[narlus]

ok - so i am pretty set on getting a hitch, but my car will only take a 1.25" hitch. does that limit my options too severely for transporting DH bikes? does anyone have a similar set up.

yes, i used the search function.

 

[MTBDH-BMX]

Yes your 1.25 hitch size does limit you. Most manufactures will have a limit of two bikes for the 1.25 hitch size. Yakima has a new hitch coming out similar to the sports works racks that carry the whole bike standing up clamped to the tires that will hold 4 DH bikes. Not sure if they will offer it in a 1.25 hitch or not. Figure on only two bikes for now based upon the size of your hitch.

 

[Brian HCM#1]

I think Acadian uses a 1.25 for his Sportworks.

 

[mplutodh1]

1.25 will work with Sportworks, the Transport series, however you can only carry 2 bikes. Doubt the new 4 bike rack will be compatible with 1.25 seeing as the weight is much greater.

http://www.sportworks.com/sttra.asp

 

[buildyourown]

If your going to keep the car for awhile, go to a good hitch shop and ask them to install a 2". If you explain that it is for a bike rack, they should do it for you. 2" really does make a huge difference when you put 100# of bikes on it and rally drive the thing.

 

[CBJ]

That Sportworks rack is super cool and so easy to use. Whats the price for the rack? and how much should I pay to have a 2" hitch installed?

 

[Acadian]

If your going to keep the car for awhile, go to a good hitch shop and ask them to install a 2". If you explain that it is for a bike rack, they should do it for you. 2" really does make a huge difference when you put 100# of bikes on it and rally drive the thing.

I've been wondring about that.

since it's only to carry bikes - would it be safe to add a converter (from 1.25 to 2") on a 1.25 hitch, then use a 2" rack?
http://www.prolineracks.com/hitch-adapters.html

 

[Supa8]

I've been wondring about that.

since it's only to carry bikes - would it be safe to add a converter (from 1.25 to 2") on a 1.25 hitch, then use a 2" rack?
http://www.prolineracks.com/hitch-adapters.html

I asked that question to Sportworks last fall. They did not recommend it what so ever. I ended up with a 2" receiver. The 1.25" my Bro had on his WRX worked fine for two DH rigs. Of course he was doing wheelies everywhere but the rack worked out fine.

 

[narlus]

that's a good question. we need a mechanical engineer to run some load calcs to see if the 1.25" -> 2" adapter is safe for X bikes. dw, zedro, or someone else - yr homework assignment is here.

 

[ÆX]

ok - so i am pretty set on getting a hitch, but my car will only take a 1.25" hitch. does that limit my options too severely for transporting DH bikes? does anyone have a similar set up.

yes, i used the search function.

two bikes is about all a 1.25 will take.
here is my flat tray i hade with an upright for tydowns, and a locking camp box. as you can see i bit too much.
get a hitch then weld a 2'' to it. i am keeping my 1.25 and raising it 2''.

summer vacation pics

 

[buildyourown]

I wouldn't run a 1.25 with an adapter. That's just asking for trouble. My friend just had a 2" put on her VW. It was expensive but it works really slick and is super solid. Very confidence inspiring. I think she paid a little over $200. Worth it if you plan on keeping the vehical for a while.

 

[DßR]

Narlus - what about a custom hitch? There are a lot of places that will fabricate hitches for cars, and that frees you from having to use the wussy OEM hitches that most car brands offer. You could probably get a 2" hitch that way.

 

[MikeD]

Yeah, as someone who just got a draw-tite 1.25" with a sportworks 1.25" rack, I really wish I'd have known that custom hitch places could have made me a 2" hitch. I'd have spent the extra $100 for the custom 2". Not that the 1.25" is bad...it's just that the 2" would be that much better.

I don't see how putting a 2" adapter on the 1.25" hitch would be any better...the final interface (between the adapter and the hitch) will still be 1.25" wide, so you're not really gaining anything, and in fact, you're pushing the load further out behind the car...

 

[Acadian]

I'm also happy with my 1.25" hitch...I just wish I could use the FR sportworks rack..but I can't. The Transporter is jsut fine, but Sportworks DOES NOT recommend put any bike over 40lbs on there, let alone 2!!

 

[Erci]

I used to run 2" Sportworks on my 4Runner. I now run 1.25" sportworks on Protege5 (same deal.. can't get 2" unless you go with custom). If you want to tranport an elephant on your hitch rack, 2" is the way to go. If 2 bikes (even if they're 50 lbs each) is all you'll ever carry, 1.25" is plenty beefy.
I got mine here http://rackoutfitters.com/store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=85

Free shipping!

