Roof Racks - Help Me Out!

[raygunner]

Living in Chicago my whole life I never really had a car. So I figured with my first car I'd start with some style. My dad found a great deal on a 1993 Buick Riviera. It's one smooth ride, suspension package, Corinthian leather seats & sun roof. It came with like 40k miles and honestly, it's fun to drive & I get a lot of compliments.

Just like this: http://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/buick/riviera/1992/oem/1992_buick_riviera_coupe_base_fq_oem_2_500.jpg

The one thing that sucks is trying to squeeze a bike in the back seat. I've done it too many times now so I'd like invest in a roof rack. I know it's going to ruin the whole smooth Buick aesthetic but it has to be done.

My questions regarding a roof rack are the following:

1) What brand/model is recommend for a roof rack?
2) How much should I pay?
3) Can I get something used?
4) Are they easy to install?

Sorry for the noob questions but I figured I'd ask some experts & get the best info. Thanks!!!

[Bradford]

Can you get a trailer hitch on that beauty?

[Mr. Pink]

Seriously, just go on the Thule web site and plug in your model and year into the rack finder and see what comes up. If you crash it with that thing, do the old 800 number thing.

I hate trailer hitch racks. Screws up the handling.

[p nut]

I hate trailer hitch racks. Screws up the handling.

We wouldn't want to screw up the handling of a 93 Buick. That would be horrible......

I second the hitch rack idea. I've got both. Hitch is safer and more convenient. Plus, MPG doesn't take as big of a hit, and speaking of hits, it's garage door/underground parking proof.

[FlashUNC]

Hitch rack is the way to go on that land yacht.

[azrider]

two words.......suction cups

hang your bike off the passenger side window and gawk at your shinny new Campy bits while your driving.

[raygunner]

Seriously, just go on the Thule web site and plug in your model and year into the rack finder and see what comes up. If you crash it with that thing, do the old 800 number thing.

I hate trailer hitch racks. Screws up the handling.

The 1993 dial-up modem that came with the car did indeed crash but I'll give them a ring. Thanks for the heads up!

[christian]

We wouldn't want to screw up the handling of a 93 Buick. That would be horrible...... LOL. I really had a good laugh at that one.

[Louis]

I'd go with either in the trunk or a hitch rack.

PS I'd never, ever put a roof rack on a car that was worth more than $250

[Ken Robb]

Take a look at racks that mount on the trunk like a Hollywood, Saris Bones, or similar. They go on/off in seconds once the straps have been adjusted the first time, create less turbulance/noise and never let you break your bike driving under a low overhang like a garage door.:)

[gavingould]

i'd probably go with hitch or trunk too, honestly. i have a roof rack because it fits/suits the wagon. plus you can fairly rapidly remove either of those when you want to show of the fluid lines of that Buick body.

i drove a Riviera as my first car too, but i was 16, and it was a '79. its prior life was as our family car from the early 80s onward until both of my older brothers drove it for a year or two as their first car. by the time it was passed down to me, it had accrued nearly 200k miles and quite a bit of rust. it soldiered on under my care (or lack thereof) maybe two years until about '96 and then my father sold it. he claimed he still saw it being driven around town for 3-4 more years after that, it was recognizable pretty easy as my old man had custom painted it with a two-tone scheme.

imagine this but with a middle grey upper and a deep navy blue lower. might have been the reverse of that, now that i think about it. grey velour interior.
http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/Buick/79-Buick-Riviera-DV-09_PVGP-001.jpg

[christian]

You will want one of these (a 1.125 hitch for a 1993 Buick Riviera) which can be installed at any UHaul:

http://www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplies/Trailer-Hitches/1993-Buick-Riviera-2DR-FWD?vehicleId=1257&ship

Then you will want either of these:

http://www.thule.com/en-us/us/products/carriers-and-racks/bike-carriers/hitch-mounted-bike-carriers/thule-t2-2-bike-917xtr-_-917xtr

http://www.1upusa.com/product-quikracksilver.html

[raygunner]

I'd love to fully avoid any rear mounting racks. Big fear is being rear ended with the bike secured. Too many awful / unlicensed drivers in my neck of the woods. Plus with the bike being worth many times over the Kelly Blue Book value of the Riv it's something I want to fully avoid.

