Advice on car rack

"Warren" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:Au7Zh.22882$Cx1.6892@trnddc01:

Quoted message said:

I've seen the Thule models that hang the bike from the crossmember and
I've seen the Swagman rack where the wheels are supported and the
crossmember has a clamp on it.

Is there really a difference which you use?
What about the heat from the exhaust system?

If you have a lightweight racing bike, you should avoid the racks that
squeeze your top tube. All the major brands make flatbed-style hitch racks
where the bikes are primarily supported by their tires and/or fork. If the
bikes are above bumper level, they should be pretty safe from your exhaust.

"sally" wrote: (clip) If the bikes are above bumper level, they should be
pretty safe from your exhaust.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Exhaust should not be a problem unless you put a tire right in the exhaust
stream. When you are idling, there ain't much exhaust, and when you're
moving, there is lots of air flow to overwhelm it.

On Sun, 29 Apr 2007 20:46:24 GMT, "Warren" <[email hidden]> may

have said:

Hey all...

I would like to transport my bike on the back of my SUV by using the trailer
hitch, but am not sure what is the best way to go about this.

I've seen the Thule models that hang the bike from the crossmember and I've
seen the Swagman rack where the wheels are supported and the crossmember has
a clamp on it.

Is there really a difference which you use?

The Swagman is easier to use with bikes that are hard to mount on the
Thule, such as drop-frame, full-suspension, Y-frame, and bikes that
have a lot of stuff under the top bar. They both do the same
fundamental job. Some find the Swagman easier to deal with because it
may require less height of lift of the bike to get it aboard.

Quoted message said:

What about the heat from the exhaust system?

Exhaust heat is not a problem unless the tailpipe is pointed directly
at some part of the bike from a distance of less than 50cm. Dilution
of the exhaust stream will make the heat irrelevant at any greater
distance or at any significant deflection from directly opposite the
outlet of the pipe. If your engine is producing enough soot to
discolor the bike on the rack, ride the bike while you have the car
repaired.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Warren said:

Hey all...

I would like to transport my bike on the back of my SUV by using the trailer
hitch, but am not sure what is the best way to go about this.

I've seen the Thule models that hang the bike from the crossmember and I've
seen the Swagman rack where the wheels are supported and the crossmember has
a clamp on it.

Is there really a difference which you use?
What about the heat from the exhaust system?

Thanks for helping.

I have a hitch mounted rack originally made by Sportsworks which was
acquired by Thule a while back. It folds up easily, holds 2 bikes via
a tray, a device that clamps over the the front wheel, and another
that secures the rear wheel. Total time to load or unload a bike is
approx. 15 seconds.
I've had the rack for 4 years and have had no problems at all. I 've
used it locally and on long road trips.]
I give it very high marks.

Thanks for your help

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

Quoted message said:

"Warren" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:Au7Zh.22882$Cx1.6892@trnddc01:

Quoted message said:

I've seen the Thule models that hang the bike from the crossmember and
I've seen the Swagman rack where the wheels are supported and the
crossmember has a clamp on it.

Is there really a difference which you use?
What about the heat from the exhaust system?

If you have a lightweight racing bike, you should avoid the racks that
squeeze your top tube. All the major brands make flatbed-style hitch
racks
where the bikes are primarily supported by their tires and/or fork. If
the
bikes are above bumper level, they should be pretty safe from your
exhaust.

Thanks

"Leo Lichtman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"sally" wrote: (clip) If the bikes are above bumper level, they should
be pretty safe from your exhaust.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Exhaust should not be a problem unless you put a tire right in the exhaust
stream. When you are idling, there ain't much exhaust, and when you're
moving, there is lots of air flow to overwhelm it.

ROFL at your comment about riding the bike while I get the car repaired.

Thanks for the info

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

Quoted message said:

On Sun, 29 Apr 2007 20:46:24 GMT, "Warren" <[email hidden]> may

have said:

Hey all...

I would like to transport my bike on the back of my SUV by using the
trailer
hitch, but am not sure what is the best way to go about this.

I've seen the Thule models that hang the bike from the crossmember and
I've
seen the Swagman rack where the wheels are supported and the crossmember
has
a clamp on it.

Is there really a difference which you use?

The Swagman is easier to use with bikes that are hard to mount on the
Thule, such as drop-frame, full-suspension, Y-frame, and bikes that
have a lot of stuff under the top bar. They both do the same
fundamental job. Some find the Swagman easier to deal with because it
may require less height of lift of the bike to get it aboard.

Quoted message said:

What about the heat from the exhaust system?

Exhaust heat is not a problem unless the tailpipe is pointed directly
at some part of the bike from a distance of less than 50cm. Dilution
of the exhaust stream will make the heat irrelevant at any greater
distance or at any significant deflection from directly opposite the
outlet of the pipe. If your engine is producing enough soot to
discolor the bike on the rack, ride the bike while you have the car
repaired.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Warren said:

Hey all...

I would like to transport my bike on the back of my SUV by using the trailer
hitch, but am not sure what is the best way to go about this.

I've seen the Thule models that hang the bike from the crossmember and I've
seen the Swagman rack where the wheels are supported and the crossmember has
a clamp on it.

Is there really a difference which you use?
What about the heat from the exhaust system?

Thanks for helping.

I've seen some people driving down the road with the bikes hanging way
too low on hitch racks. A small dip in the road, and some wheels are
history. I've also seen a tire melted by exhaust. However these issues
are "operator error."

I have a Thule hitch rack with the two supports, and have hung a wide
variety of frame styles from the rack. Sometimes it's hard to get
multiple bikes arranged just right.

As someone else said, don't get a rack that clamps the tubing. The Thule
uses rubber straps to hold the tubing into rubber cradles. The ones
where the wheels sit in trays are also fine

Don't leave the rack on the vehicle when you're driving without a bike
on it. A slight hit from another vehicle in the rear will do significant
damage, because the bumper isn't absorbing the impact, it's going up
through the hitch into either the frame or the unibody. I had this
happen to me on my old Honda CR-V. It was a very long and expensive
repair, including a new floor.