View Poll Results: Would you prefer a roof rack or hitch mounted rack for bikes?
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Roof
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45 |
20.27% |
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Hitch
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177 |
79.73% |
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06-23-2013, 12:51 PM
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#16
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NC
Posts: 9
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Junior Member
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Location: NC
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Roof or Hitch? I chose neither. $30 bucks in fork mounts and a 2 x 6 (and some cool stickers) and I can run my road and mountain bikes in the back. works for me, but obviously you trade space for bikes!
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06-28-2013, 09:45 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Here and there
Posts: 2,821
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Thule hitch rack on the 4Runner. Thule roof rack on the Audi.
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07-02-2013, 03:52 PM
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#18
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Houston, TX
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2010 trail, Icon shift nobs before I left the lot (from previous 2011 sr5), kappa mod, baja rack, Goodyear MT/R 285-70-17s, SCS Stealth 6 Bronze, Icon extended travel front coil overs set at 2.5, rear Icon shocks n Overland springs, Icon tubular uniiball UCAs, Metal Tech Adjustable Rear LCAs, Total Chaos LCA bracket skids, Icon rear shock lower guards, Shrockworks step sliders, advanced cup holder mod (added coozies), full Shrockworks underbelly babaaaay (skid plates), sPod, CBI rear bumper and tire carrier. ARB air compressor, ENGO winch, Shrockworks front bumper, Vision X led pods under, Engo 20 in bar, rear Rigid, and Ditch Lights. Safari Snorkel on the way.
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07-02-2013, 11:42 PM
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#19
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: East Bay, Norcal
Posts: 21
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Location: East Bay, Norcal
Posts: 21
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Looks good to me and they are locked up indoors with no chance of falling off the rack!
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07-03-2013, 01:41 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Iowa
Posts: 3,146
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It really depends. The roof racks are nice for parking and maybe everyday driving if ya don't have to deal with parking ramps. BUT for interstate driving it sucks and kills your gas mileage which is why if you are roadtripping with bikes and need space inside your vehicle the hitch one makes sense. So I guess I have no finite answer just some things to think about.
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07-12-2013, 10:40 AM
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#21
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Gainesville, Virginia
Age: 41
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Real Name: Matt
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If you're doing mostly local trips with no more than 2 bikes, I'll 2nd the interior bike rack. Works great and you can leave your bike in there w/ no worries!
Interior bike rack
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Radflo 2.5 F 700#/R 220# / Desert Racing Uniball UCA / 285/70/17 Duratrac on 17x8 Konig Six Shooter / RCI Full Skids / BAMF LCA Skid / Shrockworks 3 Hoop Bumper / Custom WhiteKnuckle Sliders / Custom WMW Roof rack / CVJ Reman'd Axles / 06+ Facelift / Custom sound system / AIP Bypass / LED Gauges,Dash,Interior / Wiring, aux. lighting, dual battery, custom cargo box in progress...
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07-13-2013, 04:04 PM
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#22
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Tucson, AZ
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I've done both... if you are lifted, hitch. If not, it doesn't really matter. Keep in mind you may forget about bikes on top of your car if you have a garage. Also that if you have a really nice bike and someone rearends you with them on a hitch mount that sucks too. Lifting a 30lb MTB is different than lifting an 18lb Roadie. My $.02 is that you probably will spend more for roof mounting than if you just went with a hitch mount.
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07-18-2013, 11:54 PM
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#23
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Tennessee
Age: 26
Posts: 2,852
Real Name: Charlie
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Location: Tennessee
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Get a hitch rack- they are easy to put on, adjustable, and look good.
Make sure to get a tray rack vs the hanging style. The hanging style ones are very rough on bikes. The are constantly being banged up together.
I would recommend a Thule or Sportsworks tray hitch rack.
My .02¢
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Quote:
Originally Posted by STX4Runner
90% of the build threads in the 5th Gen section consist of Fuel Wheels, Plastidip, Duratracs and window tint.
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1998 4Runner "Diamond" - Daily Driver (rolled & rebuilt) - 3.4 5-Speed, Coastal Bumper, Manual Hubs, 255/80r17 AT3Ws (409k+ Miles)
1997 4Runner "Becky" - Camping Rig - 3.4 Auto (for now), Armored, Cable E-Locked, Coastal Bumper, Sleeper Deck, 255/80r17 AT3Ws (185k+ Miles)
1989 4Runner | Tennessee 4Runner Group
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07-19-2013, 01:41 PM
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#24
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 173
Real Name: Brian
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuckles89
Make sure to get a tray rack vs the hanging style. The hanging style ones are very rough on bikes. The are constantly being banged up together.
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I have a Thule Vertex hanging hitch rack. If you get a nice enough hanging rack you don't have the issue of bikes hitting each other. My rack came with stabilizers for both bikes and a strap to wrap through the wheels to keep the front from turning left/right and hitting the other bikes. Tray may be nicer and "sturdier" but there is certainly nothing wrong with hanging. I think hanging is way more convenient if you're going to leave it on there. Just get one that folds down like mine so you can open the liftgate. I personally love it and have taken my bikes 100s of miles without any problems. For me, a tray is just to big and bulky.
I can also fold it down carefully with the bikes still on it if I really need to get the rear hatch open.
My $.02
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07-19-2013, 02:37 PM
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#25
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: oz
Posts: 230
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Location: oz
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09-09-2013, 10:34 PM
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#26
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Vernon, BC, Canada
Posts: 20
Real Name: Aaron
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09-27-2015, 10:21 AM
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#27
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Richardson, TX.
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What if you are also pulling a popup? Boat, etc.
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09-28-2015, 01:16 PM
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#28
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: CA
Posts: 699
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Location: CA
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I have both.
Roof rack advantages:
- Not in the way of the rear hatch
- Rack always there and ready for use
- I feel it is more secure theft-wise. It's hard to get up there to cut locks
Hitch rack advantages:
- Much easier to load/unload, especially if lifted
- Better gas mileage
- You don't have to think about height clearances
- I can pull in my garage with bikes loaded
Ultimately, if you can run them inside like others have suggested, that is best. When my inside is full I am using the hitch rack more and more.
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10-24-2015, 11:49 PM
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#29
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 3
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Hitch
I think it depends on what kind of bike you have. If you have a road bike and can take the front wheel off and just fork it, roof is probably okay. If you have a mountain or hybrid and need to put the whole bike on the roof, it's probably far easier to just hitch it, right?
I've also found that my bikes stay cleaner and don't get all of the bug guts on them if I hitch them instead of on the roof. Added plus.
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10-25-2015, 02:19 AM
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#30
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Irvine, CA
Posts: 132
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Member
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dude1394
What if you are also pulling a popup? Boat, etc.
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I use one of these:
Roadmaster Dual Hitch Receiver Adapter, 4" Drop/Rise Roadmaster Accessories and Parts RM-077-4
May need an extension depending on what your pulling to make sure there is enough clearance for a tight turn.
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