Bike Racks for Cars: How to Choose, Different Types, and More

Cycling is a great hobby because it’s a form of exercise that allows you to enjoy the outdoors. While cycling in your neighborhood has its charms, it’s also fun to take your bike on road trips to explore scenic views. For longer trips, you’ll need to mount your bike on your vehicle with the right rack.

Bike racks are accessories that let you easily transport bikes and other bulky or oversized items. If you haven’t bought one for your vehicle yet, here are some tips for choosing the right one for your needs.

How to Choose the Right Bike Rack for Your Car

There are five factors you must consider before purchasing a bike rack: the number of bikes you want to transport, the type of vehicle you drive, your budget, the rack’s locking system, and how the rack will affect your vehicle’s fuel economy.

The Number of Bikes You Want to Transport

Bike racks come in different sizes and capacities, which determine how much equipment they can carry. Always check the number of bikes and the total weight a rack can hold on the manufacturer’s website to make sure that you aren’t going over the maximum capacity.

Vehicle Type

Some bike racks are designed for specific types of vehicles, so it’s best to check the dimensions of the rack before buying it. A rack designed for an SUV might not fit or be as effective when installed on a sedan.

Vehicles also have different capacities when it comes to hauling cargo on the roof or the hitch. Make sure that you check your owner’s manual to confirm that the bike rack’s weight rating is well within the roof system or hitch’s load capacity.

Budget

Some bike racks are more expensive than others. For example, a CURT hitch mount that can carry two bikes costs around $560. Meanwhile, more affordable options with the same capacity from Rhino-Rack can cost you in the $200 range.

Consider how much you’re willing to spend and how often you’ll be using the bike rack.

Security

Having a secured bike rack is crucial because your bike could fall off during off-road adventures.

Most racks have locking systems that prevent your bike from falling and make it harder for thieves to steal your equipment.

While some racks are designed to be more secure than others, their security ultimately depends on how you install the rack. Always review the manual to ensure that the rack is installed correctly.

Fuel Economy

Some bike racks, such as those installed on the roof, can affect your vehicle’s aerodynamics. This may result in increased fuel consumption because higher aerodynamic drag forces equate to more power needed from the engine to maintain a certain speed.

On the other hand, racks installed at the back of the vehicle won’t have the same amount of drag, resulting in little to no changes in fuel consumption.

Types of Bike Racks for Cars

There are six common types of bike racks for you to choose from: tray or platform style hitch bike racks, rooftop mounted bike racks, pickup tailgate pads, vertical hanging bike racks, trunk bike racks, and truck bed racks.

Tray or Platform Style Hitch Bike Racks

Hitch bike racks are mounted on the trailer hitch at the back of your vehicle, allowing you to easily place and remove your bike. They’re easy to install, as you’ll only have to line up the rack’s bolt holes and the receiver, insert the bolt, and tighten it with a wrench.

Rooftop Mounted Bike Racks

Roof racks are installed on top of vehicles. They offer versatility, as you can customize and use them to carry other oversized items, like surfboards.

Roof racks are also easy to add since most vehicles already have crossbars on their roofs. They’re also cheaper than other styles, as you can get one for less than $200.

There are two types of rooftop-mounted bike racks: fork mounts and upright racks. Using fork mounts requires you to take the front wheel off your bike, adding another step before and after your ride. It also means you’ll need to clear space inside your vehicle to carry the wheel. This reduces the bike profile on the roof compared to upright racks.

One downside to using a roof rack is that you’ll have to lift your bike overhead to access the bike rack.

Pickup Tailgate Pads

Tailgate pads fold and cover the truck’s tailgate, preventing the bikes from bouncing around and damaging it. These work best for road bikes with steep head tube angles and adult-sized mountain bikes.

Pads specifically designed for transporting bikes often come with thicker padding compared to regular moving blankets and straps to keep your equipment secure. They may also have a flap to access the tailgate handle or backup camera.

Vertical Hanging Bike Racks

Vertical bike racks are attached to your car’s towbar to minimize the risk of damaging the vehicle and the bike. They have a mast-like component that extends from the trailer hitch and a cross bar to hang your bike.

There are three common styles of vertical bike racks, and each one differs in how they hang the bikes:

Handlebar Hanging Vertical Racks

These racks hang the bike’s handlebars around the stem using a pair of narrow U-shaped padded cradles. They’re able to carry multiple kids’ bikes as long as they have flat handlebars. However, handlebar racks have the lowest overall weight capacity, so they’re not suitable for bigger bikes.

Wheel Basket Vertical Racks

Wheel baskets hang the bikes by their front wheels. However, you may need to order baskets that match the wheel diameter and tire width. Most wheel basket racks generally fit different types of bikes, so it shouldn’t be too big of an issue.

They’re also versatile and easy to use since the mast of the racks tilts toward the ground, making it easier to load bikes.

Suspension Fork Crown

Suspension fork crowns have prongs that fit between the top of the front tire and the suspension fork crown. This design is meant for hardtail and full-suspension mountain bikes, so it’s not ideal for road, casual, or cruiser bikes. They’re also not easy to use since you’ll have to lift the bikes over your head to load the bike and hang the suspension fork crown.

Trunk Bike Racks

Trunk bike racks are installed on the trunk or hatches of the car using different straps and hooks. They can carry up to three bikes that rest on support arms.

They also don’t require a trailer hitch and are among the least expensive racks. Trunk bike racks are easy to remove when not in use, making them perfect for casual bikers who don’t frequently use bike racks.

This type of bike rack hangs bikes from their top tube, making it hard to transport mountain bikes because of their frame’s unique shape.

While it’s easy to use and light, this rack limits your access to the trunk. The bikes may also bump into each other since they can’t be locked and are only fastened using straps and hooks.

Truck Bed Racks

Truck bed bike racks have internal rails or support bars that you can temporarily install in a truck bed to anchor bikes in place. They’re also capable of carrying boats and cargo boxes.

The Best Bike Racks by Car Type

Here are the best bike racks to use depending on the vehicle you’re driving.

How Much are Bike Racks for Cars?

A basic bike rack can cost as low as $40, while racks designed to carry multiple bikes can cost up to $600 or more, depending on the brand.

A professional installation may cost you somewhere between $200 and $500. This price may vary depending on the standard labor costs in the area, how many cradles you add, and if you need to build the whole rack system.

Where to Get a High-Quality Bike Rack

Bike racks might not seem like a necessity, but they’re a great investment in the long run. Not only do they keep your bicycle safe, they also protect your vehicle from damage caused by stuffing your bike in the backseat or trunk. Thanks to CarParts.com, you can easily transport your bike by getting a bike rack that best suits your vehicle and budget.

CarParts.com offers a wide selection of different types of bike racks, all sourced from the most trusted manufacturers in the industry. The best part is that you don’t have to leave the comfort of your home just to get a new bike rack. Thanks to our easy-to-navigate website, you can place an order with just a few clicks and enjoy a convenient and secure checkout.

Don’t wait until your bike damages your car before investing in a bike rack. Check out our catalog of high-quality bike racks at CarParts.com and get one for your vehicle today!