Trunk mounted carrier
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Trunk mounted carrier
Has anyone used a basic 2 bike trunk mounted rack to carry their tandem short distances?
I need something to move our 91 Cannondale about 5 miles in either direction to get to safer routes. Business 17 is busy and 50mph.
I've used our rear tire mounted rack on the Jeep without issue but I'm looking for something for the back of a Kia Optima when we travel south for the week. The bike is already there so not worried about long distance or high speeds.
Feedback appreciated, thanks.
I need something to move our 91 Cannondale about 5 miles in either direction to get to safer routes. Business 17 is busy and 50mph.
I've used our rear tire mounted rack on the Jeep without issue but I'm looking for something for the back of a Kia Optima when we travel south for the week. The bike is already there so not worried about long distance or high speeds.
Feedback appreciated, thanks.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Pioneer Valley
Posts: 971
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 313 Post(s)
Liked 715 Times
in
368 Posts
I use a hitch rack and remove the wheels so the tandem isn’t as long. This is with a bike that probably weighs around 30-35 lbs. Plenty sturdy with the hitch rack but I’d be nervous about doing this with a trunk rack even for short distances. One thing you could do is install a square hitch receiver on the Kia and use a hitch rack. Or roof rack crossbars and tandem tray rack but that’d be a much pricier option. If it were me and I was trying to do this as cheaply as possible I’d install the receiver and look for a good deal on CL or elsewhere on a used rack. There seem to be a lot out there, maybe because people have had to switch to tray racks for their MTBs.
#3
Senior Member
I've used a Saris 2-bike rack to move our tandem and a single seater (at the same time) without issues including long highway trips. I remove both wheels from the tandem and make sure all the straps are in good shape, not chafed, and tight. The biggest challenge is to position and pad both bikes so they don't bang around and damage each other. Pipe insulation is useful in this regard.
#4
Full Member
Thread Starter
I've used a Saris 2-bike rack to move our tandem and a single seater (at the same time) without issues including long highway trips. I remove both wheels from the tandem and make sure all the straps are in good shape, not chafed, and tight. The biggest challenge is to position and pad both bikes so they don't bang around and damage each other. Pipe insulation is useful in this regard.
That's the rack I am thinking about. Interesting that you guys take the front and rear wheels off. Makes sense because I assume more flexing on a trunk system. On the jeep tire mount I've been transporting without issue with both wheels on, including a front motor hub without issue. That fits flush on the back. Also yes thinking about adding a hitch as an option too, but thinking the Saris is the cheap option for something I may need twice a year, three times at the most.
#5
Senior Member
That's the rack I am thinking about. Interesting that you guys take the front and rear wheels off. Makes sense because I assume more flexing on a trunk system. On the jeep tire mount I've been transporting without issue with both wheels on, including a front motor hub without issue. That fits flush on the back. Also yes thinking about adding a hitch as an option too, but thinking the Saris is the cheap option for something I may need twice a year, three times at the most.
#6
Full Member
Thread Starter
I only used it infrequently, when I was transporting the tandem and another bike. When moving the tandem alone I just fold down the seats and slide it in the back. That requires removing the wheels also. I took the wheels off when using the trunk rack mostly to avoid having the wheels protrude beyond the width of the car. Now I have a car that doesn't play well with the Saris and am going to have to get something else.
#7
Newbie
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Has anyone used a basic 2 bike trunk mounted rack to carry their tandem short distances?
I need something to move our 91 Cannondale about 5 miles in either direction to get to safer routes. Business 17 is busy and 50mph.
I've used our rear tire mounted rack on the Jeep without issue but I'm looking for something for the back of a Kia Optima when we travel south for the week. The bike is already there so not worried about long distance or high speeds.
Feedback appreciated, thanks.
I need something to move our 91 Cannondale about 5 miles in either direction to get to safer routes. Business 17 is busy and 50mph.
I've used our rear tire mounted rack on the Jeep without issue but I'm looking for something for the back of a Kia Optima when we travel south for the week. The bike is already there so not worried about long distance or high speeds.
Feedback appreciated, thanks.
#8
well hello there
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Point Loma, CA
Posts: 15,430
Bikes: Bill Holland (Road-Ti), Fuji Roubaix Pro (back-up), Bike Friday (folder), Co-Motion (tandem) & Trek 750 (hybrid)
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 503 Post(s)
Liked 336 Times
in
206 Posts
__________________
.
.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
.
.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
#9
Full Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for the feedback. Ended up dropping the Kia rear seats and sticking it in the trunk.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SFBay
Posts: 2,334
Bikes: n, I would like n+1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 127 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 133 Times
in
108 Posts
For anyone that asks in the future, I’ve used the 3 bike version of the Saris Bones to move a tandem many times without issue. I do take the wheels off, but this is just to keep it narrower as I had it on smaller cars.
Likes For jccaclimber: