Best option for bicycle rack?

[Mark V.]

I'm towing a 1977 Boler with a 2009 Murano. This summer I'd like to bring 2 kids bikes and a 26" mountain bike. What's my best option for bringing them along?
Last year we simply put the bikes in the back of our van, but this year we've got the Murano and that's not an option. I can fit the kids bikes inside the trailer but the adult mountain bike is really too big for that.

I figure my options include:
1) back of the trailer on a custom bike rack (relocating the spare)
2) some form of rack on the hitch with an extender
3) on the roof of the suv
4) inside the trailer - not ideal

What are your thoughts and experiences?

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by Mark V.

I figure my options include:
1) back of the trailer on a custom bike rack (relocating the spare)
2) some form of rack on the hitch with an extender
3) on the roof of the suv
4) inside the trailer - not ideal

What are your thoughts and experiences?

I don't have experience with transporting bicycles with a trailer, although I would like to have bicycles along.
I've thought about the various ways, each of which have pros and cons:

1) on the back of the trailer

• pro: convenient access to bicycles
• con: counterbalance to tongue weight might induce sway
• con: where does the spare go?
• con: worries about bicycles which cannot be seen by driver

2) between the car and the trailer

• pro: relatively convenient access to bicycles
• pro: does not counterbalance tongue weight
• con: extender might induce sway
• pro: spare not relocated
• pro: within view of driver

3) on the roof of the suv

• con: inconvenient access to bicycles
• pro: no added sway
• pro: spare not relocated
• pro: vertical bicycle roof rack is more secure

4) inside the trailer

• con: inconvenient access to trailer
• pro: no added sway if loaded near front
• con: possible added sway if loaded near back
• pro: no modifications and nothing extra to buy

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Mark V.

I'm towing a 1977 Boler with a 2009 Murano. This summer I'd like to bring 2 kids bikes and a 26" mountain bike. What's my best option for bringing them along?
Last year we simply put the bikes in the back of our van, but this year we've got the Murano and that's not an option. I can fit the kids bikes inside the trailer but the adult mountain bike is really too big for that.

I figure my options include:
1) back of the trailer on a custom bike rack (relocating the spare)
2) some form of rack on the hitch with an extender
3) on the roof of the suv
4) inside the trailer - not ideal

What are your thoughts and experiences?

This works great for us...

[Mark V.]

Originally Posted by Frederick L. Simson

I don't have experience with transporting bicycles with a trailer, although I would like to have bicycles along.
I've thought about the various ways, each of which have pros and cons:

1) on the back of the trailer

• pro: convenient access to bicycles
• con: counterbalance to tongue weight might induce sway
• con: where does the spare go?
• con: worries about bicycles which cannot be seen by driver

2) between the car and the trailer

• pro: relatively convenient access to bicycles
• pro: does not counterbalance tongue weight
• con: extender might induce sway
• pro: spare not relocated
• pro: within view of driver

3) on the roof of the suv

• con: inconvenient access to bicycles
• pro: no added sway
• pro: spare not relocated
• pro: vertical bicycle roof rack is more secure

4) inside the trailer

• con: inconvenient access to trailer
• pro: no added sway if loaded near front
• con: possible added sway if loaded near back
• pro: no modifications and nothing extra to buy

I agree with all of these. At the moment my preference is swaying (pun intended) between #2 & #3.

#2 should also include: con: extender reduces hitch capacity by up to 50%
#4 should also include: con: potential for damage to trailer interior

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by Mark V.

pun intended

[Francesca Knowles]

Hi, Mark

I think this is the best thing since sliced bread in the bike rack department!
If you can afford it....
The load/unload from the rooftop looks SO easy!

Francesca
Towequipe - UK's best value towbar store - Roof Mounted Side loading Bike Cycle Carrier

[Jenny W.]

Originally Posted by Mark V.

