What is the perfect bike hauling vehicle?

[tatormc]

Hubby and I are considering buying a new vehicle. We looking for an SUV that 2 bikes can go inside. We really don't want something as big as a suburban though. We are thinking something like a Toyota 4 Runner or Mitsubishi Montero. We haven't actually gone to a dealership to test the space in the vehicle yet. Does anyone have a vehicle that they can get 2 bikes in?

[pkq]

Honda Element

minivans

[Irulan]

I've seen up to three downhill bikes INSIDE a Honda Element... amazing.

Rethink your SUV needs - There's very little that SUV's can do that some other vehicle can't do better, whether it's safety, traction, cargo room, luxury, and of course gas mileage.

[SadieKate]

I have an Isuzu Trooper, which by today's standards is a small SUV. We do use it offroad and to haul pontoon boats. If it wasn't for that, I'd be looking seriously at the Honda Element. Mr. Jobob just got one. Looks pretty durn spiffy.

[jobob]

We just bought a Honda Element and we luuuve it. It's a great bike-carrying vehicle. Halfway decent gas mileage (24 mpg with automatic transmission, about the same with manual - sad that nowadays that rates as "halfway decent", but it was way better than the other vehicles we looked at ). It's also very easy to drive, it doesn't feel like a big SUV.

With the 2 rear seats folded up, we can roll both our bikes in and secure them to the side with bungie cords. Since we don't need it for carrying passengers besides the two of us, it works out fine. But if we wanted to, we could keep one of the rear seats folded down if we had a passenger. [Ed to add - we could probably carry more than 2 bikes that way, but that's all we tried for now].

Lee's now rigged it up with 2 fork mounts on the rear floor so that, instead of rolling in the bikes intact, we can take off the front wheels and roll the bikes in backwards and secure the forks to the mounts,we think it's a better solution for long drives. Plus we can have both rear seats in place. [oops,that's wrong ... senior moment ].

The rear seats are not particularly comfy so I wouldn't advise it if you want to use it with passengers a lot. Plus, it only seats 4. But this was a big improvement over the truck that replaced it, with the "extended cab" in which the hapless 3rd passenger (usually me!) would have to sort of lay sideways in the back, ugh. But we have another car (mine) in which we can carry passengers so that wasn't an issue for us.

The Element replaced Lee's old Toyota truck with a cab shell, which we also had rigged with the fork mounts in the floor of the cab. This worked out really well (except for the rare times we had a 3rd passenger, see above ) and we were planning to get another small truck with cab to replace this one, but it seems no-one is making small trucks anymore - even Toyota's version of mini truck is on steroids these days and the gas mileage for all the small trucks we looked at stank, plus the trucks combined with a decent cab shell cost a bloody fortune now. (The Element cost us about $21 K with all the taxes & everything , we got a 2005 model ).

Hope this helps, - Jo.

[Irulan]

I have an Isuzu Trooper, which by today's standards is a small SUV. We do use it offroad and to haul pontoon boats. If it wasn't for that, I'd be looking seriously at the Honda Element. Mr. Jobob just got one. Looks pretty durn spiffy.

I know exactly what you mean, we have a whitewater trailer that we have to haul, and the geologist hubby uses the Ford as a field vehicle ( work) If I have my way, the next one will be a hybrid. Our other car is a subaru.

And what Jo said about little trucks, whatever happened to them? We used to have a little tiny toy 4x4 that was awesome! I just read an article about GM and its over inventory of big things... they lose over 2K per rig that they build, and they say they didn't see the gas price increase coming.... what are they doing, living with their heads in the sand? /rant

[Kathi]

I just brought a Honda CRV. I love it too and our 2 road bikes or mtn bikes fit in it. Not sure what the difference is between the Element and the CRV. I just liked the looks of the CRV better.

Both are well rated by Consumer Reports.

[Kathi]

I just brought a Honda CRV. I love it too and our 2 road bikes or mtn bikes fit in it. Not sure what the difference is between the Element and the CRV. I just liked the looks of the CRV better.

Both are well rated by Consumer Reports.

I remember why I didn't consider the Element. Consumer Report said that "outward visibility is compromised by the large roof pillars". I didn't want anything blocking my visibility.

[pkq]

Kathi, the Element and CRV are on the same frame but that's about the only thing in common. I think the engine is different, too.

Another good thing about the Element is that it's made in the U.S., with mostly North American stuff.

jobob, I have hauled my bike to Louisiana, Texas, and other Southern states and to Oregon, Montana, and Canada just strapped down. Everything did just fine. The Element is a blast to travel in. I am too lazy to take the front wheel off. What color did you get? What color interior?

