DIY: Custom Interior Dual Bike Rack

[HokieRunner]

I custom built a mountain bike last spring and my girlfriend got a mountain bike around the same time so I found myself in need of a good MTB rack. I looked at the normal tail hitch options and roof options and after seeing a few guys running interior mounts, felt that was the best option for me.

The reasons I chose to go with the interior rack vs. the more traditional options:

1. Security. If I'm going to hit the trails after work the bike isn't hanging around on the outside and is mostly out of sight and locked securely inside.
2. Ease of loading/unloading
3. Gear is out of the elements
4. Safety - nothing hanging off the back or potentially falling off the roof

Obviously for a road trip or going biking with more than 2 folks, this isn't a good solution. But other than that, it met my needs for 95% of the riding I do.

My only other objective was to have it be quickly installed/removed. To serve that purpose I drilled holes in the rear tray (barely visible when uninstalled) and mounted threaded t nuts underneath that remain there at all times. Installation takes 30 seconds and same for removal. Just screw in the three plastic handles until snug and roll in the bikes!

This was a pretty easy project with the most time consuming parts being test fitting and getting the parts spaced properly. Best part is when I'm just rolling around with my bike inside, I can still have 2 of the 3 second row seats up.

As for cost, with some shopping around, all the materials came in around $90.

Now onto the details. Here are the materials I used:
-1 - 43" length of 1"x1" steel (holed). I bought a 4' length and cut it down
-2 - 3" lengths of 1"x1" alum square (for side feet)
-2 - tire mounts
-2 - bike fork mounts (locking)
-3 - plastic T handles with threaded insert
-3 - 4" lengths of threaded rod
-3 - threaded t inserts
and an assortment of bolt/nylon nut hardware.

Here are all the parts laid out after test fitting for component spacing and painting the steel bar.


Everything bolted up:


Installation - just insert threads into holes in the tray and tighten:


Ready for bikes:


This is the only pic I have w/ the bike mounted but I'll throw up a more recent one later on:


Anywho, hope this helps out some folks looking for a different option for a bike rack. It mounts up fast and is surprisingly strong.

If there's something I forgot to mention or should add, just let me know.

 

[kevinpt]

I custom built a mountain bike last spring and my girlfriend got a mountain bike around the same time so I found myself in need of a good MTB rack. I looked at the normal tail hitch options and roof options and after seeing a few guys running interior mounts, felt that was the best option for me.

The reasons I chose to go with the interior rack vs. the more traditional options:

1. Security. If I'm going to hit the trails after work the bike isn't hanging around on the outside and is mostly out of sight and locked securely inside.
2. Ease of loading/unloading
3. Gear is out of the elements
4. Safety - nothing hanging off the back or potentially falling off the roof

Obviously for a road trip or going biking with more than 2 folks, this isn't a good solution. But other than that, it met my needs for 95% of the riding I do.

My only other objective was to have it be quickly installed/removed. To serve that purpose I drilled holes in the rear tray (barely visible when uninstalled) and mounted threaded t nuts underneath that remain there at all times. Installation takes 30 seconds and same for removal. Just screw in the three plastic handles until snug and roll in the bikes!

This was a pretty easy project with the most time consuming parts being test fitting and getting the parts spaced properly. Best part is when I'm just rolling around with my bike inside, I can still have 2 of the 3 second row seats up.

As for cost, with some shopping around, all the materials came in around $90.

Now onto the details. Here are the materials I used:
-1 - 43" length of 1"x1" steel (holed). I bought a 4' length and cut it down
-2 - 3" lengths of 1"x1" alum square (for side feet)
-2 - tire mounts
-2 - bike fork mounts (locking)
-3 - plastic T handles with threaded insert
-3 - 4" lengths of threaded rod
-3 - threaded t inserts
and an assortment of bolt/nylon nut hardware.

Here are all the parts laid out after test fitting for component spacing and painting the steel bar.


Everything bolted up:


Installation - just insert threads into holes in the tray and tighten:


Ready for bikes:


This is the only pic I have w/ the bike mounted but I'll throw up a more recent one later on:


Anywho, hope this helps out some folks looking for a different option for a bike rack. It mounts up fast and is surprisingly strong.

