I’ve got a Toyota RAV4 and am wondering different long distance bike storage options. I love it because it’s easy to fit inside but if traveling with more people, I’m considering a bike rack. What are pros and cons to roof mounted racks vs behind the rear door? (I don’t have rails nor a hitch attachment yet)
Bike safety, cost, gas mileage impact? What are your experiences roof vs rear?
I’d rather strap my passengers to the roof than my bike.
I’d rather strap my passengers to the roof than my bike.
I hadn’t even considered that. Fantastic idea! All I’d need then are some bungee cords.
I’ve got a Toyota RAV4 and am wondering different long distance bike storage options. I love it because it’s easy to fit inside but if traveling with more people, I’m considering a bike rack. What are pros and cons to roof mounted racks vs behind the rear door? (I don’t have rails nor a hitch attachment yet)
Bike safety, cost, gas mileage impact? What are your experiences roof vs rear?
Roof:
Pro:
Better security (the fork locks are better than cable locks).
Con:
Potential to destroy your bike if you forget it’s there and drive into a garage
Unless you get a wheel mount, the wheel still has to go inside
Bug guts
Wheel removal necessary every time
Hitch:
Pro:
No lifting bike overhead
No potential for garage damage
Con:
Most only have the ability to lock bikes via built-in cable, which is only marginally secure
I have both types (hitch on one car, roof on the other). I find that unless I am transporting more than one bike, I just the bike down inside with the seats down. It’s just more secure that way.
I’ve used both and don’t have a strong preference either way. The cost of my roof system was significantly more than the rear, but it also holds the bike much more securely (fork mount). I feel safer with the bike on the roof. On the flip side, the impact to gas mileage is a bitch.
Roof system:
Pros - holds bike more securely, doesn’t block view to traffic behind
Cons - gas mileage, may be more expensive, risk of driving into garage with bike still on roof
Rear system:
Pros - entry level systems are more cost effective
Cons - May require a hitch mount, strap on systems are a pain to put on/off, can’t use rear tailgate when bikes are on, bikes are less secure in my experience, may block view when driving
Bike always inside with the front wheel removed. There’s just the two of us however, and sometimes just me driving to races or where I can ride outside, so plenty of space even in a small vehicle.
With more people could you remove both wheels, wrap the chain, and strap everything behind the rear seat? Like when packing a bike box, without a bike box?
I would not strap race bikes to a car.
I went hitch mount. Had this same dilemma about a year ago. I had the option of roof or hitch. Went hitch after I watched a guy go through a drive-thru line with his road bike on the roof (non fork - wheel attached style) and as the frame started to crack as it struck the roof line, I made my decision. I guess he didn’t hear the seat hit the warning sign (caught the seat and yanked it back).
If it is just me, in the car.
I went through the same thing a year ago. Decided against the roof rack, too many people hammer their bike into their garage damaging the bike, car and garage. I put a receiver hitch on my SUV and bought a Thule T2 Classic. Wheels fit into a cradle and a stabilizing bar come down over the frame and locks. Hitch folds up when not in use. My on regret was not getting the four bike model.
I had an SUV hatch mounted bike carrier and used it for awhile but now I always transport my bike inside by Honda CRV (very similar to your RAV4). The exterior options are somewhat secure to transport, but I don’t like them because the bike is exposed to the elements, I don’t like stopping for anything on the way home from a race just because I don’t feel it’s very secure outside whether cable-locked down or not, and I can maneuver things enough inside the vehicle to not necessitate the exterior options. Obviously take away #3 and I’d need to compromise somehow. (that passenger on the roof rack idea is a good one) I’ve went with a group before and it makes me cringe to see my bike hanging off the rear-end of a vehicle crammed with other bikes. Hit a bump and something is going to rub, scrape, bang-around, whatever.
Have had both. Roof was fine but hassle to throw it up top, fear of running it into something, not a real option if you need to haul a bunch of bikes. Got a hitch mounted one and never looked back…easy to mount bikes (wife can do it with no real lifting needed), can hold 4 bikes, secures on wheels so no worry about the type of bikes or damage to frame, i dont have anything bad to say other than it blocks your rearview/lights a bit probably. I had a hitch mounted one that holds the frames of the bike and straps down and hated it, returned it as different bikes didnt fit well, tons of wobble of bikes hitting eachother, etc…highly recommend one that holds the wheels and not strapping down the frames.
For security they come with cable locks in the rack, but I also use a kryptonite cable lock to wrap them up again for added security.
