miater

I've got a silverado with a cap on the back. I cut a 2x6 to fit the widtch of the bed, and attached those skewer brackets to it , and volia!
nice way to move the bike and keep it safe and protected. relatively.

I hate bike racks.

question is - I 'm tired of the truck . too big lousy mileage time to get something sensible, but, what will work for my bike.

I've seen guys fit bikes into hatchbacks when they were by themselves.

what do you all do?

Ebbtide

I pull the front wheel and put it in the back seat of my Chevy Lumina. Fits nice, quick, and no rack to mess with. In a pinch a can fit another person back there or another bike.

531Aussie

me clacka!



Just kidding.

I just take both wheels off, and chuck it in the boot of my 1992 For Fairmont (Australian sedan

Phatman

the silver bullet, baby! a 91 saturn SL, complete with the original 85 hp 1.9L SOHC inline-4

Ed Holland

Simple - the quick release is your friend. The other day my wife and I hired a Nissan Micra (v small hatch-back) and needed to transport my road bike. Folding the rear seats down gave plenty of room for the bike once the wheels were off. An old towel prevented black marks on the car interior from chain oil.

Cheers,

Ed

Ebbtide

After a year of dragging my bike/chain across the back seat I thought it was ruined. A couple of shots of Orange Cleaner and a paper towel it wiped clean, must be the scotchgaurd?

MrCjolsen

My entire bike (58cm) fits into the trunk of my Accord if I take both wheels off. If I take the front wheel off, it fits if I put the seat down.

I read a review on the new Scion Tc. It's very sporty, fast, gets 30 mpg and was supposedly designed by a triathlete who build the interior around being able to fit a bike in the back.

Also, the Toyota Prius seems to have a big cargo area.

Of course, if you get a Honda Element you can probably haul multiple bikes and their riders.

Grasschopper

Well I currently drive a VW Golf 4 dr and it is fine although you loose the back seat when you want to haul a bike. I am going to get a hitch rack at some point I think. Have been looking at other cars/trucks though and I think I like the Subaru Baja. With the gate down it will haul 2 bikes in the back. They have a fork mount accessory that mounts to the front of the bead like your 2x6 and a bed extender that guards the back. This way you have a 4 door for space inside and the bikes on the back. Honda Element will do 2 bikes inside but again you loose the back seat, not sure if that is important to you, I have a 3yr old so it is a consideration for me.

lala

xtracycle with a traybien!

Grasschopper

Ok do you really have that? How do you like it? Looks cool but I would need a 3rd bike at this point and I think my wife might kill me.

shokhead

I hate bikes in auto's. I ride where i need to ride.

lala

I do. It is really handy when you run around with folks without cars/licenses. There's always the time when somebody gets stuck somewhere w/o a bike or borrows someone else's bike and ends up with two. I love my xtracycle, but my small sized mtb makes the front end a little wonky. I haven't tried it out in the snow yet (it was set up in the spring), but I hear the long wheel base makes it very stable in treacherous conditions.

I also have a suzuki sidekick I can stuff a bike if need be (not the xtracycle!) in the back with the dog.

edit: a) I too hate the idea of driving to ride.
b) If you use your car much less, which you will with the xtracycle (grocery shoppings a breeze!), I think that's a perfect excuse, err, rationale for a new bike: or convert a used bike, it wouldn't be too $$.

audiojan

I really like the bdi rack. It's using the boltholes for the licences plate. Nothing but a small bracket when the rack is not used and an extremely sturdy solution when transporting the bikes.

https://www.bdiracks.com/bdiplate.html

2Rodies

97 Volvo 855 T-5, ipd ECU/Exhaust/K&N Filter 287hp sleeper. Yak roof rack system.

JarodArmstrong

I've got a '95 Escort that gets 35 miles/gal. I put a Sarfis hitch rack on it and it works great. When the weather is crummy (like now with the snow/slush) I take the rack off and it slides in the back without taking the wheels off. Though it is snug, I may try taking off the front wheel and see if it's easier.

It also doubles as a Christmas tree holder.
https://www.door-web.com/images/tree2.jpg

squeegy200

My primary transport is a 4-door VW Jetta. I usually take off the front wheel and lower the back seat. One bike fits inside easily. I don't have to worry about low lying structures or bike security while parked.

I also have a VW Truck which transports two bikes nicely. I bought a tailgate rack which conveniently holds two bikes securely inside the bed. Cost was $45 from Nashbar.

Lastly, another vehicle I use is my wife's Jeep Cherokee. With the back seat folded down, I lay a single Yakima bar with fork mounts in the rear. With the front wheel removed I can mount the fork into the mounts and I can transport up to four road bikes upright in the back. However, Mountain Bike seats will not clear the roof with their higher bottom bracket height. Mountain Bikes also are more likely to bring dirt so I use a hitch mounted bike rack or my VW Pickup truck for off-road cycling adventures.

Chucklehead

i've got an acura integra hatchback. bike fits perfectly in the trunk without even folding the seats down. there will be no RACK on this CAR!

Bolo Grubb

Interesting

gcasillo

'89 Jeep Cherokee Limited. The stuff that constituted the Limited package has rusted off, the engine was replaced six months after I bought it, the dome light and radio do not work, it consistently stalls out (and strands me) in heavy rain, and everything from the tailpipe to the alternator (twice) have been replaced. Runs and rides out great, the PoS. I've put less then 25,000 miles on it in four years I've had it and have milked it along to offset the total cost of my ownership (read: suffering) of it.

Yeah, I stuff a bike in it...when I'm sure it will break down.

dtufts

Honda Accord 4-door. Bike is a 62 cm w/ 130 stem. Bike fits in back seat with front wheel removed, or in trunk with both wheels removed. I like the bike inside the car much better than on the roof or off the back. Trunk is good place to store it when you have to leave the bike in the car for the day. No one knows its in there so there is less chance it will get stolen.

flyingscotsman

I use a 1986 ford mustang (this is not a typo)

and have a bike rack pictured below.

timhines

94 Ranger truck. I bought one of the bars that has 3 hitches on it. $30 on eBay

DogBoy

Ford Ranger with a cap. Not a solution to the original posters problem though. Likely the Ranger is going to go in favor of a minivan. (The wife has stopped referring to it as YOUR truck and reffered to trading in OUR truck). If I do that, I've seen the 2x4 with skewer holders and rack-mounts. I think I'd go with the internal solution for most of my stuff, but still buy a rack-mount for family excursions.

I drive to ride my bike because all the good riding area is on the west side of town. If I ride to the west side of town, I won't make it in time for the ride start and I would ride solo. When not going to group rides, I ride from my house.

khackney

I've got a Nissan Frontier. I have a DIY rack in the bed that I roll my bike into, attach straps to the drops and that's it. I don't have to take off the wheels and I have had 4 bikes in without touching. Very fast and stable.

BradM

My element easily fits 2 road bikes side by side. I just mounted 2 fork mounts on a 2x4 & it works great. If you turned the handlebars you could probably squeeze 3.