A car bike rack can give you the tool to make bicycling more fun and versatile and is an efficient way of transporting your bicycle anywhere you go. Wherever you go, you’re sure to find bike trails that will fun and adventurous and will give you the opportunity to get more exercise anywhere that you want. You will be able to bike anywhere that you want-from beaches to mountains to forests. Just load a bike on your car bike rack and go!

You want to ensure that the car bike you decide is high quality. There are a few reputable manufacturers to buy from and we will review some of them on this site. The car bike rack is what keeps your bike safe, so it is important to make this purchase decision carefully. Finding the right car bike rack is essential. There are some things that you will want to consider when choosing a car bike rack.

Here are some things to consider as your looking for your car bike rack:

What exactly do you need?

• Will you use the bicycle rack daily, on weekends or just 1-2 times per month?
• Will it be just for your bike or will you have multiple bikes?
• Will it just be used on only one car or multiple cars in the family?
• Will the car bike rack be installed on a car your own, or one that you rent?
• What is your budget?
• Is security important?
• Are you strong enough to lift a bike up over your head?
• Is your bike a special bike with an odd frame?
• Does the car you plan on installing the bike rack on already have a utility rack on the roof?
• Do you have a spare tire mounted on the back of your car?

Here are some of the different types of a car bike rack:

1) Truck mounted strap on carrier. These are the most cost effective and range in cost anywhere from $40 to $150. This unit works with straps that attach to the cars frame. Typically you can carry in most cases 1-2 bikes. In some instances you can fit 3.

Some of the benefits

• Good option for any leased or rented vehicle
• Easier to life up and secure bikes on the car
• Easily stored
• Beginning nicely under $100, the least expensive of all kinds

Disadvantages

• Straps can get loose, wear or even snap
• If you have a spoiler, this can definitely be a problem
• May need to use padding to ensure multiple backs don’t hit each
• Cannot open trunk when it is installed
• Might obstruct the drivers view

2) Roof-mounted carrier – these carriers attach to a vehicle’s established roof stand or crossbars–found on many SUVs, minivans, and others.

Benefits

• The actual rack may be used for numerous actions, such as skiing and water-skiing if you purchase various accessories or even carriers, or transporting additional objects like building supplies
• Lockable mounting available
• A sedan might hold 4 bikes, a sizable van as many as seven

Disadvantages

• Could be somewhat complex to set up
• Vehicle can’t go into car parking garages or structures with low clearance. Even fast food restaurants
• Increases wind resistance decreasing fuel usage
• Can be tough to lift the bike up

3) Hitch-mounted carrier – Hitch-mount racks come in different sizes for all different cars sizes.Some hitch-mount racks secure the actual bicycles within mounting “trays”.

 

Benefits

• Easy to install–just slide it in to the hitch
• Usually not required to take off the front tires to mount bikes
• Simpler to lift in addition to secure bikes in place
• Much less chance of scratching vehicle’s paint whenever installation bikes

Drawbacks

• Added expense of truck hitch, if the automobile does not have one
• You may need to drill holes
• If license plate or even taillights are blocked, you could get a ticket
• May require additional attachments to support odd-framed bicycles
• May block owner’s view out of back again window

Here is a video that does a great job of explaining how to install a Saris Bones 3 bike rack.

You can so a quick search on any search engine and find more resources and installation videos for any type of car bike rack.