I own two trek MTB. I currently use my tundra to go to the local state park. But I want to take my 4runner with my bike. Except I have a rear tire carrier bumper. Wonder how ya load your bike especially with rear bumpers.

On my 2001 I had two different ways depending on how far. For local rides I had a two bike hitch mounted rack. If I was traveling with the bike or two bikes I made a cheap mount for inside and better security. Took a piece of 2x8 mounted two of the holders for the front fork (with front tire removed). I could drop the rear seat and remove the front tire and seat post to roll bike in backwards and secure the fork to the mount on the board. I added some cheap plastic with hooks on backside to keep it in place. It worked fine and kept me from taking bikes into a hotel room.
At times I considered a roof rack mount but really did not want to lift bikes up there after a hard ride and deal with smacking them into overhead stuff like the garage. Tip - if you choose a roof rack put the garage door opener in your seat pack on the bike to force you to remember you have a bike up there when coming to your garage.

Wherever they fit best at the time:



(that was pre other mods, but I still have the same bike racks for use)

I like the hitch rack in most cases - better fuel economy, easier loading, can't hit it on the garage, etc. With a rear tire carrier on there, you may not be able to get a hitch setup to work easily.

-Charlie

I’ve had two of these vertical racks now. Previously a north shore and now the recon. They both have holes so you can slide them further in or out, not sure it would clear a rear tire carrier. I have mine all the way out otherwise the hitch insert hits the spare tire underneath.

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You need to measure the distance from the receiver hitch pin hole to the outer face of the tire and go from there.
Certain racks will have more distance built into them than others. If you need to add an extension, make sure it is tension-able
or the rack will flop around all over - no matter how well it is designed to snug up inside the original receiver tubing.

Yeah I understand and I agree. Just trying to see those who already run something with tire carrier

If you're traveling with luggage or camping gear inside, I can see the need for racks. But local commutes with no cargo, why use a rack?
1 bike: Lay it the back. 2 bikes: lay them in the back, 1furniture blanket in between. 3 bikes: same thing, 2 blankets.

I have one of these.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It's not fabulously expensive, but I was rear-ended over winter and it kept that full-size Suburban off my bumper. Lost a little paint off the rack and it leans a tad to the passenger side. But it still works perfectly and I use it every week.

For use with a tire-carrier, you can remove the inner bike mounts and use it as a single or buy an extension and push it out further. It doesn't exactly hug up the back of the Runner as it is.




I use the rack b/c it keeps dirt/crap out of my truck and it's easier to load/unload...especially when tired.
Plus I keep all my MTB gear in a milk crate just inside the back window. No shuffling, no chain lube all over my interior, etc. MTBs are bigger than ever. You'd be surprised what a PITA it is to load one into the back of a Runner if there's anything else back there.

I agree with pluton. Take off the front and back wheels and you can fit two in the back without even folding down the seats. If you're worried about getting the interior dirty, put down a blanket. It's free, you don't have to worry about theft, the bikes are protected from the elements and other vehicles, no decrease in mpg, no worries about parallel parking (like there is with a rear rack) or clearance in garages (like there is with rooftop racks).

You're paying more at the pump to drive a vehicle that can haul a lot of stuff inside it, so you might as well haul stuff inside it right?

I decided I would mostly use my SR5 as a covered pickup truck. I took out the rear seat bottoms and leave the rear seat backs flipped forward. I haul a 6' long recumbent bike in back that I use 3-4 times a week, and I also use the truck as a weekend dispersed camping vehicle, with a simple single sleeping platform I can slide in the back. I also leave a black moving pad full-time down on the floor.

There have only been a couple instances where I have put back in one on the rear seat bottoms to be able to carry three people. It is so easy to bolt the seat bottoms in.

A good friend and I usually throw our bikes in the back. It can fit two pretty easily, even with my subwoofer. I use buckle straps to the tie downs and remove the front wheel.

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I haven't ridden a MTB since the late 1980's, but at that time I had a Jeep XJ. Rear seats folded down, strip of ply with a fork mount (actually 2) and the bikes fit perfectly. I could carry a 3rd in a pinch, but no room for that 3rd passenger.

I've used roof racks too, though never a hitch rack, and MUCH prefer my original setup in the vehicle. I hate loading things over-head.

If you have the rear bumper tire carrier, have you considered something like the Yakima "Spareride"? SpareRide | Spare Tire Bike Rack | Yakima

If you care anything about the inside of your vehicle or if you have a car seat for your kid in there, carrying the bike inside your vehicle may not be the best idea. I've seen headliners ripped due to the ends of handlebars, interior panels deeply gouged from pedals and chainrings. Additionally, a determined bike thief isn't going to let your windows be a barrier.

Your observations make sense, but just to clarify:
1. If you ride one of the heavier, downhill-flavored bikes, I can see that weight might be an issue. My bike is light...probably about 28 pounds fully assembled.
2. I take the front wheel off, roll the bike in ass-first on the remaining rear wheel, then lean it over onto the copious other items that are always in the car.
3. Out here in dry California (no/few water crossings), we use dry chain lube that doesn't contain oil and doesn't leave marks or stains.
4. I do have the 4Runner's rear seat bottoms removed most of the time, so if your bike is long (29er, maybe) space could be an issue.
5. Furniture blankets are cheap and can be used to protect the car from the bike, and the bikes from each other.
Good luck with whatever system you decide on.