Mountain Bikes - show/tell me how you lug yours around!

[scottryana]

Fork mountain for mountain bikes is hard with all the different thru axles and skewers now. But back in the day the rack you speak of was very common. Long trays, and fork mounts but back then it was a pain to disconnect you brakes, pull your wheel off, put your dirty wheel in the car, etc. not to mention how many times I have seen guys ride away from the trailhead with no front brake. Lol. The 1UP system really is nice and simple.

 

[Mlachica]

Another thing I wanted to add was that I can open the swing outs without lowering the rack if no bikes are attached.

 

[bluecruiser]

Looks like fat bikes won't fit in the 1up. Anybody try? Thx

 

[conviccted]

Looks like fat bikes won't fit in the 1up. Anybody try? Thx

They will....they sell adaptors,check out there website.Good customer service and free shipping.

 

[ewillis]

1upUSA Here...nothing else compares! 1987 StumpJumper in tow...

 

[lumbee1]

Single bike Raxter rack.
Single speed and rigid.

 

[1973Guppie]

4x4 labs makes a kit, still have it sitting on the shelf, waiting to weld it together.

 

[LINUS]

Wow - quite a few options that look good so far, I'll research that 1upUSA one & look a little more at Rob's setup & think on that.
-Not counting out the North Shore one either now that if I do kick the bikes out, I can haul at least 3 other people where right now it's 2 comfortably or if 3, the guy riding in the backseat-half not folded has a few tires trying to fight him for space (not to mention the "bike blender" of 2-3 in back, beating each other & anything they contact back there.

Part of this is selfish as my previous bike is close to being called DOA (old GT Ruckus), and my new Santa Cruz frame recently landed & I don't want to 'bike blender' it in back with other bikes until it gets some earned rash of its own. New frame is just aluminum, but still nicer than anything previous I've had.

It's just a frame so I have 'till it's built to make a kosher way of being the designated driver & having a legit way carrying the bikes.

If I cheap out & try to use an old pair of trays that hold the fork & glue something together with the welder I'll post my Frankenstein, but unless that 1upUSA or the North Shore are heinously expensive, I'll prob go either of those, once I decide a fixed capacity of bikes I want to carry -- so far 2 & occasionally 3 & riders has been my norm.

 

[4loToys]

Wow - quite a few options that look good so far, I'll research that 1upUSA one & look a little more at Rob's setup & think on that.
-Not counting out the North Shore one either now that if I do kick the bikes out, I can haul at least 3 other people where right now it's 2 comfortably or if 3, the guy riding in the backseat-half not folded has a few tires trying to fight him for space (not to mention the "bike blender" of 2-3 in back, beating each other & anything they contact back there.

Part of this is selfish as my previous bike is close to being called DOA (old GT Ruckus), and my new Santa Cruz frame recently landed & I don't want to 'bike blender' it in back with other bikes until it gets some earned rash of its own. New frame is just aluminum, but still nicer than anything previous I've had.

It's just a frame so I have 'till it's built to make a kosher way of being the designated driver & having a legit way carrying the bikes.

If I cheap out & try to use an old pair of trays that hold the fork & glue something together with the welder I'll post my Frankenstein, but unless that 1upUSA or the North Shore are heinously expensive, I'll prob go either of those, once I decide a fixed capacity of bikes I want to carry -- so far 2 & occasionally 3 & riders has been my norm.

The North Shore is semi heinous, but literally the last rack you will ever need. Took me a while to stomach the price, but so glad I did now.

North Shore Racks

 

[Heckraiser]

I just throw the bike in the back of my buddy's tundra :shrugs:

 

[Sam I Am]

I have a surco that goes on the spare tire that works great. Lockable and holds three bikes very securely. And swings out with the spare to get access to things in the back of the truck.

 

[DOCBG]

Check out bump it off road and Mike has a swing out attachment for bike trays
Fixed Tire Carrier, Adjustable Tire Carrier, Gas Can Holder, Bike Mount and more for Toyota Landcruiser

 

[alia176]

I have a simple bike carrier that attaches to the spare tire. This is an old unit that attaches itself to the tire with straps so it's nothing fancy and the bikes swing out of the way with the tire. Simple and effective.

I find myself using the hitch mounted Yakima carrier that folds down on the 4Runner more often than not.

 

[DRTDuck]

I use the Yakima sparetime on my slee swing out.

View attachment 1140998

Same concept, but I have the Thule version. $50 on Craigslist most days.

 

[4loToys]

Check out bump it off road and Mike has a swing out attachment for bike trays
Fixed Tire Carrier, Adjustable Tire Carrier, Gas Can Holder, Bike Mount and more for Toyota Landcruiser

Problem is racks that grab by the fork are all but obsolete at this point with all the different configurations these days. I don't know of any modern mountain bike that still uses a standard quick release like that.

