Diamondback HD Bike Creative Mounting Options

I'm still struggling to find the cover that will fit my needs. I would love to get the Diamondback HD and I'm hoping someone can help me here.

Any ideas for mounting a 29er mountain bike sideways (horizontally) on top of the Diamondback HD?

If I mount it the normal way, vertically, I worry I will forget my bike is mounted and have an accident backing into my garage. Also it would be very convenient to climb up on top of the diamondback cover to retrieve my bike that will be hanging from the 10ft ceiling directly above the bed, mount the bike, and drive out of the garage.

Trailer hitch bike mount would solve my problem except I have a very short garage. I have about 6" of clearance in the front and back when I park so I won't have the room for a hitch mounted bike rack.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I've seen people use some KB Voodoo or Mobtown Offroad bed bars and attach a fork mount on it to transport their bikes - those bed bars are able to be used with a tonneau cover. Currently, I use a hitch mount and just remove it before I park in the garage. I haven't heard of anyone mounting it horizontally, that would probably scratch up your bike....and cover.

 

KB Voo Doo Outboard Bike Mount. Not made anymore but I love mine.

 

Thanks for the quick replies. I know there are lots of options for mounting vertically which is not preferred for me for reasons stated above. And trailer hitch mount isn't an option because it will prevent my truck from fitting in my garage. I am hoping for a creative solution to mount on top of the Diamondback HD while still having the vertical clearance to go through my garage door. I can measure when I get home but it's roughly 1ft higher than the top of my cab.

 

I'm sure there are ways to mount it horizontally but you'll definitely scratch the bike and your $2000+ Diamondback cover - that would be a big NO for me. Way easier to just remove the hitch mount before parking in the garage but to each his own.

 

Yeah, I didn't really have high hopes for there being a good option for mounting horizontally without just laying the bike on the cover and strapping it down, but worth asking. I'll probably go with the hitch mount and remove it when I park in the garage like you suggested.

 

If you get one of the headache rack options for the diamondback, you might be able to lean the bike at an angle against it, maybe with a padded wedge shaped object between the two, and there would be plenty of latch points available to tie it down.

 

Certainly worth trying that out before I purchase the hitch mount. I was planning on buying the headache rack. I thought about possibly mounting a fork mount sideways on the headache rack, and the back tire just resting sideways on the Diamondback cover, but feel like that might put too much torque on the fork with the bike cantilevering from the mount.

 

Hmm, maybe if you did that fork mount and also mounted a bar to support the weight of the bike toward the back of the frame. I bet you could come up with a creative solution. If you do, post a pic in this thread because I'd be interested to see how it turns out.

 

If I could mount the fork mount perfectly at the exact height so that the end of the handle bar rests on the cover, that would probably be sufficient. Then you'd have 3 support points - fork, handle bar end, and back tire. But it would have to be pretty exact. Too high and the handle bar would float above the cover. Too low and geometry would prevent you from attaching to the fork mount. I think I have enough options to feel comfortable going ahead and pulling the trigger on the diamondback cover. If I do come up with anything creative I will post a pic here.

 

In my humble opinion, if you have to take the front wheel off to transport your bike, it is just too much hassle and you should reassess your priorities, maybe all your overland gear takes priority?

When I just need to move one bike I put it down flat in the 6' bed (super tight fit with a 29er w/ a 1215mm wheelbase) driveside up. For more than one bicycle, they go on the raceface tailgate pad which is fading nicely in the sun to match the cement color. I've only taken it off during the winter rainy season.

 

Currently I am using a Yakima tailgate pad. I agree taking the front wheel off isn't ideal, and I'm open to suggestions. That's why I'm here lol.

Taking the front wheel off takes all of about 10 seconds. So while that isn't ideal, the peace of mind knowing all my gear is secure when I travel does take priority over the minor inconvenience of taking the front wheel off. Ideally I will think of something, or get a suggestion from someone, that won't require removing the front wheel.

 

Something like this mounted sideways would be ideal. But I'm not seeing any options to just buy the front part of this mount that is common on hitch mounts.

 

1up makes trays like that that aren't hitch mounts. They label them as "roof rack". You'll have to fab up a mount of course.