 

[Erci]

Sportworks DOES NOT recommend put any bike over 40lbs on there, let alone 2!!

This is true. However, my DHR weighed over 50 and that sat on the rack just fine with another bike (35lb Joker).

 

[Matt D]

Installing a 2" hitch will be around $200-250 USD. I'm going to put one on my Forester soon for a small trailer and a bike rack.

 

[Acadian]

This is true. However, my DHR weighed over 50 and that sat on the rack just fine with another bike (35lb Joker).

keep a close eye on those welds my friend...

I never carry more than one bike at a time on mine. And my DHR is at 40 (well maybe 41 ). I have stiff springs on my Suby...so when the road starts getting rough, it really shakes back there!

 

[Erci]

Oh, and there's also this now: http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=19020&subcategory_ID=4411#

Definitely ripoff of Sportworks. Haven't seen any reviews for it yet, but it looks like it should work just as well

 

[Repack]

If your going to keep the car for awhile, go to a good hitch shop and ask them to install a 2". If you explain that it is for a bike rack, they should do it for you. 2" really does make a huge difference when you put 100# of bikes on it and rally drive the thing.

Just what I was going to say. I know a few people who have done that. A 1-1/4 receiver has a maxw tongue load rating of ~350lbs, so it not like you'll be close to that. It also won't limit your ability to tow anything. SOrry of that kills you aspirations of towing a massive 5th Wheel.

Kate has a Saris rack that works just like the Sportworks. I give it a solid 5-star rating. It shouldn't interfere with opening/closing you tailgate. We don't even bother takng it off when we load up the back with gear. Its easy to work around.

Oh, forgot to say welcome back to the States!

 

[Boomer-61]

I had the same problem when I put one on my new car. I had a two inch bike rack and didn't want to buy a new one. What the guys did at the hitch shop was to give me an adapter which converts whatever size hitch into a two inch so you can run a class 4 set up. The better bike racks are in the two inch size. The adapter was about 15 bucks. Look into it.

 

[Repack]

Oh, and there's also this now: http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=19020&subcategory_ID=4411#

Definitely ripoff of Sportworks. Haven't seen any reviews for it yet, but it looks like it should work just as well

That is what my gf has. It works awesome.

But, I think that my next rack will be a generic basket with some 2x4 holders built into it. You can do that for <$100.

 

[Acadian]

I had the same problem when I put one on my new car. I had a two inch bike rack and didn't want to buy a new one. What the guys did at the hitch shop was to give me an adapter which converts whatever size hitch into a two inch so you can run a class 4 set up. The better bike racks are in the two inch size. The adapter was about 15 bucks. Look into it.

this http://www.prolineracks.com/hitch-adapters.html

 

[Erci]

keep a close eye on those welds my friend...

I never carry more than one bike at a time on mine. And my DHR is at 40 (well maybe 41 ). I have stiff springs on my Suby...so when the road starts getting rough, it really shakes back there!

Hmm.. I no longer have the DHR though. My heaviest (and only) bike now is about 32 pounds and my wife's joker is at about 38 now. That's the most I'll have on that rack.
Guess if Narlus goes this route and plans to carry 2 really heavy bikes, looking into custom 2" hitch is not the worst idea.
Do keep in mind that the only difference between 1.25" and 2" rack is the piece that plugs into the hitch. The rack itself is identical.

 

[Acadian]

Do keep in mind that the only difference between 1.25" and 2" rack is the piece that plugs into the hitch. The rack itself is identical.

we are not talking about the same rack Erci...

This is the FR one, meant to carry heavy bikes:

 

[Erci]

I don't see how the 1.25 to 2 adapter can make it better. Sure the rack piece will be stronger, but you're moving the weight away from the car and increasing the leverage on the hitch quite a bit.
I say if you go with 1.25 hitch, stick with 1.25 rack.

 

[Erci]

we are not talking about the same rack Erci...

This is the FR one, meant to carry heavy bikes:

Ah! My bad, but nonetheless, I think using that rack with a 1.25 to 2 adapter is not great, rack will hold up, but that hitch.. I'm not so sure.
That rack with 2" custom hitch would be the ultimate setup though!

 

[narlus]

well it sounds like 2" custom rack is the way to go (and i do plan on keeping this car for a while). this way, i can also get a 2" hitch for the minvan and we can compatibility of racks between vehicles.

what i am angling at is in the future, when the kids want to use their bikes too, can i get a 4 bike carrier which can also handle 2 DH bikes? do the hitching post racks not work for DH bikes?:

and if the answer is no, are there any of the afore-mentioned sportworks racks capable of carrying 4 bikes?:

 

[Erci]

It looks like their Freeride rack can only carry 2 bikes. I know the regular 2" rack (with 40 pound per bike limit) can carry 4 bikes (you have to buy add-on.. gets quite pricey).
Hitching post type will work, it's just a pain to load/unload it and hard to secure the bikes to prevent them from swinging.

