How To Mount A Bike On Roof Rack

The first thing you need to do is to find a bike rack that is compatible with your car. The type of bike rack will depend on the type of vehicle that you have. For example, if you have a sedan or hatchback car, then you will need a trunk-mounted bike rack. If you have a SUV, then your best option would be a hitch-mounted bike rack.

The next step is to find out how the car door opens and how high it opens so that the bikes won’t hit it when they are being loaded onto the roof rack. Once this has been done, all that remains is for you to attach the bikes and load them onto the roof rack.

Can you put a bike backwards on a roof rack?

Yes, the bike mounts can face either direction. It is common when carrying multiple bikes that you will need to alternate the directions to fit them on the racks. Another reason for mounting the bikes backwards is to avoid contact with a rear hatch, this is common on smaller sports wagons.^[1]

Is it OK to hang a bike by the rims?

Hanging a bike up by its wheel is no problem at all. The wheel is designed to take loads far in excess of the weight of the bike. The only potential problem will be if the bike is held upright by the tyre and the tyre goes flat!^[2]

Can you fit a bike in a roof box?

Roof bars are not only limited to fitting bike carriers since you can also fit a Roof Box, Ski Carriers, Water Sports Carrier or a Roof Basket.^[3]

Can you damage a bike by hanging it?

Concerned cyclists have pondered this question since the rise of bike theft and the decline of secure storage space for bikes. In short, the answer is no. Hanging your bike by its wheel will not damage it. At least, it won’t hinder your bicycle’s performance, with a few minor exceptions.^[4]

Is it OK to hang bikes upside down?

Shimano even recommends against turning the bicycle upside down. In a manual for its hydraulic disc brakes it says: “The disc brake is not designed to work when the bicycle is upside down. If the bicycle is turned upside down or on its side, the brake may not work correctly, and a serious accident could occur.^[5]

Is it OK to store bike vertically?

Storage Space Each has different applications, but in general, racks that let you store your bike vertically, wheels perpendicular to the wall, ideally positioned in a corner, take up the least space. Other wall mounts let you store the bike on the wall, so that the wheels run parallel with the wall.^[6]

Can you strap things to the roof of your car?

Although it’s not illegal to strap things to the roof of your car, it is illegal in all 50 states to travel with an unsecured load.^[7]

How should a load be carried on a roof rack?

Any load must be securely fastened to the vehicle. The safest way to carry items on the roof is in a specially designed roof box. This will help to keep your luggage secure and dry, and it also has less wind resistance than loads carried exposed on a roof rack.^[8]

Where should Thule roof bars be placed?

If no special fitting positions are given in the assembly instructions, the bars should be placed between 24 and 36 inches apart, measured from the same position of each crossbar. This distance provides the most support for roof-mounted Thule products.^[9]

How many bikes fit on a Thule roof rack?

Bring up to 8 bikes in your pickup truck. Thule truck bed bike racks are a secure way to transport your bikes and protect both the bikes and the truck from any damage. The ultimate way to transport bikes for the whole crew!^[10]

How many bikes can a Thule roof rack hold?

How many bikes can you fit on a Roof Rack? With a Thule roof rack you can usually only fit 1 bike. However with a rear mounted carrier you can carry up to 4.^[11]

Are roof boxes covered by insurance?

Unfortunately, many, if not most, insurers would consider a roof box and/or roof rack, a vehicle modification that they would need to be notified about. Failure to inform them of this addition could lead to you not being covered for damage or loss to the roof box or its contents.^[12]