Roof rack. Mountain bike and surfboard
- Thread starter NoiseyH2O
- Start date
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My LandBruiser with 2 boards strapped to the rack. One is a 10-2 longboard other one on top is a 7-6 fish
Surf boards go on the roof. Bikes go on the back. A taller car eats more gas. Plus lifting a bike up to the roof seems... impractical. My four bike hitch carrier has worked great and i couldnt imagine putting a bike on the roof unless i had to. Also, i can put bikes on the back PLUS a surfboard on the roof and still fit into my garage or a drive thru on a long trip. Pictures are lacking, but thats my $0.02
Unless you need to tow something behind the truck that youre not telling us about.
Unless you need to tow something behind the truck that youre not telling us about.
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Yeah if you can do hitch definitely the way to go. Surf can stay up top. They're a little easier to load and secure without having to climb all the way up to lock down like you would have to with a bike.
I use a Thule T2, carries my DH bike & Cruiser just perfectly.
I use a Thule T2, carries my DH bike & Cruiser just perfectly.
I second the T2 from Thule. It's a very solid setup for your bikes.
I use a Yak/Thule mix on the roof. I like the Thule Echelon fork mounts.
We're in a bit of a transition time with racks and mountain bikes. A lot's changed in the past few years...
- Thru-axles
- 29" wheels
- MUCH wider bars
- FS frames
All of ^those^ are impacting racks, e.g. wide bars + 29" wheels mean you've got space the bikes out more - not just alternate front to back, because the bars don't clear the 29" wheels like they did the 26". Thru-axles mean adapters for fork mounts. Full suspension frames (especially smaller sizes) can be tough to situate on hitch racks that grab the frame... and the list goes on.
I still like my roof rack - it helps that my road bike weights 16.1 pounds and my FS 29er weighs 22.4 pounds... but with a Lefty, it's a bit of a pain in the ass. If I were starting from scratch (READ: didn't have $1,250 in the rack already) I'd buy this:
http://www.1upusa.com/
The 1UpUSA racks are "scalable" - you can add as you go, up to 4 bikes. They hold the bike by the wheels - works on road bikes, 29ers, etc.
I'll end up with one of these anyway... need one for the CJ
We're in a bit of a transition time with racks and mountain bikes. A lot's changed in the past few years...
- Thru-axles
- 29" wheels
- MUCH wider bars
- FS frames
All of ^those^ are impacting racks, e.g. wide bars + 29" wheels mean you've got space the bikes out more - not just alternate front to back, because the bars don't clear the 29" wheels like they did the 26". Thru-axles mean adapters for fork mounts. Full suspension frames (especially smaller sizes) can be tough to situate on hitch racks that grab the frame... and the list goes on.
I still like my roof rack - it helps that my road bike weights 16.1 pounds and my FS 29er weighs 22.4 pounds... but with a Lefty, it's a bit of a pain in the ass. If I were starting from scratch (READ: didn't have $1,250 in the rack already) I'd buy this:
http://www.1upusa.com/
The 1UpUSA racks are "scalable" - you can add as you go, up to 4 bikes. They hold the bike by the wheels - works on road bikes, 29ers, etc.
I'll end up with one of these anyway... need one for the CJ
Swagman 4 banger platform hitch mount for bikes. Or if you have deep pockets get the northshore.
http://www.swagman.net
http://northshoreracks.com
http://www.swagman.net
http://northshoreracks.com
I agree with the bike on a hitch carrier to minimize aero profile. I have a tandem and thought I would have to resort to a roof mount. Went with a Yakima Highlite 3 and it’s worked just fine for all my odd shaped bikes – tandem, dual suspension Y frame trek, etc. I find tire/tray type mounts to be way too large and clunky.
The Highlite is aluminum and easy enough for even my wife to put on/take off. Most importantly, I can get at the liftgate and tailgate when loaded.
The Highlite is aluminum and easy enough for even my wife to put on/take off. Most importantly, I can get at the liftgate and tailgate when loaded.
Just tried the 1up rack. Very nice but will not work with a swing arm tire carrier. The swingarm hits the middle, pendulum part...I guess you could get an extension, but my measurements said that he had to be at least 14 inches, plus...
The one thing that sticks about a hitch rack is that your bike will need to be filthy each time you are on a dirt road. Need a full cleaning!
The one thing that sticks about a hitch rack is that your bike will need to be filthy each time you are on a dirt road. Need a full cleaning!
I use a Yak/Thule mix on the roof. I like the Thule Echelon fork mounts.
We're in a bit of a transition time with racks and mountain bikes. A lot's changed in the past few years...
- Thru-axles
- 29" wheels
- MUCH wider bars
- FS frames
All of ^those^ are impacting racks, e.g. wide bars + 29" wheels mean you've got space the bikes out more - not just alternate front to back, because the bars don't clear the 29" wheels like they did the 26". Thru-axles mean adapters for fork mounts. Full suspension frames (especially smaller sizes) can be tough to situate on hitch racks that grab the frame... and the list goes on.
I still like my roof rack - it helps that my road bike weights 16.1 pounds and my FS 29er weighs 22.4 pounds... but with a Lefty, it's a bit of a pain in the ass. If I were starting from scratch (READ: didn't have $1,250 in the rack already) I'd buy this:
http://www.1upusa.com/
The 1UpUSA racks are "scalable" - you can add as you go, up to 4 bikes. They hold the bike by the wheels - works on road bikes, 29ers, etc.
I'll end up with one of these anyway... need one for the CJ
I fabricated up a tire mount.
Big fan of the Kuat NV on my LC. I have the extension as well so I can get 4 bikes on the back. Here it is on a typical weekend.
Cool. Thats quite a sight. Must be noisy on the highway with the Kayaks up there?
Not at all. I have a Thule fairing on the front of the rack. But I don't notice any noise at all. The key is to cinch the straps down really tight so that they don't vibrate in the wind.
Loud, I had pictured you as a hardcore mountain bike guy. Not a beach bike cruiser guy. You need a beer cozy on that cruiser!
I mountain bike, and sometimes I drive down the road to another mountain and go skiing on the same day. Cruiser pic was all I had for a good shot of the rack. Took it when the bike was new before putting some additions on.
I have a set of four Thule racks for the roof with a fairing that I like alot. It is problematic with drive through windows and bank tellers, but live and learn. My racks are full stand up type (not fork mount). I carry a small aluminum 3 step ladder in the back and alternate the direction of the bikes. It's not too tough to put them up there. I have a picture somewhere I will find and share.
I have a hitch rack too, but can't use it when pulling the travel trailer. I also find that the bike frames are all so different that the hitch rack gets goofy real quick and pedals, handlebars and seats start to conflict.
I have a hitch rack too, but can't use it when pulling the travel trailer. I also find that the bike frames are all so different that the hitch rack gets goofy real quick and pedals, handlebars and seats start to conflict.
Small tip, if you are using flat straps, you can put a few twists in them and cuts vibration quite a bit. We put two 13 foot kayaks on roof occasionally, I can't cinch ours down to a maximum, the hulls will start to flex.
You can also have a receiver hitch installed on the trailer for the hitch rack.
I don't use a pedestal rack just because of the issue with handle bars and pedals. i do like the tray racks. Takes 5 seconds to put a bike on the rack.