I've had many tell me the Element is ugly. Never heard spiffy. Thanks SadieKate.

Irulan, I've thought of writing about corporate America. You just wouldn't believe some of the stuff that goes on. It's pretty funny stuff.

If you consider the Element, I would recommend the stick. You have better control over the power band. I found the automatic to be just a little too mushy for my tastes.

[singletrackmind]

Between the Toyota and the Mitsubishi, the 'yota's better quality and should give you less problems over the long haul, plus have a better resale value. Moot if you aren't going to keep it more than a couple of years, though.
I have a '96 4runner and it hauls a two-kid baby trailer and bike (wheels off) inside, 3 bikes outside, all our bike stuff and my small tool box plus 4 adults and a baby. I don't, however, have mounts for bikes inside, nor do I ever fold the seats down.
The only thing I don't like about the 4runner is the 15mpg (3.4l engine). Everything else, from off-road capability (4wd, hi and lo) to a truck-like but fairly comfortable ride to haul capacity, I am very happy with.
Hondas have a good reputation and the one guy I know that hauls bikes in an Element likes it.

[jobob]

I remember why I didn't consider the Element. Consumer Report said that "outward visibility is compromised by the large roof pillars". I didn't want anything blocking my visibility.

I saw that too, and I mentioned it to my husband. Thing is, we're used to driving the small truck with the cab shell, which also compromises outward visibility, a lot! So, in the truck we rely more on the side-view mirrors than we would with a regular passenger car. Same with the Element. It's not the same as a passenger car, so you need to rely more on the side-view mirrors. CR rightly cautioned potential buyers about it in the event they were more used to the visibilty that passenger cars provide, and might not be comfortable with relying more on the mirrors. I suppose a lot of SUVs don't have this issue, since they're built more like passenger cars than is the Element. But bottom line, that was no biggie for us.

jobob, I have hauled my bike to Louisiana, Texas, and other Southern states and to Oregon, Montana, and Canada just strapped down. Everything did just fine.

Oh, I have no doubts, but you know men, they can't leave well enough alone

What color did you get? What color interior?

The gray with dark gray trim. We would have also gone for the green, but the gray was available, and we like that a bit more anyhow. We think it looks classy, in a cute sort of way ...

I've had many tell me the Element is ugly. Never heard spiffy.

Well, Lee and I think it's adorable. But we have kind of offbeat tastes. Lee's always ooh-ing and ahh-ing old Volkswagen minibusses, and if it weren't for the upkeep, we would probably have one of those. He considers the Element sort of a modern-day version of the minibus.

I can see how the Element would put some people off ... but then again, I think some of the SUVs out there are uuuugly as sin, so there you have it

If you consider the Element, I would recommend the stick. You have better control over the power band. I found the automatic to be just a little too mushy for my tastes.

Did you get the 2-wheel or the 4WD version? We got the 2 WD version, since we don't go offroad or seek out snow, and it saved us a couple of thou.

[Surlygirl]

I have the Honda Pilot and we put two skewer attachments on the back of the middle seats and when folded down we take the front wheels off the bikes and attach them to the mounts. When we take the whole family (5) we put our new trailer hitch mount yakima rack on. I absolutely love the Pilot but it was pricey.

[pkq]

jobob, I got the AWD because it snows where I live. It handles great in the snow. It handled great in about 8" of snow on the ground and still coming down, colder than the North pole, and night time. I was real impressed.

My tastes are kinda' off beat, too. I'm used to hearing people tell me that I am "different."

One thing I am considering is getting a cargo box for the top. With camping and biking gear, the interior can get a little cramped. Their is a owner's club with good ideas, if you are interested.

I read the visibility thing, too, but it's only been a problem once or twice in about 40,000 miles.

You'll love the Element!

[carback]

Sounds like most people are suggesting an SUV.

As I am not a fan of SUVs for many reasons, I'm going to play devil's advocate and recommend a Subaru. I drive a Subaru Outback with AWD. I have easily fit 2 bikes inside, plus gear. I"m sure a 3rd would fit if it needed to (granted, there'd only be room for 2 people).

With AWD and winter tires, I have all the traction and control I need and want (and I live & drive in the mountains. A lot). I also don't have a horrendous gas bill nor the guilt associated with gas guzzling. (I am now getting off my soapbox).

[wabisabi]

I agree about the Subaru; it is hard to beat in the mountains and snow, and I can easily load my 17' sea kayak on top by myself, and it holds the bike, wheels on and all! The parking lots here are full of them.