Bicycle hauling

I made some over the bed rails for my tacoma. We're re-doing some thing as they arent quite stiff as i'd like. I quickly last weekend made some triangulated supports but might re-design the rail altogether from flat broke steel to 3x1 boxed aluminun L-brackets. I then bolted 2 1-Up USA trays to the rails.

I have alot of stuff bolted onto my truck so none of the traditional racks were options for me without taking the tent on/off. I also have a thule hitch and Recon upright hitch rack.

 

Rocky mount for the win. I suppose it's not cheap for what it is but it's awesome in my opinion.

 

Most 29ers are too big to lay down in the short bed. OP has a 27.5 which I haven't tried but a tailgate pad is 100% the way to go. Fast, easy, & cheap.

 

I have the Rocky Mounts Lo Ball locking version, and love it. Only thing is you need to buy the rail since the 3rd gen doesn't come with it anymore. Picked it up from the dealer.

https://rockymounts.com/collections...s/products/loball-locking?variant=27682977153

 

You have to go diagonal, but I even laid my fat bike down (I've got a DCSB). It's nice when you are driving during winter or inclement weather, as it keeps a lot of the salt, dust, etc. off the bike. Even with a tailgate pad, you get a lot of crap on the bike from the back draft.

 

That's when I brush off my now antiquated skill of backing up, and put my right arm over the passenger seat and turn my head.

 

I really like using a hitch mounted rack. It's so much easier than any of these other solutions. You don't have to pick the bikes up super high or remove wheels and fiddle with stuff. I have the Yakima because I got a killer deal on it, but the Kuat NV is the absolute shit. My buddy has one and it's just so good. So easy to use and to install/remove. Also, since racks are universal, you'll have it forever.



Ugh, looking at this picture only serves to remind me how good my truck looks without the shell on. Damn that thing for being so useful!

 

So, after recommending the 1up, I found out that there's some confusion going on with the company. Apparently the original designer and original owner is restarting a new company with a competing product that has what he's calling improvements on the design. It's all really weird right now and if you're interested in this rack, do some research.

1up-USA.com is the company that's been selling the product for a few years and likely where most people bought from. It looks like these folks bought a majority share of the company from the original designer/owner.

1upusa.com (no hyphen, and redirects to quikrack.com) is the original designer's new product that'll be available next month (maybe). His website seems pretty poorly done and he's really laying it on thick how the original rack is inferior.

 

With the LB my bike fits just snug between the front of the box and the tailgate. Some light paracord and nite ize tie down hooks and it doesn’t move.

http://www.niteize.com/product/CamJamXT-Aluminum-Cord-Tightener.asp

 

To confirm: I have fit my 27.5 Stumpy and Bronson in the back as well as my fat bike without issue. I can even put a jerry can behind the back tire still. The RTT is the tricky bit, but still fits!

 

Nice ideas, convenient, probably not too expensive and illegal. You connot have a load extend out past the mirrors on the drivers side. Possibly the pedal and definitely the handlebars are out there. There is leeway on the passenger side.

 

I have been using a pipeline rack this summer, and its alright. Not quick if you need to adjust for multiple wheel diameters frequently, but if you are hauling the same bikes all the time, its super fast.

I have all large frame bikes, and I setup different locations for different bikes of mine. A large road or cross bike fit fine straight back with the tailgate closed. The slacked out 27.5+ bikes need to be angled slightly to close the trailgate. I can easily fit three large frame bikes with the tailgate closed. I throw a cable lock to the truck bed to slow down thieves. The pipeline is an expensive adjustable steel version of the pvc racks many people make.

 

Tailgate pad for the win! Cheaper, carry more bikes, less hassle. I used to have a Kuat hitch rack, sold it and bought a Raceface pad and I haven't looked back.

 

I agree, if you want a cheap way to transport bikes safely and without them getting scratched up a new tailgate pad works great. If you ride with 3 or 4 friends then your good to go. I have a Yakima holdup 2 hitch rack because I have a canopy but if I had no canopy the tailgate pad would be my choice, good as well if you have a rough shuttle road to drive.

 

Oh yeah, I didn't consider the handlebars and pedals, good point. Isn't that what fluorescent flagging tape is for???

 

Not my pic, but this is what I have in the back of my truck bed. Pretty sweet cheap option. Mine is installed on the RH side near the tailgate, my 29er fits perfectly sideways in the bed with the front wheel off.


http://forums.mtbr.com/general-discussion/building-your-own-bike-rack-truck-bed-813967.html

 

this is the setup I want, except it'll stick out farther for me with the softopper

 

people worry about that shit? pretty sure all of us are lifted higher than legally allowed, tires stick out too far without proper mudflaps. GVW weights surpassed. shit.

 

Great post!
I've had 1Ups since 09, would hate to see the company destroy itself over something this is likely trivial.

 

i like it alot!! don't like the price thou......will be out on a lookout for used one or something...