Bike Carriers ?

[bushpilot]

Ok in an effort to gain more FRIENDS (remember fat people
have fat friends) ive been trying to bike (w/ the kids)....

4 and FIVE bikes takes up a significant amount of room in
the truck bed...ive been carrying the like motorcycles...wheels on
w/ compression straps on the handle bars...2 against the front
bed wall & 2 (or 3) against the tail gate.

current set up doesnt leave much room for a cooler...helmets or
bike shoes etc.

im trying to figure out if the hitch mounted carriers are any
good...figure even if i dont load it w/ FOUR bikes it still gives
me some "room" in the truck bed for a couple bikes/coolers etc.

i even thought about a rack that i could mount the bikes wheels
on the roof and then mount the bikes (via fork clamps in the bed,
but im not sure that solves my issue).

im wondering what others are using....and what their thoughts
and opinions are....cause this stuff aint CHEAP

in typical BUSHPILOT fashion (theres one for 'bama) im probably
studying this TOO much but....

heres thats nice, heavy, swings away so you can drop
the tail gate...but jeezus im bleeding over the price....

http://www.thuleracks.com/product.asp?dept_id=8&sku=964

heres a 5 bike model (which i didnt know they even made
anything more than a 4 bike carrier)...

http://www.thuleracks.com/product.asp?dept_id=8&sku=915

the yakima stuff isnt rated (weight wise) for more than about
120lbs (where the thule stuff is 140/150lbs)...

interested in opinions...

 

[F350DRW1]

I have a Thule 4 bike rack that folds down for gate access. It wasn't cheap, but 7 or 8 years later its still as good as new.

 

[JLDickmon]

I made up a gizmo for my old red truck was made to drop the front wheel, put it between the crossbar & the front of the bed, then clamp the forks to the crossbar like a false axle..

mine held four bikes (alternated high & low) and two floodlights rigged into the domelight circuit to illuminate the bed...

When I sold the truck, I let the bar go; it was more or less permanently installed (required effort to remove it - security feature)

 

[bushpilot]

im kinda partial to the thule stuff (owned it before) and
i like that its rated for more weight...

i think im leaning toward the hitch mount...if we were to
ever buy a travel trailer i figure i can STILL use the bike
rack on the trailer bumper.

more than anything im trying to figure out if swing away is
important or if the "drop down" is "good enough"...

whats the locking solution (for the bikes to the rack) on the
thule stuff ? just a generic bike cable thru all the frames ? is there
a way to tie the cable to the rack upright post ?

 

[Ironmerganser]

EBAY EBAY EBAY!!!!!

I was in the same boat as you. My bed is always full of dog kennels and coolers.

I just bought a full yakima set up for the roof of my truck and for the hitch and spent about $300 all in. It took me about a month to find everything and accumulte all the parts I needed, but well worth the price savings.

I know have a complete roof set up (Q-towers, cross bars, Megawarrior roof basket, 2 bike holders) and then I also got a 4 bike holder for the hitch.

Its all used stuff and has a few knicks and scratches, but this stuff is built tough and will last forever.

Basically its just an excuse to add stuff to my truck.

 

[bushpilot]

I made up a gizmo for my old red truck was made to drop the front wheel, put it between the crossbar & the front of the bed, then clamp the forks to the crossbar like a false axle..

mine held four bikes (alternated high & low) and two floodlights rigged into the domelight circuit to illuminate the bed...

When I sold the truck, I let the bar go; it was more or less permanently installed (required effort to remove it - security feature)

right there are things like

and

but then you gotta do something w/ the wheels youve pulled off
the bikes...ive given thought about mounting them to the
ROOF w/ something like

but then ill have possible clearance (height) issues and i still end up
eating up a lot of cargo hauling bed space...

id rather have them IN the bed but im not sure thats possible...

this is a COOL solution (height adjustable & lends itself to LOTS of
options/multi-purpose...but good lord its 550 bucks...before you buy
any of the bike mounting hardware...

 

[bushpilot]

Basically its just an excuse to add stuff to my truck...

whats what my WIFE SAYS !!!

 

[BamaSixGun]

hey bush, have you seen the set-up that Barrett has?

i think its a Thule too. looks real good.

 

[bushpilot]

didnt know anyone here had that...but yeah thats the thule 550 dollar
rack...and then you add the parts $$$ to carry ****...

its NICE as ****...i wonder how much noise is added from the bikes
flying in the air...or how much mpg suffers...

hopefully barrett will chime in...

 

[bushpilot]

I have a Thule 4 bike rack that folds down for gate access.

hows that drop down...you like it... any problems ? hard to drop/lift
w/ the bikes ON ???

ever wish you had the swing away ?