Trunk rack.. would this worry you?

[sarahspins]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2434/3730092931_676fd5b0ff.jpg

:eek:

(please ignore my strap wrapping, I was just fiddling around, I doubt that will hold up since the knots aren't tight. I'll figure out something better before we actually go somewhere)

I see 2 issues...

The spoiler (obviously). I have the sport spoiler which is longer than the stock one, and then the other problem is the lack of clearance on the hatch itself. It is set up and installed according to the specifications in the instructions... and Thule's website makes no distinction between the regular Caliber and the SRT-4 which comes stock with a spoiler like mine (mine came from the dealer that way, but the regular stock spoiler is shorter) so I can only assume if it was a problem they'd know? .

So, before I load up 3 bikes and do some harm... if this was your car, would you adjust the angle of the rack frame? I want to (so I can move the frame out from the hatch a little bit and have more clearance), but I'm not sure if that's safe. I just worry that with 3 bikes on there, the foam can compress enough that the frame WILL hit my car.

Should I worry that a potentially significant part of the weight (with bikes on the rack) is being held by that spoiler? It is bolted on, not just glued/taped or held with clips.

Honestly if I was just transporting my bike I probably wouldn't worry too much.. but mine is lighter than the other two by quite a lit... the idea is not just to carry my bike, but everyone's bikes.

Also, if I anticipate transporting bikes at least a couple of times a week, should I just leave it on? Is that safe? Since I was able to install it without opening the hatch, I worry that someone could steal it just as easily...

[TrekTheKaty]

I never understood those things. My friend has one that seems secure enough, BUT I this is why I bought a hitch rack. It doesn't touch my car and can be padlocked to the hitch. But that didn't answer your question..........

[OakLeaf]

It would worry me, for sure.

My Prius has a spoiler like that, and it's pretty flimsy, I can tell you. (Ask me how it stands up to a garage door. Wait, don't. :rolleyes:) The only trunk rack I've seen people put on Priūs is the Saris Bones rack, which is wider and spans the spoiler.

[HillSlugger]

Is there any way to pass the straps under the spoiler?

I put my Saris rack on over the spoiler on my Subaru Outback but Saris doesn't recommend it at all and it always worries me.

[Tuckervill]

Yes, I've never liked the idea of putting something heavy directly on the glass. I wouldn't want those straps hanging off the spoiler, either.

But, I also think that the arms against the window and the bumper are mitigating the pressure on the spoiler. I just wouldn't let my husband cinch up the straps, because he'd damage something with his incredible strength which he doesn't understand! lol.

Karen

[sarahspins]

Is there any way to pass the straps under the spoiler?

I tried, and there isn't enough room to thread them through... I thought about loosening the bolts that hold on the spoiler, but that was way too much effort for tonight.

Saris Bones won't fit my car... at least according to Saris' website.

[Triskeliongirl]

I really don't think you are supposed to attach it to the spoiler........... I don't think its strong enough. I think you either need to remove the spoiler, or get a different style rack.

[HillSlugger]

Yes, I've never liked the idea of putting something heavy directly on the glass. I wouldn't want those straps hanging off the spoiler, either.

But, I also think that the arms against the window and the bumper are mitigating the pressure on the spoiler. I just wouldn't let my husband cinch up the straps, because he'd damage something with his incredible strength which he doesn't understand! lol.

Karen

I think most of the weight is on the lower arms and the upper straps. The weight on the spoiler is what worries me.

With my setup I'm not sure there's really anything strongly solid where the top straps anchor. I worry a little bit with one bike, a lot with two bikes. I don't think I'd trust 3 bikes on your setup at all.

http://home.comcast.net/~nicole.thomas14/First%20time%20Saris_0520-2.jpg

[Pedal Wench]

Totally not the answer to your question, but this is why I keep my bikes inside the back of my SUV. I'm just so worried about someone rear-ending me or the rack just falling off.

[smilingcat]

It looks pretty but the top arm on the rear glass really worries me.

And the strap over the spoiler is worrisome too. Can you exchange it with something more compatible with your car?

I've always put my bike inside the car. I worry about getting it crunched in a rear end collision. I worry about falling off. I worry about damaging my car.

[kenyonchris]

MMM. I had a bones rack...I put it on my BMW suv according to the label directions, it seemed to fit well and was secure until one day the bones sort of collapsed in, it sounded like a flock of geese flew into my back window at mach 10. It was still there, but swinging....thank goodness only one bike on. I threw it away, installed a fork mount roof rack and have never looked back. My bikes are ON that baby.

[snapdragen]

I had that type of rack on my Jimmy for about a week. I returned it when I discovered my bike was about to drop while driving on Highway 101. I don't trust them.

[sarahspins]

I really don't think you are supposed to attach it to the spoiler........... I don't think its strong enough. I think you either need to remove the spoiler, or get a different style rack.

It's not attached to the spoiler, it's definitely attached to the door frame.. the straps just run over the spoiler... sorry if that was confusing. If I could just take the spoiler off, I totally would... but it houses the center brake light as well as my rear wiper fluid dispenser.. I kind of need those!

MDHillSlug - thanks for the picture. The instructions say to rest the bottom on the "upper deck of the bumper". I wonder if they really mean the ledge on the door, above the bumper? Honestly that would make way more sense..

