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Date: 29 Apr 2007 20:46:24
From: Warren
Subject: Advice on car rack
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Hey all... I would like to transport my bike on the back of my SUV by using the trailer hitch, but am not sure what is the best way to go about this. I've seen the Thule models that hang the bike from the crossmember and I've seen the Swagman rack where the wheels are supported and the crossmember has a clamp on it. Is there really a difference which you use? What about the heat from the exhaust system? Thanks for helping.
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Date: 01 May 2007 17:02:09
From: SMS
Subject: Re: Advice on car rack
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Warren wrote: > Hey all... > > I would like to transport my bike on the back of my SUV by using the trailer > hitch, but am not sure what is the best way to go about this. > > I've seen the Thule models that hang the bike from the crossmember and I've > seen the Swagman rack where the wheels are supported and the crossmember has > a clamp on it. > > Is there really a difference which you use? > What about the heat from the exhaust system? > > Thanks for helping. I've seen some people driving down the road with the bikes hanging way too low on hitch racks. A small dip in the road, and some wheels are history. I've also seen a tire melted by exhaust. However these issues are "operator error." I have a Thule hitch rack with the two supports, and have hung a wide variety of frame styles from the rack. Sometimes it's hard to get multiple bikes arranged just right. As someone else said, don't get a rack that clamps the tubing. The Thule uses rubber straps to hold the tubing into rubber cradles. The ones where the wheels sit in trays are also fine Don't leave the rack on the vehicle when you're driving without a bike on it. A slight hit from another vehicle in the rear will do significant damage, because the bumper isn't absorbing the impact, it's going up through the hitch into either the frame or the unibody. I had this happen to me on my old Honda CR-V. It was a very long and expensive repair, including a new floor.
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Date: 01 May 2007 10:36:36
From: gds
Subject: Re: Advice on car rack
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On Apr 29, 1:46 pm, "Warren" <w...@verizon.net > wrote: > Hey all... > > I would like to transport my bike on the back of my SUV by using the trailer > hitch, but am not sure what is the best way to go about this. > > I've seen the Thule models that hang the bike from the crossmember and I've > seen the Swagman rack where the wheels are supported and the crossmember has > a clamp on it. > > Is there really a difference which you use? > What about the heat from the exhaust system? > > Thanks for helping. I have a hitch mounted rack originally made by Sportsworks which was acquired by Thule a while back. It folds up easily, holds 2 bikes via a tray, a device that clamps over the the front wheel, and another that secures the rear wheel. Total time to load or unload a bike is approx. 15 seconds. I've had the rack for 4 years and have had no problems at all. I 've used it locally and on long road trips.] I give it very high marks.
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Date: 01 May 2007 11:31:57
From: Werehatrack
Subject: Re: Advice on car rack
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On Sun, 29 Apr 2007 20:46:24 GMT, "Warren" <wmd63@verizon.net > may have said: >Hey all... > >I would like to transport my bike on the back of my SUV by using the trailer >hitch, but am not sure what is the best way to go about this. > >I've seen the Thule models that hang the bike from the crossmember and I've >seen the Swagman rack where the wheels are supported and the crossmember has >a clamp on it. > >Is there really a difference which you use? The Swagman is easier to use with bikes that are hard to mount on the Thule, such as drop-frame, full-suspension, Y-frame, and bikes that have a lot of stuff under the top bar. They both do the same fundamental job. Some find the Swagman easier to deal with because it may require less height of lift of the bike to get it aboard. >What about the heat from the exhaust system? Exhaust heat is not a problem unless the tailpipe is pointed directly at some part of the bike from a distance of less than 50cm. Dilution of the exhaust stream will make the heat irrelevant at any greater distance or at any significant deflection from directly opposite the outlet of the pipe. If your engine is producing enough soot to discolor the bike on the rack, ride the bike while you have the car repaired. -- My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature. Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.
