We’d like to take the mystery out of selecting the right bike rack for you, so let us guide you through the many options we offer and shed light on some important factors to consider before making your purchase.
First, and most important: Your bike, rack, and vehicle must fit together properly in order to work safely. Besides being a potential safety hazard, a poorly fitted bike rack could damage your vehicle or bike or could itself be lost, stolen or damaged.
To help you make the best choice, we’ve put together a list of the most common considerations we discuss with our customers:
Usage,
Bike Specs,
Vehicle Specs,
Safety and Protection, and
Cost. You’ll also find an overview of the various Types of Bike Racks that we offer.
Please give us a
call or email if we can help you with any other questions. We’d love to keep adding to this page, so please feel free to
contact us with any suggestions that will help make this a better resource for customers like you.
How frequently will you need to use your bike rack? Do you anticipate that this will change in the near future?
You will appreciate having a top-quality, durable, easy-to-carry bike rack, especially if you’ll be using it on a frequent basis. Don’t struggle with a poorly made bike rack! If it’s cumbersome and difficult to use, you’ll be much less likely to take your bike(s) along than you would when using one of our quality-made racks. Also, be sure to consider whether your current needs will match those just around the bend: resolutions to be more active, cycling with a new partner, buying a new bike, more travel, etc.
How far will you typically be traveling with your bike(s)?
Quality and durability matter whether you’re going across town or across the country, but for those longer trips, they are even more essential. Also, long journeys may lead to shifting of your bike(s), so you’ll want to make sure to choose the most stable of our many fine racks.
How heavy is your bike, and how well can you handle lifting it?
When using roof racks and higher rear-mounted bike carriers, it is important to consider the weight and expected handling of your bike.
- Can you lift your bike by yourself, and if so, how high?
- Can you hold it in position with one hand while using the other to secure it to/remove it from the rack?
- Will you be mounting/unmounting your bike alone, or with a partner?
Where will you park your vehicle with the bike rack attached? Are there any space considerations?
- For rear-mounted racks: if your destination requires parallel parking, you’ll need to consider the extra length a rack will add to your vehicle.
- For roof racks: if you’ll be driving on roadways with low overpasses or parking in a parking garage or your own garage, you must consider the added height.
Where and how will you store your bike rack when you are at home?
If you’d like to leave your rack–and possibly your bike(s)–mounted to your vehicle when parking at home, you must consider your garage’s space limitations before attempting to park there. Be extra cautious regarding the height of your storage space for roof-mounted racks.
Do you enjoy other sports in addition to cycling?
How many bikes will you need to carry at one time?
Many racks will carry at least two bikes, and we offer rear-mounted bike racks that can carry up to five bikes.
TIP: If you’ll be carrying a combination of adult and child-sized bikes, you may be able to carry the smaller bikes inside your vehicle, thus requiring a lower-capacity rack.
Do you need to carry specialty bikes, such as tandem, recumbent, or bikes with an odd-shaped frame?
In general, roof-mounted racks are the best, easiest way to carry such bikes. You’ll also find rear-mounted racks specially outfitted for a tandem, recumbent, or other specialty frame bike in our
Specialty Bike Racks section.
Does your vehicle already have a hitch or roof-mounted utility rack? What is the load capacity of that hitch or rack?
Check your vehicle owner’s manual or call your dealer to learn more about how to use the existing features on your vehicle.
TIP: Some dealers will install a bike rack for you.
Will you need to use the bike rack on more than one vehicle?
If you own multiple vehicles and would like to use your bike rack on more than one of them, refer to What Fits My Vehicle? to find a rack that will fit on all of your vehicles. T
runk-Mounted Bike Racks tend to be the most versatile; however, you can mount a Roof Rack Mounting System on each vehicle and purchase a bike rack that will fit on both systems so that you can switch between vehicles. We offer high-quality Roof-Rack Mounting Systems from both
THULE and
Yakima.
Are you currently renting or leasing your vehicle(s)?
Consider both short-term and long-term needs before investing in a bike rack. If you are renting or leasing your vehicle and would like to invest in a rack now, refer to What Fits My Vehicle? to find a versatile
Trunk-Mounted Bike Rack that can be used on a variety of vehicles.
Where on your vehicle would you prefer to carry your bike(s)?
The two possible locations for your bike rack are on the roof and at the rear of the vehicle. Consider the location that would be the most practical for you. As previously stated, you should think about how heavy your bike is, how high you can lift it by yourself, whether you can hold it in place with one hand while mounting/unmounting, and whether you’ll most often be mounting/unmounting it alone. We offer a wide variety of
Roof Bike Racks, Trunk-
Mounted Bike Racks, as well as
Pick-up Bike Racks and
Towing Bike Racks for campers and RVs.
TIP: If you’d like to use a roof rack but are concerned with being able to reach your vehicle’s roof, it can be helpful to bring along a step stool or one of our convenient Wheel Steps (see
Accessories) to stand on when accessing your bike(s).
Does your vehicle have a rear-mounted spare tire?
If you are considering a rear-mounted or hitch-mounted bike rack, be aware that the rear-mounted spare tire on Jeeps and other SUVs may interfere with typical rear racks. We offer
Spare-Tire Bike Racks that are specially designed to integrate with the spare and provide a secure fit. If you prefer a hitch-mounted bike rack for a vehicle with a rear-mounted spare, be sure to consult our
Hitch Bike Rack Clearance Guide for Spare Tires for measuring instructions before ordering.
How big a concern is theft prevention (based on parking location and other factors)?
Any time you must leave your bikes–or the rack itself–unattended (on-street parking, parking lots, campgrounds, parks, etc.), we highly recommend a lock or lock system to keep your bikes secured to the rack and the rack secured to your vehicle. We sell a variety of
locks and lock systems for all types of racks in our Accessories department.
