KC, I appreciate the opportunity to update my experience. I went with the Holywood platform rack: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QJC4AY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 At the time, REI was out of the one I wanted from them. The basic set-up of this rack holds two bikes, and I got the extension which expands carrying capacity to 4 bikes. I LOVE IT! (I don't usually gush over products, but this is the best way I have used to transported my bikes on the outside of a vehicle.) I have mounted bikes on the roof and hung them off of racks attached to the back of my car, and for me, this platform rack is a winner. A former reoccurring nightmare had me losing a load of bikes on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in peak summer traffic; I sleep peacefully now, at least in regard to transporting bikes.
The rack attaches to a hitch purchased from and installed by Uhaul for under $120.00 and in under 1 hour. The rack attaches securely and there is minimal sway and total peace of mind. I appreciated not having to hoist the bikes too high to get them on the rack, and they are held securely in place. Only one padded arm/hook touches the bike frame. If you keep the rack attached to the hitch without bikes, it will fold up out of the way. I do not scrape on my sloping driveway with 4 bikes on the back of a Subaru Forester, though I do make my teenage sons wait to get in the car until I am at the bottom of the driveway. A few negatives, as it is not perfect: 1)The rack is often mounted on the car in the summers and has developed a bit of surface rust. 2) the padded arm, which is lowered onto the toptube of each bike to secure it, will leave behind some black scuffing/residue on the paint (no nicks or chips in the paint, however; a cloth between frame and arm would likely solve this). 3) the rack is heavy and not something I would want to take on and off several times a week. 4) It carries 4 bikes well with the attachment, but the 3rd bike is a bit difficult to get on. 5) It is expensive. I am going to get a hitch installed on my Mazda3 so that I can carry my bike on this rack when I do not need to haul multiple bikes with the Subaru. All the best, Erl, who is happy not to be lifting bikes over his head onto the roof of the car in Kensington, MD On Friday, May 1, 2015 at 2:29:07 PM UTC-4, KC wrote: > > Great and appreciated input. I'll look at that rack. It sounds like we > could start off with the capability to carry 2 and then add for 2 more in > a while so the cost isn't as bad up front.. > My husband says we have 2" on both - I know we put the heavy duty hitch on > the Subaru. Used to tow a good sized boat behind the jeep & I think we > planned for consistency even though Subaru has limited tow capacity. It's > the last think I want to spend the money on but I'm feeling like I may as > well just be dragging the bike along behind the car the way I'm going now. > > Good to know about the ground clearance. We still might need something to > raise it up as we start off with a fairly steep driveway that we might not > get out of. > > Really appreciate the offer to check it out but we are in SoCal. Spent a > month up your way and I don't think the (same) rack did any damage the > entire time it was on the jeep.. I really think the first damage was after > we returned and used the rack on the Subaru. Not sure why it would make a > difference, but..... > > > On Friday, May 1, 2015 at 11:08:00 AM UTC-7, James P wrote: > >> Interesting to see a resurrected thread & also to be able to update from >> my experience swapping hanging rack to a platform rack. >> >> The hanging rack was reasonably quick to load, but the combination of >> scratching the frames, and irregular top-tubes made the process a pain and >> the top-tube converters lowered the bikes that they dragged on the smallest >> incline (meaning having to move the car, load the bikes... you get the >> picture) >> >> I thought I'd be smart and last year waited for my REI member 20% off >> coupon and use it to get a killer deal on the KUAT platform rack - which >> would have worked except that it ended up being backordered, then delayed >> for an additional month - and then another. In frustration I contacted KUAT >> who tole me they had stock and didn't understand why REI couldn't deliver. >> REI had a different story. After 4 months of waiting I lost patience and >> bit the bullet on a more expensive, direct from the manufacturer rack from >> 1UpUSA. >> >> The rack is super easy to load, can be expanded with additional trays (I >> went with a 1+1) and is extremely well built. It was a really expensive >> purchase (and one which I wince even now when I think too hard about it), >> but I am extremely happy with the rack. It is rock-solid and accommodates >> all the bicycles in the household without protest. I really would recommend >> you check it out at 1upusa.com >> >> If you're in/near Riv HQ (Walnut Creek), i'd be happy to let you check it >> out - drop me a mail off list if you'd like. >> >> Regards >> Jim >> >> ps. The rack is on a Subaru Outback with a 2" hitch - ground clearance is >> great. >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
