Bike Haulers - What type of vehicle carries your rig(s)?

[MMcG]

My current bike hauler doubles as a kid hauler/dog hauler, hocke equipment hauler etc......yep you guessed it.... a Minivan! The Windstar is actually pretty versatile and I can carry my bike in the back (the way back seat is out of the van) and keep it safe from the elements in case it may rain on route to the trail-head.

What do you guys and gals haul your rigs in or on??

How many of you have bikes that are worth more than your cars/trucks/SUVs?

I think a really cool bike hauler would be a VW EuroVan or CamperVan...that way you could carry your bike, have a place to sleep and cook, and down some brews in relative comfort. Anybody out there driving a camper van??

Now Playing: Our Lady Peace

[fatire]

Mcc_Grand_Inquisitor you've done it again!
asked a question which few people probably give 2 shites about.
but i will endeavor to indulge by supplying far more detail then anyone but you will want to read.

i haul my bike on a 1999 nissan pathfinder SE.
it's color is bright firetruck red but it was not my first choice.
my first choice was a bone or very light tan color but by the time i consulted with the wife regarding the year-end, $7,000 below list sale, the damn one i wanted was scoffed up.
but i couldn't resist buying a new vehicle for an amount that it would still be worth after one year of driving so i said f it and bought the red one.
it had one of those cow catcher thingys on the front which i also was not crazy about but then i thought to the impending doom and gloom that would be caused by Y2K which led to visions of all the civil unrest and riots that were sure to follow as the y2k consultants were predicting and i envsioned myself driving the family to safer ground by plowing stalled and abonded vehichles out of my way ....and i said to my self....."ya know, this cow catcher attachment might come in handy!"
As we now know the y2k debacle was more overblown then jonny wad holmes and i never used it in the way i thought i might.
..................more coming but it will have to be on another post....dinner is served.

okay back from the family fare....let's see where was i.....oh ya the rack, i haul my bike on one of those hang-off-he-back rack deals that fit into a trailer hitch receiver and then can tilt down to allow access to the cargo hole. i think it's a rhode gear. these are better imho for several reasons....first and foremost you don't have to lift the damn bike up onto the roof after a long epic ride. second you don't have t worry about all the grime and crud dropping onto the roof. third, it's a helluva alot more aerodynamic to have your bike(s) hangin out in the slip street of you rig as opposed to creating tons more drag up on the roof.
my rack does tend to wobble in the receiver a bit but i found if i wedge a dime into the small crack it shims it up pretty nicely.
another downside is that the rack extends a good ways off the rear of the vehicle at height that can really clobber you if you're movin quickly around the car and forget it's there (seems it's never off the car.)
i've tried to overcome that by wrapping the dangerous ends with red duct tape so they will be more visible.

i dunno how the off the back rack compares to roof riders as far as avoiding salt and grime from the road.

it would be nice to have a dedicated van to just stuff the bike into and keep it away from all that stuff but this is what i've got for now.

any questions?

oh yeah a few things you'll probably ask:
milage: 42k
mpg: 17 ave
type of motor oil i run: mobil 1

yes i really like this vehicle it drives like a sports car and is a little crampy compared to the Yukon i used to have but that thing was a pig and drove like it.

[Dawgee]

I haul my bikes around in a 99 Ford F-150 4x4 with one of those raised caps on it. I can fit 5 bikes in the back. Not that i have that many friends.

I know a good place "not" to carry your bike

[boingboing]

I used to toss all the bikes onto a Thule roof rack that was pretty much permenant on my 97 Jetta. Bikes in the summer and snowboards in the winter. Ive since sold the jetta (Anyone wanna buy a Thule rack that fits golf and jetta??????) and picked up a Nissan Xterra. This has an interior rack. All ya gotta do is drop the back seat , back the bike in and lock the fork in. 2 bikes fit in there. This works out well when you live on the 3rd floor. I leave my bike in there all the time. It wasn't only a pain dragging a bike up a winding staircase, my neighbors were bound to get pissed about all the tire marks on the walls. Boing

[Sylvan]

I drive a '98 Hyundai Elantra wagon. Carsion and I took it to Pennsylvania this summer, full of camping gear and with the bikes on the rack on the back. ;D
If I happen to be able to go for a ride though, 9 times outta 10, Carsion's driving, and it's either "my" car or his Hyundai Accent 2-door.

