davidmills

Hi.. do you have any suggestion on which type of bike rack is suitable for my Ford focus? i just got my new and first car and i have been cycling for years before owning a car. I wanted to take my bike wherever I'll go so that i can use the bike when i am allowed to.. thanks for the suggestions!

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LongIslandTom

I've used all sorts of racks.. strap-mounted trunk rack, roof rack, hitch rack.

Of all of those, I prefer the hitch rack.

I hated the strap-mounted trunk racks-- They are the worst. PITA to mount, the bike sometimes would bump against the trunk and scratch the car, you can't open the trunk without taking the bike off, etc.

Roof racks are a bit better, but I hated having to lift my bike up to the roof, and I have had some accidental slips and falls that has caused some dings on my car roof.

I love using my hitch rack. On a sedan, you can open the trunk while the bike is on the rack, and the rack holds the bike away from your car so it won't get scratched, and I can use the hitch rack as a repair stand for my bike. It is secured onto my car's hitch using just one single half-inch hex bolt (the rack takes all of 30 seconds to put on or take off, using a socket wrench). And it gets better fuel economy than a roof rack.

U-Haul should sell a hitch that fits your Focus, if you want a hitch rack.

fungirl

Same here, looking for a bike rack for my Ford Fusion. Don't have a hitch. Need to take my bike to trainings and so. For now I flip the back seats down but its such a hassle to put bike in and out that way.

(Y(L|S+

Ahh, the hitch, trunk or roof rack question. I personally like hitch racks best. I have one on my Pathfinder (Thule 914XT Roadway) but not on my Focus. I have the Saris Bones on that. Works fine, stable and easy enough to put on and take off. Still a pain though but I can live with it. I park in the garage so I am afraid of getting a roof rack because I will forget one day that I have a bike(s) up there and try to park it in the garage, guaranteed. Plus, they are really expensive, at least for a good system.

I was wondering though... does anyone know of a trunk-mounted roof rack? One where the towers mount on the trunk or hatch and the trays on top of that and the bikes are fork-mounted below the roof line out back.

RonH

Saris Bones is what I have.

pablosnazzy

saris bones

Retro Grouch 

A painter's drop cloth.

If at all possible I prefer to carry the bike inside of the car. A painter's drop cloth is a cheap and easy way to keep the upholstery nice.

cyclist2000

I prefer a roof rack. No damage to bikes if the car is rear ended. Just be careful to take bike off roof before driving into garage. Downside is bugs are smashed onto the bike.

Inside the vehicle is the best for security.

fietsbob

Thule and Yakima offer an assortment of clips and clamps to fit a roof rack to any car.

slorollin

Saris hitch rack. It takes about 30 secs to set up the rack then another 30 secs to put the bikes on. Very solid.

stapfam

Ford Focus sounds like an English car And just in case you are-Don't go to a Multi Car/Bike accessory shop Like Halfords. This advise will also apply to americans where you have a few WallyWorld stores that sell similar quality products. You need a local bike shop as they will carry a known range of carriers to fit any car.

The Saris Bones is a good one. So are quite a few other makes but make certain it is sturdy when off the car. Then it will not flop around once fitted.

davidmills

That's what i used to do whenever i take my bike with me using my car.. i flip the back seat and just fit the bike inside which was a very hassle thing to do so i decided to buy a bike rack and now i don't know which one will work best with my focus.

Sylv

Add another vote for Saris Bones.

2ndGen

A timely thread:

I have a Ford Expedition.
I want a hitch mounted rack.
I would also feel safer with a platform-type rack.
Planning to carry up to 5 bikes at most (2 adult, 3 kids bikes).

I'm leaning towards Thule or Yakima.

Any suggestions?

Fibber

I added receiver hitches to both my Subaru Outback and my wife's Honda Odyssey specifically to accommodate hitch mount racks, and have been using this setup for the past 8 years. We have a Yakima Full Swing on the Ody, and an inexpensive no-name brand unit on the Subi. Both work great.

Recently, I got it into my head that I needed a roof mount unit that could stay permanently on the Subi throughout the year. I picked up cheap on Craig's List a Subaru branded (OEM) 2 bike rack made by Yakima (a LockJaw, similar to the current Raptor model). No matter how I tried to brace myself, I just cannot comfortably get a nearly 30 lb bike up onto the roof without morbid fear of losing control. I lack the strength and dexterity. Plus, in one brilliant move, I came too close to driving into the garage with the bike up there! A friend snapped his carbon frame bike like a twig in just such an accident.

After some consideration, I took the unit off the roof and ordered an Allen 532RR hitch rack as a step up from old trusty no-name. Want to buy a lightly used roof rack?

TromboneAl

With our Yakima roof rack, our mileage drops from 39 MPG to 34 MPG (almost no drop with our Allen trunk rack).

I've found that it's a real pain to load or unload the bikes on our "wheel-on" roof rack. I'm keeping my eyes open for the type in which one removes the front wheel.

BarracksSi

Somebody posted a pic of one just this week, but I can't remember where. Maybe it's in the "Most recent cycling-related purchase" thread in the Road subforum. Looked really useful, too, except for a hatchback owner like myself.

I've got a strap-mounted hatch/trunk rack, but my road bike's frame is having me reconsider using it. I may add a hitch to my Civic and do a hitch rack if I want to carry more than one (or two) bikes and have filled up the hatch with other stuff.

Retro Grouch 

"First car" To me that's significant.

ANY strap on rack is going to mark your car's paint. If you use it regularly for a year, by the end of that time you'll be able to see scratches where the feet fit on your trunk lid. By then it will be too late so, if that's the kind of thing that you think will bother you, it's better to know it now.

Frankly, my favorite bike rack is a painter's canvas drop cloth. They are cheap and reasonably rugged. You use it to protect the seats and the interior of your car. Your bike is protected from weather and road grime and is out-of-the-sight of lustful thieves.

Receiver hitch racks are a popular, if expensive, compromise between the two. That goes for roof racks too but I have never been comfortable with my bike up where I couldn't see it as I drove.

BarracksSi

FYI, you probably don't need to buy a whole new vehicle just to get a hitch:

https://hitches4less.com/custom-vehic...r-hitches.html
https://www.Willwoodsystem.com/
https://www.etrailer.com/