| Author | Message | ||
     Hans Poppe (Hgpoppe) New Member Username: Hgpoppe Post Number: 10 Registered: 08-2003 |
Tell me what's best. | ||
| Phillip Perkinson (Rover4x4) Senior Member Username: Rover4x4 Post Number: 418 Registered: 02-2003 |
depends on how much you care about your bikes. I got alotta $$ in my bikes and they are very important, with that said. I think given the nature of the Land Rovers a rack on top for bikes isnt a good idea due to overhead clearance issues and aerodynamics. Since rovers are blessed with a rear door that swings out I personally think a flip down bike carrier is pretty stupid. Those bike racks that mount to the tires are suspect I dont think the rear doors make a good mounting place for a tire as well as about 60 more pounds of bikes, and I think that figure is beinggenerous unless you ride road bikes or only plan to carry one bike. I have a Yakima Roc-N-gate. its pretty fucking nice. I have no complaints about it, the rack swings clear of your door which was important to me since thats the only way for rear seat passengers to get out. It has a 4 bike capacity. the most I have had on it are 2 xc mtn bikes. one at about 21 lbs the other about 25-26 and a FS bike I guess it was around 36-40, it carried them with ease. I have backed it into a cratemyrtle bush I think that how you spell it and had no damage to the rack at all, more than I can say for the bush. its got built in locks and is very stable. its $$$ thats the only down side. I could gotten one of a few mods for my truck but bikes are more important to me. I think this has been discussed a few times before. no problems clearing a 265/75 AT. FWIW p perkinson | ||
| Danno (Danno) Senior Member Username: Danno Post Number: 264 Registered: 08-2002 |
i have a Yakima w/ Steel-heads on top of my Disco. it's also interesting when people ask me how in the hell i can get them up there w/ the 3" lift and 255/85's pics in my gallery http://www.discoweb.org/danno/ | ||
| Phillip Perkinson (Rover4x4) Senior Member Username: Rover4x4 Post Number: 423 Registered: 02-2003 |
looks good. | ||
| Danno (Danno) Senior Member Username: Danno Post Number: 265 Registered: 08-2002 |
those pic had the smaller tires on back then... | ||
| michael burt (Mikeyb) Senior Member Username: Mikeyb Post Number: 504 Registered: 03-2002 |
i use thule mounts on my lnra adventure rack...i prefer my bikes on the roof out of harms way from the knuckleheads that "drive" the same roads i do...yeah, there are overhead issues, but my truck is almost 84" inches tall so i am already watching for limbs and whatever...the thule stuff in not a *direct fit*, but if you wrap a bit of inner tube around the rack, the stuff will fit. and i like my diamondback, fuji, mongoose, cannondale, basso, tomasso, and balance as well...;) mike | ||
| Patrick Oberg (Obie) New Member Username: Obie Post Number: 20 Registered: 02-2003 |
Hans- I travel with my bikes allot! If you have bikes you care about... stick 'em on top on a Thule or Yakima set up, and don't use the factory rack! I've worked in bike shops all over the country and seen them fail on a number of vehicles. That said. Putting thousands of $$$ in equipment on the back of the truck is fine until you get rear ended... seen that too! Downside of the top side is gas/aerodynamics... for long hauls I usually stick my ride in the back... if you can't reach the top of your truck (like my buddy), get a small step ladder... as for hitting anything on top, put some kind of reminder on your window if you can�t remember you have your other half riding above your head! One other thing, don't get those bike bikini�s, they act as a parachute and slow you down as well as push your bike rack back! One thing that works to keep the bugs from chipping your paint is putting electrical tape on your forks and underneath your down tube... bottom line is, my Colnago looks sweet on top of the Rover! my .02 | ||
| Kelly Fristoe (Kfristoe) Member Username: Kfristoe Post Number: 63 Registered: 12-2002 |