 

[LINUS]

Problem is racks that grab by the fork are all but obsolete at this point with all the different configurations these days. I don't know of any modern mountain bike that still uses a standard quick release like that.

Good point - I've been looking close at that North Shore setup & think I may build something that uses that style of holding by the fork bridge (not to confuse with the style I believe you are talking, the fork held by the axle - right?)

I think I'll make a setup ::similar:: to that North Shore, possibly simplified some, but also may make mine something you can bolt to the basket or tire swingarm, so you could just pull your swingarm to access your rear cargo area.
We'll see - still finishing some other stuff, and plotting bike frame buildup - so maybe I'll have a design welded up ~month.

Reason I'm leaning towards a swingarm based setup is it looks like with the 1upUSA you have to unload the rack to swing your swingarms to open the rear window (so full stripdown) - where if I make it a swingarm based setup you can leave the bikes & just swing the arms.

Am I right about the 1upUSA / need to unload so you can access rear cargo area?

 

[NM Frontier]

Check out bump it off road and Mike has a swing out attachment for bike trays
Fixed Tire Carrier, Adjustable Tire Carrier, Gas Can Holder, Bike Mount and more for Toyota Landcruiser

That system that Mike made for me works awesome, the idea was to make some thing that would utilize an existing tray system but get it off the roof and on the swing out. It fits two mountain bikes no sweat since the trays are off set for handle bar clearance. Drop bar bikes (road) fit ok, but its a lot tighter. I'm still stoked on how it all turned out, Mike did a great job making my idea come to be, with just a few measurements I took and a few picks of the trays mocked up to my spare on the drive way. Really glad to see him offering it to others!

I love how I can swing the hole mess out of the way. The ground clearance is acceptable also. As for axle standards, right now you can get an adapter to bolt on for both 20mm and 15mm thru axles, I haven't seen one out for 15x110 (Boost) but Im sure it wont be long. The nice part about using a thru axle converter is you gain a few more inches of clearance. As for fat bikes, your out of luck!

The one down side is you still have to deal with the front wheels inside the truck.

I'v had this set up for almost four years now, and still one of my favorite parts of the truck. Its held up great with lots of hard dirt road miles.

Here are a few more pics with out bikes on it:

 

[MANUCHAO]

I used to have a sportworks (now Thule) hitch rack, but having a drawer system on the cargo area....a swing out bike carrier was the only way to go for me.....
KUAT makes a tray that can hold 9mm, 15mm, and 20mm axle forks.. but these are expensive. There are others options to deal with different size forks..
Having a swing out type rack that sits above the rear bumper is what I was aiming for....

 

[zona]

The KUAT NV bike rack.

Functionally it's absolutely one of the best engineered bike racks, there's a lot of utility in this rack.

The bike rack sits high and allows me to go offroad with no clanking. You don't have to remove the front tires on the bike and it's super easy to install and remove--if you whine about your golf clubs being heavy this rack isn't for you, it's about 25lbs.

Carries up to four (4) FAT bikes, I have my tri bike up here because it was the easiest, fastest and lightest bike to throw up. Each bike rack tray carries up to 40lbs. If you have a 40lb bike you're over 60 and odds are it's a Schwinn with a banana seat...and that's cool, just heavy.

The second photo shows the tailgate open, it cannot fully open on an 80 with the Kuat if you have 4x4 labs bumper--I put a towel down between the KUAT and tailgate.

The third photo shows how the NV folds up, locks in place and holds the bike with a goose neck bracket that allows you to work on your bike if you need to change a flat, adjust seat, clean, etc. I often put my bike up there and pretend I'm doing stuff...yeah, I have very few skills, but I look good.

The third photo shows a black dial below my pedal on the bike where I can tighten the hitch attachment chingadera to the hitch mount so there's no inner clanking or jiggle in the hitch.

The KUAT also has 1/4" thick bike rope that pulls out of each end of the rack where the tires sit and connects through the bike to prevent theft. It has it's own lock and key so no need to bring one.

What it doesn't do is serve you beer.

Zona

 

[ericbirk]

+1 vote for the North Shore rack and Kuat NV1 as well. Main use is dh bike runs so it has to hold weight well.

I have the Kuat and the only complaint is the internal lock cable needs to be longer. Nice plus is the added built in bike stand.

With the dual swing 4x4Labs rear I had to grab a hitch extension that also lowered it to clear the swing out. The NS rack caused me issues there.

Have shuttled DH bikes with the NS for years up some hagard roads with no issues.