 

[go-ride.com]

I've got a local buddy in the truck accessory biz. He will take a 1.25" hitch, cut the 1.25" sleeve off and weld a 2.0" in place. This works great for lighter weight cars that only have 1.25" hitches available.

 

[DßR]

keep a close eye on those welds my friend...

I never carry more than one bike at a time on mine. And my DHR is at 40 (well maybe 41 ). I have stiff springs on my Suby...so when the road starts getting rough, it really shakes back there!

Word to that brother. I carry 45-50 pounders around all the time (sometimes two at a time) and after 3 years, my welds are all cracked. One tray fell off a year ago (welded it back), now the other tray is cracked at the weld and won't hold on for long. The post that the "cane" swivels on is also cracked at the weld on the 1st tray.

The heavy duty/"freeride" rack is definitely in my future, that or a custom-made dealio using the old Transport parts -- i.e. double-thickness stuff and a few more braces thrown in.... depends on materials/welding costs vs. "Freeride" cost I guess.....

 

[Acadian]

Word to that brother. I carry 45-50 pounders around all the time (sometimes two at a time) and after 3 years, my welds are all cracked. One tray fell off a year ago (welded it back), now the other tray is cracked at the weld and won't hold on for long. The post that the "cane" swivels on is also cracked at the weld on the 1st tray.

The heavy duty/"freeride" rack is definitely in my future, that or a custom-made dealio using the old Transport parts -- i.e. double-thickness stuff and a few more braces thrown in.... depends on materials/welding costs vs. "Freeride" cost I guess.....

ya...mine broke where the ratchet arm is welded to the rack. I was lucky my DHR didn’t fall off…I noticed when looking in my rear view mirror that it was tilting back a lot…when I stopped for gas, I noticed it was broken. I'm not surprised since my bike vibrates A LOT when I go to North Star..

I'm looking for someone that would actually make and weld some gussets and re-enforce it. Should be easy to fix...wish I knew how to weld.

 

[DßR]

Yup -- one of mine is cracked in that exact spot.

 

[Acadian]

Yup -- one of mine is cracked in that exact spot.

did welding it fix it or did you have to add a gusset?

 

[DßR]

did welding it fix it or did you have to add a gusset?

None of the above yet, haven't done anything with it since it'll still hold a bike with "some" degree of security. I will probably just have it welded back, no gusset. The rack is so old that I'd rather just keep it simple and replace it, and give the poor beat thing to my mom

 

[1000-Oaks]

I'm welding up a prototype DH/FR bike rack this weekend, will probably make one for myself and some for buddies. No plastic, no mechanisms to break, just simple and beefy. Will probably do two versions:

- 2" receiver rack that holds four 50 lb DH bikes with up to 3" tires and wheelbases up to 48"

- 2" receiver rack that holds two 50 lb DH bikes/3" tires/48"wheelbase. Neat thing about this one is that you can bolt a second rack to it and carry a total of four DH bikes. That way each guy in the shuttle group only needs one 2-bike rack - easier to store, smaller for when it's just you and your GF, etc. Then when you go shuttling you just gang them together in pairs.


Of course beef means weight, so the weight of the rack and the bikes means guys will need a well-attached class III or better receiver hitch. Don't know if cars could handle that kind of weight and leverage, frame-mounted hitches on trucks and SUV's are probably the way to go.

 

[valve bouncer]

Narlus- PM Partsy when he gets back. He has a Sportswork rack with an 2 inch adapter. We had both our DH bikes on it at autobahn speeds. Seemed fine.

 

[mplutodh1]

Oh, and there's also this now: http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=19020&subcategory_ID=4411#

Definitely ripoff of Sportworks. Haven't seen any reviews for it yet, but it looks like it should work just as well

Saris stuff is crap, use one and you will know why. SUPER light weight, the idea is just to copy Sportworks but make it in a price range to suit most "recreational" folks who ride Costco and Kmart bikes. I would HIGHLY recommend against using them for DH bikes.

 

[1000-Oaks]

Spent the better part of today working on the 4-bike rack, so far so good - didn't break any tools or catch anything on fire. Arranged the loose parts on the garage floor, looked damn good so now I'm gettin' excited...

 

[crashnscar]

1000-oaks..... any pics?

I'm curious as to what it'll look like