Bicycle roof rack for a car: TOP of the best models
Content
The price of car racks for bicycles on the roof, towbar or tailgate depends on the material of execution and the number of options.
Fans of cycling go on vacation, for the weekend with their bikes. The problem of transporting a "two-wheeled friend" even to another country is solved by a bicycle rack on the roof of a car.
Bike rack features
Structurally, bike racks for a car are simple but strong devices that represent a bike mounting system at two or three points.
Varieties
You can place your bike in three places in your vehicle. Hence the different types of construction:
On the roof
A bicycle roof rack for a car requires a base - the main rack with standard roof rails and two crossbars. Depending on the width of the base, you can carry 3-4 bikes. Fasten them:
- for 3 points - two wheels and a frame;
- or in two places - behind the front fork and rear wheel, removing the front.
The choice of the number and method of fastenings is determined by the design of the device. A bicycle roof rack doesn't add length to your car, but a height-limited parking lot won't work for you.
Bicycle holder on car
The doors of the car and the luggage compartment open freely, each transported unit of cargo is attached separately, does not come into contact with one another. But in the cabin there is noise from the headwind, the windage of the transport increases, its aerodynamics worsens with a simultaneous increase in fuel consumption. The sunroof of the car becomes useless.
To the back door
The bike rack on the rear door of the car is not mounted on all models of cars.
Bicycle rack for the back door of the car
As a basis, a special design is needed here in two versions:
- in the first version, the bikes hang on the frame, are attached at two points and are pulled together by straps;
- in the second - bicycles are mounted on rails, fixed in three places.
A bicycle rack for a car on the back door is convenient for ease of installation, while you can use the towbar and the top rack on the roof of the car. But it will not work to open the back door: the hinges will suffer. The view in the rear-view mirrors is also limited, license plates and stern lights are closed. True, you can hang a separate plate with signs and lights by connecting them to the on-board electrical network.
Towbar
This is the next version of the bike rack for the rear of the car, allowing you to safely transport four two-wheelers.
Luggage rack for a bicycle
A bike rack with or without a platform is installed on the towbar ball:
- In the first version, the bikes are placed on the platform, fixed by the wheels and the frame.
- In the second option, the transported cargo must be additionally tightened with ribbons. In this case, the bicycles come into contact with each other and the paint may suffer.
Belts
On off-road vehicles with an external spare wheel, bicycles are fastened with belts to a spare tire free from a protective cover. The spare wheel bracket can support, however, no more than two units.
Load
Bicycle racks are made of steel, aluminum and titanium alloys. Models differ in their own weight. Aluminum structures are lighter than others, but from 2 to 4 bicycles with a total maximum weight of up to 70 kg can be lifted on board.
Mounting Options
Two-wheeled vehicles are fastened with clamps, clips, belts.
bike carrier
There are four main methods of bike racking:
- Standard. Mount the bike wheels on the frame, fix with clamps, attach the frame to the base trunk with a bracket.
- Inverted variant. Turn sports equipment upside down with wheels, fasten it to the saddle and steering wheel.
- For the frame and fork. Remove the front wheel, fasten the fork to the first cross member, fix the rear wheel to the appropriate rail.
- Pedal mount. Hook the bike to the pedals. This is not a reliable method, as the cargo roll appears.
TOP of the best bike racks
The price of car racks for bicycles on the roof, towbar or tailgate depends on the material of execution and the number of options.
Budget
To install inexpensive bike racks, you need regular places: roof rails and towbars. Easy-to-install models are outwardly bulky and not neat enough:
- Thule Xpress 970. Designed for 2 items per hitch. Price - 210 rubles, weight limit - 30 kg.
- Car trunk with a platform on the hitch. Carries 4 bicycles, costs 540 rubles.
- Thule FreeRide 532. A device for transporting one bike on the roof, costs 160 rubles.
Budget bicycle racks are mounted in 5 minutes, they take up little space during storage. Only the bicycle is locked with a key, and the trunk itself is easy prey for thieves.
Average Price
These are auto accessories with steel fasteners with U-shaped brackets. Tourists are in demand:
- Inter V-5500 - black, installed on the roof. Price - 1700 rubles.
- STELS BLF-H26 - for wheel size 24-28", black. A bike rack on the back door of a car costs 1158 rubles.
- STELS BLF-H22 - cantilever type for wheels 20-28" black-red, designed to carry sports equipment from the rear. Price - 1200 rubles.
Aluminum products of the middle price category are equipped with reflectors.
Premium
In expensive models, there are two locks: for transported inventory and the trunk itself. Products made of titanium alloys:
- Thule Clip-On S1. Carries 3 units of sports equipment on the back door of a car. Securely attaches bikes to hatchbacks and vans. The carrying capacity of the device is 45 kg, the cost is from 12 rubles.
- Whispbar WBT. With tow bar platform, carries 3-4 bikes. "Masterpiece of engineering" (according to customer reviews) has a mounting indicator, a loading frame to roll two-wheeled vehicles onto the platform. Price - from 47 thousand rubles.
- Thule Clip-On High S2. The folding car trunk is installed on the back door, does not cover license plates, is equipped with rubber covers for parts of bicycles that come into contact with the car. Price - from 30 thousand rubles.
How to choose a car trunk
Bike racks for cars are not a one-time thing.
Mounting a bike on a car
When choosing, proceed from the following considerations:
- Price. The more expensive the product, the more options.
- The number of bikes transported. If you need to transport one bike for a short distance, get an inexpensive model. Match your purchase with the brand of your car and the width of its roof: sedans carry no more than three pieces of sports equipment.
- Materials. Aluminum racks are lightweight, but corrode quickly. Steel products are more durable, but first calculate the carrying capacity of your car and be prepared for increased fuel consumption.
Focus on well-known manufacturers of auto accessories: Thule, Mont Blanc, Atera, Menabo.
