Bike Carrier - Rear Mount v's Roof Mount

[mel1976]

Okay, I ride enough now and often drive to my squad rides (about 40 mins from home) that I've decided instead of putting my bike in the back of the car, it would be easier if I got a rear mount or roof mount bike rack.

What are the pros and cons for each?

If I get a rear mount, I'd also need to get a tow ball fitted to my car (its a Nissan Pulsar Hatch - 5dr). I don't know what equivalent car that equates to in the US.

If I buy roof mount, then I need to buy roof rack and the applicable attachment.

I've heard that roof mount is better than rear mount because the bike moves around less and is less likely to get scratched by passers by if its sitting on the rear of your car. Given that I live in Brisbane, Qld, Australia I don't need to worry about my bike getting wet too much either as we are in a drought at the moment.

I'm not too concerned about cost because I think getting a tow ball and bike carrier v's getting roof racks and bike carrier would probably be very similar cost, what I'm really after is what is the best option.

Oh, I'm also fairly short at 5 foot 4 and don't have a great deal of upper body strength (though I am working on this), so if anyone has any comments on how easy or difficult it is to mount and dismount your bike on a rack that sits atop your car, I'd be interested to hear your comments.

Mel

[Thorn]

I'll be curious to see the responses to this one. I know there has been lots of discussions on best car for bikes, but racks....

I use a rear mount because of gas mileage. Carrying bikes on your car will bring your gas mileage down, but less if you carry the bikes behind you. For my car, I drop about 10-15 mpg with the bikes on the rear of the car. I drive a Prius and it doesn't like its slipstream disturbed--most cars don't get that upset with bikes behind them. Owners of my car type talk of 20+ mpg drops with a roof rack.

A previous car had a roof rack. We never removed the roof rack (too putzy for us), but I take the rear rack on/off all the time . Interestingly, I've never lost a bike off the rear rack, but I did lose a bike off top rack. Too many miles on a bumpy dirt road loosened the tie downs.

I prefer the rear rack--I can get the bikes on and off without a problem (no upper body strength). But, I dream someday of a high mileage vehicle where I can keep the cars inside.

[mimitabby]

we have roof mounts for our bikes on DH's car. I am the same size as you
and am able to life my bike up there and take it down. I can't do the tandem it's too heavy. I would prefer a rear rack, although I watched as two women backed into each other and crunched their bikes/racks in a park near her.
On the other hand, too many of my friends have driven into parking garages and other low places and injured seriously expensive bikes on top of the car.
It is a hassle to put my bike into my car, but once it's in (if i don't snag cables and lose bar ends) it's safe and dry.

[DrBadger]

Hey-
I went through this same decision process about a year ago. I ended up getting a roof rack for a couple of reasons. First, with either a trunk or hitch rack you remove access to the trunk or hatchback. I was going to be driving across country, so didn't really like this option. Also, I was too going to need to get a hitch put on before I got a hitch rack, and then I realized that when I eventually get a new car the hitch would go with it (without really adding any value) and I would be out the $$, on the other hand with a roof rack, that would come with me and generally all I would need to buy was a new "fit kit" (the customized pads for what ever car you have), and these were a lot less expensive. I also liked the option of using the roof rack for other things as well... getting ski carriers, a rooftop box etc.

I drive a Mazda Protoge, and am shorter than you (5'3") and have no problem getting by bike up and down from the rack. I keep a foot stool in my car to help with getting it up, really just so I can see and reach high enough to get it seated correctly. I can get it down without any problem.

As stated earlier, it does decrease your gas milage a bit. Just the rack isn't too bad, but when I have by bike on top it drops a bit. I usually get ~ 30 mpg or a bit more, but with the bike on top it drops into the mid 20s. So, still not that bad.

Finally, as for the stability, I drove mine from California to Texas and back this summer along major highways and smaller roads, high speeds (80 mph), and curvy roads, with no problems. For reference I have a Thule rack and their higher end fork mount bike rack.

One last thing to consider is how you wash your car. Once I finally got the rack on the top I swore it was never coming off... it took 4 hours with a lot of cursing to get it on there right With the rack on the roof I can't take my car to a regular car wash with brushes and such. I do still take it to tuchless or all hand wash places and it is fine. Just something to think about as well.

As for not hurting your bikes by driving into garages and parking structures. When I first got the rack and was driving across country I put a little label on my steering wheel that read bike with an arrow pointing up so i wouldn't forget. Now when I go riding I put my garage door opener in an old bike glove so that I can't open the garage door without realizing there is a bike on the roof, so I should stop first :-)

Good luck, and sorry about the novel :-)

[DebW]

One caution on roof racks. If you are using something like a Thule rack on a car with an aero roof and no built-in roof hardware, you can get water leaks where the rack foot pads extend into the door gaskets. Why, oh why, did rain gutters on cars go out of fashion?

[wannaduacentury]

I debated last fall over this same issue. I chose the rear rack so I can call haul 4 bikes for the whole family(thule) . I don't have strong arms so the idea of hoisting my bike on the roof, well I was worried I'd lose my grip and the bike crash and damage it(and I'm tall enough too) so a rear rack for me. I have another car that did have a roof system(we saw where it used to be) and I could've gotten one for it, but decided not to. The seats fold down nicely in that car, It'll fit the whole bike in there anyhow.

I had to buy a hitch too btw

[DrBadger]

One caution on roof racks. If you are using something like a Thule rack on a car with an aero roof and no built-in roof hardware, you can get water leaks where the rack foot pads extend into the door gaskets. Why, oh why, did rain gutters on cars go out of fashion?

Hmmm.... I have never had a problem with water leaking in my car once the roof rack was on (the clamps do extend into the door gaskets). it has been in a lot of rain storms, been through the car wash many times, no leaking. I think that the biggest thing is going to be making sure that everything is lined up correctly (follow the instructions to a T for placement on the roof) and making sure that the feet are down nice and tight (but not too tight, or you can dent your roof ).