Using a Truck pad with My Bikes n a shell?

I really want to get a shell on my 2017 Sport 4x4 but I really like my Truck pad purchased last year and know going out a bumpy road with the camper shell popped up is not advised.

The upside is the shocks are pretty cheap to replace , I just hope they would last a few years. I would primarily transport my bike in my Subaru, so it would literally be 5-7x a year transporting the bikes this way. Taking the shell off is not an option.

Thoughts?

 

Get a bike rack and install it on the trailer hitch. There are dozens of options for bike racks. If you get one with a stabilizer bolt that tightens to the trailer hitch, the rack won’t sway or rattle when driving.

The bikes can be secured from theft using a cable lock attached to the trailer hitch safety chain loops.

Remove the bike rack when you’re not using it.

Some racks have fold down forks, so the rack can be left attached to the vehicle when not in use.

Some entire racks fold down after removing the bikes so that you can open the tailgate.

There are racks that are like a tray, where the bikes roll onto the rack, and when the bikes are removed, you can fold the entire tray up when not in use.

Many hold 2 to 5 bikes.

Yakima and Thule are two companies that make quality bike racks. There are others.

 

Dont sweat it...lift struts are cheap. Hang em over the tailgate like the cool kids do. ;-)

 

My solution, 1UP USA

 

I thought about that too when I pondered setup, but then I remember how banged up my HAM antenna is because I forget it is up there all the time. I might literally die if I did that to my bike.

OP, I would suggest a 1up hitch rack. Or something like a northshore if you have a lot of bikes.

 

I hear you, I have a carbon Niner. I went back and forth deciding to get a hitch or roof mount and I'm happy with the choice so far.

 

Throw it on the tailgate. Think about how you pull it down. That's the exact same force exerted on it as if you hit a bump in the road. I doubt the struts would even compress unless you hit something massive. Unless you're 4x4ing regularly with your bike in stow I wouldn't worry about it

 

I agree with go for it with the truck pad, I already have enough racks I never use anymore...................