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Re: roof vs hitch Posted by Snowmobile [Email]  (#686)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Snowmobile) on Sun, 6 May 2012 18:00:24
In Reply to: roof vs hitch, FrancoisM  [Profile/Gallery]
, Sun, 6 May 2012 16:35:21
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I would add a few things to this. Nemo, are you sedan or wagon? I'm guessing wagon since you say "factory roof rails". You would actually need crossbars (eg something like the thule 450 crossroads) before you can mount bikes up there. Maybe you have that already. What sort of bike?
On the roof: fork mount is more rigid + aerodynamic but wheels take trunk space. If you get a mount that holds the bike up there with both wheels on, get a good one. The cheaper ones work but are more flimsy. I'd suggest the Thule Swingarm or Yakima Highroller. Not cheap, but there are deals around + people sell them used also. Those types will handle a greater range of bike frame types.
On the back: we have a yakima hilite hitch mount off the back of our sedan. It's not bad - carries 3 bikes and only weighs 20 lbs, so less dead weight on a lever arm affecting the weak rear suspension in these cars. That said, on a sedan, there is significant drag. I haven't quantified it well enough though. On a wagon the extra drag may be negligible. It's all about the aerodynamic flow over the chassis + the bikes sticking up above the trunk of a sedan really must break the flow pretty badly. to open the trunk with the hitch on, I have to lower the hitch, which is not ideal with bikes on it (though I can open the trunk a little to grab somthing but if I wasn't careful I'd ding the trunk)... odd frame types are no big deal because there are bars you can mount from seatpost to stem to deal with that. I have a friend with an ibis mojo + that's what he does. I can actually mount kids bikes (16" wheel frame size + up anyway) on the hilite just fine, but not on all hitch racks. play around before buying + bring along your most messed up bike! If you plan to put 3 really heavy DH rigs on the hilite on the 9-5, you might run into issues with the rack or suspension, but for 3 x-country/free ride bikes, it's been just fine.
see link below for reviews of bike rack systems...
good luck!
, Sun, 24 Nov 2013 09:20:13, Mon, 7 May 2012 03:00:48, Mon, 7 May 2012 09:58:47
, Mon, 7 May 2012 12:38:03, Sun, 6 May 2012 15:39:52, Sun, 6 May 2012 16:35:21, Sun, 6 May 2012 18:00:24 <-- Viewing This Message
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