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Car Racks - Everything you need to know
Forget trying to squeeze your muddy bike inside the car, if you want to explore beyond your local area, and bring your friends along for the ride, then you need a car rack. Usually capable of transporting between one and four bikes, car racks can be attached to your car in a range of different options. What type of bike rack do I need? There is a bike rack to suit every vehicle and every bike, as well as every budget. You'll need to consider how many bikes you need to transport and what type of bikes those are, but the first thing to check is what type of rack is suitable for your vehicle. The most common car racks are trunk mounted, towball or hitch mounted, roof racks and tailgate pads for utes. As a rough guide, the below car types are compatible with these types of racks. But it pays to double check the rack you are looking at against your specific vehicle before purchase. Car Type Mount Type Sedan Trunk Mounted / Roof Rack Hatchback Trunk Mounted SUV Hitch Mounted / Tow-ball / Roof Rack Van Tow-ball / Hitch Mounted Ute Tailgate Pad / Tow-ball / Hitch Mounted Towball & Hitch Mounted Racks Hitch mounted bike racks are built to fit in receiver hitches while tow ball mounted car racks sit on the actual tow ball. Your vehicle will already need to be fitted with a hitch receiver or towball to be compatible with one of these options. However they are usually the most stable of all rack types, provide the best weight distribution and are the easiest to load and offload. Simple Designs: These racks are available in simple sturdy designs such as the classic two prong design covered in foam to protect your frame and secured with bungee hooks, some options are fixed in place while others are able to be folded down when no bikes are mounted. Pro's: Simple and durable design, easy to lift bikes on and off. Easy to take rack on and off. Con's: Not compatible with bikes with low top tubes unless an adapter is purchased. No trunk access while mounted. Can limit rear visibility and obscure number plate. Simple Design Examples: Roam Fixed 4 Bike Rack Towball Mounting Simple 2 Prong Design 4 Bike Capacity Secured using supplied bungee's Fixed design (does not fold down) Club Price $235 Learn more Yakima DoubleDown Ace 4 Hitch Mounting Individual straps to secure bikes 4 Bike Capacity Tilting design (moves down for boot access) Club Price $395 Learn more High Tech Designs: At the other end of the scale there are some hi-tech options available which offer individual sections for each bike, as well as individual straps and frame clamps so that you can fit any bike type perfectly, these racks also offer options such as tilting to access trunks and optional ramps so that you can roll a heavy ebike on without the need to lift. Pro's: Easiest option to mount and dismount bikes, compatible with almost any bike. Often has smart features like tilting to access trunk, folding to reduce space when not in use, spaces for temporary number plates and compatibility with lights. The best option for ebike riders. Often comes with locks to secure bikes when you are away. Con's: Often the heaviest and bulkiest racks, so removing and storing is more difficult. Can limit rear visibility for rear view cameras, increases length of vehicle so parking can be more difficult. Hi-Tech Design Examples: Thule VeloCompact 924 2 Bike Towball Mounting Suitable for kid's up to 29" mtbs 2 bike capacity Adjustable frame clamps & wheels straps Tilts down with bikes loaded for boot access Locks included for rack and bikes Load Capacity 46kg Max bike weight: 25kg Club Price $920 Learn more Yakima Hold Up Bike Rack Hitch Mounting Suitable for kid's 20" up to 29" mtbs 2 bike capacity (optional accessory for 4 bike capacity) Adjustable frame clamps & wheels straps Tilts down with bikes loaded for boot access Locks included for rack and bikes Load capacity 54.6kg Max bike weight: 27.3g Club Price $670 Learn more View all Towball Racks View all Hitch Racks Trunk Racks These racks are perfect for vehicles without a towball or hitch rack and for users with less bikes to transport. The rack is mounted using a number of straps attached to the lip of the bumper/boot/hatchback of your car and can be adjusted to fit your vehicle. Trunk racks can sometimes be difficult to fit compared to other racks and need to be fitted properly to secure your bike, while they also run the risk of damaging the paintwork on your car. Not compatible with utes or vans, this rack is best suited to a casual rider who is not driving long distances and wants something that is lightweight and easy to remove and store when not in use. Pro's: Easy to remove and store. Compatible with sedans and most hatchbacks where most other racks are not. Con's: Harder to mount correctly, straps must be fitted correctly to prevent damage to your vehicle or bike. Trunk Rack Example: Yakima King Joe Pro 3 Bike Rack Trunk Mounting 3 bike capacity Compact design Folds down when not in use Padded feet & coated buckles to protect vehicle Load capacity 40kg Max bike weight: 13.6kg Club Price $329.99 Learn more View all Trunk Racks Roof Racks Mounting your bikes on roof racks is one of the most secure and reliable ways to transport your bikes. They allow you to still have easy access to your boot and don’t limit your visibility while you drive. Some options need you to remove the front wheel to mount and others allow you to secure both wheels via straps. Options where you remove the front wheel are often cheaper and more secure, however you'll have the hassle of needing to remove your front wheel. Most people leave their roof rack mounts on when not in use making them very convenient. You'll also need to have roof racks installed to mount this type of rack. Pro's: Secure mounting without affecting trunk access or rear visibility. Many