Plus I just spoke with a nice chap at a shop that is Thule dealer & talked about a roof rack. So I'm glad to get the ball rolling.

Thanks to all!

[eddief]

getting rear ended by someone else or you running the roof rack into something lower than your bike on top. i think the bet is even or better in favor of your bike being safer on the back = Saris Bones = wham bam thank you mam.

when i travel i often do it with a biking buddy. my bike goes inside and her bike goes on top. incredible how often we both forget her's is up there. out of sight, out of mind, crash.

[carpediemracing]

If you want to think outside the box get some clips so that you can put feet on the trunk then get some short roof rail bike mounts. You'll be low enough to clear some parking garages, have semi-access to the trunk (put a dowel in the trunk to hold the trunk up if you need to access stuff in it with or without bikes).

I used to have a set up like this. You can also put a bar on the trunk, another on the roof, and get a similar set up. Easier on the back, the second set up.

[Cat3roadracer]

I always liked that model of the Riviera. Many happy miles ahead!

[Louis]

And when the OP's Riviera dies he can upgrade to this:

(I think it deserves the extra-large image.)

http://www.roadsmile.com/images/cadillac-eldorado_key_13.jpg

[KF9YR]

You can buy the Thule bars and get the 1upusa roof tray. I have two of them on my vehicle. They are made just north of you in Platteville, Wi.

I like the folded profile better than the the Sidearms I used to have. Also the car wash guys don't make me pay extra for the hand wash as I did with the sidearm racks. I went with the black anodized ones.

[Black Dog]

This seems like a perfect situation for the vacuum cup roof racks (https://www.seasucker.com/product-category/bike-racks/).

[ofcounsel]

........ incredible how often we both forget her's is up there. out of sight, out of mind, crash.

Yeah, I can attest to that....

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s81/ofcounsel/photo-13_zps61f8eb4b.jpg (http://s150.photobucket.com/user/ofcounsel/media/photo-13_zps61f8eb4b.jpg.html)

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s81/ofcounsel/photo-12_zpsde39c025.jpg (http://s150.photobucket.com/user/ofcounsel/media/photo-12_zpsde39c025.jpg.html)


Once I got it back from the shop, I went with the 1up rack.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s81/ofcounsel/photo-5-1_zpse3d34ce7.jpg (http://s150.photobucket.com/user/ofcounsel/media/photo-5-1_zpse3d34ce7.jpg.html)

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s81/ofcounsel/photo-4-1_zps1b6a7e34.jpg (http://s150.photobucket.com/user/ofcounsel/media/photo-4-1_zps1b6a7e34.jpg.html)

[bikinchris]

I had a guy drive his chainrings through the roof of his car with a roof rack at a drive through. Another guy drove his car into his garage with his bike on the roof TWICE. All methods of carrying a bike have both advantages and disadvantages.

[Louis]

All methods of carrying a bike have both advantages and disadvantages.

True, but I bet that per times used, roof racks are most likely to result in disaster.

[abalone]

In some states, you have to have the rear license plate visible. So any rear rack and bike that blocks the rear license plate is illegal.

[raygunner]

Hmmm...maybe I'll just keep squeezing the bike in the back seat of the Riv.

I just don't want to tear up the Corinthian leather!

[Louis]

Have you tried to put it in the trunk?

My old Trek 410 fit in the trunk of my '70 Impala without even taking the front wheel off.

Of course that trunk was only about 10 ft deep...

