My 14 year old Rhode Gear bike rack has seen better days so I am looking to replace it. I like the flexibility of a trunk mount because I could put it on the Jeep or the car but now at times I will need to carry 4 bikes. Is there any advantage to a roof mount system over a receiver hitch mount? I have been looking at Thule and Yakima systems for the Jeep. Any experiences good or bad?
Thanks,
I like my roof mount Thule on my Passat station wagon. It can carry four bikes. I looked into getting a hitch mount rack but it would have been a lot more expensive because I would have had to have a hitch installed. And with a hitch mount it wouldn’t be as easy to access the rear cargo area. I’ve never owned Yakima but I’ve used it on friends’ cars and I feel that the Thule trays are more secure, tighter and they can be locked with a key.
I like my roof mount Thule on my Passat station wagon. It can carry four bikes. I looked into getting a hitch mount rack but it would have been a lot more expensive because I would have had to have a hitch installed. And with a hitch mount it wouldn’t be as easy to access the rear cargo area. I’ve never owned Yakima but I’ve used it on friends’ cars and I feel that the Thule trays are more secure, tighter and they can be locked with a key.
Can you give me some details on what you got? I have a 2001 VW Passat wagon, and I’d rather not go to the VW dealer for a roof rack if I can avoid it. Thanks!
I have a hitch mount. It is old, but it works OK. I’m terrrified that I’ll zone out and drive into my garage with me bike(s) in a roof mount…YIKES!
That or a parking garage!
I have a roof mount for the station wagon and a rear door (similar to hitch mount) for the gas guzzlin’ SUV. The rear mount is easier to load and unload on a tall vehicle and seems to be better for aerodynamics (though you wouldn’t know with our suv). The roof carrier seems to keep the bikes cleaner than the rear mount and is out of the way when installed. I won’t have the roof mount on an suv that already has a rollover problem. However, if I have the choice, I choose the roof mount as it is more solid and the dust doesn’t collect as much as on the rear mount. Bugs do stick to the bikes on the roof mount.