What do you haul your bikes on?

Long story short-we are looking for a new car! We've narrowed down the results to either a Tahoe or a Cadillac CTS (car). I know, they are COMPLETELY different!!!

So here's the thing, he thinks that putting my bikes (road and Mt) on the back on the CTS is completely ridiculous . I don't care either way on what they go on, as long as they are safe and comfy:cool: . He wanted me to ask you all what you think about a bike on the CTS and what you drive to haul around your bikes?:confused:

Your answers will determine the fake of our car buying experience!!! :D

I didn't know what a Cadillac CTS was, but i see that it is just a sedan. I have a roof rack that I carry either or both mountain and road bikes on the top of my sedan. It is a Subaru Sedan. People, in my experience, just find a way to haul their bikes on whatever vehicle they own. So, you will see roof racks on sedans, or those trailer hitch type of racks on the back of a sedan.

You don't have to have a truck to own a bike! LOL:D

When we go on rides together that we have to haul our bikes we take the truck which is equipped with a camper shell and that enables us to put all our stuff back there and not worry about anything blowing away. DH has made a holder out of a piece of wood that enables us to take the front wheels off and put front forks down on and tighten down.

I have a Honda civic and a bike rack that I can take on and off on days when I want to haul it somewhere and it's just me.

I have a little Subaru Impreza station wagon, and the bike rides inside the wagon. If I have more than one bike to take somewhere, I put on a Thule trunk-rack.

I see a lot of sedans with roof-racks and hitch mounted racks. You might want to bring along a little step-stool for using the roof-rack. (Trek420 has a roof-rack on her Oldsmobile Alero, and this great little stepstool that makes putting the bikes up pretty easy!)

If I were likely to be taking more than one bike around all the time, I'd consider a hitch mounted rack. (mainly because I *know* I'd forget the bikes were on the roof and I'd cause some sort of bike damage.)

I usually haul my bikes around on their tires :) To me, the bike is first & foremost a means of transportation.

In the rare cases that I've put bikes on a car, we have a rear rack that works perfectly on a small sedan for up to 3 bikes. Seriously, as the others have said a sedan is *more* than sufficient for hauling bikes around, and you have a lot of options as to how you do that (without damaging the car).

Why does your husband think that hauling a bike on the sedan is ridiculous? Is it for aesthetic reasons? Or because it isn't built for 'sport' and 'utility'?

I assume that you are going to be using the car for more than just transporting your bikes, you may want to consider that the Tahoe has much poorer gas mileage than the CTS and you're going to be stuck with that beyond the trips you take with your bikes. That makes a big difference beyond just the (financial) cost of gas.

To my mind what is ridiculous is to justify an extremely inefficient form of transportation because you want to haul bicycles around on occasion...but I am a little opinionated on the subject. :)

Anne

I have a Honda CRV. I carry the mtb on the roof. I carry the road either on the roof or in back.

There are no roof options for the Cadillac STS with Yakima, Thule or Saris. These companies also do not recommend you use a trunk mount to carry bikes. It looks like the only option for the Cadillac is to had a receiver hitch to carry bikes.

Those hitch mounted racks are pretty nice. When you take them out of the hitch reciever, you can't even tell there's anything "on" the car. (the reciever sits low, under the bumper.)

If your husband is worried about how the car will look when it's NOT carrying bikes, the hitch mount could be the way to go. And if it's the only thing that will fit on the Cadillac, well, peachy...;)

(putting the rack in and out of the reciever is pretty quick and simple.)

You get to have a sedan that can carry bikes, and he gets to have a sedan that doesn't look "completely ridiculous"!:D

Actually the Caddie doesn't get that great of mileage either. I've got a Suburban and I'm happily surprised that I average 16-17mpg. The CTS is rated as 17/24 on the site I looked at.

Like you said, they are very different vehicles. Look at why you want each one and what the benefits/drawbacks are. Good luck and have fun car shopping!

Right now I haul my bike in the 'burban. We do need the big beast to haul kids, dogs, and horses around so we'll be keeping it. I'd really like to get a more efficient vehicle to cruise around in though and would prefer that it be able to hold my bike. Do any of you have PT Cruisers? I'm not sure if they're bike compatible or not but that's what I'm leaning towards.

Lora

This isn't a helpful answer but - we have a minivan. We usually only have one seat in the back and carry our bikes inside. I don't like the idea of them hanging off the back. (My friend has a rooftop carrier and has hit his bike twice going under things that were too low. :eek: )

We had a roof rack on our 1995 Saturn SL2. When that car was totaled in an accident last year, we bought a 1999 Toyota Rav 4 and moved the roof rack to that car. Our bike car and our dog car have always been the same car, so we had different things that we needed to think about...a place for the pups in the back, with plenty of room for bikes on top. We're really happy with our Rav 4.

I bought a Honda Ridgeline truck in which to haul bicycles and dogs.

A well designed machine--like a medium-sized SUV interior with a small pickup truck bed. The back seat folds up fully, and in goes my bike, without even having to take off the front wheel.