TIP: Since no bike or rack can be completely protected by a locking mechanism, it’s always best to park in a highly visible area.
How concerned are you about protecting the painted finish on your bike and/or your vehicle?
TIP: Be sure to re-check your padding and bike rack straps regularly during long trips, as shifting may occur.
How much are you willing/able to invest in a bike rack?
For the most cost-conscious, rear-mounted bike racks tend to be the least expensive. While they are a secure alternative to roof-mounted racks, you may find that the benefits of a roof-mounted rack outweigh budget issues.
Do you think of a bike rack as a short-term or a long-term investment?
Consider the advantages of one of our top-quality, durable, easy-to-use bike racks when making either type of investment, regardless of whether you choose a rear-mounted or roof-mounted rack. The dependability you’ll enjoy with a sturdy, well-made rack will see you through years of cycling enjoyment, knowing that it will get your bikes safely to your destination every time.
TYPES OF BIKE RACKS
ROOF-MOUNTED BIKE RACKS
Key Features/Details:
- Provides the best protection of any type of rack against damage to the finish of bike frame
- The best way to carry tandem and recumbent bikes
- Keeps bikes up and out of the way
- Makes parallel parking with rack attached easy as opposed to a rear-mount rack
- Requires a crossbar system on roof of vehicle
- Bikes must be hoisted to car roof. A small step stool, ladder, or one of our Wheel Steps (see Accessories) will help you reach a high vehicle roof.
- Requires care when traveling under low-clearance bridges and in parking garages
- Roof-mounted bikes create wind resistance.
- TIP: Consider covering handlebars and saddle to protect from in-transit insects.
REAR-MOUNTED BIKE RACKS
Main Types: 1) trunk-mounted, 2) hitch-mounted, and 3) spare-tire racks
Key Features/Details of all rear-mounted racks:
- Most popular location for carrying bikes
- Modest price, wide selection available
- You may wish to take precautions to protect bikes from rubbing against each other during transit.
- Caution must be used when parking the vehicle to account for the extra rear length.
1. Trunk-Mounted Bike Racks
Key Features/Details:
- Most trunk-mounted bike rack systems are secured to your vehicle by a set of adjustable nylon straps. The straps hook to the top of the trunk lid, under the trunk lid or bumper, and sometimes to the sides of the trunk lid.
- TIP: The straps must be securely tightened at all times. Re-check the straps frequently, especially after loading the bike and at stops along your trip.
- Versatility: Fits sedans, hatchbacks, minivans and SUVs, increasing possible compatibility with more than one of your vehicles
- Very portable, low cost, easy to use, easy to store
- You only need to hoist your bike to waist-level.
- Bikes are positioned close together, so you may wish to protect their paint finish by inserting foam blocks or pieces of foam pipe insulation between them.
- All trunk-mounted racks are fitted with pads to protect your vehicle’s finish.
2. Hitch-Mounted Bike Racks
Hitch-mounted bike carriers are a very stable and secure way to transport your bike(s). They have many practical features that eliminate many of the negatives of other types of bike racks.
Key Features/Details:
- Available with a carrying capacity of up to 5 bikes. Capacity is limited by the maximum tongue weight that the hitch and vehicle can carry.
- Easy to install and remove, so a great choice for long or frequent trips
- Connects to vehicle through the use of a receiver. If your vehicle doesn’t come with a pre-installed receiver, you will need to have one installed.
- Use of receiver provides a stable attachment that keeps the rack from shifting or moving during travel.
- Bikes do not make contact with your vehicle.
- Prevents theft of rack: a locking hitch pin can be used to secure the rack to the hitch.
- Available in two styles:
- A tube-top rack holds the bike by the frame.
- A tray rack cradles the bike tires in a tray, which holds the bike in an upright position.
- Bikes are carried parallel to the vehicle.
- Some hitch-mounted bike racks have an added swing-away or fold-down feature. This allows you to access the trunk or rear cargo area without completely removing the bike rack when not in use, and in some cases even with your bike(s) mounted on the rack.
- You may wish to protect your bike tires from the vehicle’s exhaust pipe.
NOTE: If your vehicle has a rear-mounted spare tire and you are considering a hitch-mounted bike rack, be sure to consult our
How to Choose a Spare Tire Rack before purchasing a Spare-Tire Rack, as you must take vehicle measurements to ensure proper ground clearance. Fit Guides are not sufficient in determining which rack to buy because there are too many variables involved, e.g., the placement of the hitch, and the size of the tire.
3. Spare-Tire Bike Racks
As their name suggests, Spare-Tire Bike Racks attach securely to the spare tire on the rear of the vehicle.
Key Features/Details:
- Available with a maximum carrying capacity of 2 bikes, due to strength limits
- Carrying arms collapse or fold down when not in use.
- Some models have a centering mechanism to balance the load of an offset tire.
TIP: Use caution to ensure that the rack does not obstruct brake lights.
PICKUP TRUCK BIKE RACKS
We offer racks for your truck in the following varieties:
- Rods or bars: these mount across the truck bed, with quick-release brackets that hold the bike’s front fork
- Quick-release mounting brackets: these bolt to any flat surface, including a truck bed floor, sidewalls, or to a piece of lumber laid across the truck bed floor
Key Features/Details of both types:
- Allow quick attachment and release of bike
- Let you carry multiple bikes in your truck bed safely and securely.
- Select models may have an available locking mechanism.
- Protect your truck’s paint finish.
- Most models require no drilling.
- Some models allow the bike tire to remain attached.
TOWING BIKE RACKS
Key Features/Details:
- Bike racks for campers/RVs are available in bumper mounts and hitch mounts.
- You may also use some strap-style bike racks on campers.