I'm looking for a good way to transport bicycles. I prefer not use to bike racks which require drilling into the truck bed. Does anyone have any positive and|or negative experiences with the bike racks out there?

Thanks ahead of time for any help!

RCL


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2000 XLT 4.6 V8 5speed 4x4 RC SB Amazon Green

 

Hi RCL, I found a cheap way to transport up to six bikes. I got a couple of 2x6's and cut them to fit the slot just behind the wheelwell. I then got six Bike Tite's at $29 each. I drilled thru and put a Bike Tite on each side of the board and bolted together. I staggered the middle set higher so the handlebars wouldn't hit. Even with the short bed, a full size bike fits perfectly between the board and front of bed. Addtionally, a full size bike fits from the board to the end of the down tailgate.

Haul six bikes for $185, can't be beat.
(or haul one bike for $35.)
Also I remove the clamps (I used wing nuts)when not in use and the boards serve as a storage containment area(between the boards and the up tailgate). Groceries don't go all over.

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99 Lariat Regular Cab 2WD 120"WB 5.4 3.55LS, Tow,
Dark Toreador Red/Harvest Gold, Line-X
raoul@f150owner.com
F150's of Virginia
Just cause we're from Virginia don't mean we're(well, you know)



[This message has been edited by Raoul (edited 05-23-2000).]

 

I have a two bike rack that fits between the hitch receiver and ball mount. The rack has a two inch square that the ball mount fits through then goes into the receiver. It's confusing to explain, but what I like about it is you have full use of your bed AND your trailer hitch. If this is something you would be interested in I can get some info on it.
Jeff

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1999 F-150 Lariat 4X2
Reg cab Short box Styleside
5.4L 3.55ls
Deep Wedgwood Blue/Silver
Lund Interceptor hood shield
VentVisors
Class III hitch
Ford molded mud guards
Soft tonneau cover
Factory CD with changer (thanks Dusty)
Tinted windows
Factory fog light kit

http://www.fortunecity.com/silversto...ton54home.html

 

RCL, you can listen to JA_Stang86 if you want to.

But, do you really want advice from someone who has a truck like that?

 

I was actually looking for the same thing. I've pretty much settled on a product like the one Raoul uses.

Raoul: How do hold the back tire in place?

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quzax@my-f150.com My-F150.com/quzax
My-F150.com (Sign up now!)
My-F250.com (coming soon)
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:: MM F-150 XLT SC SS 4x4 SB ORP 3.55LS 5.4L :: Deep Wedgewood Blue / Silver / Dark Graphite :: Cab Steps :: Elec. 4x4 :: Keyless :: 6-disc :: Power Seat :: Capt. Chairs :: Soft Tonneau :: Slider :: Tow pkg. :: Splash Guards :: Hood Deflector ::

 

O.K, I'm the bike rack expert here I'm a designer for SportRack.

HITCH RACK
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If you plan on using your truck bed for camping gear etc... at the same time as 2 or 3 bikes. Then go with a hitch rack like JA_stang86 was talking about. But a hitch rack will add almost 2 more feet to your truck length. But on the good side, you won't have to remove the front wheels off your bikes to carry them. And if you have a hard tonneau cover, you won't have to remove that... Most good hitch racks will be lockable.

BIKE TITES type rack
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Those things are cheap and effective! All you need is a 2x4. This way you can easily remove the rack system. Remember to put the board near the cab end of the box, for emergency braking operations. In addition I would suggest tying the rear wheels to the 2 rear tie-downs on the bottom inside walls of the truck bed. This will prevent the bikes from tipping over into/onto the cab in case of an accident. Just make sure your front bike wheels are "quick-release" equipped.

HARD TONNEAU COVER RACKS
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These things may be functionnal but man thats fugly (IMO)! I wouldn't put holes in a hard tonneau cover. A camper shell yes because it sits high.

