I just put the Sidearm on my Mazda 3. I love it. I went with this rack because it had similar trays to my Thule T2 Hitch mount rack that I had on my last car. They are very sturdy. It was expensive though to go with all the Thule parts.
Roof Rack Advice
Monday, February 22 2010 at 1:24pm
#2
Monday, February 22 2010 at 5:14pm
#3
buy a hitch mount.....you will not regret it
roof racks look cool, but thats where it ends.
Monday, February 22 2010 at 5:57pm
#4
buy a hitch mount.....you will not regret it
roof racks look cool, but thats where it ends.
mehhhhh. They both have their pros and cons. I've been running Yakima roof racks for the past 10 years, and love them. Pros for the roof: You don't need to spend 300 to 400 $$$$ on a trailer hitch. They don't interfere with getting shit in and out of the back of your car, and you don't have to take it on and off when your not using them. Cons to the roofy: tricky to get them on good........and they need to be on good exactly the way they are designed to, and they reduce the fuel mileage of your vehicle on the highway. Pros for the hitch rack: nice and low........for the shorty's, its an easy instal, and it doesn't affect your gas mileage. Cons for the hitch mount: Your bikes get coated in what ever shit is on the road......terrible for the bearings in your wheels and anything else realy, you need a trailer hitch, needs to be taken on off when not in use, reduces the approach angle of your vehicle (bikes could hit the ground).
Anyway.........due tot he fact that I don't do much highway driving with bikes (some road trips to races) and when I do I don't mind the extra gas $$$$..........I much prefer the roof rack setup. Yakima Highrollers work extremely well. Much better then a King Cobra......which still works prety good.
Monday, February 22 2010 at 6:21pm
#5
Check your pm's.
Monday, February 22 2010 at 8:25pm
#6
I went with a saris cycle on hitch mount rack, and I've never been happier. No lifting up over the car, and the bike is on in 5 seconds. The rack folds up when I'm not using it, so I leave it on most of the time. Winter is the exception.
Plus having the hitch on the car is good for many other uses. And the rack will fit on any hitch in the future without having to worry about what car I buy next.
Tuesday, February 23 2010 at 8:44am
#7
Really enjoying the Saris Cycle On Pro. I am concerned about the quality of it though. The bike cramps for the front wheel get pretty gummed up and sticky. I'm careful not to overtorque it, but not everyone who's put their bikes on has been... Reasonably sure I wouldn't buy another one. Likely would get a North Shore Rack set up for the hitch next time.
Had roof racks for eons, and with the amount of highway time I spend in the summer months with bikes on the car, I save around 1/4 tank EACH 1.5 hour trip at least. Couple that with 7 trips to Campbellton this summer - and you get a couple of free hotel rooms and poutines for the road!
Tuesday, February 23 2010 at 2:06pm
#8
Decisions decisions.
From what I can gather, if you’re starting from scratch (no hitch mount) you’re going to be looking at comparable dollar totals by the time it’s said and done. Correct?
Roof racks seem to put a bigger hurting on your millage than I thought. I’d be consistently driving an hour each way, so it’s nothing to brush aside.
On the other hand, I don’t have a driveway, so I’ll need to take a trailer mounted rack in and out of an apt without loads of extra space each ride. Plus the added fun of parallel parking with it.
How is security on either style? As far someone ripping them off while you’re parked somewhere sans bike.
Damn, free will is kind of a bitch sometimes.
Tuesday, February 23 2010 at 2:13pm
#9
Matt, I use the Cycle on Pro (as mentioned) which comes with a hitch pin as well as a pretty burly cable lock. I don't leave it on the car very often though. Since it's so easy to take the bikes off, they usually go with if I'm headed out of site somewhere...
Tuesday, February 23 2010 at 2:17pm
#10
I have been using a roof mounted Yakima rack and kind cobra trays for the past year or so and it's a hassle free setup. Gas mileage does take a hit, but its not huge.
The hitch mount, seems like it would be more convenient to load/unload, but having to always be concious of it/having to bring it inside could be a pain.
I may as well mention that i am selling my roof rack setup...at a fraction of the cost of going new :)
Both King Cobra's come with locks.
http://cogeyed.com/classified/yakima-rack-king-cobra-trays
Looking to throw two DH bikes up top. I figured something like the thule sidearm or the yakima highroller are best, but does anyone have a better/cheaper set up?
Would it be cheaper to look for the feet and bars from a less high end company and then just get trays and connections from someone like thule?
Anyone know of a site with wicked awesome deals on this type of thing? Of course I'll consult my LBS before purchasing, but it's good for comparison (and to kill a bit of time at the office).
Any and all advice welcome. Haven't bought or really dealt with racks in the past.