bike attachment for roof rack

[FoozGrind]

Hi I was wondering if anyone has the bike attachment for the roof rack. I dont have a trailer hitch on my 08 4runner and its to much money to get a hitch installed and than buy the attachment that holds the bikes and i dont really want to use the straps that go on the back because i dont want to mess up my paint. Has anyone used the roof attachment or have it? Any pictures? Anyone link where they got it from to fit an 08 4runner?

Thanks!

 

[colombo]

I bought one last summer, then returned it to store. Did not even try to install it.
IMHO. I recalled myself handwashing roof of my rig and I thought that to through bike over there will be just too much. Another downturn I was thinking about, what would happen if I forget about bike and drive streight into my garage one day...
So, I decided not to challenge my luck. Took the thing right back to the store.

 

[CannondaleMan]

Now I don't mean this in an offensive manner, as I understand that $140 can be a lot of money to a some folks.

I went to www.suspensionconnection.com and found a variety of trailer hitches for 4Runners - based upon what generation adn class you want.

http://www.suspensionconnection.com...e/to=x/tf=model/to=x/tf=description/to=r.html


I used to have a roof rack for bikes on my wife's Subaru - what a pain in the arse it was to put them up and take them down. Bought a trailer hitch for another vehicle and it was well worth the $125 just to make life easier.

Just a thought. BTW - Suspension Connection often offers free shipping if you wait a bit. And these things are no-drill, easy to install, made for the specific vehicle, and take about 30 minutes to put on yourself.

 

[FoozGrind]

CannondaleMan i like the link you posted for the hitch. Just one question... do i need to cut my bumper at all? I was looking into the hidden hitch and it said for my year runner it needed to be cut.

 

[ajc]

CannondaleMan i like the link you posted for the hitch. Just one question... do i need to cut my bumper at all? I was looking into the hidden hitch and it said for my year runner it needed to be cut.

I was curious about that as well .. I have seen a lot rear bumpers with the middle section indented a bit (I assume to add a hitch), but I have an SR5 and does not have that piece cut out of it.

 

[FoozGrind]

yea mine doesnt have the cut out either it just has a power plug on the right side..... why on earth they built the car with the power and not the hitch is stupid. ITs like "here is half the product" there are 2 types of bumpers one with a cut out and one like ours. I just wanted to know if i add a hitch do i need to cut it out or can it fit below the bumper.

 

[smokey7722]

Hi I was wondering if anyone has the bike attachment for the roof rack. I dont have a trailer hitch on my 08 4runner and its to much money to get a hitch installed and than buy the attachment that holds the bikes and i dont really want to use the straps that go on the back because i dont want to mess up my paint. Has anyone used the roof attachment or have it? Any pictures? Anyone link where they got it from to fit an 08 4runner?

Thanks!

I went with my buddy to pickup a bike rack for mine and I ended up getting a hitch mount one but he didn't have a hitch. He picked up two of the Thule 598 Criterium roof mount racks and he loves it. He was even able to use his stock roof rack without needing anything other than the new bike rack.

If you do get a hitch though and you plan on carrying more than one bike (as I usually end up drivin all my friends out when we go riding so my rack is always full) I'd recommend the Thule 964, its expensive but its incredible.

 

[Kraeken]

I wrote about my rack briefly in another thread. I should take pics. I removed my factory crossbars and put in Thule load bars with two Thule Big Mouth bike trays. They live up there all year, and I remove them if necessary to accommodate other stuff. I think they look great and I only once almost drove into a low clearance driveway with bikes on top, but I had been awake for a very long time...

My bikes are pretty light and I don't have any issues putting them up there, but I could see someone with normal bikes needing to use a stepstool to put bikes up and take them down.

I like the Thule load bars because I believe they make the whole rack system more stable and functional, and able to hold more weight.

 

[4runr30]

Dont do it!! I have had two Yakima roof mounted bike racks. They are a pain and can end in disaster. My bike caught a low hanging telephone wire outside of where I work. Yanked my bike out of the rack and because I had used a bike lock for added protection it acted like a leash. The result was major paint damage and a nice dent in my rear hatch. Find another option if at all possible.

 

[CannondaleMan]

CannondaleMan i like the link you posted for the hitch. Just one question... do i need to cut my bumper at all? I was looking into the hidden hitch and it said for my year runner it needed to be cut.

Sorry about the delay but my computer was having issues yesterday and I was contemplating target practice on it..........Serenity now!

I do not know about the cut-out issue, but I have seen a lot of them out there with cut outs to the middle of the bumper and have no idea what to do about it. But there is no drilling needed to the undercarriage.