Depends on what your goals/needs are. You will find all sorts of rack evangelists here - pick what works best for you.
I drive a Toyota Matrix. I have 3 racks (Inno) on the roof on the factory base rack. But I get my bike inside the car whenever possible for security and sake of mileage. Things go on the roof once I’m packing too many bikes or too much other crap, but first priority is in the car.
I opted for roof racks at the time since they were the cheapest and easiest to install. Inno racks also come with built in locks so you don’t have to buy them separately ala Thule. But they aren’t worth a whole lot and don’t come with common cores so you have to carry around a ton of keys. Good enough for a deterrent. Pick your poison. Factory rack/crossbars were a bad choice to keep. Pretty flexy and located too far aft on the car, which can make rails hang off the back and block the hatchback, effectively limiting the number of bikes you can get up on the roof, depending on sizes.
In retrospect I probably would have gone with a hitch rack for convenience sake. When you get done with a wet/muddy ride, it’s nice to throw the bike on without having to take off the dirty front wheel and keep them in the car. The local ferry system charged extra for overheight vehicles until recently, so it was another $10-15 to travel with them up on the roof. And even then clearance was tight. Hitch racks do add length to the car, so be mindful of your parking job 
I travel with mine inside the vehicle - don’t remove anything (Honda Element). If I had to choose I would go with the rear mount as less likely to damage/ruin the bike running into something overhead (lots of pictures on the internet). On the other hand, losing a bike off the rear is still possible. My wife was on the interstate last year and watched firsthand as a guy passed her on the left with his carbon Felt tri bike (yeah, my wife even saw the brand) bounced out of his rear mount carrier and then exploded into numerous pieces as the semi-trailer behind him ran right over it. I’m going to keep my 2010 Element as long as possible!!
Fork mounted roof rack for me. I am able to lock the front fork, and I also use a long cable lock for some extra security.
I use the following to help prevent bug guts and dirt: http://www.skinzprotectivegear.com/bicycleproduct/bikeprotectors.html
1UP USA hitch rack for me, absolutely love it!
I did a bunch of research on hitch racks before deciding on that rack and I haven’t seen a better option yet. I wanted something where I could leave the wheels on and I didn’t want the rack to touch the frame at all. That leaves the Yakima Hold Up, a Thule and Kuat which work the same and the 1UP. The other racks clamp the front wheel only and has the potential for the arm to slip down and rest on the fork causing damage. The 1UP holds both wheels securely and there is no chance of the rack touching anything other than the tires.
The 1UP is easier to configure 4 bikes on as well, the Yakima takes a good bit of work to fit 4 MTB’s without rubbing. Also the way the 1UP mounts in the hitch is far superior, faster and easier.
I installed a hitch on our BMW 330 convertible and use the rack on that, the hitch install was cheap and easy and the whole setup works great!
In Texas we just put all our bikes in the bed of our pickup trucks along with all our gear, plenty of room for bike and gear - room for up to 6 people in the cab with a front bench seat. If you need more room get a dually!
Scion xB here so I’ve got similar amount of room inside…can travel with me and a passenger, 2 race bikes and spare wheel sets no problem. We take the wheels off and have the bikes upside-down in the back.
3 bikes with 1 back seat folded up for a third passenger is a tight fit but doable. Better if the frames are 56cm or less.
With a RAV4, even if you had 3 bikes on the roof or a hitch, it’s going to be a tight fit inside with more than a day’s worth of gear and those 3 people. Not sure if the external rack is worth it IMO.
Additional questions: For this who use hitch racks (which is what I do), do you put a bike on with a rear disk wheel? I haven’t to this point. I have an older Thule rack that supports the frame (wheels dangle) and either travel with the disk wheel in the car and no wheel on the frame or an old training wheel on the bike to keep the chain from swinging around. If you had a tray-style hitch rack that supported the wheels would you keep a disk wheel attached or remove?
This is how I travel with my bikes in side a Tahoe. I just have a fork mount on a small piece of plywood. I did a google search and I think this is actually a picture of a Rav4
I’ve got a Toyota RAV4
I have an '09 Rav4 with a rear rack. My model has the spare mounted on the rear door. If yours does too, note that you’ll need an adapter if you’re going to mount the rack onto the spare mount.
If you go with hitch or roof obviously it isn’t an issue.
I have a roof rack under my bike for 5-8 usages a year when I attach my Jetta under my bike to go to races or weekend training camps. Rest of the time, the only thing under my bike is tarmac with me on top.I like to view the world as everything around the bike, not everything around the car!
