*grin* What kind did you end up with? I am going with a Yakima rail system tomorrow... and will add bike pieces once I have the new mountain bike that will use the rack the most (my tri one likes being in my car).
The problem I have is that for adventure racing I want to be able to carry 2 bikes (25-30lbs each) and a kayak (70lbs) and my car's max is 125lbs. So I guess without front tires on the bikes I'd be fine... but close. So I was contemplating the spare tire style rack... we'll see.
Yakima roof rack- my friends at ESRI all chipped in and got it for me so I didn't get to pick it out but that was the one I would have bought anyway. It was pretty easy to set up. I'm all about the roof rack- they got me the copperhead mount so I have to take the front wheel off.
cool... If I get roof bike pieces, I have to get I think the Viper (so taht it will work with disc breaks). It's also kinda tricky just cause my car is taller than me. But good to know that you like it :-)
Yeah, it'll be harder to load the bikes on your roof than on mine. But you'd have to put the kayak up there anyway, wouldn't you? You could always get a roof rack and a trunk rack... :)
yeah, but a kayak is gonna take effort to carry no matter how I do it.
I was thinking of the spare tire kind of rack, cause since my back door opens on hinges like a regular door, I'd still be able to access things in the back while it was on. Or a hitch rack that swings out of the way. Or some other "attach to back door and still have access" type of rack.
The spare tire kind of racks are cheaper, but I don't think you can get a kayak on them, can you? So you'd need a roof rack anyway, right? With a spare tire rack, you could get one for four bikes, and if money is not an issue you could get a roof rack as well for the kayak...
I think given your car a spare tire rack would probably be a lot easier to deal with, and you'd probably be carting bikes around more often than kayaks, right?
I'm definitely getting roof rails for kayaks and other large objects (surfboards, etc). Tomorrow, in fact. However I might not get any bike pieces for it... that's the part I'm debating. And a spare tire thing can hold 2 bikes it looks like, and is the same cost as each piece for bikes for on the roof rack. I'm just gonna wait and see :)
Have you checked your maximum overall vehicle load capability? It should be on your door frame. You might start pushing it's limits for safe highway driving. I was amazed when I found out that a F150 can't even safely hold a full load of firewood, you have to get at least an F250.
125 lbs. That's why the issue... at least REI says that's my limit for the roof rack. kayak = ~70, mountain bikes = 25-30lbs each... so maybe a kayak and 2 lighter bikes... but that's part of why looking for other non-roof bike options.
Which makes me wonder if there is a total limit... cause what about all the junk inside? huh...
haha... true, I can tow I think 1500 lbs (I'd have to check) but that seems excessive for just a bike... I'm curious if there is a limit to total carrying capacity. Seems like it's pretty damn high if so. I'm guessing the 125 is just because more weight on top could damage the top of the car.
you can carry 850# safely. That includes passenger weight and cargo.
Ocean Kayak for 2: 60# Bike: 20#
That's only 10% of your capacity. I won't guess your weight or the weight of the rack. So you can plug that in yourself. Where I have seen problems in the past is when people load the car with 4 racers, 1 kayak, 4 bikes, plus luggage and then they're stunned when the car acts weird.
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What kind did you end up with? I am going with a Yakima rail system tomorrow... and will add bike pieces once I have the new mountain bike that will use the rack the most (my tri one likes being in my car).
The problem I have is that for adventure racing I want to be able to carry 2 bikes (25-30lbs each) and a kayak (70lbs) and my car's max is 125lbs. So I guess without front tires on the bikes I'd be fine... but close. So I was contemplating the spare tire style rack... we'll see.
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I was thinking of the spare tire kind of rack, cause since my back door opens on hinges like a regular door, I'd still be able to access things in the back while it was on. Or a hitch rack that swings out of the way. Or some other "attach to back door and still have access" type of rack.
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I think given your car a spare tire rack would probably be a lot easier to deal with, and you'd probably be carting bikes around more often than kayaks, right?
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That's why the issue...
at least REI says that's my limit for the roof rack. kayak = ~70, mountain bikes = 25-30lbs each... so maybe a kayak and 2 lighter bikes... but that's part of why looking for other non-roof bike options.
Which makes me wonder if there is a total limit... cause what about all the junk inside? huh...
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http://www.autoweb.com/content/research/vir/index.cfm/vehicle_number_int/1016217/Action/StandardFeatures
you can carry 850# safely. That includes passenger weight and cargo.
Ocean Kayak for 2: 60#
Bike: 20#
That's only 10% of your capacity. I won't guess your weight or the weight of the rack. So you can plug that in yourself. Where I have seen problems in the past is when people load the car with 4 racers, 1 kayak, 4 bikes, plus luggage and then they're stunned when the car acts weird.
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