http://www.roverconnection.com/ Click on "Accesories" on the left hand side of the page and there should be a bike rack among the items listed on the right. This is what I have. It's similar to the Yakima. I have no complaints. | ||
| Danno (Danno) Senior Member Username: Danno Post Number: 267 Registered: 08-2002 |
also putting it on top make it just a little harder for thieves. | ||
| Greg (Gparrish) Senior Member Username: Gparrish Post Number: 1381 Registered: 04-2002 |
You know, when I drove 1500 miles down to Florida, I used some foam padding on the bike, a ratchet strap, and two bungies and I strapped the bike to my ARB. Placed it so one of the pedals was sitting on an ARB bar with padding underneath. I imagine, you could pad everything with normal bike pads if you wanted to, and create an easy enough system to quickly attach and detach to a front bumper. Of course, you can't run into anything then.  Also, as mentioned above, you have to watch out for bugs, but that's the case most anywhere except the rear of the truck or inside. | ||
| John Cinquegrana (Johnc) Senior Member Username: Johnc Post Number: 524 Registered: 07-2002 |
7 bikes, 7 people, 7 days http://images.andale.com/f2/115/106/3653414/1060709162791_bikes.jpg | ||
| Phillip Perkinson (Rover4x4) Senior Member Username: Rover4x4 Post Number: 426 Registered: 02-2003 |
bitchin. if you get rear ended you may get new bikes. if you drive them under something its your fault. that was my perspective when I got the rack FWIW | ||
| Jack Parker (Jack) Member Username: Jack Post Number: 195 Registered: 03-2002 |
John, Were you in Winter Park, CO on this trip. Thought I saw a similar set-up? I'm in the bike business,and I agree...put them on top with the Yakima or Thule set-up if at all possible. If not, and if you don't need to access the cargo area once the bikes are on, either Yak, or Thule makes a hitch mount rack that pivots down, much cheaper than swing-away, but more of a PITA. You can get in the cargo area when the rack pivots down, but it can be a two person job. Surrounded by 2000 miles of trails and logging roads http://www.epicsingletrack.com/trails/trailmaps.html I just ride from my garage But, cold weather is on the way, damn it. | ||
| Hill Mainor (Gahill2) New Member Username: Gahill2 Post Number: 32 Registered: 06-2003 |
Glad that I read this thread. I have the yakima setup that I transfered from my old truck. I was thinking of selling the bike trays because it is so hard to get my bike on and off. The crossbars would stay for kayaks. I was going to get something to go into the reciever for the bikes. It just doesn't seem to be a good idea. I guess I will stay with what I have got. | ||
| Clay W Davis (Cwdavis4) New Member Username: Cwdavis4 Post Number: 1 Registered: 09-2003 |
Has anyone seen the rack set-ups where you attach the handlebars and seat to the bike rack? I would think that would be a more secure attachment. | ||
| michael burt (Mikeyb) Senior Member Username: Mikeyb Post Number: 518 Registered: 03-2002 |
i like the ones that remove the front wheel. you clamp the forks with the same kind of quick release you use for the front wheel and then strap the rear wheel down. very secure. i like that way much better than the bike upside down or the one that leaves front and rear wheel attached. imho... mike | ||
| Brian O'Connor (Hooky) New Member Username: Hooky Post Number: 12 Registered: 09-2003 |
I've been using a Draftmaster for 5 years now. http://www.draftmaster.com/ The pivot action will limit rear access, but not eliminate it. Very sturdy, modular in design, gets looks and looks great. By far the best hitch rack I've ever seen, plus you can use the rack to tote a tandem or bikes with crazy setups! I also have a Thule set up for the roof bars, perfect for when you need to haul butts and bikes. At one point I had over 20 grand worth of bikes (only 5) strapped to the outside, so I trust these products. http://www.roadbikereview.com/ and http://www.mtbr.com/ have reviews that can help you decide what will work best for you application, and you will definitely learn what equipment is trash, and what is not. |
