About Bike Car Racks and Carriers: |
|
Choosing the best car rack for your bike can be overwhelming. There are more models and styles than ever before. With the answering of a few simple questions you’ll have no problem figuring out the best bicycle car rack for your lifestyle. Moosejaw makes it easy to shop these carriers as we only carry top rack dealers such as Yakima, Thule and Kuat. Ready to get started? Let’s do this.
First things first, how many bikes do you plan on taking with you? This is one of the most important questions to answer as a six bike car rack is plenty different than a 2 bike rack. Not all vehicle are equipped to handle such large loads so it’s important for you to check your vehicle’s manual to make sure that it can handle the weight. If you’re worried about inefficient suspension then go with the exact number of bikes you have but if your car is prepared to carry a bigger rack then a three or four bike car rack isn’t a bad thing. Having extra space gives you freedom to transport more gear for your trip. What types of bikes do you have? The type of bicycles you have will affect the style of car rack needed. A tandem bike or a full-suspension mountain bike need specific racks to ensure that they are fully supported and secure during a drive. Many styles of bike carriers use the frame as a primary point of suspension so when an unusually-shaped frame comes into play, it can complicate things just a little. What style bike rack do you have in mind? There are three main styles: hitched-mounted racks, roof racks, and trunk-mounted. Hitch-mounted racks are available in two styles, tray style and arm support style. Tray hitch racks clamp down on the front wheel or frame while arm support hitch racks secure the bike’s frame to the arm of the rack. Roof rack models are great for cars with lower heights and can be used to carry other gear such as skis, snowboards, SUP boards, cargo boxes and more. Trunk racks can either be attached to the back of the trunk using nylon straps or cable hooks and secure your bike using straps and support arms. Truck bed racks go in the bed of your truck using mounts and a tailgate locker. How frequently do you intend to use your bike car rack? If the answer is quite often then you’ll need one that is easy to install, doesn’t take up a ton of space so you can perform normal day-to-day tasks without having to worry about a bulky bike carrier, and can be switched among vehicles with ease. Rooftop and hitch mounts are probably the most compatible for heavy loads and everyday use. Lastly, don’t forget about accessories such as cables and socks and are a reliable source of support and security for your precious cargo. |