How Big Are Car Bike Racks?
There are tons of reasons why you’d need a way to transport your bike via a car. You might live in a bike-restricted area, or you can be a mountain bike enthusiast living far from the closest rocky landscape. In any case, you can’t just throw your bike into the trunk of your car and call it a day. Even the cargo bed of a truck is often too small and unsafe for transporting your expensive bike. Not to mention the fact that you might have another biker and their bike with you on the journey.
Car bike racks aim to resolve this issue entirely by giving you a secure, good-looking, and easy-to-operate way of transporting your bikes. But how big are these bike racks exactly? More importantly, how much extra space do they add to your vehicle?
The answer to both of these questions lies in the exact type of car bike rack you choose, let’s get into it.
Roof Racks
Roof bike racks are the most versatile option on this list. You can mount consumer bikes of any size and shape on them without much hassle. They are also customizable to fit other outdoor toys like kayaks, surfboards, and snowboards. Certain attachments make them the ideal cargo-hauling device as well, with secure mounts and quick-release buckles. You don’t have to worry about clearance either, as roof racks keep your items tied tightly against your vehicle.
Hitch Racks
As the name suggests, hitch racks are attached to the trailer hitch of your vehicle. Hitch racks run perpendicular to the car and have two or three attaching points. The size capacity of these racks is limited by the width of the vehicle, as you don’t want the bikes to be sticking out from the sides. They do obstruct the trunk on most cars, so you will have to remove and reinstall them often.
Trunk Racks
These racks use hooks, straps, and pads to attach directly to the trunk of your car. Installing them for the first time is a tedious process, but you can leave them in for future convenience. The capacity of these racks is surprisingly high, with many capable of transporting up to three large bikes at once.
Truck Bed Racks
As we discussed earlier, you can’t just throw your bike into the cargo bed of your truck and move on with the mission. These racks make that a possibility by adding secure mounts for your bikes. You will have to leave the tailgate open, but you will be able to carry up to four bikes at a time (depending on the size and model of your truck). This rack is also one of the safest options as nothing is sticking outside the bounds of your vehicle.
Final Words
Quality car bike racks can be as big or small as you want. Think about the type and model of your car, the number of bikes you’ll transport, and how often you go for rides to determine the ideal bike rack option for your use. Hopefully, these tips will help you during the purchasing process.