Roof Mounted Bicycle Rack

kjmurphy · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2007 12:35 am

I'm thinkin' about switching from my hitch mounted bike rack to a roof mounted bike rack....what is everyone opinions about the roof mounted bike racks??? I want to be able to open my rear tail gate and do not want a spare mounted bike rack because of possible damage to the hinges...... just wondering if they are stable?? any info is great thanks!!

Topper 1 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2007 1:41 pm

I prefer the top-mounted rack. Stability is solid (especially if you use the fork mount like above) and the bikes stay cleaner on top than behind the vehicle. Drawback of course is overhead clearance, whether offroading in forests or going through the fast-food drive thru. For transporting my bikes AND off-roading, I use a fork mount set up inside the jeep (room for two bikes with rear seat folded down). Also, if you're short, and your jeep is lifted getting your bikes on top is a little reach. Opening the rear door and using the sill as a step works well however. Hope that helps

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2007 3:29 pm

Since I park in my garage, I know I would forget the bike was up there one day and SMASH!

And as pointed out by Topper, you have to worry about clearance at other places also.

I prefer keeping mine on the rear. Easier access to the bike (a negative when you think of thieves though). I have the drop down bike rack so once the bikes are off, I can lower the rack to access the rear of the KJ.

Donkeykong · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2007 4:57 pm

Topper 1 wrote:

For transporting my bikes AND off-roading, I use a fork mount set up inside the jeep (room for two bikes with rear seat folded down).

Do you have any pictures of the bikes inside? Or can you give me the measurement from the drop outs to the highest point on the bars? I wonder if that would work with my mountain bike? I wouldn't have even thought to stand up my bikes like you suggested!

Topper 1 wrote:

Also, if you're short, and your jeep is lifted getting your bikes on top is a little reach. Opening the rear door and using the sill as a step works well however. Hope that helps

I have a friend who has a roofrack on his cherokee and he keeps a milk crate in his trunk to reach the bikes.
-Mark

dgeist · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2007 4:59 pm

Tokyojoe wrote:

Since I park in my garage, I know I would forget the bike was up there one day and SMASH!

And as pointed out by Topper, you have to worry about clearance at other places also.

I prefer keeping mine on the rear. Easier access to the bike (a negative when you think of thieves though). I have the drop down bike rack so once the bikes are off, I can lower the rack to access the rear of the KJ.

Joe, you probably need a sign over your garage saying "Check for items on roof" :lol:

Perhaps there a market for little electrostatic clearance stickers for the inside of the windshield when you have some cargo up there.

Using the the "on-roof fork-mount", I've never worried about the safety and security of the bikes. I can't say that about many of the rear mounted racks I've used. They always seem to jiggle and sway just a little at speed, no matter what. For me, I found myself constantly checking the rear-view. Not what I want to do while driving.

I like my roof-mount yakima "lowrider" racks a lot. They fit nice and close to the factory bars and are durable, locking, and really flexible (the bars are just 1" round tubes, so you can put ANYTHING on them...). Granted, you pay more for them. People routinely sell them on ebay, though, and you can find similar designs from other places and just put a yakima sticker on if it's out of the price range

If you do get them or another similar product, go for the longer bars and experiment. You can always trim them and the longer ones usually aren't much more expensive if at all.

dgeist · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2007 5:04 pm

Forgot the picture of the "I'm over 30 and don't want to fall on my arse" tool for roof-racks:

http://www.rubbermaid.com/rubbermaid/product/product.jhtml?prodId=HPProd100520#

Donkeykong · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2007 5:21 pm

Dgiest, my wife go t one of those for my daughter to cook with her.... long story short, I have used it, and it's good for AT LEAST 220 lbs.
-Mark

dgeist · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2007 5:30 pm

Donkeykong wrote:

Dgiest, my wife go t one of those for my daughter to cook with her.... long story short, I have used it, and it's good for AT LEAST 220 lbs.
-Mark

Not to be insensitive, but are you and your wife a LOT shorter than your daughter?

yeah, those little stools are great. You never notice how many places you can use them until you get one (or 3). They really do make it a lot safer putting things on the roof and much more comfortable for those with less arm strength (like me).

Donkeykong · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2007 7:32 pm

LOL, you're talking to a drummer here, so I've got arm strength down, the problem is that I'm a drummer, and not a basketball player, so even at 6' 0 there isn't a chance in hell that I'm going to come anywhere near the height I need to be to get the bike on the roof.

My little girl is 42" tall and approximatley 40lbs, I got your joke tho :lol:

-Mark

Topper 1 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 11, 2007 12:48 pm

Donkeykong wrote:

Topper 1 wrote:

For transporting my bikes AND off-roading, I use a fork mount set up inside the jeep (room for two bikes with rear seat folded down).

Do you have any pictures of the bikes inside? Or can you give me the measurement from the drop outs to the highest point on the bars? I wonder if that would work with my mountain bike? I wouldn't have even thought to stand up my bikes like you suggested!

Don't have pictures, but the transport configuration is thus: both bikes with front wheel removed (obviously for fork mount set up) facing the tailgate and saddle/seatpost removed. The rear tires should be angled toward the gap between the door pillars and respective front seats (gives a couple more inches of clearance). Both my wife and I ride S-Works FSRs, frame size L.

Topper 1 wrote:

Also, if you're short, and your jeep is lifted getting your bikes on top is a little reach. Opening the rear door and using the sill as a step works well however. Hope that helps

I have a friend who has a roofrack on his cherokee and he keeps a milk crate in his trunk to reach the bikes.
-Mark

I'm 5'11" and though I have to tip-toe, I can easily get the bikes up and down from the roof rack:

Roof Mounted Bicycle Rack

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