No matter the time of year, road trips are a right of passage for many Australians. Regardless of whether you’ve got the family in tow or are setting off on a solo adventure if you’re looking to fit in some riding on your next trip, a Car Bike Rack is an excellent and efficient way to take your ride with you. There are many different options on the market, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. This article will take you through the most popular options available and what to expect for your budget.
- Related Reading: Travelling with a Mountain Bike & Travelling with an E-Bike
What is a Car Bike Rack?
Before we go into the different types of racks available, below is a brief summary of a car bike rack and its purpose.
Per the name, the primary intention is to serve as a method of transporting your bike or a number of bikes via your car. The racks are typically mounted to the vehicle directly or attached to an accessory such as roof racks or a tow bar/tow ball. While many different mounting options exist, bike racks will typically be mounted to the vehicle's roof or rear. Which one is best suited for your needs comes down to the type of bike you’re looking to transport and what best suits your needs.
Alternatives
Aside from simply riding your bike to your destination, there are a number of alternatives to car bike racks that are suitable options.
If space isn’t an issue, you may be able to transport your bike inside your car. Some components of the bike may need to be removed or adjusted for the bike to fit in your vehicle, such as the wheels or your handlebars / seatpost. While this is convenient for solo travellers with an ample vehicle, that option may not be possible if you’re travelling with baggage or other people.
The other main alternative is packing up your bike in either a bike-specific bag or a bike box and sending your ride to your destination ahead of time. Regardless of what you plan to send your bike in, it's worth ensuring that your ride is adequately protected inside your vessel of choice. While most bike bags will have padding strategically placed inside the bag itself, it's worth investing in some foam or packing supplies as a form of both protection and cheap insurance to ensure your ride meets you at your destination in one piece.
Tow Ball & Tow Hitch Mount Racks
Tow ball mount car bike racks are a popular option for transporting bikes because they are relatively easy to install and use, and they do not require any modifications to the car. Some models are also able to tilt or fold down, allowing for easy access to the trunk or rear hatch of the car.
These racks attach to the tow ball hitch on the back of a vehicle, allowing you to transport one or more bicycles. The bikes are typically secured to the rack using straps or clamps, and the rack itself is attached to the tow ball using a bolt or quick-release mechanism.
Hitch mount racks work in the same way and are often the same design, albeit attached to the hitch receiver directly rather than sitting on the tow ball. It could be argued that hitch-mount receivers are more sturdy than tow ball racks due to the fact that the tow hitch receiver is connected directly to the frame of your vehicle, therefore, has a higher theoretical load-carrying weighting.
Generally, two different classifications of tow ball/hitch mount car bike racks are sold, with the key difference being their carrying capacity. Standard-duty car bike racks will carry a carrying capacity ranging from 15-25kg, while heavy-duty or E-Bike certified car bike racks will typically tout a higher figure of 50-60kg. For more information bout travelling with an e-bike or travelling with a mountain bike, check out our comprehensive guides!
Rooftop Bike Racks
As their name would suggest, rooftop bike racks are an excellent option for those wanting to or able to load their ride onto the roof of their car. The racks can be mounted either directly to the vehicle via specific mounts or, more commonly, attached to roof racks. One of the main benefits of rooftop bike racks is that they typically do not need to be removed from the vehicle when not in use, as they fold (mostly) flat when unloaded, making them great for those looking for a set-and-forget option. Another positive is that many racks available will allow users to mount their ride without any necessary disassembly.
Depending on the type of vehicle it's fitted to, there are also a number of limiting factors associated with this style of rack. Lifting bikes up on the roof can be difficult if the vehicle has higher ground clearance, such as an SUV or similar. As such, it's common to mostly see lighter-weight bikes mounted in this fashion, such as road or gravel bikes. Another limitation is that roof racks will typically have a lower load limit than tow ball or hitch-mount bike racks. This figure is typically around 20kg, so if you’re looking to travel with a heavier bike such as an e-bike, we’d strongly recommend looking into a heavy-duty tow ball or hitch mount option. One final limiting factor is the overall height increase of your vehicle. There are numerous stories out there about bikes being driven into bridges, garage doors and parking garages for a reason. With a bike fitted, the average SUV or taller vehicle is now pushing 2.5-3m in overall height, so it's worth taking into consideration.
When it comes to types of rooftop bike racks available, typically, there will be options that require no disassembly or options that require the front wheel to be removed. Racks that require the front wheel to be removed will have less wind resistance, be cheaper to road trip due to the fuel savings, and be less likely to suffer when dealing with clearance-limited situations like the garage doors eluded to above.