Nearly identical to mine, except that I still had the chrome trim around the wheel wells.

http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public/photogallery2/1970-chevy-impala/1970-chevy-impala-2dr-psr.jpg

[carpediemracing]

I'd go with either in the trunk or a hitch rack.

PS I'd never, ever put a roof rack on a car that was worth more than $250

Somewhere I have a picture of my $1 car with a $400? rack and a $1200? bike (bike and rack prices wholesale). It was set up with a bar on the trunk and 3 on the roof, the car I was thinking of when I posted the "outside the box" solution. Can't find the picture though.

Back in the day I semi-joked that you could tell a serious rider if the bike > rack > car.

[Gummee]

I was contemplating a hitch vs roof setup on the Focus. Ended up spending a little $ to get a short roof adapter and some Q clips instead of spending BIG $ on a hitch and a Kuat.

Plain roof rack eats about 2-4mpg. Bikes on top eats another couple.

...but since I only haul more than one bike during CX season, I took the rack back off last week. Back up to mid-30s mpgs!

M

[Mr. Pink]

True, but I bet that per times used, roof racks are most likely to result in disaster.

Jeez, are all of you guys stoned all the time? Uh, dude, where's my bike? Bam!

Hey, I've been known to indulge, but, never did that.


Carrying a bike off the back of the car screws up the handling big time. Hanging 40 to 60 pounds that far away from the center of gravity is just awful. Doesn't matter if it's an old car like this or a nice shiny Bimmer. A roof rack will cure that problem.

[christian]

Carrying a bike off the back of the car screws up the handling big time. Hanging 40 to 60 pounds that far away from the center of gravity is just awful. Doesn't matter if it's an old car like this or a nice shiny Bimmer. A roof rack will cure that problem.

Do you drive a MkI MR2? I'm all for low polar moment of inertia at the track, but really, for most driving, this is an absolute non-issue. BTW, I guess you hate 911s. :)

[Mr. Pink]

Do you drive a MkI MR2? I'm all for low polar moment of inertia at the track, but really, for most driving, this is an absolute non-issue. BTW, I guess you hate 911s. :)

Never drove one, but I have read many a critique of the 911 claiming that it just loves to do nasty things at the wrong times to rookies if pushed too hard. I guess because of that issue.

I didn't find a rear rack with two bikes to be a non issue when I put it on the back of my Outback years ago. It felt like I added ten feet to the back of the car. Never again.

[christian]

Never drove one, but I have read many a critique of the 911 claiming that it just loves to do nasty things at the wrong times to rookies if pushed too hard. I guess because of that issue.

Yup. Go in too fast, get scared, lift off the throttle, rear end un-weights and BAMBI ON ICE! Very fun to watch. Less fun to experience. Can swap ends pretty quickly.

[bikinchris]

When I used a roof rack, the garage remote went in the glove box. Some people hang a reminder from the inside rear view mirror.

And yes, I DO want a roof rack for my Transit Connect so I can carry bikes and boxes on the roof. Neither Yakima nor Thule make an adapter. First one to make one gets my business.

[wildboar]

The one thing that sucks is trying to squeeze a bike in the back seat. I've done it too many times now so I'd like invest in a roof rack. I know it's going to ruin the whole smooth Buick aesthetic but it has to be done.



1970 Buick Skylark.

http://pics.imcdb.org/0is206/skylark3nn3.3341.jpg

http://pics.imcdb.org/0is387/skylark2vx7.7996.jpg

[raygunner]

When I used a roof rack, the garage remote went in the glove box. Some people hang a reminder from the inside rear view mirror.

And yes, I DO want a roof rack for my Transit Connect so I can carry bikes and boxes on the roof. Neither Yakima nor Thule make an adapter. First one to make one gets my business.

Buying a Transit Connect has crossed my mind. I think it'd be a super cool option for hauling everything including doubling as a camper.

But w/ the Connect, are you able fit the bikes in the back?

[bikinchris]

Buying a Transit Connect has crossed my mind. I think it'd be a super cool option for hauling everything including doubling as a camper.