I'm towing a 1977 Boler with a 2009 Murano. This summer I'd like to bring 2 kids bikes and a 26" mountain bike. What's my best option for bringing them along?
Last year we simply put the bikes in the back of our van, but this year we've got the Murano and that's not an option. I can fit the kids bikes inside the trailer but the adult mountain bike is really too big for that.

I figure my options include:
1) back of the trailer on a custom bike rack (relocating the spare)
2) some form of rack on the hitch with an extender
3) on the roof of the suv
4) inside the trailer - not ideal

What are your thoughts and experiences?

I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee, but am planning to purchase a new car later on this year and am considering a Murano. Let me know what you think so far.
Regarding the bike rack - I bought a Swagman rack that slips over the tow bar. Because of the back of my Jeep, I had to buy an extender in addition to a long draw bar. The rack easily folds down in order to lift the tailgate. I bought it off of Ebay for about $80.

[Greg H]

I'm thinking the roof rack, that's what we did when we had a Jeep Cherokee.

[theresa p]

floyd---i am very intrigued by your bike rack----where did you purchase it?

[Andy B]

Originally Posted by Frederick L. Simson

I don't have experience with transporting bicycles with a trailer, although I would like to have bicycles along.
I've thought about the various ways, each of which have pros and cons:

1) on the back of the trailer

• pro: convenient access to bicycles
• con: counterbalance to tongue weight might induce sway
• con: where does the spare go?
• con: worries about bicycles which cannot be seen by driver

2) between the car and the trailer

• pro: relatively convenient access to bicycles
• pro: does not counterbalance tongue weight
• con: extender might induce sway
• pro: spare not relocated
• pro: within view of driver

3) on the roof of the suv

• con: inconvenient access to bicycles
• pro: no added sway
• pro: spare not relocated
• pro: vertical bicycle roof rack is more secure

4) inside the trailer

• con: inconvenient access to trailer
• pro: no added sway if loaded near front
• con: possible added sway if loaded near back
• pro: no modifications and nothing extra to buy

Number 3 should also include
con: increased wind resistance
con: worries about bicycles which cannot be seen by driver

[kevinjustis]

Originally Posted by Mark V.

I'm towing a 1977 Boler with a 2009 Murano. This summer I'd like to bring 2 kids bikes and a 26" mountain bike. What's my best option for bringing them along?
Last year we simply put the bikes in the back of our van, but this year we've got the Murano and that's not an option. I can fit the kids bikes inside the trailer but the adult mountain bike is really too big for that.

I figure my options include:
1) back of the trailer on a custom bike rack (relocating the spare)
2) some form of rack on the hitch with an extender
3) on the roof of the suv
4) inside the trailer - not ideal

What are your thoughts and experiences?

We have a tandem and opted for the back of trailer, moved the spare to inside back of pickup. I think the only real good solution is to go to a van. We also carry 2 to 3 single bikes in back of truck. A long bed pickup with topper would work for us, don't want to spend the $.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by theresa p

floyd---i am very intrigued by your bike rack----where did you purchase it?

Thanks for the kind words...
The rails on which the bikes are mounted are standard items which are designed to be a universal fit on a roof rack. They are mounted in opposite directions to allow them to be closer together.
The balance of the rack is made from a pair of box fan legs and some old bedrails salvaged from the recycle bin.
A rack like it could easily be assembled from 1/2 thinwall and some angle iron for just a few bucks after buying the rails.
I used my mig welder for the assembly, and had planned to bolt it to the Scamp frame. Eschewing the idea of drilling into the frame ,I decided, at the last minute, to weld it on.
If you built a tongue box for your battery/propane you might even mount the rails on top of it. My design allows for more security for those items and a space for storing my"lego-levelers".

The "lego-levelers" storage was an after thought and it is not shown on the picture. it is just a locking shelf between the bike rails and the the crossbar pictured.

[Carol H]

I have carried bikes in the trailer and the down side of that is if you want to stop while on the road to get something out the fridge they are in the way! Considered putting them on the back but worry it might lighten up the tongue weight a little to much.

