Dude! Check out the rack on that one!

RustyIron

RustyIron

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Sorry to let you down, but this thread isn't what you were hoping for. You should be ashamed of yourself. It's about BIKE racks.
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In the long long ago I used a Thule T2 rack on my truck. Racks are a pain in the ass to install and they take up space in the garage when you're not using them. Tailgate pads look cooler, are far more convenient, and can carry more bikes, so I eventually dumped the rack and got a pad.

The first thing you learn about carrying bikes in the back of the truck is that you can't carry as many as the pad manufacturer says you can. Well, you can, but you won't like it. Three bikes is ok, four if you're REALLY careful and drive like an elderly woman on her way to church. Try to carry more, and eventually someone's carbon frame is going to get gouged by a pedal.

The other problem is obvious and foreseeable. Scuffing that occurs if there's any dust in between the tailgate and the pad. Mountain biking frequently involves destinations that are dusty. The other problem is that pads don't fully protect the tailgate when traveling down rough roads. Mountain biking frequently involves destinations that require traveling on rugged roads. The result is slight denting of the tailgate--not cool.

I don't like driving a dented up truck and couldn't stand it any longer. I had the tailgate repaired. Of course I'm not going to beat up the new tailgate, so I sold the tailgate pads and started shopping for racks. There's some good ones out there nowadays, far better than the racks of old.

Selection wasn't easy, but I went with he Kuat Piston Ion because of the claim that it's good on rough roads. REI has a 20% discount on a single item right now, and my year-end dividend will refund another 10%. That was enough to get me to pull the trigger.

I picked it up yesterday and bolted it all together. It seems solid and it seems to hold the bike securely. Unfortunately, it's going to take up room in the garage just like the old Thule. Unlike the T2, the Ion is bloody heavy! I might have to start taking supplements and hitting the gym.

Anyone else have off road bike rack experience? Maybe I should have asked BEFORE making the purchase, but I'm impatient that way.

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Recon Rack , now 1up (and less sturdy)
Extremely sturdy, rotates down to allow bed to open. Holds 5 but with the Levos there's only 2 with plenty of room.
The original owner sold the company. They pop up for sale on FB.
 
Pizzman said:
Recon Rack , now 1up (and less sturdy)
Extremely sturdy, rotates down to allow bed to open.
Click to expand...

Nice! I considered going vertical. It really does seem like the best way to go for those who frequently use the rack.
 
RustyIron said:
Nice! I considered going vertical. It really does seem like the best way to go for those who frequently use the rack.
Click to expand...
I had 3 kids with bikes (they grew up) . So we used it a lot. Now it’s just us 2. With 3 open spots🥹🤣🥰🥹
These Levos need breathing room. Our flats are very sharp.
There’s a negative consideration for vertical racks. You must wheelie and lift your 50lb bike. I can, I’m in decent shape. I’m already thinking about 5-10 years down the road. Might be too much for old me.
A horizontal rack just needs a push on or a quick lift up. This is good.
But, when it gets bumpy. I’ll take my Recon. I know my stupid expensive bikes are safe. There’s a plus too, when I wrap my cable, they are locked good. Rims, frames, all tangled in a cable. Very very safe.
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Old trip to Whistler.
 
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Maybe I just over stress keeping my S-Brose dry.
With a load like that, when does a small enclosed trailer make more since?
I snow FT bike and the road salt is kiss of death to a bike. Trailer fits in car wash
$2 for a fast spray off, unhook, block wheel, ready for next ride!
Stop for lunch, everything is locked in tight.
 
I've been a Thule user for a long number of years but as I started getting into eMTB, discovered that they were not rated for heavier bikes. No issue using it but could be an interesting / challenging conversation with car insurance folks in the event of an accident.

Bought one of these a couple of years ago and delighted with it (wish I'd gotten the 3-bike one). Really easy to secure to towbar (no extra tools needed), locks seem pretty decent and easy to load (especially if you get / make a ramp).

buzzrack.com

E-HORNET 2 • BuzzRack

[masterslider alias=”e-hornet-2″] [masterslider alias=”e-hornet-2-gallery”] [masterslider alias=”e-hornet-2-features”] [symple_heading type=”h2″ title=”OVERVIEW” margin_top=”20px;” margin_bottom=”20px” text_align=”left”] E-HORNET series offer convenient mounting, user-friendly functions, heavy...
buzzrack.com buzzrack.com
 
For a pickup truck you have more options than than other vehicles.

