Help with ways to carry my bikes (bicycle )

Cheap and easy, like my wife...who does not go on this site.

 

i preferred, and copied, @RearViewMirror's previous setup.

 

Brought two more home today.


Having the mounts installed makes it too easy to bring bikes home on a spur of the moment purchase.

 

Pics?

 

Am I missing something? What's wrong with just laying it down in your bed, if you have a bed mat, it won't slide anywhere.

 

If you have multiple bikes, it helps to have them locked in and not on top of each other. You can damage your derailers, brakes, etc. I have to haul my bike, my wife's bike and a trailer for my toddler. Even if you had one bike with a lot of other gear, you might not want them bumping together. My theory anyway.

 

Or if you have a bike that costs thousands of dollars the last thing I want to do is lay it in the bed (even on a mat). I want it secured and stable.

 

Could you provide details on how you secured the Yakima bars to the bed rack system? I am interested in this setup. Thanks!

 

2nd Gen front rail popped right on this past Saturday, about $45.

 

I boutht these cross bars: http://www.kbvoodoo.com/shop/toyota-tacoma-bed-bracket-fits-years-05-pair from @KB Voodoo and added some old Yakima crossbars to it for added stiffness as the were pretty bouncy with a load on them.

Here is how everything comes together. Shown without the Yakima cross bar installed.


I also put some spacers in to raise the rack a bit higher so I could fit my ActionPacker underneath. Yakima crossbar installed.



Front rack without Yakima bar, rear rack with Yakima bar. With this configuration, I don't need to lock up my Action Packer anymore. With the tailgate locked, the Action Packer locked to the D-ring and the cross bar going across, its secure.

 

Another route you could go... not the best way, but works in a pinch if you already have the Yakima cross bars. Before my VooDoo rack came in, I found that my cross bars were a perfect fit and slipped right into the slots for the tonneau cover. Zip tied to the cleat as a temporary fix. Not sure of the crossbar length.

 

I use a blanket over the tailgate some of the time but I decided to get a 1upusa rack that I can use with my 4Runner as well. I've used all the leading hitch racks. I looked at Quat NV 2.0 and the Thule T2 pro but decided on the 1upusa because it allows me to put my tailgate down without worrying about damage, it's all aluminum, can be switched from 2,3 or 4 bikes easily and it's made in the USA. They also offer a 60 day no risk return policy. Quat and Thule have their advantages as well but I think I'll be super happy with this setup.

 

Yakima rail mounts and 2nd gen. Rail

 

I currently have the Küat NV bike rack. It's quick and easy to mount the bike but the one issue is the tailgate will touch the rack when in the down position. This isn't an issue for me but may be for others as I don't really put the tailgate down anyways.

 

I've got the Mobtown bed bars that I mounted Thule Sidearms on and then put a rollup tonneau cover underneath. The bars are high enough that the cover will roll up without having to take the bikes or the racks off the truck which is nice.

 

Do you go to Highland often?

 

IM there mostly every weekend!!!! LETS RIDE NEXT TIME YOUR THERE

 

I work for PD in that town. I am always up there watching. I haven't road there yet, but the owner is going to get me in one of the day camps. I know I will be addicted once I do.

 

I am a big fan of hitch racks. Out of the wind, out of the way. My particular rack only touches the tires/wheels so it is well-suited for carbon fiber bikes.

 

After I lifted my truck I quit loading bikes on my roof racks. I mounted a generic 9mm skewer mount and a Kuat Dirtbag on a scrap piece of 2x6. It's cheap but functional. I'll eventually upgrade to a hitch rack. Until then, this set up works.