I ended up going with the roof rack on the car - it works out well and the rack gets used a lot with or without the trailer.

[artspe]

I use a 2 bike V-rack. Works well, but must be carefull not to jack-knife too much when backing.

Art

[Sam and Jess]

Oh man, I'm a cycling/triathlon dork and this is my kind of question!

I love roof-top racks for my own bikes (we have Thule fork-mount and Yakima frame-mount trays that made it a couple thousand problem-free miles last year). I like the secure mount, slightly reduced theft risk, and out-of-the way install and get a ton of use out of ours. If you don't already have a rack system, getting one also opens up the world of cargo carriers -- not sure how we'd get by without ours! Still, if I were not planning to use the rack regularly, the system would be a pain to put up/take down for just a couple trips per year.

For our camper trips we want easier access to the cargo box, and have run out of rooftop space to add our kids' bikes now that they're scooting around. The best non-roof prospect we've come up with (for 2 adult bikes & 2 kids' bikes) is a dual hitch plus hanging hitch rack. A swing-away model like the Thule Revolver is at the top of my shopping list right now because we can leave the bikes loaded up and move it to the side to access the hatch (unlike tilt-down models that require you to unload the bikes first). Kids' bikes usually fit better on hanging racks than trays, though any bike that doesn't have a straight top tube will need a frame adapter (adding $20-$30 to the cost of the rack).

I can't say I'd ever mount anything on the back of our Boler, but for anyone with a sturdier frame and better weight distribution than ours, Thule and Yakima both make tire-mount racks (popular on Jeeps) that wouldn't require you to move the spare.

-- Jess

[Pam Garlow]

I saw a photo of a truck with a receiver installed under the front bumper. They used a received mounted bike rack. According to them, the bikes do not impede the headlights at all. And you can use it for other things besides a bike rack.
Front Mount Trailer Hitch, Hidden Hitch Front Mount Receiver Hitch - TruckSpring.com

[Francesca Knowles]

For those of you that have the weight capacity at the rear of your vehicles and a 2" receiver...
My husband has one of these receiver-doublers that allows the install of a rack in the upper channel while towing.
He uses it for his motorcycle rack, but any 2" receiver-mounted rack/hauler/box will mount there.

Francesca


2" Dual Receiver Hitch, Hitches, Ball Mount, & Accessories, Trailering & Performance, Auto & ATV : Cabela's

[Kevin Poll]

Originally Posted by Sam and Jess

A swing-away model like the Thule Revolver is at the top of my shopping list right now because we can leave the bikes loaded up and move it to the side to access the hatch (unlike tilt-down models that require you to unload the bikes first).
-- Jess

thanks for mentioning this Jess, I was going to mention that a rack in between the trailer and tow vehicle might be in the way if you want to open the hatchback on the tow vehicle (like a murano, or in our case an odyssey).
the Thule revolver is a cool design for solving that problem, too bad it is so expensive ($580.00 CAD)

you also mentioned a top tube adapter for a hanging rack, i am trying to picture what that would look like?(I think i'd need one for one of my girls bikes)

-Kevin

[Carol H]

Before purchasing the roof bike rack I had (actually still do) a rather expensive one that fits on the hitch and swings down if you need to open the back of the car. The problem with it is it always rocked a bit. I have a number of friends with the same style from various makers and they all seem to do it. Thus the reason I prefer the roof rack as the bikes seem to be far more secure - no rocking about.

[Bill K]

Carol H,
Check your hardware store for a nylon or plastic wedge and drive it in the receiver to stop the rocking.

Then wrap some tape around the stinger to keep the wedge in.

Bill K

Originally Posted by Carol H

Before purchasing the roof bike rack I had (actually still do) a rather expensive one that fits on the hitch and swings down if you need to open the back of the car. The problem with it is it always rocked a bit. I have a number of friends with the same style from various makers and they all seem to do it. Thus the reason I prefer the roof rack as the bikes seem to be far more secure - no rocking about.