Not quite an SUV, not quite a Bubbatruck, it suits me well.

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Originally Posted by CCinSC

Long story short-we are looking for a new car! We've narrowed down the results to either a Tahoe or a Cadillac CTS (car). I know, they are COMPLETELY different!!!

So here's the thing, he thinks that putting my bikes (road and Mt) on the back on the CTS is completely ridiculous . I don't care either way on what they go on, as long as they are safe and comfy:cool: . He wanted me to ask you all what you think about a bike on the CTS and what you drive to haul around your bikes?:confused:

Your answers will determine the fake of our car buying experience!!! :D

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My car is a volvo 4 dr sedan and I have a 1 1/4" hitch with thule 4 bike rack on it. It works great whether I haul 1 or 4. Jenn

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Originally Posted by SlowButSteady

I bought a Honda Ridgeline truck in which to haul bicycles and dogs.

A well designed machine--like a medium-sized SUV interior with a small pickup truck bed. The back seat folds up fully, and in goes my bike, without even having to take off the front wheel.

Not quite an SUV, not quite a Bubbatruck, it suits me well.

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I like those too.

I, apparently, haul my bikes in a bubbatruck.

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Originally Posted by ibcycling

Do any of you have PT Cruisers? I'm not sure if they're bike compatible or not but that's what I'm leaning towards.

Lora

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I own a PT Cruiser now! I LOVE my car, it's just not practical for me. I'm a Realtor and it just doesn't have the room I need.:D

Thanks everyone for all of the responses! I'm printing this right now to give to DH to read. He thought that I would get picked on...hehehe! Little did he know that you would all be helpful and have great suggestions and points!

I just love this group! ;)

I have a Tahoe and currently use a board with a front fork holder to transport my bike. (made it)

I see that you have a little one too, carseat?. I just put the smaller side of the split seat down and have the back time go through there and then put the fork mount/board towards the back and tighten the fork in. I can still fit a gike in the back along with two carseats.

I have put three bikes inside attached by frontfork mounts and had three adults in there too. Its nice to have a car you can put the bikes inside.

On long trips w/ lots of gear I usually use a roof rack/tray mount because I have a rocket box up there too. I usually travel with two kids and one dog/kennel. Adding another dog/kennel today...ugh! Its going to be trip fun!

As for the Tahoe, I love it! Its a 2000 (new body style) and I would consider another in a heartbeat. It fits all my gear, kids and animals with little problem. Gas mileage isn't the greatest but the new ones are a little better.

I drive a Toyota sienna Minivan. I've taken three seats out. So it only seats 3 people. And it fits three bikes inside. perfect!

Mr. drives a Lexus ES300. He has a saris rack. He used to travel with the bike on it, but the bike was getting so dirty that he's switched to putting the bike in the trunk. He has to take both wheels off to do this.

My mom has a Caddy CTS. It's very nice!!! I love driving it. I can't see any reason that you couldn't put a rack on it and haul your bike that way.

In my tri team....one gal drives a BMW M3. She hauls her bike using a Saris rack. IMO, it doesn't look stupid at all....gotta haul your bike someway! :D Another gal had a Nissan 300ZX, She had to have a rack modified in some way to haul her bike. She has since traded it in for a Toyota FJ. She also had a baby.

silver - I went to the websites of Saris, Thule and Yakima and all said there was not a fit recommended for the vehicle. Since I sell these products, I go with the manufacturers suggestions since they have already tested their products of the vehicle.

Anyone can attach a trunk rack onto a vehicle against the suggestions of the manufacturer. I personally wouldn't want to be the shop that sells CCinSC a rack for the Cadillac and it damages the vehicle. I would actually dismiss an employee for recommending a product not authorized for a particular use.

The "CTS" and the "STS" are two different cars.

The "CTS" does have a recommended rack from Saris...

The problem with these "streamlined" models is there is nothing to "hook" onto. The only reason it works on my Lexus is that I have "towing hooks" on the underside of the car that work fine for the bottom hooks (as long as I don't grab the hot muffler by mistake).

Trust me, you can carry two bikes on or in any kind of car. My personal favourite is my friends' Mini Cooper with two muddy full-sussers on top. :D

I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee and have a hitch receiver rack - its made by Reese(from Meijers). Anyone drive a Jeep Wrangler???

If you get the Cadillac, put a receiver hitch on it and use a bike rack, instead of a trunk mounted rack. That way you don't have to take a chance on scratching up the paint, etc. Lots of the receiver hitches are virtually invisible when not in use.

I have an Element, but there are times when I need to haul the bikes on the back (like last weekend, when I hauled 3 bikes to the Big Dam Bridge ride and bought another bike while I was down there!). So I used the cargo tray with fork mounts attached, even though I have a Yakima Kingpin. Two bikes went on the cargo tray, and two bikes went inside.

The reason I like the cargo tray best (or one of those racks that the bikes sit on instead of hang from) is that both bikes were vintage and I didn't want them scratched up. Hanging off the Kingpin, they sometimes come in contact with each other.

