where did you buy the hidden hitch from for your WRX, I have an 08 hatch, and am planning on doing a hitch rack in addition to my roof...
AnY pics of your wrx???
Bike rack (GTI)
- Thread starter ObeyMyFast!
- Start date
AnY pics of your wrx???
doesn't your bike get the same spray on the roof too?
I got my hidden hitch from Rackattack. (I'm in Vancouver) They did a price match with the other hitch outfit in town, so I wound up getting a pretty good deal.
The pic isn't fantastic, but you get the idea.
shiny version:
seriously????? On the roof the bikes just get the rain hitting them unless your tail gating somebody. Off the back of the car the bikes get hammored with the sparay right off the wheels of the car.......big difference.
I'm not hating on hitch racks, just stating the pros and cons of both setups. The hitch rack is not the perfect-ideal setup that some are suggesting it is.
guess i didn't think about it coming off the tires, I haven't ever had that problem, but everytime i've used a hitch rack its been on a higher suv or truck w/ mudflaps
Yeah, my T2 uses a design that lifts the bike up pretty high and avoids "bottoming out" on slopes, it's not really valid that it "gets hit by spray" during wet conditions. This is with a pretty low car, even though they sit even higher, maybe things like SUVs have more "exposed" tire to throw up grime I guess? I know that my rack and bike are not "covered in grime" during rains, due to the position theh are in, but if your hub seals are giving out that easy, you proabably need a better hub. We had a crazy downpour a weekend ago when I was comming home from Flagstaff (typical in the summer here in Northern Arizona), it was nice to have my bike all cleaned when I got home
I think that a lot of people have hitch-rack-phobia that is somewhat well-deserved based on offerings from more than 10 years ago. It used to be that roof-racks were the only way to go if you wanted to seriously secure your bike during transport, and any hitch racks available were pretty crappy, but now the tables have turned. Roof-racks have borrowed technology from the hitch-racks like the T2 and others, but can not offer the ease of loading your bike or the fuel benefits. Sure, maybe on some lowered sports cars you can't put a hitch on there, but those are not the kind of cars in this thread, not by a long shot. I guess if you want to slam a VW wagon then more power to you, but don't claim that you're all hardcore about driving and performance and then put a roof-rack on your car, it's kind of the opposite of performance and handling. I guess some people like the look of metal bars oddly-attached to the top of cars, but I like a "clean" shape first and foremost. Between a car that's lowered 2" and a roof-rack or the stock height with a hitch, I'd take the stock height. Way better off-road obviously, but if you're really serious about performance that roof-rack is going to create serious drag at serious speeds, mess up the flow of the air (making spoiler ineffective, etc) and so on. Unless you got stiffer anti-sway bars, bigger brakes, the right damping on your shocks (most likely aftermarket dampers) and so on, it's hard to claim you're about performance just because your car is slammed. There are a lot of things you can do to improve handling performance besides chopping the springs/lower height springs.
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If your cars rear tires are throwing water onto your bike, you're doing something REALLY wrong. Hammered with spray?
You driving OWV's?
Really.
Downside to hitch rack = you can be rear ended (or back into something), otherwise its all win over roof racks (better mileage, less wind/rain impact, no issues with overhead clearance, easier to load, easier to remove/install the rack...)
You driving OWV's?
Really.
Downside to hitch rack = you can be rear ended (or back into something), otherwise its all win over roof racks (better mileage, less wind/rain impact, no issues with overhead clearance, easier to load, easier to remove/install the rack...)
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Dayum! Nice ride. But man, you gotta be bouncin off your bumpstops with struts that low. Hope your roads are smoother than Utah roads.
Nice static drop! I'm not quite that low...
http://www.rockymounts.com/Euro_PitchFork_p/1102.htm
^^^Anybody heard of these? They come in different colors too
I found a place to get the base rack for 260, so 260+90 = 350.
I'm only worried that the rockymounts rack won't be up to the challenge.
Also, they have the fork mount bike racks, and the ones with the claw-type thingy. Which one is better?
Thanks!
Oh and thanks for all the advice. I am seriously considering every option mentioned. (even the hitch, after seeing the one that came out of the bumper...)
http://www.rockymounts.com/Euro_PitchFork_p/1102.htm
^^^Anybody heard of these? They come in different colors too
I found a place to get the base rack for 260, so 260+90 = 350.
I'm only worried that the rockymounts rack won't be up to the challenge.