[Adam]

My Honda Accord lugs my bikes & riding gear around with the aid of a Sportworks receiver hitch rack. I always get told 'nice rack' :)

[MMcG]

Mcc_Grand_Inquisitor you've done it again!
asked a question which few people probably give 2 shites about.
but i will endeavor to indulge by supplying far more detail then anyone but you will want to read.

i haul my bike on a 1999 nissan pathfinder SE.
it's color is bright firetruck red but it was not my first choice.
my first choice was a bone or very light tan color but by the time i consulted with the wife regarding the year-end, $7,000 below list sale, the damn one i wanted was scoffed up.
but i couldn't resist buying a new vehicle for an amount that it would still be worth after one year of driving so i said f it and bought the red one.
it had one of those cow catcher thingys on the front which i also was not crazy about but then i thought to the impending doom and gloom that would be caused by Y2K which led to visions of all the civil unrest and riots that were sure to follow as the y2k consultants were predicting and i envsioned myself driving the family to safer ground by plowing stalled and abonded vehichles out of my way ....and i said to my self....."ya know, this cow catcher attachment might come in handy!"
As we now know the y2k debacle was more overblown then jonny wad holmes and i never used it in the way i thought i might.
..................more coming but it will have to be on another post....dinner is served.

okay back from the family fare....let's see where was i.....oh ya the rack, i haul my bike on one of those hang-off-he-back rack deals that fit into a trailer hitch receiver and then can tilt down to allow access to the cargo hole. i think it's a rhode gear. these are better imho for several reasons....first and foremost you don't have to lift the damn bike up onto the roof after a long epic ride. second you don't have t worry about all the grime and crud dropping onto the roof. third, it's a helluva alot more aerodynamic to have your bike(s) hangin out in the slip street of you rig as opposed to creating tons more drag up on the roof.
my rack does tend to wobble in the receiver a bit but i found if i wedge a dime into the small crack it shims it up pretty nicely.
another downside is that the rack extends a good ways off the rear of the vehicle at height that can really clobber you if you're movin quickly around the car and forget it's there (seems it's never off the car.)
i've tried to overcome that by wrapping the dangerous ends with red duct tape so they will be more visible.

i dunno how the off the back rack compares to roof riders as far as avoiding salt and grime from the road.

it would be nice to have a dedicated van to just stuff the bike into and keep it away from all that stuff but this is what i've got for now.

any questions?

oh yeah a few things you'll probably ask:
milage: 42k
mpg: 17 ave
type of motor oil i run: mobil 1

yes i really like this vehicle it drives like a sports car and is a little crampy compared to the Yukon i used to have but that thing was a pig and drove like it.


Indeed that was a lot of information Fattie! Correct me if I'm wrong, but something inside me thinks that you truly enjoyed posting all of that information about your Red Pathfinder with the Brush Guards on the front! :D

[fatire]

Indeed that was a lot of information Fattie! Correct me if I'm wrong, but something inside me thinks that you truly enjoyed posting all of that information about your Red Pathfinder with the Brush Guards on the front! :D


Fattie just couldn't resist trying to come up with way more information then you could possibly want and I think I succeeded, you didn't ask any follow-ups! ;)

[I Are Baboon]

yada yada yada

I think that one is worth 10 posts. ;D

I haul my bikes around on a 1998 Acura Intergra hatchback. The ideal MTB vehicle!!! ;D

[MMcG]

Indeed that was a lot of information Fattie! Correct me if I'm wrong, but something inside me thinks that you truly enjoyed posting all of that information about your Red Pathfinder with the Brush Guards on the front! :D


Fattie just couldn't resist trying to come up with way more information then you could possibly want and I think I succeeded, you didn't ask any follow-ups! ;)


You certainly were thorough Fattie and I appreciate that........even coming back to the post after partaking in the family dinner! I admire a man who makes sure to sit down at the table with his family! Good stuff sir! :)

[AGENTGRAPE]

i am currently using a 2000 dodge dakota 4x4 xtra cab it can fit 5 bikes in back. by the way fattie are you using reg or premium fuel

[MtnBikerChk]

:-*

[MMcG]

Bike porn and Bike Hauler porn all in one picture! Nice.....but I can't tell what kind of vehicle that is from the rear end!

[MtnBikerChk]

Bike porn and Bike Hauler porn all in one picture! Nice.....but I can't tell what kind of vehicle that is from the rear end!


how can you NOT? It's so easy. Look at the taillights? look at the bumber?

[MMcG]

Bike porn and Bike Hauler porn all in one picture! Nice.....but I can't tell what kind of vehicle that is from the rear end!


how can you NOT? It's so easy. Look at the taillights? look at the bumber?


Ummmm.......Subaru? Volvo?........Nissan? :o

I like that set up though.

My brother in law has an Explorer SportTrack with a similar bike holder in the bed. That is another ride that would be good for me and the family, if I were to put a cap on the bed. Bikes and dogs and luggage could go in the covered bed and humans could ride in the expansive cab......hmmmmm.

[MtnBikerChk]

Ummmm.......Subaru? Volvo?........Nissan? :o

I like that set up though.

My brother in law has an Explorer SportTrack with a similar bike holder in the bed. That is another ride that would be good for me and the family, if I were to put a cap on the bed. Bikes and dogs and luggage could go in the covered bed and humans could ride in the expansive cab......hmmmmm.


you just described my EXPLORER.

[turch]

Silverado w/ leer cap. Pretty secure and flexible. For security nothing beats locking rigs inside. For racks, rooftops: Yakima and Thule rule; on the hitch the best the I've seen is the Sportworks unit.

[MMcG]

Ummmm.......Subaru? Volvo?........Nissan? :o

I like that set up though.

