Bike Rack Options?

quivvy · **Posted:** Wed Aug 02, 2006 5:36 pm

Trust me.. I've used the search option plenty with no luck.

Anyway, need a bike rack for 2 bikes that will hold up to driving across the country (chicago to denver). I want to keep the price SUB $200. I probably want a spare tire rack if its not a problem with lift/tires. A hitch mount would work too, but I want to shy away from the roof.
Thanks in advance for suggestions.

-Adam

2006KJSPORT4x4 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 02, 2006 5:41 pm

Thule makes a good one for your spare tire...there is also a Mopar one you can get. Thule makes a 2-bike setup for the spare and hitch (also a 4-bike hitch-me setup is available too if you have a hitch) about $179.99 (or atleast that is what my local bike shop had it at. The Mopar one depending on dealer and jparts.com probably differ by about $50 or so, but is around $169.99 I think at jparts.com.

priell3 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 02, 2006 7:51 pm

I love my Mopar spare mounted bike rack. Rock solid. Jparts.com

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Wed Aug 02, 2006 8:28 pm

Oh my GOD! It's Quivvy! Where ya been hiding?

Okay, do you have a rear hitch? If so, check out Performance Bikes. They are having big sales on bike racks.

A hitch rack is sturdier and puts less stress on your tailgate and spare tire mount. It is also quick on and off. Also, if you find yourself with a front hitch one day, you can place the rack up front with your bikes.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/sub_cat.cfm?subcategory_id=4411

This one is only $80

uctke283 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 02, 2006 9:23 pm

I have a SARIS BAT RACK which uses a plate that mounts behind the spare tire - it is very sturdy. I thinkit was around 150-160 dollars.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Wed Aug 02, 2006 9:36 pm

We use a spare tire mount rack
I dont know about the KJ but on the TJ we put the biles on the end and use it like a small rack for things like a tent and maby some other small stuff like that
I think we paid about $130 or so for a 3 bike style but we can squeez on 4 cause i dont worry about scraches
I would think that the spare tire mount would be better than a hich mount if you were going to hit the trails in the jeep cause you could leave it on ,remove the bikes first, but the hich mount would get damaged if you go off road with it

quivvy · **Posted:** Thu Aug 03, 2006 12:34 am

thanks for the replies all. so far it looks like the mopar one or the one TokyoJoe posted will work best. Still debating spare vs. hitch. With the hitch I will be able to open the tailgate and with the hitch I wont. I dont feel comfortable putting too much weight on that spare.

TOKYOJOE - Where have I been? Good question. Been dealing with alot of family stuff and work/school took up my time. On top of it, shooting sucked up all my money:twisted: After a good summer's work I hope to hit a few trails with you all in the next few months. Glad to see some familiar faces still around

Gramps · **Posted:** Thu Aug 03, 2006 7:54 am

If you read the fine print in the manual, it says you shouldn't put more than 50 lbs on the rear tailgate, including spare tire! For a short trip, though, I'd think one bike wouldn't be too bad. Multiple bikes on a long trip, maybe bouncing around on dirt roads, bad idea. I went for a hitch rack.

Incidentally, it's not a good idea to use a hitch rack on the front. It blocks your view and blocks the headlights. When I worked in a bike shop a few years back, there were a few instances of people recieving summonses for this, even on large motor homes.

asgates · **Posted:** Thu Aug 03, 2006 8:11 am

here are some online bike shops that carry all the different kinds of racks.

http://www.nashbar.com
http://www.pricepoint.com
http://www.performancebike.com

most of the hitch racks these guys offer are around $200 or under. hope this helps

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Thu Aug 03, 2006 10:25 am

When I was looking for Yakima and Thule stuff this was one of the best price values I found.

http://www.agees.com/welcome.htm

I bought my Lowriders and locks from them. REI matched their price in a Spring sale or I would have bought my Thule receiver mount there too.

priell3 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 03, 2006 10:26 am

Gramps wrote:

If you read the fine print in the manual, it says you shouldn't put more than 50 lbs on the rear tailgate, including spare tire! For a short trip, though, I'd think one bike wouldn't be too bad. Multiple bikes on a long trip, maybe bouncing around on dirt roads, bad idea. I went for a hitch rack.

My brother sat on my spare tire one time when I was backing out of a blocked trail and he weighs around 150 lbs. No harm done. I've carried two bikes on my spare tire rack on long distance trips of 200+ miles of highway and forest roads. The Mopar bike rack holds the bikes firmly in place with minimal bounce.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Aug 03, 2006 10:59 am

priell3 wrote:

Gramps wrote:

If you read the fine print in the manual, it says you shouldn't put more than 50 lbs on the rear tailgate, including spare tire! For a short trip, though, I'd think one bike wouldn't be too bad. Multiple bikes on a long trip, maybe bouncing around on dirt roads, bad idea. I went for a hitch rack.

My brother sat on my spare tire one time when I was backing out of a blocked trail and he weighs around 150 lbs. No harm done. I've carried two bikes on my spare tire rack on long distance trips of 200+ miles of highway and forest roads. The Mopar bike rack holds the bikes firmly in place with minimal bounce.

I hang/sit on my tire all the time(150lbs). The only difference driving down the road with that weight on there, hitting big bumps.

Bike Rack Options?

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