Thule says this will work on my car, but I'm clearly not getting it! As far as other racks compatible with my car... there really aren't many :( Saris says only the Guardian will fit, Yakima has nothing, and Thule has the Passage and of course the Speedway. If you look at the options, the Speedway seemed like the way to go.

Aggie_Ama has a caliber too, she says she has a Thule Speedway on hers... I want her to come post and tell me I put it on wrong! :p I've searched google, searched all the caliber forums I can find, and it seems that no one has any images of one of these installed correctly.

A roof rack is in the future, it's just cost prohibitive at the moment.. $225 for the utility bars, and then more for each bike rack.. it's a little much right now.

[Cataboo]

you can often find thule/yakima rack parts cheap on craigslist. They might not have the footings you need - but you can buy those new, or you can sometimes get them off ebay if someone's sold the car they fit. Roof racks don't cost as much that way.

I wouldn't trust doing your straps like that... and the webbing's gonna maul your paint on your spoiler. my kayak straps maul my car.

I have a hitch mount on my sooobie & have some roof rack bike trays - much more secure and I happened to find both the hitch & the hitch rack on craigslist.

[sarahspins]

Unless I want to drill into my roof (which I absolutely do not!), I'm not sure there are any footings available other than the offical Mopar ones that come with the utility bar kit... which are actually made by Thule.

The footings/bars alone aren't prohibitively expensive, it's the bars + racks for 3 bikes, and it starts getting up there :( I could probably do the bars after next week, but any racks would have to wait..

[TrekTheKaty]

sarahspins, I also feel that will leave marks. And it looks like a pretty new car! My next car will be a small SUV/wagon that I can put the bikes in. Oohhh, I have to add that to the addicted thread..........

[sarahspins]

No, not really new.. it's 3 1/2 years old now, and it's paid for.. plus I've put 55k miles on it, and I tend to drive my cars until they have way more than that (I gave up on my last car at 178k.. still ran fine, I just couldn't afford the gas it took at 14mpg).. so I'm not terribly worried about scratches (it's already gotten a fair share.. and lots of dings too).. it's going to be my car for a while, I'm more worried about how the trunk rack just doesn't look safe at all :p

[Cataboo]

go to yakima.com and go through the fit things... after market roof rack footings sit in the door frame and kinda clamp on, so there's probably after market kits that will fit your car.

I have at least one fork mount bike tray that I'd be willing to sell pretty cheap - it's a rocky mount one (google around for them, they are a lot cheaper than yakima or thule ones). it will not work with disc brake bikes, however.

[ridebikeme]

I would definitely be worried when a part of the rack is being supported by the glass. The glass on our vehicles is not meant to support racks, or any amount of weight from a bike(s). Like others here, I have had people in the past show up to the shop with a broken back window, and a bike that is simply dangling. One customer actually had their bike come off the rack on the highway, and unfortuantely the bike was run over. Roof racks are good options, and so are hitch mounted racks. You will need a towing hitch on your vehicle...1 1/4" or a 2". The larger hitch will accomodate more bikes, but either are great options. In terms of cost, they are roughly in the neighborhood of a roof system.

Personally, I have a 2" hitch rack that supports either 2 or 4 bikes. I have owned a Hollywood rack for many years, and have used it extensively with)out any problems. Be careful of the companies that are marketing lightweight hitch racks... many of them are breaking and have been recalled.(Thule):)

[Tuckervill]

I'd get a hitch put on that sucker, and get a hitch rack. Even a hitch rack from a big box store would make me feel better than that one does.

I get my hitches at etrailer.com. In case you're thinking they don't make hitches for your car...I had one on my VW Beetle! It didn't hold much weight, but it held bikes!

Karen

[HillSlugger]

The Saris instructions said that the lower arms should be resting on the bumper, but the LBS shop guy set it up this way for us and I stayed with it.

When I bought my car I was going to put on a hitch mount but decided not to spend the extra money. I really wish I had gone that route.

[Aggie_Ama]

Sorry was out of town! I took some photos but my car is black so not sure you can see everything (sorry the resolutions stinks on these).

I will try to describe how I have mine because it looks different but has worked for the last 3+ years on my Caliber. One thing is mine is only a two carrier and my car has the standard spoiler. It does pull against it which looks really concerning but after 3.5 years and many bike trips I still have a spoiler. We went all the way to Little Rock dragging two bikes on the Caliber. I can't put it one without opening the gate so we might be doing something different. As you have probably figured out there are very few Caliber options short of a hitch (a bit pricey for me) or roof rack (I like my sunroof and pulling in the garage without thinking too much).

1. The top hooks are latched into the part where the gate hinges, does that make since? They are not in the spoiler but the metal of the gate that the spoiler is attached to.
2. The side straps are slide between the gate and side of car. We then use the adjustment to tighten.
3. The rubber rests on the glass and bumper.
4. We hook the bottom under the bumper, there are actually two holes to secure it but we found this by crawling under the car. DO NOT remove it until the car cools down, I burnt myself once having a blond moment. :o

For scratching the guy at BSS recommended getting that thin foam to wrap around your pedals and bars. At 75k on my car I am not super concerned. The car has been dented by carts, scratched down the side by someone, etc... My husband is super attentive in loading them and uses the extra strap to tie the handlebars so they aren't swinging around.