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Bike rack - without a hitch
Posted: Sun May 31, 2015 11:06 am
by stever1000
My L400 doesn't have a hitch so I can't easily mount a bike rack to it. I'm looking for help or suggestions for alternative methods...
What are other people using to carry 1-2 bikes without the use of a hitch?
I would really like to take my bikes camping and on road trips but I can't justify buying a hitch and rack if I can get away with a different style.
Pictures would be greatly appreciated too
Re: Bike rack - without a hitch
Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 12:59 pm
by TieMyShoe
just get a standard strap style bike rack that mounts to your hatch. These are not as secure as hitch racks in that you cannot lock your bikes to it, they can also cause minor damage to your bikes finish as many of them do not separate the bikes very well.
Re: Bike rack - without a hitch
Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2015 7:49 am
by pj_jazzy_janz
They have a few options at mec. Here's a decent one for only $100.
http://www.mec.ca/product/5022-558/swag ... 0258+51238
The downsides are that the straps can rub against your vehicle and, as mentioned, they don't separate the bikes particularly well. But it'll get your bikes where you need them to be!
Re: Bike rack - without a hitch
Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2015 1:03 pm
by stever1000
TieMyShoe wrote:just get a standard strap style bike rack that mounts to your hatch. These are not as secure as hitch racks in that you cannot lock your bikes to it, they can also cause minor damage to your bikes finish as many of them do not separate the bikes very well.
I have one of this type and the metal hooks on the ends of the straps tweaked the metal and paint on the top of the hatch when I mounted the rack.
Re: Bike rack - without a hitch
Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2015 12:14 am
by TieMyShoe
what kind of rack is it? A quality strap rack should not cause damage (or minimal amounts). In the end you are putting metal on paint either way... if you want to avoid this you will need to bite the bullet and buy a hitch and hitch rack (hey I just happen to have a Saris hitch rack for sale ;) ) Otherwise you are looking at roof racks.. unless you are really tall that a pain on a deli. I run a North Shore Racks NSR4 on my hitch and two Thule bike trays on the roof.