ROOF RACKS
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There are so many of them around! Yakima, Thule work almost in the same way. But you will need a pickup truck to carry all the parts you have to buy to get the set installed! Both of these do not pass TUV standards and can/may be dangerous in extreme conditions. Barecrafters seem alright but are expensive. Frontier (one of ours) pass TUV tests and are cheap but in my opinion are so ugly, the look is out of date. I like our Mondial/Modular roof racks, they look great and fit well.One tip for these types of racks is to put on a viynl strip under the racks feet. Or strips of black electrical tape. No matter how high-tech the pad design is, dust will get between the foot and the paint But with some tape in between, the dirt won't go very far under the sticky surface and who cares if you scratch the tape!

BTW: I'm not a sales person as i said I'm a graphic designer...



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Formerly known as 4byFord

Check out my site: eph1fifty.cjb.net My email: eph1fifty@hotmail.com
1997 F150 4x4 XLT with ORP 4.2L V6 and 5-speed manual.

 

Thanks for the help guys. I'm going to REI and check out some of the racks. I've done some surfing since the post and I'm considering the 2x4 with the Bike Tites or the Graber Kool Rack.

Eph1fifty, Cool pictures on your site! Was hoping to see some bikes in your truck though... <g>

RCL


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2000 XLT 4.6 V8 5speed 4x4 RC SB Amazon Green

 

Hi Quzax, I used two 2x6's and stacked them. I drilled thru the lower one. The weight of the two boards hold the bike(s). Also, the boards are cut tight, they aren't rattling around back there. The boards also create a fake tailgate 11" high which kept the gear I carried forward. The bikes rear wheel just rested on the down tailgate.
I guess one could bungee the rear wheel to something but, I just don't live like that.

eph1fifty, reread your post on the Bike Tite option and I don't think you have a good 'visual' on what I did. Wish I had a camera or scanner. On my '99 short bed there is only one slot for perpendicular lumber, 19" from the tailgate and 58" from the front of the bed. (2X6) is the BEST piece of lumber to use. A 2x4 is just smaller (lighter). A 2x8 is bigger but, the second one won't fit as there's not enough 'slot' left after the first one goes in. A 2x10 will not fit.

Disadvantages to the Bike tite option:
1)Can't lock it.
2)Bikes are in bed and boards prevent use of full length of floor.

Advantages:
1)It's always there. Boards are in the slot which partitions off the bed leaving a 19" storage area. Always have two Bike tights under the seat by the jack.
2)You buy only as much 'bike rack' as you need. one bike =$30 Six bikes=$180
3)You can configure the bikes to fit your load. If I'm only hauling one to three bikes they go in on the cab side, tailgate up. If I need my bed, the bikes are on the tailgate side.

I have hauled bikes on trips up to 300 miles. A Bike Tite bolted to 5.5 foot 2x6 with another 2x6 is secure. If any offroading is done then the back wheels should be secured to the bed.

My boards are just pine. I stained them walnut and laquered them. The bottom board is cut 66" then the bottom corners are rounded to fit the bed. The top board is 66" from bottom edge up to 4" then it tapers out to 68.5". It looks like a fat "T".

As far as the quick release front wheel, if your bike doesn't have quick release, you should just throw it in the back of the bed anyway. The bike rack shouldn't cost more than the bike.


[This message has been edited by Raoul (edited 05-24-2000).]

 

Actually, there are two bike tite models. The more expensive model is lockable, there's a hole drilled through it and a small padlock locks the bike to the bike tite. I bought a $40 Delta Hopper, cut two metal straps for the inside and outside (since it's plastic) bolted it to the top of the Hopper. Now I just throw the whole works in when I'm goin out, holds the bikes in place and I have a place to throw my muddy gear in.

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99 XLT 5.4L SC 4x4 ORP Wedgewood Waldoch - 3.55LS, grey/blue leather, wood dash and door inserts, Lund Deflector, Trenz Billet Antennae, Clear Corner Lenses...and too many things on my want list!
1977 1/2 F250 4x4 "Low Boy" 400-4spd