--
PeteCresswell