My brother in law has an Explorer SportTrack with a similar bike holder in the bed. That is another ride that would be good for me and the family, if I were to put a cap on the bed. Bikes and dogs and luggage could go in the covered bed and humans could ride in the expansive cab......hmmmmm.


you just described my EXPLORER.




I did? I always thought Explorers came with two seats up front and then a bench seat in the back with not a lot of cargo room after that.

My brother in law has this gate type thingie that extends the length of his bed on the Sport-Trac.......I don't know how that would work with a cap on the top.

There is a guy who picks up his kids around the same time as me and he's got a Nissan Frontier set up the way I would want it. I'll have to stop and ask him some Questions! Now there's a surprise right! ;D

[splat]

well it is either the Wifes car , with the thule racks which is a 95 Subaru , or if I'm just going alone it is my car which is an 86 chevy celebrity. and Yes several of my bikes are worth more than that car , but hey it runs and it's paid for!

[MMcG]

well it is either the Wifes car , with the thule racks which is a 95 Subaru , or if I'm just going alone it is my car which is an 86 chevy celebrity. and Yes several of my bikes are worth more than that car , but hey it runs and it's paid for!


Splat,

Aren't you the guy that can ride to the Nam right from your driveway anyway?

How many bikes in your stable?

[splat]

well it is either the Wifes car , with the thule racks which is a 95 Subaru , or if I'm just going alone it is my car which is an 86 chevy celebrity. and Yes several of my bikes are worth more than that car , but hey it runs and it's paid for!


Splat,

Aren't you the guy that can ride to the Nam right from your driveway anyway?

How many bikes in your stable?
:) :)

Thats me!!!

But I do drive to other places to ride . road and off road

Lots o' Bike in My stable ! I'm so Bad I actually Keep a Hard tail and an 3 Speed road Bike at the office ! ( we Do Lunch Time rides , Both Road and off road. ) between the Wife and I ( not counting the Kids Bikes ) we have 8 and I am Building up a Softride, and have my Eyes on a fixed gear Road Bike

[johnbryanpeters]

'02 Chevy Astro AWD cargo van. You can keep stuffing bikes in until about next Thursday, plus tools, clothes, camping gear, plus a couple of St. Bernards.

J

[Thedewser]

2001 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab 4x4. Love my truck and thank god I don't have any bikes that cost more than the truck! Anyway its a great truck! 4-5 people can fit comfortably. Carrying bikes and gear, that's another story. I am planning some upgrading the bed with a Rack so I can store the gear in the bed, bikes on top and people inside. Truck is barely 2 yrs old and already have over 53K miles on it. I drive a lot for the sport! While I am on the topic, how much do these rack systems go for?

Dewser

[PapaBear]

now this is how you haul a bike.
um, yeh thats me.
78 R100/7 with my Merlin.

cars-r-coffins.

[AA]

That's a pretty cool setup. Obviously its some kind of custom setup, does it bolt to the luggage rack on the back of the BMW? I have a 250 cc dual sport that is registered and it would be a hoot to haul around a bike on the back of it.

AA

[radair]

VW Camper rig?

McAskalot, that's my favorite bike hauler: sleeps 4, carries as many bikes, stove, sink, 'fridge...

OK, so it goes up hills slower than a fully-loaded semi, but what's the hurry?

Don't know if I can get this pic to post; haven't had much luck to date

[radair]

WTF!

how about:

<img src="http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/Bromont(5).jpg">

I give up. Any tips?

[MMcG]

Radair,

I cut and pasted it into my browser. Sweet! Is that your VW?

And is that Bromont in Quebec? See many people riding Balfas when you were there??

How the hell would I get my hands on one of those Volkswagens these days?

Thanks!

McAskalot!

[bike187]

i would like to thank you all for your information on hauling bikes, even though i'm not even old enough to drive legally. in 6 more days i can get my permit and 6 months after that, my license. i'll finally be able to go to lynn, wompatuck, etc. right now i'm primarily constricted to riding to bluehills, since i live in randolph. i'm pretty sure i'm gonna kinda partially inerit my dad's old extra car which i'm hoping on getting a roof rack for.
also hopefully once i get my license i can work at a job at a bikeshop since the local one is on the small scale and never seems to be hiring.
until then if any of you guys are going for a ride on the weekends and are going through randolph and wouldn't mind picking up an extra rider, i'd greatly appreciate it. ;D

[radair]

Radair,

I cut and pasted it into my browser. Sweet! Is that your VW?

And is that Bromont in Quebec? See many people riding Balfas when you were there??

How the hell would I get my hands on one of those Volkswagens these days?

Thanks!

McAskalot!


Wow, you are quite the inquisitive guy! Yes, that's my '84 Westfalia. It is totally excellent - camping with our family of four is always a good time. I didn't notice a lot of Balfas in Quebec, but I wasn't riding the lifts, either. The place is very cool and well worth the trip.

Check out westfalia.org for some classifieds or just keep your eyes peeled. They're all over the place and are definitely out there.

BTW, my daily vehicle is a Subie Outback - superb rig!