Also, they have the fork mount bike racks, and the ones with the claw-type thingy. Which one is better?
Thanks!
Oh and thanks for all the advice. I am seriously considering every option mentioned. (even the hitch, after seeing the one that came out of the bumper...)
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mmmmmmmmm R32. I have the same problem on my 20th Edition GTI. Pretty sure the rear valence will keep me from getting a hitch...someone please correct me if i'm wrong! Been rockin a roof rack ever since the day I bought it but dream of a hitch so I can take the damn roof rack offi've got an R32 and i run the roof option. rear bumper is too big to do a hitch. i had some bars and got the foot kit at ems. shelled out for a new side arm but found an earlier version (made by sportworks) free from a neighbor. all in all i was in it for like 200 bucks or so. check craigslist, ebay, etc... the stuff is out there.
here is my set up on my old R32.
I dunno.
Seems like the Thule Raceway Platform would solve all of his problems.
Despite other "cooler" options that let everyone know that "I ride bikes" even when there's no bike on the car. I like the way a nice roof rack looks on a car. Heck, when I bought my Tacoma and decided against racking it out, it crossed my mind... I went with a Dakine truck pad and when it isn't on the truck the only thing "bikey" on the vehicle is one, downtube size Sinister sticker in the center back window....quick to get over it though.
The Raceway Platform would offer...
-No major mods to his sweet Dub.
-No mpg suffer.
-Stability of a platform (tray type) rack for the DH rig.
-Yes, I'm particular about my car's finish and the rubber coated "hooks" do have to touch the paint around the hatch while the rack is on there. BUT, they're only on there for a short period of time and not likely to scratch anything. (unlike roof feet do over time)
-This new rack doesn't use flimsy nylon straps...cables take the weight.
-On and off fairly quickly. And, if storage space allows, wouldn't even have to be folded up. Could remain in the correct, locked position for his GTI to make things go even quicker.
AND the biggest thing...
-Less overall $$$....the Raceway Platform is only around $250. ALL of the other options would easily cost a min. of DOUBLE that.
Leaves more dough to spend on bike parts!!!
Seems like the Thule Raceway Platform would solve all of his problems.
Despite other "cooler" options that let everyone know that "I ride bikes" even when there's no bike on the car. I like the way a nice roof rack looks on a car. Heck, when I bought my Tacoma and decided against racking it out, it crossed my mind... I went with a Dakine truck pad and when it isn't on the truck the only thing "bikey" on the vehicle is one, downtube size Sinister sticker in the center back window....quick to get over it though.
The Raceway Platform would offer...
-No major mods to his sweet Dub.
-No mpg suffer.
-Stability of a platform (tray type) rack for the DH rig.
-Yes, I'm particular about my car's finish and the rubber coated "hooks" do have to touch the paint around the hatch while the rack is on there. BUT, they're only on there for a short period of time and not likely to scratch anything. (unlike roof feet do over time)
-This new rack doesn't use flimsy nylon straps...cables take the weight.
-On and off fairly quickly. And, if storage space allows, wouldn't even have to be folded up. Could remain in the correct, locked position for his GTI to make things go even quicker.
AND the biggest thing...
-Less overall $$$....the Raceway Platform is only around $250. ALL of the other options would easily cost a min. of DOUBLE that.
Leaves more dough to spend on bike parts!!!
Or go crazy, fold down the seat and put the bike inside the car. I would rather do that than stick a rack on a GTI. Bike is protected inside the car, will not do anything to the mileage and handling unaffected. Its a little extra work but its what I have always done. A couple of rags to protect the inside of the car.
Time consuming - I can get my bike into my car in 5 minutes. Maybe a little more if I had to take the rear wheel of too.
From the start of this thread....
"As many of you know, the GTI is a small car. Because of this, its very time consuming to get my 40 some-odd pound bike into the trunk/hatch."
A great option. Especially with a cheaply obtained thick, interior protecting, quilted moving blanket. But, I agree with him.
He's eventually going to slip or something when loading or unloading. Mud, etc. (even if on said moving blanket) and the pia of front wheel removal, etc.
But, his given reason for starting this search nonetheless....
"As many of you know, the GTI is a small car. Because of this, its very time consuming to get my 40 some-odd pound bike into the trunk/hatch."
A great option. Especially with a cheaply obtained thick, interior protecting, quilted moving blanket. But, I agree with him.
He's eventually going to slip or something when loading or unloading. Mud, etc. (even if on said moving blanket) and the pia of front wheel removal, etc.