Vertical Bike Racks
The vertical bike rack has quickly become one of the most popular options for adventurous riders and is a particularly popular option for mountain bikers. This is largely thanks to their increased carrying capacity, security, ease of use and durable design that stands up to the elements. Simply put, It's one of the most efficient ways to get a bunch of bikes to the trail. While they’re amongst the more expensive options for travelling, this cost is well justified especially considering the freeways, gravel roads and fire trails riders are likely to use to access their trail networks.
A couple of things to consider when prior to buying a rack include checking out what your local lawmakers state about number plate and rear light visibility. Most options will have provisions for an accessory plate to be fitted, if in doubt, we’d strongly recommend picking one up to be on the right side of the law.
On the subject of local laws, it's worth checking your restrictions on overhang. Some jurisdictions state a maximum or limit on the amount of overhang that a vehicle can have past the rear axle. While most rack providers will provide a number of different tilting or mounting options to conform to legal requirements, the onus is still on you, the buyer, to make sure your set-up is in spec.
Vertical bike racks will typically come with different carrying capacities and options ranging from single bike carriers to racks capable of carrying up to 5-7 bikes at a time. Features to look for include tilting mechanisms to make loading and unloading the bikes on rough terrain a breeze. Anti-rattle plates or devices at the tow ball/hitch receiver to cut down on noise reverberating throughout the car when you’re on the way to the trails is also a nice touch. The retention system of the bikes is also a key consideration. While some racks feature rubber straps, it's worth noting that operating these with gloves on or with cold and wet hands can be a bit of a faff. Newer racks such as the Rola VBR feature a hook, cambuckle and strap bike securing system, which makes for easier loading and unloading. Sturdy construction featuring weather-resistant materials is also a must, as are stability mechanisms such as anchor points to prevent the rack from swaying about on uneven terrain or in high wind conditions on the freeway.
Other Alternatives
While rooftop, tow ball and hitch-mount bike racks make up the majority of options on the market, some alternatives may be suitable for you; these include spare tyre-mounted bike racks and suction-mounted bike racks.
As their name would suggest, a spare tyre bike rack attaches to the rear-mounted spare tyre found on some 4x4s and SUVs. Both mini-platform-style racks and cradle-style racks are available; however, these will typically have a lower load rating than is possible with a tow ball or hitch-mounted rack. This is primarily because these styles of racks will wrap around the tyre itself; therefore, they are limited in the style of bike that they can transport.
Suction-mounted bike racks are an excellent alternative for those not looking for a permanently mounted solution on their vehicle. Attached directly to the vehicle via suction cups, these styles of racks are available to suit a single bike or up to multiple bikes at once. The suction-style mounts, while lightweight, do have an impressive holding capacity of up to 40kg. The only limitation is where the mounts are located on your car. As mentioned above, lifting a heavy bike up onto the roof of your vehicle may be difficult or not possible.
Budget
Now that we’ve taken you through the different types of car bike racks on offer, here’s where you can learn what to expect for your budget. Like most accessories, there are both affordable and expensive options on offer; the car bike rack range is no different.
Up to $200
Looking to travel on a budget? The good news is that plenty of entry-level options are available. When it comes to styles, most of the racks on offer are temporary units that strap onto either a spare tyre or the rear of a vehicle. As mentioned above, these units are somewhat compromised in their carrying capacity; however, if you’re looking for a simple solution to strap some kids bikes or lighter urban bikes to your car for your next adventure, these are great options.
$200-$500
Moving up a price bracket is where you’ll start to see tow ball and hitch mount bike racks become available. The options on offer are mostly made up of the more affordable and less secure hanging-style car bike racks; however, some budget-orientated platform racks are available towards the top end of the price bracket. Also on offer are roof-mount car bike racks. Most single-bike carrying options from key brands such as Thule and Yakima start to become available at this price point and are great options for those carrying a single bike.
$500-$1,000
For most buyers, the $500 to $1,000 price range is where the bulk of the options sit and represents a great cross-section between price and functionality. Key brands such as Yakima and Buzz Rack have a number of tow ball and hitch-mounted platform racks on offer in this bracket, ranging from single and dual-carrying racks up to racks capable of holding three or four bikes at a time. Also on offer in this bracket are suction bike racks, which are arguably the best temporary bike racks available thanks to their fuss-free mounting and easy storage when not in use. Both single and dual-carrying suction bike racks are available.
$1,000+
Priced in excess of $1,000, these bike racks represent the best of the best when it comes to durability, load rating, quality and brand prestige. Range-topping models from established brands such as Thule are most common, as are heavy-duty e-bike-rated car bike racks. Also offered at vertical bike racks, which are ideal for mountain bikers wanting to self-shuttle to the trailhead or carry a large number of bikes to the trail network or bike park safely and securely.
We hope that this guide has been helpful. Ready to purchase a car bike rack of your own? Check out the huge range on offer across the country right here, at BikeExchange