If there's something I forgot to mention or should add, just let me know.

looks really good. i made mine a few months ago but finally wrapped mine in fabric last weekend and i think im done. i made mine out of plywood and have hooks going to the two tie down points by the hatch. i never thought about making a thread about it but i will post up mine to show more designs.

my total was about $45 total.
$15 per mount
$8 for fabric(only used half)
few dollars for the mounting hardware.
i used carriage bolts for mounting the bike mounts to the plywood

 

[sigepbiker]

That looks great! Cleanly done and easy to do.

Since you have wheel mounts it wouldn't work, but is there enough room to screw the fork mounts to the plastic trim and off the shelf for the hatch to still open with bikes mounted? Or is where you mounted this bike rack just about as close to the hatch you could mount it without hitting anything?

 

[kevinpt]

That looks great! Cleanly done and easy to do.

Since you have wheel mounts it wouldn't work, but is there enough room to screw the fork mounts to the plastic trim and off the shelf for the hatch to still open with bikes mounted? Or is where you mounted this bike rack just about as close to the hatch you could mount it without hitting anything?

only problem you can have with interior bike racks is having it to close to the hatch. it might look like it would fit but the lowered part of the roof right before the hatch would make it impossible to take it off the rack

 

[HokieRunner]

only problem you can have with interior bike racks is having it to close to the hatch. it might look like it would fit but the lowered part of the roof right before the hatch would make it impossible to take it off the rack

Kevin PT nailed it. I did a lot of test fitting and ended up mounting the rack as far the rear as possible for my setup (elevated mounts w/ the tire holders). If you mounted it on the plastic trim, mounted the tire holder elsewhere and had lower rise bars, it's possible.

 

[sigepbiker]

Thanks guys, you saved me from a frustrating weekend trying to make that work. That plastic trim piece would be easier to replace if I mess up or change my mind.

 

[acronin2]

[MENTION=46025]HokieRunner[/MENTION] Thanks for posting this, I am about to build one using yours as a model. I see that you put the fork mounts closer to the center and the wheel mounts on the outside, I assume this is to allow enough room between the handle bars and the side windows in the cargo area? Also, with the two fork mounts close together, does this allow for enough room between the handle bars when you have two bikes mounted? Do you have any pics with two bikes mounted?

 

[pkfj60]

Looks great. Clean.

 

[HokieRunner]

[MENTION=46025]HokieRunner[/MENTION] Thanks for posting this, I am about to build one using yours as a model. I see that you put the fork mounts closer to the center and the wheel mounts on the outside, I assume this is to allow enough room between the handle bars and the side windows in the cargo area? Also, with the two fork mounts close together, does this allow for enough room between the handle bars when you have two bikes mounted? Do you have any pics with two bikes mounted?

Yes, the forks closer to center will give better clearance on the windows. As for the handlebar clearance, with our two bikes the bars overlap slightly but our bikes have different styled/angled bar clamps for the handlebars so it works great. Honestly you just need to experiment once the base mount is built because every bicycle is different. But that's the great thing about using the perforated square tube. Lots of adjustment options.

I checked but no pics with both bikes.

 

[jrm]

You can try staggering the fork mounts

Yes, the forks closer to center will give better clearance on the windows. As for the handlebar clearance, with our two bikes the bars overlap slightly but our bikes have different styled/angled bar clamps for the handlebars so it works great. Honestly you just need to experiment once the base mount is built because every bicycle is different. But that's the great thing about using the perforated square tube. Lots of adjustment options.

I checked but no pics with both bikes.

but due to fork travel,15mm front axle and bar width i can only fit one bike in the rear of the 4runner. I use a hitch rack in case im carrying more than one bike.

 

[Critt003]

Yes, the forks closer to center will give better clearance on the windows. As for the handlebar clearance, with our two bikes the bars overlap slightly but our bikes have different styled/angled bar clamps for the handlebars so it works great. Honestly you just need to experiment once the base mount is built because every bicycle is different. But that's the great thing about using the perforated square tube. Lots of adjustment options.

I checked but no pics with both bikes.

Random question but what size bike have been looking into get a 29er and would love to be able to build a mount and keep the bike safe just as you said in your original post.

 

[blkexp98]

I made a similar rack using a 1x4, and a couple fork mounts. I still need to make a wheel holder but for now just lay them in. I carry two bikes (both 650B's) and think the 29er would fit with my setup. I have a Specialized Pitch with a 19" frame and my wife has a (I think) 17" frame Specialized Jinx. Both of them fit on the 60 side of the fold down seat so I am able to still use the 40 seat up. Next time I get them in ill take a picture and see how much more length would fit.