options come with locks to secure your bike while your away. Con's: You'll have to lift your bike up onto your roof with a bit of balancing while you secure, so this options is not compatible with any ebikes and heavier mountain bikes can be difficult to mount, especially after a long ride. If your vehicle is particularly tall this can also up the difficulty level. There is also the risk of forgetting about the rack and driving into a garage or low level carpark and going wile e coyote on your unsuspecting bike. Roof Rack Example: Yakima FrontLoader Bike Rack with Locks Fits 20" to 29" wheels Folds down when not in use Locks to rack and bike No contact with bike frame, protecting finish and paint Max bike weight: 18kg Club Price $325 Learn more View all Roof Racks Tailgate Pads A simple but perfect solution for transporting bikes in a ute. The tailgate pad attaches to your tailgate with straps and allows you to drape often up to 5 bikes over the tailgate. Coming with either integrated straps or loops to hook bungees to keep your bikes separated, the pad will also protect your paintwork. Pro's: Simple and easy design secures many bikes at once. Easy to space bikes to prevent them rubbing and damaging paint. Easy to mount and tailgate can still be used as normal when pad is mounted, so no need to even remove between rides. Con's: There is no locking mechanism so less safe than some options, purchasing a cable lock long enough to secure all bikes is a good idea if you plan on leaving them on the back while away. You'll need to be strong enough to lift the bikes over the tailgate. Tailgate Pad Example: Yakima Gate Keeper Tailgate Pad Abrasion & weather resistant outer, soft felt backing 5 bike capacity Velcro straps keep bikes in place Flap allows access to tailgate handle Club Price $210 Learn more View all Tailgate Pads What type of bikes are you transporting? Second only to what vehicle you have, what type of bikes you need to carry is also an essential part of choosing the right rack for your needs. For example, for simple two prong towball racks some bikes such as smaller kid's bikes or bikes with low top tubes are often incompatible or harder to mount, while lifting a dual suspension bike onto a roof rack can be a backbreaking effort and ebikes are only compatible with certain bike racks rated to carry the extra weight. Best Racks for Kid's Bikes: Most racks are suitable for kid's bikes due to their smaller size and lighter weight. Just make sure if you're getting a simple towball or hitch rack that the bikes top tube is high enough to slip between the prongs, otherwise you'll need an adapter which creates a bar between the handlebar step and saddle. The best option is a higher tech towball or hitch rack that allows you to secure the bike with an adjustable frame clamp. Keep an eye on the roof racks specs before purchase as well, because some bikes are too small to clamp the wheels. Best Racks for Lighter Bikes: All racks are suitable for lighter bikes, roof racks are a great choice as bikes are out of the way allowing you trunk access. Trunk mounted racks are also a convenient choice that are compatible with a lot of vehicle options. Best Racks for Heavier Bikes: Towball and hitch mount racks are the best choice for heavier bikes as they are the most secure and durable designs, as well as being the easiest to load and offload. Best Racks for Electric Bikes: We highly recommend if you are transporting an ebike to only choose an ebike rated bike rack, this is because they are rated to carry the heavier weight and often come with optional accessories such as ramps to load your bike without the need to lift. Usually only available in towball and hitch mount options, keep an eye on the max load weight if you are transporting multiple ebikes at a time to make sure you choose one with a high enough capacity. Tailgate pads are also compatible with ebikes, just make sure you are comfortable lifting the ebike over the tailgate without injuring yourself. Electric Bike Rack Examples: Thule EasyFold 931 2 Bike Carrier Towball Mounting Rack 2 bike capacity Fully foldable design Smart foot pedal for tilting Fitted with NZ flat 7 pin trailer wiring plug, for lights Space for temporary license plate Load Capacity: 60kg Max bike weight: 30kg Club Price $1,499 Learn more Yakima OnRamp Hitch Mount eBike Rack Hitch mounting rack 2 bike capacity Fully foldable design Stowable loading ramp included Load capacity: 36kg Max bike weight: 18kg Club Price $849 Learn more Ezi-Grip E-Rack 2 Bike Towball Rack E-Bike Rated Towball mounting rack 2 bike capacity Foldable for easy storage Tilt lever for boot access 4 function light board with 7 pin plug Space for temporary license plate Load capacity: 60kg Max bike weight: 30kg Club Price $863 Learn more How often are you using your car rack and how far are you travelling? The best racks for long distance travel: Tow ball, Hitch Racks and Roof Racks. Secure and reliable, these racks also save precious trunk space when loaded up for a big adventure. Offering the least amount of wiggle and rattle, these racks are easier to take off the beaten track and are least likely to damage your bike or vehicle when mounted for long drives. Since Tow ball and Hitch Racks are mounted at the rear, they will not affect your fuel consumption, while roof racks may create some drag and catch a few bugs along the way. The best racks for short distance travel: Trunk Mounted & Roof Racks Trunk mounted racks are lightweight so easy to mount and dismount once you have your straps setup correctly, they are great for throwing a bike on the back for an afternoon ride around your local trails. Roof Racks are excellent for short trips as they can be left on the vehicle full time, they don't affect your rear visibility or parking ability so you can just load your bike up and be ready to go almost immediately.
