cnickroot

We need a bigger rack to get our bikes up to the hills. I'm currently carrying 4 XC mountain bikes, size XS to L and a WeeHoo 2 (but only one seat on it now). We also like to bring friends, so room for an extra bike or two vs another car seems good, plus that WeeHoo is going to be outgrown before too long. Currently, I can get the WeeHoo in the Toyota Sienna, and have been carrying 4 bikes on a cheap 5 bike frame carrier, and discovered that it is scratching and most recently denting the top tube of the bikes. Pennywise, pound foolish. I've been looking around and see the North Shore, Lolo, Velociracks style, and that seems like the direction to go, but which one? It seems an expensive mistake to make if I end up with something that is damaging my bikes further and costs in the vicinity of $1000. (2 inch hitch already installed in case that wasn't' ovbious)
Ground Clearance is a serious concern, as the Sienna is already so low. Get the camping gear in there and it all gets lower. This is the point where I take advice. Go!

prj71

Tray racks are your best bet. But I don't think anyone makes one that hangs 6 bikes off the back. That's just too much. You could get a tray rack that supports 4 bikes on the back and then get some roof racks for 2 more bikes.

travbikeman

There are several brands that you can hang bikes up like the one you are looking into.

Example: ETRAILER'S YAKIMA

I would be more concerned about the lowering of the minivan due to camping gear and the bikes.

Ever thought about just getting a trailer to fit the bikes on since you have the hitch receiver?

travbikeman

Just a thought, Some interesting do it yourself racks on a trailer that shouldn't break the bank that I pulled off the internet:

cnickroot

I hadn't really considered a trailer. That might make sense for the camping. It might also make access to some of the trails rather difficult. I'm nervous about that aspect. I'll have to give it some thought.

Kapusta

North Shore Racks: https://northshoreracks.com/products...v=7516fd43adaa

Not cheap, but it does 6 bikes without having them stick 8' off the back.

prj71

It appears the Yakima and Northshore might result in frame damage/scratching of paint. Or am I missing something?

travbikeman

OK, I'm going to take back the Yakima as an idea. Rereading the OP's needs and then reading this article, that is not going to fit the need.

https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/revie...akima-hangover

Although looking at images I don't see how it would damage frame paint, unless prj71 is talking auto paint? I'm never going to buy such racks, so I'm not really interested in looking further if it scratches paint or not though.

With a woohoo 2, bikes going from small to large, I still believe that a trailer as a good idea. BUT, the OP knows the trails in the OP's area best and what would work.

Kapusta

I guess if you stick a bike on it with a bunch of dirt on the fork crown, it could get scratched but as long as you wipe it off beforehand it should not be an issue… just like with any hanging rack.

Frame damage?

Kapusta

You also might consider a 4 bike tray on the back and 2 up top for when you need all 6.

prj71

The way they strap across the frame area...like some other racks I have seen..I've seen carbon frames gouged and paint removed from all of the bouncing around when driving.

ClydeClydeson

A super lightweight trailer - just stout enough to carry some bikes - is super easy to maneuver and will not get you stuck anywhere you weren't already stuck.
Lightweight trailers are also great because, if you find yourself needing to turn around in a tight spot, you can detach the trailer and turn it around by hand, then turn the car around separately and reattach.

Kapusta

It does not strap across the frame, is just straps down the rear wheel.

Are we talking about the same rack? Here are the instructions:
https://northshoreracks.com/wp-conte...-Fall-2019.pdf

prj71

Looks like it straps around the fork/headtube area in those instructions. Possible that system could scratch fork crown or head tube it appears. I wouldn't like that.

I prefer tray racks where nothing touches the frame / fork of the bike.

Canker

https://www.altaracks.com/shop/
There is an option that will make prj71 happy. You just need $1300.
Any options that can handle 6 bikes is going to have to be
1. verticle
2. mixed between hitch and roof
3. trailer
All are money
Trailer maybe the cheapest option since harbor freights sells one pretty cheap but then you have a trailer you have to store.

prj71

Lol...I'll never have a need to carry 6 bikes. If I did, I would use a 4 bike tray rack in the back and then roof mount 2 bikes.

I currently have 1upUSA rack.

travbikeman

How are you liking the 1upUSA so far?

I'm seriously considering getting one for myself in the spring. Just bought a Kuat V2 for me to use temporarily and will then let my son use that.

Kapusta

IUP has a cult-like following for good reason.

Among the many reasons they are awesome is that if you get a single (which can be extended to a triple*) the single rack can be folded up against the bumper and be 100% out of the way when not in use.

(*If you start with a double it goes up to 4 trays.)

All aluminum means that after 5 salty Upstate NY winters there is no rust.

The only downside is that it is a PITA with full coverage rear fenders. Doable, but a bit of reconfiguring. Front fenders no problem and anything short of full coverage in the rear is OK too.

travbikeman

Thanks! I am seeing a future 1upUSA single rack for my sedan with a 1.25 inch receiver. I like how it can be extended to a double or triple bike should I get a car that has a stronger hitch receiver class.

prj71

I like it for the reasons Kapusta mentioned, but for the money I paid for it, they could have done things a little differently IMO.

I have this model:

https://www.1up-usa.com/product/2in-...ble-bike-rack/

The mechanism to lower the rack down is kind of pain in the ass especially when there are bikes on it. You have to bend down and reach under the rack and pull on a bar to do it. But if you want to make your life easier and pay more money they sell you this nice little accessory, which in my mind for the price I paid should have part of the rack as standard

https://www.1up-usa.com/product/ez-pull/

Also the design of their anti-wobble mechanism doesn't allow for use of standard locking hitch pin. You have to use the locking hitch pin they provide which is a smaller diameter.

Because I have a fat bike I also had to purchase the Fat Bike Spacer kit. Only to find out that the fat bike spacer kit works just fine on my 2.4" tire mountain bike. So that spacing should have also been standard on the bike rack also.

https://www.1up-usa.com/product/fat-tire-spacer-kit/

Also if you want to purchase lock accessories in the future you can't get them keyed alike because 1up doesn't keep track of the key codes per order.

If I had to do it over again I would have bought this rack instead. It's designed a lot better and more user friendly. Unfortunately I was not aware of this company when I purchased my 1up.

https://quikrstuff.com/

This video shows everything that the 1up rack should have done out of the box without having to buy extra add ons.

prj71

This was just released...

https://www.1up-usa.com/product/recon-rack/