ETA: I can't reach the top of the Element, and I don't want to haul a stepladder, and I can't imagine how many times I would hit my bikes on stuff after I forgot they were there! I have trouble remembering the kayak is up there.

Karen

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Originally Posted by CCinSC

Long story short-we are looking for a new car! We've narrowed down the results to either a Tahoe or a Cadillac CTS (car). I know, they are COMPLETELY different!!!

So here's the thing, he thinks that putting my bikes (road and Mt) on the back on the CTS is completely ridiculous . I don't care either way on what they go on, as long as they are safe and comfy:cool: . He wanted me to ask you all what you think about a bike on the CTS and what you drive to haul around your bikes?:confused:

Your answers will determine the fake of our car buying experience!!! :D

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Originally Posted by DirtDiva

Trust me, you can carry two bikes on or in any kind of car. My personal favourite is my friends' Mini Cooper with two muddy full-sussers on top. :D

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The bikes are longer than the car! ;)

Karen

I have a Honda Element and if it's just me and my bike, I hang the seat out of the way and put my bike in the cargo area. If hubby is joining me for a ride, I put on the Thule hitch mount rack to carry our bikes.

18/26 vs 14/20 mpg if you don't have roof racks. Assuming the 2008 CTS reviews are pretty good on both. GM is doing better in long term reliability and some are even showing up as used car best bets (though I don't believe either of these are one of those). The sedan would prolly be a more reasonable car for driving clients around in, the Tahoe would prolly work better for hauling stuff inside such as bikes, signage and whatnot.

There's several good car sites, I'd check out edmunds.com, kbb.com, carsurvey.org, maybe fueleconomy.gov to get as much info as possible, including looking at older models with the same engine to find out about potential problems or excessive maintenance/repair/reliability issues.

I drive a 4runner. Excellent reliability, not too hard to repair when stuff does come up, I'm expecting to go at least 300,000 miles, poor mileage (18), too small a gas tank, half-decent off-road capability. Carries everything from kids to garden equipment to bikes. If it weren't for the off-road part a wagon would suit me as well.

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Originally Posted by sundial

I have a Honda Element and if it's just me and my bike, I hang the seat out of the way and put my bike in the cargo area. If hubby is joining me for a ride, I put on the Thule hitch mount rack to carry our bikes.

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Yep, if it's just two bikes, the seats go up (or out on long trips, like to Maine last month), and then the bikes get bungied around the top tube up to the handle above the door. My bike rolls right in, but the boy's bike has to lean over a little.

Karen

I know what not to get. Anything like our Neon with the rear spoiler. Bleh. We can't fit a bike rack on the thing 'cause of the spoiler. (and that's just one reason that I hate the car...)

My other problem is that DH & I ride honkin' big recumbents, just about the size of a tandem apiece, with those big comfy seat backs and my fairing that act like sails. Not something I want on top of the Neon.

What I'm thinking of doing, therefore, is putting a trailer hitch on the Neon and renting the smallest U-Haul Trailer for those times we need to take our bikes longer distances than we wish to ride. Bikes are covered and out of the way, gas mileage suffers, but not on a permanant basis, and the trailer Goes Away when we are done. No storage headaches.

Something to consider. It might just free up your car considerations a bit.

Wow! The trailer is a great idea! Don't have to worry about the bikes getting stolen or nastied up!

And those trailers aren't too expensive, and oh so convenient!

I have a Neon and I had a hitch installed on it. Yes, it can be done. I made them promise not to laugh before I told them what I wanted. I have a Thule hitch rack. It locks down over the bikes so they are also safe.

Anyone have a Prius?

Part of what I love about the car is that one bike goes in the back, easily, with the front wheel on and everything.

But when we fly south for the winter, I don't think there's going to be room inside for the bike *plus* all our stuff. I've driven 1000 miles in a small car with a roof rack before, and don't care to repeat the experience. But I've also been warned about putting a bike on a rear rack when there's salt and cinder on the roads. One guy I know says he's wrapped his entire bike, rack and all in packing plastic. Okay... but for a two-day trip, where I'd have to take the bike off for the night, there's probably as much petroleum in a second round of plastic wrap as I would've used to just drive a freakin' Suburban with the bike inside :( That stuff is not reusable. Plus, what a PITA.

I'm half thinking about shipping the bike. I'd have to get a case of course. What do you guys think about that? How much of a pain is it to disassemble/reassemble for shipping if I don't have a workstand on either end of the trip?

I have an Escalade, the same size as the Tahoe you're considering & you can load bikes inside or install a hitch mount rack easily. The CTS is hot, fast, and good looking, but you will have to modify either some type of rack to fit the pointed trunk lid OR modify your poor baby Cadillac to install a hitch for a rack. The Tahoe is a more practical choice- I love my SUV- I like sitting a little taller than most, the gound clearance and roominess. Since an 07 CTS has an insurance symbol of 19, you'll probably prefer the insurance premium on the Tahoe.- your more 'full figured' clients will also find it easier to get in and out of the Tahoe.

Happy shopping

Pat