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Date: 01 May 2007 23:04:34
From: Warren
Subject: Re: Advice on car rack
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ROFL at your comment about riding the bike while I get the car repaired. Thanks for the info "Werehatrack" <rault00@earthWEEDSlink.net > wrote in message news:7tte339bifjcncn3plprt4vc6d2dg4dv98@4ax.com... > On Sun, 29 Apr 2007 20:46:24 GMT, "Warren" <wmd63@verizon.net> may > have said: > >>Hey all... >> >>I would like to transport my bike on the back of my SUV by using the >>trailer >>hitch, but am not sure what is the best way to go about this. >> >>I've seen the Thule models that hang the bike from the crossmember and >>I've >>seen the Swagman rack where the wheels are supported and the crossmember >>has >>a clamp on it. >> >>Is there really a difference which you use? > > The Swagman is easier to use with bikes that are hard to mount on the > Thule, such as drop-frame, full-suspension, Y-frame, and bikes that > have a lot of stuff under the top bar. They both do the same > fundamental job. Some find the Swagman easier to deal with because it > may require less height of lift of the bike to get it aboard. > >>What about the heat from the exhaust system? > > Exhaust heat is not a problem unless the tailpipe is pointed directly > at some part of the bike from a distance of less than 50cm. Dilution > of the exhaust stream will make the heat irrelevant at any greater > distance or at any significant deflection from directly opposite the > outlet of the pipe. If your engine is producing enough soot to > discolor the bike on the rack, ride the bike while you have the car > repaired. > > -- > My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. > Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature. > Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.
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Date: 30 Apr 2007 01:37:43
From: sally
Subject: Re: Advice on car rack
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"Warren" <wmd63@verizon.net > wrote in news:Au7Zh.22882$Cx1.6892@trnddc01: > I've seen the Thule models that hang the bike from the crossmember and > I've seen the Swagman rack where the wheels are supported and the > crossmember has a clamp on it. > > Is there really a difference which you use? > What about the heat from the exhaust system? If you have a lightweight racing bike, you should avoid the racks that squeeze your top tube. All the major brands make flatbed-style hitch racks where the bikes are primarily supported by their tires and/or fork. If the bikes are above bumper level, they should be pretty safe from your exhaust.
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Date: 01 May 2007 23:02:52
From: Warren
Subject: Re: Advice on car rack
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Thanks for your help "sally" <sally@sally.com > wrote in message news:Xns9921BD82B71B4s321@192.160.13.20... > "Warren" <wmd63@verizon.net> wrote in news:Au7Zh.22882$Cx1.6892@trnddc01: >> I've seen the Thule models that hang the bike from the crossmember and >> I've seen the Swagman rack where the wheels are supported and the >> crossmember has a clamp on it. >> >> Is there really a difference which you use? >> What about the heat from the exhaust system? > > If you have a lightweight racing bike, you should avoid the racks that > squeeze your top tube. All the major brands make flatbed-style hitch > racks > where the bikes are primarily supported by their tires and/or fork. If > the > bikes are above bumper level, they should be pretty safe from your > exhaust.
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Date: 30 Apr 2007 03:16:33
From: Leo Lichtman
Subject: Re: Advice on car rack
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"sally" wrote: (clip) If the bikes are above bumper level, they should be pretty safe from your exhaust. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Exhaust should not be a problem unless you put a tire right in the exhaust stream. When you are idling, there ain't much exhaust, and when you're moving, there is lots of air flow to overwhelm it.
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Date: 01 May 2007 23:03:08
From: Warren
Subject: Re: Advice on car rack
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Thanks "Leo Lichtman" <l.lichtman@worldnet.att.net > wrote in message news:lcdZh.89647$VU4.46252@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net... > > "sally" wrote: (clip) If the bikes are above bumper level, they should > be pretty safe from your exhaust. > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > Exhaust should not be a problem unless you put a tire right in the exhaust > stream. When you are idling, there ain't much exhaust, and when you're > moving, there is lots of air flow to overwhelm it. >
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