roof-mount bike rack

[ladiebug]

I don't have a clue about this stuff yet and I thought that maybe ya all could help me out with a little info. I have a Chev Suburban and three kids. I need something on the roof that can carry all our bikes. I've got on REI.com and a few other sights, but I'm still confused about what I need. Should I just cave and go to a bike store? I know this stuff is really spendy and I was hoping to find out what kinda equipment I need, then buy it cheaper on ebay or something.

[ladiebug]

About those three kids of mine. Has anyone had much experience riding with kids in the city? When I go places alone I follow all the rules, same as cars. But with my kids (ages 6, 8, 9) I insist on taking the sidewalks when we go anywhere. I know that if your on the road your more likely to be seen by motorist. I've read that it's safer to go through intersections on the road. But that seems so dangerous with kids. But the sidewalk has it's own set of dangers, like not being noticed at parking lot entrances. Any suggestions?

[Irulan]

with a suburban, you'll want a hitch rack, not a roof rack unless you want to pack a step ladder around with you.

as for sidewalks, in many places it is illegal for bikes to be on sidewalks. If you don't feel safe in the street, perhaps you need to find out where the local bike paths are.

I'd agree that streets are safer than sidewalks, no time like the present to teach them the rules of the road. Just pick your streets carefully.

irulan

[Geonz]

I'd definitely look for back roads and bike paths - sidewalks are about as treacherous (but of course you collide with things other than moving tonnage)... pretty hard to *ride.* Or just swipe some cones from a construction zone and put them on both sideds of the block you want to go up & down :-)
I've heard too many stories of folks taking out their bikes when they're on roof racks... those garage roofs, drive-thru's, etc. Hitches I can reach

[ladiebug]

Thanx for the input. I hadn't even thought about the height the bikes would sit at. And as for the kids, I would love to take them on bike trails, but the bike mount has to come first. Mostly when my kids go with me, it's to get ice cream or go to the movies. Hard to avoid city streets when we do that. And as for the hitch mount, my husband says NO. Simply because we need to combine taking the bikes as well as the camp-trailer. I have seen those bike hitch mount thingys that you can hitch your trailer on to, but they are kinda hokey. We'd bend the thing up the first time we used it. That's why I was looking at a roof mount. There seems to be pros and cons to all of them. Thanx again. Gave me more ideas.

[Irulan]

having had a roof rack for bikes on an explorer, all I can say is "you'll be sorry".
Even my hubby who is pushing 6" hated it, had to get out the step stool, whic you then have to keep in the car. We were both very happy to put the roof rack on my wagon.

I've seen roof racks mounted on the top of a tent trailer, maybe that would work, or if you have a regular rv- like trailer, just put the bikes inside. Trust me, a roof rack on a big vehicle is a pain in the butt.

irulan

[ladiebug]

I've been doing a lot of research about this. There are a LOT more options out there than I thought. Has anyone on here had a good experience with the hitch mount + towing thingys? Bad experiences?

[bounceswoosh]

with a suburban, you'll want a hitch rack, not a roof rack unless you want to pack a step ladder around with you.

I *so* agree with this. My husband just has an Intrepid, with the bike mounts fairly far in, and I've dented his roof with my bike. Since then I just have him handle loading and unloading the bikes when we take his car, which is rarely. Remember, the farther up and out you have to reach, the harder it is to control the bike. You don't just have to get the bike up there; you have to get it *just right* in its little fork mounts and then wiggle the rear tire into the right spot. And that will be even harder for the bike that's not on the outside. And then if there's some wind ...

When I got my WRX, I got extra-wide rack bars so that I only have to lift my bike up, not out. That has made a huge difference, and I haven't had a ding yet.

You have a suburban; is there no room to just pile the bikes in the back? Unless you're really, really tall for a woman (and fairly strong, as well), I think you'll find that roof racks on that behemoth simply won't be worth it.

[Irulan]

I've been doing a lot of research about this. There are a LOT more options out there than I thought. Has anyone on here had a good experience with the hitch mount + towing thingys? Bad experiences?

It just makes your tow set up longer; changes the length of the trailer tongue.

[Technotart]

The hitch rach will fit on the back of your camper too - you can have a hitch mounted on it. Get one that can swing out so that you can still access your rear cargo door on the truck when you need to.

There is a lady here in town who has run her roof rack into her garage WITH the bikes on it...TWICE!!! I know I think I would NEVER do that, but apparently it does happen!

I would spend the most I could afford to spend, and ask your LBS if they have any used ones available. We saved about 100.00 by buying a used one from the LBS, and got a much better rack than we had initially planned on getting. Some people trade up or get a rack for more or fewer bikes and trade their old rack in. Worth asking anyway.

[Biking Chick]

There is a lady here in town who has run her roof rack into her garage WITH the bikes on it...TWICE!!! I know I think I would NEVER do that, but apparently it does happen!

If we are taking more than two bikes and use our Yakima roof racks we always have a small post-it note placed on the speedometer that says BIKES! for just that reason.

After using our roof rack on a Ford Explorer and our current Ford Escape (and having to carry a small wooden step ladder for the reasons listed in earlier posts) we purchased our Cycle-On by Sarius. So much nicier to lift the bikes off the back of the vehicle instead of lifting up.

Friends have a 'swing-away' bike rack for use on their RV - they got tired of having to unload bikes whenever they wanted to get into the back of their Suburban. They really like their model - I think it's also a Yakima.

I love REI but they are very pricey - their Pearl Izumi items are priced higher than any of our area bike shops. My suggestion would be to visit to your area bike shops and see which make and model you would like to have before heading off to search ebay. You might benefit from posting a 'Wanted to Buy - Used (insert model number here ) on the LBS bulletin boards.

Hope you're able to find a solution to your bike carrier problem.

[Trek420]

Technotart "There is a lady here in town who has run her roof rack into her garage WITH the bikes on it...TWICE!!! I know I think I would NEVER do that, but apparently it does happen!"

ahem, done it once, I think the title of the thread was "stupid idiotic bonehead moron move of the year" or something like that. I know another rider who did that. It happens, it's awful, horrible sound and moment.

Several times on the freeway I've sped to catch up with drivers whos bikes were askew, tilting at dangerous 45 degrees off the rood, and driven beside them making pointing motions at the roof till they "got it" and pulled off.

But I still like the rack and at 5'1" have no problem loading a bike.

by the way my bike lived, the other rider I know her Independent Fabrication frame busted in 7 places.

[Technotart]

Yeah - I'm just too paranoid for a roof rack - not to mention that I am afraid of heights and would hate to have to carry a ladder around.


If your hubby still wants a roof rack, take him to the LBS, have them mount one on the car and then make HIM put the bikes on and off of a it a couple of times by himself. that should cure him.

[bcipam]

Spend the money - buy a Thule Sportsworks Rack (see thuleracks.com) - a hitchmounted rack. Holds up to 4 bicycles very securely. Tucks away up against the vehicle when not in use. Very easy to use you won't have to climb "Mt. Everest" to get to the bikes. Plus trust me on this, roof racks on such a large vehicle will eventually lead to smashing hte bikes into a parking garage, it will happen!

[Irulan]

If your hubby still wants a roof rack, take him to the LBS, have them mount one on the car and then make HIM put the bikes on and off of a it a couple of times by himself. that should cure him.

LOL, that was my thought exactly.