Roof Top Vs Trailer Hitch Bike Rack

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Roof top vs trailer hitch bike rack.

For some people the. Hitch racks or roof racks which one should you choose. Hitch bike racks can be shared with a variety of vehicles now a days too they all need a hitch of course but most of yakima and thule hitch mounted bike racks out of the box will fit both hitch sizes. But that s where you ve found a dilemma.

So you have the choice of mounting a bike rack on a rear mounted carrier and stowing the extra gear in a roof top carrier or getting a small trailer. Thule offers a sweet 2 bike hitch mounted carrier that allows tailgate access. Hitch racks by the time you get the whole family loaded up in your vehicle there s no room for all the luggage and gear. Its lightweight aluminum rack is nearly half the weight of most hitch racks for easy handling installation and removal.

After testing 70 bike racks including hitch trunk and roof models we recommend the kuat sherpa 2 0 hitch rack as the best way to carry your bikes on a car. Most smaller cars i see have a class ii receiver for their bike racks. Best for four bikes. Roof racks also reduces the gas mileage of your vehicle more than other racks due to the increased wind resistance.

While not necessarily inexpensive a quality hanging rack like the yakima ridgeback 2 comes in at about half the price of a platform model with the same capacity. It s easier on the arms too. Even if the strap rack does not leave any marks on the vehicle the bikes may. Hanging hitch racks are a popular way to transport road or lightweight bikes without the need to lift them overhead and onto the roof of your vehicle.

Depending on the size of your vehicle a roof rack is also typically able to hold more bikes than a hitch or trunk mounted rack. With a roof rack and carrying two mountain bikes there was a 19 percent reduction in fuel mileage and 5 percent less when empty. With a hitch rack carrying the same two bikes the suv had a 12. Yakima ridgeback 4 bike hitch rack at rei has a 160 pound weight limit and comes with anti sway cradles to keep bikes from touching best for suvs.

A roof mounted bike rack can be challenging to load and unload and it affects aerodynamics which increases fuel consumption. That s why you ve decided to invest in a cargo carrier. Your rack is not rated for 2 bikes plus a roof carrier.