By brad on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 07:30 pm: Edit

I need to get a bike rack for the DII, it must be rear mounted as I do not want to climb up on the roof to retrieve bikes. Is the Land Rover hitch mount a good option? What are your personal favorites?

By Phillip Perkinson (R0ver4x4) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 07:47 pm: Edit

Yakima

By Paul D. Morgan (V22guy) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 08:13 pm: Edit

Brad,

The hitch mount is a good way to go. But remember, that makes it easier for someone to steal the bikes. Since I am 6'4", it is easy for me to throw my Klein up on top. I have a set up for two mountain bikes and two snowboards using all Yakima stuff attached to the factory rails. www.rackattack.com is the place to shop for your bike mounting needs no matter how you decide to mount them.

V22 Guy

By Roverine on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 09:13 pm: Edit

I have a good one that mounts on the spare tire ... However, I don't have to worry about my bikes getting stolen because they're kind of POS bikes (I usually only use them to ride around at the beach). It's a nice carrier tho' ... very easy to take on & off, and I can lock it in the truck (more worried about someone stealing my bike rack than my bikes, lol). I've had it for a very long time (used it a lot when I had a Trooper) - I can't remember what kind it is, I'll try to go out and see a little later and post back (Sorry, I've got the flu, and I don't feel like dragging my bod out to the garage right now)

Kim
Almost forgot, on the disco, you have to watch how much weight you hang on the rear door - it does not support a lot more than the spare tire without possibly messing it up ... (not making sense now, I'll take an asprin & get back later)

By Roverine on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 09:17 pm: Edit

I just remembered, the name of the carrier is "Road Gear" (i think). My husband bought it for me, so I can't say for sure, but I think he got it at a sporting goods store.

Kim

By Phillip Perkinson (R0ver4x4) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 09:19 pm: Edit

I used to sit on the rear tire of my buddies disco...

By brad on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 10:15 pm: Edit

I am unable to use the top because of the Adventure rack and would prefer to use the reciever hitch over the spare tire. Does anyone know who makes the swing-away rack for Land Rover? Does anyone use the Yakima reciever hitch type mounts? Thanks for all the input!

By Phillip Perkinson (R0ver4x4) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 10:18 pm: Edit

Yakima has a good reputation just go to thier wedsite..then there is THULE i have THULE racks and I like them just fine..although I think Yakima is alot better than the new THULE stuff

By braz on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 10:26 pm: Edit

I have a Road Gear that goes into the reciever. I had to get a extension because it wouldnt fit the spare was in the way. I suggest Road Gear because they are the cheapest and its not something that I use everyday. Yakima cost a ton. I bought my RG on ebay 60.oo I think.Holds 3 bikes it moves a little on the highway but we have never had a problem.

By dominik on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 11:26 pm: Edit

how about a ski/bike rack combo.
i got this one from atlantic british (www.roverparts.com) last year and it works very well. it holds 4 bikes or 6 pairs of skis and [what really sold me] ... its lockable. Item: 9143SKI
f*@#n heavy though.




dominik

By DM on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 08:43 am: Edit

I would highly recommend the Yakima Terragate 2. Hitch mounted racks are great. I used to carry my bikes on top of the DII but found that is was too much of a hassle, liability and concern driving in and out of garages, or through lower underpasses. Their is nothing better than watching your buddies struggle with putting the bike on top of their car after a long day of riding.

Steer clear of spare tire mounts. You would be adding far too much wieght to the rear door.

As others have said, I wouldn't leave my bike locked on that rack, for a long period of time unattended. But then again, I've had a bike stolen off of my roof mounted Thule rack. I wouldn't leave any bike, locked for more than 10 minutes.

By Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 08:50 am: Edit

I've got a Yakima, and I wouldn't use anything else.

I didn't splurge for the swing-away... I have the Terrafirma hitch-mount. If I had the extra cash at the time, it would have been a good feature to have bumped up to, to have gotten the Roc'n'Gate. At the time, I found a sale on the Terrafirma, so it was less than half what the Roc'n'Gate would have cost.

Either of these racks can hold 4 bikes.

I don't leave the rack on, I just put it on before loading up the bikes, and then we go. When we get back, I take it off. Not a big deal, with their new QuickHitch system. If you want to put it onto your Disco and leave it there all the time, definitely get a swing away. The TerraFirma DOES lower down, so you can get into the back, but if you have bikes on it a) it won't lower enough to get the door all the way open, b) you'll have to work around it, and c) it's a bitch to lift back up with four bikes on it.

Since it's easy enough to take on and off, and I don't like keeping the rack back there when I'm not using it anyway, I didn't think it was worth the extra $200. But, you can choose.

http://www.yakima.com


-L


PS: Shop around, a lot of places carry Yakima, and quite often have sales... I got mine on sale and w/ free shipping from some place in California, so it saved me a bundle over buying locally....

By Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 08:56 am: Edit

PPS...

I don't mind the back-mount, because our bikes aren't high-dollar critters. Most of my friends that have the "nice" race bikes don't like rear-mounts because they're afraid that it'll be hit when rear-ended. Around here, though, ther are several LOW RR underpasses that I couldn't go under in the Disco if I had bikes mounted up there on top.

If it's a "Ferrari" of a bike, I'd recommend an inside-the-back mount of some sort... but if it's a more typical bike, just slap in a hitch-mount and be happy with the convenience.

IMO, YMMV.....

By Gregg Warnken (Gregg) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 11:33 am: Edit

I concur with Leslie...hit it right on the head. The Yakima hitch mount is the easiest to deal with all around for the Disco, unless you plan on hauling canoes, kayaks, ladders, lumber, etc. Then you will need some sort of roof rack.

G

By Glenn Guinto (Glenn) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 11:44 am: Edit

IMO, Saris are great! Cheaper alternative from a Thule or Yakima. I personally think they look better too. I have a wierd frame bike (Cannondale SuperV) and it handles it just fine with the optional adapter. It's very, very sturdy.

I had a chance to test it while wheeling in the pine barrens too, (Not really a good idea). We mounted two full suspension mountain bikes (Jekyll and SuperV) and went through all the trails that we took on that day just fine. Optional brake light is cool too! Check out these pics from the Pine Barrens... I'm sure some of my NJ rover buddies can also tell you about the bike rack and our Pine Barrens adventure...

By len braz on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 08:19 pm: Edit

OH I for got to add that the Road Gear was not only cheap but, it can drop down so that the back door can open. No need to buy the Yakima that swings aways for 275.00 I think it was when I was looking. Just my .02