All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

I mean a rack on top of your vehicle is subject to a pterodactyl getting shot out of the sky with an arrow to the wing plummeting to earth and landing on top of your vehicle smashing your bike and rack...

 

its just a padded piece of fabric. Nothing special. use a real lock no matter your rack. The garbage ones that come with Kuats, yakimas and the like are all but worthless anyways.

 

I've seen a number of posts about people pulling into gas stations, drive throughs, and garages with their bike up on the rack. Remember, people are morons unless proven otherwise.

 

well, I think the potential damage I mentioned was a bit more realistic....but you're right.

 

I mean, I did cleave a sparrow in half last weekend with my ham antenna...so your thing could TOTALLY happen

 

ok, are there pics?

 

Just a plume of feathers in the rearview mirror and a radio call from truck 2 in the stack: "Did you just massacre a bird?"

Pretty impressed the thin antenna held up. Hit that thing doing bout 75

 

I have almost lost bikes on tray style hitch racks. Kuat/Yakima, take a turn a little to hard and the pivot arm rotates and the front wheel can pop out. When I used my Kuat I would use a velcro loop to secure the front wheel so the bike couldnt rock out. The hook that goes over the front wheel can sometimes rub on forks as well.

The bikes themselves are far more stable over the tailgate. I maybe stop 1-2 times a year where I have to run into a store and for that I lock the bikes to the bed d-ring/hook.

 

I just got a tailgate pad and need to order a lock and chain/cable. Does anyone have any recommendations? Mainly wondering about chain vs cable I guess. I'm usually not in super high risk theft areas and just looking for something I can stop for some grub after a ride etc.

 

For the discussion on tailgate pads.

I have an EVOC pad. best pad I've had ever. Beats out the Yakima pad I had before.
the EVOC pad has removable velcro straps and the velcro actually works compared to my yakima where everything was sown together. The only downside is that the evoc has a small opening for the handle and rearview camera. but I've figured a way to make the pad work better. (a little string that hooks onto the pad's loop on the bottom...and tied to my hitch to pull the pad tight).

The good pads have a velcro strap that'll secure the frame from moving. They also have little channels for the frame to sit in. Your downtube should have frame protection regardless of using a tailgate pad or not (given that there's a lot of rocks taht get kicked up in that area). I have some protection on mine.

In all the times i've driven down the highway, up dirt roads, etc. I have never seen any bikes have any problems on my pad. I would love to get a 1Up rack but i want to spend money on bikes instead right now.

The more concern is micro scratches on your tailgate. Just keep everything clean and you're going to be all good!

 

I have a chain inside an old bike tire tube for protection. Run that through the triangles, lock to the bed d-ring or bed support.

 

I use the 15 foot version of:

$19 Kryptonite Kryptoflex Looped Cables - 4'/--

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UKJ67S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

push it through one of the D-Rings near the tailgate...and then loop it through all my bike wheels, forks, frame, back wheel...and then hook it all together with:

$113 Kryptonite Heavy Duty Key Lock, Black/Yellow, 4in x 8in, Anti-Theft Protection Included

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XCH21YH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also put the U-lock on one of the bed cleats so it locks everything to the bed cleat. someone would have to undo the D-ring and the cleat to get my bikes off my truck.

or cut tons of cabling. makes theft so much harder.

 

Well, thats interesting. the Tray style for the hitch isnt worth it? I was just looking at NV 2.0 Base. Is it better to have bike above the bed?

 

I know chains are generally more secure than cables, but cables are a bit nicer to deal with. 15' seems like the right length to loop through a few bikes? I have a similar setup for my old hitch platform rack but I'd like to leave one setup in the wife's car and one in my truck. I like the u-lock idea.

I like the idea of a chain through old tubes. What size of chain are you running? Lock?

 

If you get a hitch tray, I'd invest in a 1up and call it a day.

 

IDK the chain size, but about middle of the pack for what you could get at Lowes. Its coated in yellow plastic or whatever. Use a couple masterlocks that I have because they came in a pack of 4 and I use the other 2 to secure the fridge and my gas cans.

 

To each their own. I use a combination of just sitting the bike in my bed or a hitch rack. I may go for a rooftop mount soon because my kids bikes are getting too big. I take bikes camping with me so the tailgate pad is a no go for my situation because I am using the bed space.

 

I have Lomax Hard tri-fold tonneau cover, and KB Voodoo said that the crossbars can fit with the lomax. So i need to find out which bike holder can work with the KB Voodoo.

 

Thats why I go for the shuttle rack when I go camping. Plus I usually end up the shuttle truck because I have the rack...and the beer fridge.