But w/ the Connect, are you able fit the bikes in the back?

Yes, normally you can fit several bikes in the back either in a van or wagon with seat folded down. Probably as many as 6 inside if you stagger them with glider boards. My Transit Connect is full of racks and tool boxes. Here is the outside, with inside images to follow:



I can fit one bike inside between the tool boxes on the right and shelving on the left for parts etc.

The factory roof rack is not an option on the van. As of now, if I want a roof rack, I would have to add a factory rack from the wagon version for about $1,000 and THEN buy rail riders from either Yakima or Thule. Not gonna happen. Eventually, a van sold world wide will entice either of them to make the simple adapter to allow a good rack.
I am thinking of buying a square rail ladder rack and putting Thule bike carriers on that.

[lucasfarr92]

The seasucker suction cup racks are a good option for cars without possible SUV like roof racks

[oldpotatoe]

When I used a roof rack, the garage remote went in the glove box. Some people hang a reminder from the inside rear view mirror.

And yes, I DO want a roof rack for my Transit Connect so I can carry bikes and boxes on the roof. Neither Yakima nor Thule make an adapter. First one to make one gets my business.

I've heard there's an AP for that. Turn it on and cell phone makes a racket w/I a certain distance of your home. To remind you to not drive into garage. Most of the ones we saw were when door already open, scenarios.

[velomonkey]

I've had a roof rack since 1992 and I have never, ever even remotely driven towards my garage.

I don't use any tips or tricks, I just park outside my garage and remove the bike. I did hear one tip I thought was smart: move a chair in your spot for a reminder.

I know one guy who drive in twice inside of a month, only hurt his post (well, maybe his frame, too - but I guess he'll never know till it's too late). I can also attest this guy is a first class fool - spastic, can't hold a straight line, kinda dumb. No surprise he keeps doing it.

[steelbikerider]

Get a roof rack and you can keep using it with your next car. I've had the same Yakima rack since 1986. It's been used on 4 different cars with 3 different roof tower styles and have yet to have issues. Maybe it's because my dad taught me that garages are for storing all your toys and cars go outside.

[carpediemracing]

Somewhere I have a picture of my $1 car with a $400? rack and a $1200? bike (bike and rack prices wholesale). It was set up with a bar on the trunk and 3 on the roof, the car I was thinking of when I posted the "outside the box" solution. Can't find the picture though.

Back in the day I semi-joked that you could tell a serious rider if the bike > rack > car.

Quoting myself.

Made it into the Stamford Town Center parking garage, which has a 6' and change ceiling height, with the bike on the rack as pictured.

The rack was $500 and change, not $400, wholesale. Bike was $1250 wholesale, sort of (I bought it over time so exact cost is variable depending on wheels, exact parts, etc). My then-gf gave me the car in exchange for helping make some payments on her new car, helping pay for repairs on the Fairmont, teaching her how to drive, etc, but on the registration form we put $1 as the purchase price. This is back before they charged sales tax on the book value, regardless of what you paid for the car (unless a direct relative gifted you the car), so I paid 6 or 7 cents in sales tax.

Property tax one year was $2.37 or something like that. The highest I paid, in the same town, was $850, in 2003-2004, for one car.

If I recall correctly it's a Q15 clip on the trunk. It is whatever worked with the easy 90s DSM Eclipse/Lazer/... I forget the third model. The rear bar was supposed to sit on the trunk lid and was held on by a clip that held the edge of the trunk lid. Worked for things like Crown Vics, etc, anything with a flat edge trunk lip to the sides. I suppose if the trunk was wide enough you could mount the rails sideways but the lid may not open.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/1375745_10152973915878824_1891195146188555541_n.jp g?oh=e4852710a6550c8d355cd2742f4cdb91&oe=55363C87&__gda__=1426807486_ae4b3e3a7eaa4b178f9c04aeac81f30 f