But, his given reason for starting this search nonetheless....
Even with my weak arms I have successfully loaded bikes into cars the last 10 years without slip or something
This is true. CBJ has the arms of that really tall spindly alien at that ducks out of the ship at the end of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. I don't know how he can pick a pencil up. On a positive note, he's really good at that tap-you-on-the-opposite-shoulder gag.Even with my weak arms I have successfully loaded bikes into cars the last 10 years without slip or something
what in gods name are you blathering on about? No ones talking about how they are racers and bikers. I drive a slammed passat wagon. its a v6 slushbox. its a pig. I dont care if its fast or not. Hitches always look like **** to me from behind so i went with a roof rack. mostly because i already had all the parts i would need in my garage aside from new footpack.
I dont care if someone thinks my car looks silly dumped with the rack. I ride my bike, and drive my car to spots. Sure I cannot shuttle, but thats life. I even rocked a roof rack on this car just how it sat.
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Bologna. Tioga79 has a tee-tiny Ford escort Z and he can get his Morewood Makulu out of his hatchback and assembled in less than 5 minutes.
Is it convenient? No, but time consuming? No.
I can tell you this its a pita getting my revolt in/out of my nissan rogue. If it weren't a company car it would have a hitch on it right now. Last weekend I got my revolt, my remedy and gear bag and with helmets into the back of the rogue and headed to 7springs. It was a jigsaw puzzle getting everything back in.
Welcome to the family
U-haul for a hitch, then add one of these
http://1upusa.com/1upusarackhome.htm
I'm driving a Scion xB with the 2" lowering springs and running the U-haul / 1up combo with no problems. Been rolling my road bike, my trail bike, and my DH bike without an issue. One of the great features is that the rack has a lock mechanism that makes it hard for people to steal, but it is easy to remove with the supplied key, AND once it is off, it folds up and fits in your trunk/closet/??? without hogging space and being an eye-sore.
In action
A shot of it folded up (from the company site)
How was I doing something wrong........The rack in question is a super nice/awesome Yakimma hitch rack mounted to a Hyundai Tuscon. The bikes were mounted to the back, and then the car was drivin........then it rained. My hub is a hadley......about as good as it gets. Mudflaps or not when a car is driving through rain on the highway all that water has to go somewhere........somewhere being behind the car, which is where the bikes are.
I think hitch racks are great.......perfect for taller vehicles or shorter riders, or people traveling with bikes on the highway. I'm just saying there are some downsides to them. If soembody decides go the hitch rack route just be aware of what happens to the bike on long drives in the rain. After the trip have your hubs serviced before you ride again.
My preferance is still with the roof rack........I'm not short, my car isn't tall, and I primarily don't have to drive long distances to ride.
I'm certainly wouldn't claim to be an expert on Hadley hubs, but this story adds to my pile of anecdotal evidence that suggests that they're an awful lot of trouble.
It's been a dry summer here since I've had my hitch rack to boot. Bit since I've had it I've noticed a noticeable improvement in fuel economy, noise (with a faring), and enjoy my sunroof as it should be enjoyed.
Also, as it happens, I've witnessed one of my doodie riding buddies forget to remove a bike after undoing the red thingy on his yakima king cobra, and whilst undoing the other bike, bike number one roll back, tumble over and dent and scratch both his car, and the car belonging to the owner of bike number two.
Operator error, no doubt. He clearly has excluded himself from his own "circle of trust".
Go hitch rack. Looks better , sounds better, and is easier to use. Worth the extra few bucks if you can swing it.
thanks dude, I can't wait to get the setup on the rear too, and the roof rack... right now only running the roof rack.I got my hidden hitch from Rackattack. (I'm in Vancouver) They did a price match with the other hitch outfit in town, so I wound up getting a pretty good deal.
The pic isn't fantastic, but you get the idea.
shiny version:
Da Peach, do you have any close up pics of your hitch without the rack in?
Fraid not. I can get some, but in a couple weeks. I'm outta town at the moment.
Alrighty, I went to REI today because I couldn't wait any longer.
I ended up getting the thule base bars and a Sidearm attachment.
I am VERY happy with this setup. So easy to get the bike on and off, and very sturdy.
Thanks for all of your input!
I ended up getting the thule base bars and a Sidearm attachment.
I am VERY happy with this setup. So easy to get the bike on and off, and very sturdy.
Thanks for all of your input!