For years I needed nothing more than a $2 bungee cord: wedge rear tire into a front bed corner, point front tire into rear corner and bungee the front into truck tie down point. That holds pretty well for all but the roughest rides, add a second cord for those. Advantage: cheap, bike protected inside bed. Disadvantage: the cord rubs on the fork eventually wrinkling the decals.

I then tried a tailgate mat. Advantage: quick and easy if you leave the pad on the truck. Disadvantage: grit under pad will scratch truck’s paint, bike hanging outside truck is exposed to accidents and road slop.

I never tried a hitch mounted rack because I worry about a rear end accident destroying my bike (fun fact, e-bikes are not covered under homeowners insurance unless you add an expensive rider) and exposure to road slop is maximized. Also you can’t see your bikes from the cab. Advantage is you can move it to other vehicles with a hitch.

I finally went with a Ride88 rack and find it’s the best and easiest for a pickup. Rack is mounted to front of bed and the bike is held by a tire clamp. No frame contact, easy to mount/remove the bike, minimal exposure to accidents and road slop and you can see your bike in the rearview mirror. It’s pricey like the hitch mounts but quality and solid. I picked up a set used on eBay and have been very happy with it. I actually got a set for three bikes and only need one so put one up on Facebook marketplace at a discount.

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Maxi said:
I've been a Thule user for a long number of years but as I started getting into eMTB, discovered that they were not rated for heavier bikes. No issue using it but could be an interesting / challenging conversation with car insurance folks in the event of an accident.

Bought one of these a couple of years ago and delighted with it (wish I'd gotten the 3-bike one). Really easy to secure to towbar (no extra tools needed), locks seem pretty decent and easy to load (especially if you get / make a ramp).

buzzrack.com

E-HORNET 2 • BuzzRack

[masterslider alias=”e-hornet-2″] [masterslider alias=”e-hornet-2-gallery”] [masterslider alias=”e-hornet-2-features”] [symple_heading type=”h2″ title=”OVERVIEW” margin_top=”20px;” margin_bottom=”20px” text_align=”left”] E-HORNET series offer convenient mounting, user-friendly functions, heavy...
buzzrack.com buzzrack.com
Click to expand...
My Buzzrack came with a ramp but have never used it.
 
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7 years no ones hit me. It scares them. Road grime washes off like trail dirt. If there’s any at all. I don’t put them on the back of my truck in winter, so road salt is non issue.
Making up situations doesn’t make them real.
There’s NO other way to get a 5 person family to a trail.
Trailers? Then storing it? Parking it at a busy riding spot? Using my truck bed up for bikes, no other storage…….
Naw I’m good.

I’ve had no problems. It’s a great way to transport.
 
eDirt said:
For a pickup truck you have more options than than other vehicles.
Click to expand...

Without a pickup, I couldn't do all the fun stuff that I like. For 90% of my rides, I drive solo and just lay the bike down in the back of the truck. No muss, no fuss.
 
RustyIron said:
Without a pickup, I couldn't do all the fun stuff that I like. For 90% of my rides, I drive solo and just lay the bike down in the back of the truck. No muss, no fuss.
Click to expand...
Used to do that until my Mitsubishi pickup twice (yeah, twice 🤬) broke cam belts necessitating engine rebuilds, so sold it after the second rebuild and bought a car with a towbar which a Buzzrack fits on just fine. Not as convenient but does the job.
 
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RustyIron said:
It's a product that we throw on our faces and our bikes, so we'll look hardcore while strutting around the parking lot trying to impress the ladies with the big racks (on their lifted trucks).
Click to expand...
I was about to leave the house to go out on my bike and my wife said to me "With all your gear on, you look as though you know what you are doing." :eek:

She didn't mean it quite like it came out but it stopped me dead in my tracks.
 
1968 chevy c10 on a 1990 chevy 1500 frame thats getting a cammed 2007 lq4 6.0 ls/4l80e combo right now. Its lowered 4" up front with upper/lower tubular control arms and coils, the rear is notched with a belltech spring under kit.

1969 fj40 Land cruiser resto mod with a 5.3 ls, orion 4 to 1 tcase, 80 series rear axle/60 series front axle both aussie locked with 529 gears, radius arms and coils up front with outboarded 60 series ome rear leafs, full cage, built around 40" tires but on 37s now due to garage inadequacy lol.

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D
 
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