Does anyone leave their bike rack attached all the time?

[wheelhorseman]

I just splurged at tax time and bought a hitch and a bike rack. Been wanting one a long time. Got a great deal (20.00) on this brand new in box Allen rack.

What do you think of leaving on the vehicle all the time especially now thru summer anyway? I was worried about strap deteroation. I have it attached with the anti rattle bolt so it does take tools to remove and not just pulling a pin. I personally want to leave it attached thru biking season.

Sent from my GT-P5113 using Tapatalk

 

[1oldbikelover]

I do! It would take some time to remove it each time then put it back on since I ride all year, weather permitting. I do have a lock on the hitch as a deterrent. I ended up spending a lot on both the hitch and rack.

My other deterrent is my foot up someone's a** if I catch 'em messing with my rig!

 

[user 135]

I would not be worried about theft as much as ease of getting in to the rear hatchback/trunk/tailgate of your vehicle. Everytime you need in you will have to fiddle with the bike rack.

 

[wheelhorseman]

It folds down to access the rear hatch lid plus the rack top folds flat when not in use for a clean look and you wont round the corner and walk into it.

Sent from my GT-P5113 using Tapatalk

 

[CrazyDave]

I do not, what tends to happen is the hardware rusts and looks like crap and moving components become hard to move in a short time. I am sure this could be overcome with some maintenance, but factoring in the chance of theft and damage, and the pain getting to the rear doors, I take it off. Mine wont lock in full upright position with my spare tire carrier on my daily driver now as well...... Just my 2 cents, your mileage will vary

 

[deorman]

Only the ones that hold my panniers.

 

[Bicycle808]

I used to, back when i drove a car. Pickup truck changed all that for me; i think my next move is gonna be a cargo van. I gave the bike rack away when i bought my Taco.

 

[wheelhorseman]

I see a lot of pickups with bike racks.Never have quite understood that.

Sent from my GT-P5113 using Tapatalk

 

[thebigorangecat]

I leave mine on all the time.....

 

[1oldbikelover]

I see a lot of pickups with bike racks.Never have quite understood that.

Sent from my GT-P5113 using Tapatalk

The bike racks inside the truck bed are nice......it's the ones I see mounted to the hitch with the whole truck bed empty confuse me!

 

[1oldbikelover]

I would not be worried about theft as much as ease of getting in to the rear hatchback/trunk/tailgate of your vehicle. Everytime you need in you will have to fiddle with the bike rack.

My rack has a handle to fold down arms flat and a handle to angle it away to open the back of my SUV

 

[Bicycle808]

I see a lot of pickups with bike racks.Never have quite understood that.

Sent from my GT-P5113 using Tapatalk

The move is to mount some front hub axles to a 2x4" and cram that 2x4" into the slots in the liner, right by the cab. Poor man's version of a bed-mount rack.

 

[aceuh]

The bike racks inside the truck bed are nice......it's the ones I see mounted to the hitch with the whole truck bed empty confuse me!

I drive a 1972 model pickup and use a rack that fits in the receiver hitch. I wanted a rack that I could lock to the truck as well as lock the bikes to the rack. I could not find anything to haul inside the bed to do these things. Also, most of what I ride/haul are cruisers... Electra, Felt, Dyno. I can't just toss them in the back of the truck and expect to keep them looking nice.

 

[aceuh]

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/...6-02d1-4c4a-a708-5a36115dcc7d_zps2d096f43.jpg

 

[Gizmo]

If it isn't in your way - go for it. One suggestion though, if it mounts into a receiver hitch on the vehicle, liberally GREASE the part that slides into the hitch. They can be a real pain to remove if they rust in.

 

[G-Matt]

Better get a locking pin


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jd56]

I leave mine on always. As soon I take ut off I'll find a bike in my travels. I carry a conversion top bar too for the hard to fit ladies bikes.
I keep my homemade pvc rack in my pickup all the time too.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

 

[1oldbikelover]

I drive a 1972 model pickup and use a rack that fits in the receiver hitch. I wanted a rack that I could lock to the truck as well as lock the bikes to the rack. I could not find anything to haul inside the bed to do these things. Also, most of what I ride/haul are cruisers... Electra, Felt, Dyno. I can't just toss them in the back of the truck and expect to keep them looking nice.

I wouldn't even pile my mtn bikes in the back of a pick up either even with their bumps and scratches.....I would put them in the back in a stand up rack system, either temporarily or semi fixed!
Bicycle808 in post #12 has a great, inexpensive solution.

 

[1oldbikelover]

The move is to mount some front hub axles to a 2x4" and cram that 2x4" into the slots in the liner, right by the cab. Poor man's version of a bed-mount rack.

I've seen that one before and it works. It's very portable and you can remove the board and fork mount(s) easily

 

[aceuh]

I wouldn't even pile my mtn bikes in the back of a pick up either even with their bumps and scratches.....I would put them in the back in a stand up rack system, either temporarily or semi fixed!
Bicycle808 in post #12 has a great, inexpensive solution.

I've got a rack I built to use when I was still mountain biking that fit in the back of a pickup. But most cruisers don't have a quick release front hub, so that's out. I do have 2 different racks that I can use in the back of the truck that holds bikes upright, but neither locks to the truck nor do the bikes lock to the rack.