Roof rack vs hitch rack

[saab2000]

Originally Posted by Plum Hill

On a trip to Switzerland, I noticed all of the hitch racks had license plates and lights (tail and brake) mounted on them. When asked, I was told that was the law.
Surely some rack manufacturer in the US has thought of that.

Switzerland is much more fastidious about this type of thing than the US.

I got the taillights for my 1UP but not a license plate option. I’ve considered it but I’d have to get a third plate or fake one or whatever solution.

The light is very visible and I’m glad I got it for the sake of safety. I’ve seen another from the rear and can confirm it’s very visible and the turn signals are perfectly visible and functional.

[Ozz]

I made my own lights for my Thule (picture)...thought about the license plate too, but would need a third plate...not thrilled about removing and remounting every time I put the rack on or off.

Maybe for a long road trip out of state or something.....WSP doesn't seem to care as far as I can tell

[AngryScientist]

I didn’t read the rest of the thread.

Low euro cars get roof racks

Other things get bitch racks

[pdmtong]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

I didn’t read the rest of the thread.

Low euro cars get roof racks

Other things get bitch racks

interesting spell checker you have there AS

[Dude]

Interesting you say that, I have a VW Alltrack, the hitch rack makes it loooong (it’s still actually shorter than a F150). I’ll still most likely do the hitch for now and see what the future holds.

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

I didn’t read the rest of the thread.

Low euro cars get roof racks

Other things get bitch racks

[the bottle ride]

I have a hitch rack-
I get the appeal especially with mtb bikes, but I still feel safer with a roof rack. I get the mileage issue with a roof rack,and I worry about the height, but I feel safer- I worry about getting rear ended

[vtsnowplow]

1up hitch racks are the best, pricey, but pretty awesome.

[unterhausen]

I just got a 2" hitch for my prius. Double what it costs for every other vehicle.

I don't have a rack yet, probably going to get a kuat

[jimoots]

We have a hitch rack on one car and a roof rack on the other.

The hitch is on a tall 4wd (Landcruiser), while the roof rack is on a small/mid size SUV.

The hitch is kind of a neccessity for the bigger vehicle. You'd literally need a ladder to get up there and put a bike on, which is too much faff. The downside is that when combined with a spare tyre it makes an already long car very long. This is an obvious statement when a bike is on there, but even when it's folded up it still protrudes quite a bit from the rear (again, due to the spare wheel).

To enable access to the rear I use a Yakima swingarm. It ends up being very faff-y when you need to access the rear - swinging out the rack and then the spare tire for access.

On the smaller SUV, at 5'11, I am basically at my limit getting a bike on there. It worked much better on a hatchback that we used to have. The upside is that it doesn't make the car any longer in regular driving, and reverse camera and sensors all work as expected. The downside is wind resistance and the perennial fear of going through a drivethrough or something with a bike on the roof.

Of the two, both have their advantages and drawbacks. I lean toward a roof rack if you are able to easily reach, as they are kind of easier to live with when you don't have a bike on the roof (90% of the time for me). As in, on our small SUV I never think about the bike racks when a bike isn't on the car, whereas on the 4WD you always have to be aware of the extra foot or two of folded up bike rack attached to the rear of the car, plus the added faff to access the rear doors.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by jadmt

on my car there is no way that it will drag.

I guess the local gendarme don't care about not seeing the rear license plate?

[C40_guy]

It also depends on the bike. I don't have any issues putting a 20 lb road bike on top of my wife's SUV. Yea, I might use a step ladder or stand on the back seat. But I've been doing it a long time (long before SUVs), so it's easy.

Putting a 35 lb fat tire bike up there is another issue. It's not just the weight...the fat tire bike is maybe a foot longer and rather unwieldy. I put a hitch on my SUV before I went to pick up my Spesh from Hilltopperny, but decided that it would go inside rather than on a hitch rack.

Now I've got a utility trailer (SylvanSport Go Easy) that's designed to accept Thule racks (and all my existing bike, box and kayak accessories) at about 30" off the ground. Not sure I'd put road bikes on it...no reason why not...but the Spesh (and my wife's Spesh Hellga) will go on the trailer.

With the trailer I don't really see a need for a hitch rack. And the trailer is pretty versatile...

[Mr. Pink]

Originally Posted by jimoots

We have a hitch rack on one car and a roof rack on the other.

The hitch is on a tall 4wd (Landcruiser), while the roof rack is on a small/mid size SUV.

The hitch is kind of a neccessity for the bigger vehicle. You'd literally need a ladder to get up there and put a bike on, which is too much faff. The downside is that when combined with a spare tyre it makes an already long car very long. This is an obvious statement when a bike is on there, but even when it's folded up it still protrudes quite a bit from the rear (again, due to the spare wheel).

To enable access to the rear I use a Yakima swingarm. It ends up being very faff-y when you need to access the rear - swinging out the rack and then the spare tire for access.

On the smaller SUV, at 5'11, I am basically at my limit getting a bike on there. It worked much better on a hatchback that we used to have. The upside is that it doesn't make the car any longer in regular driving, and reverse camera and sensors all work as expected. The downside is wind resistance and the perennial fear of going through a drivethrough or something with a bike on the roof.

Of the two, both have their advantages and drawbacks. I lean toward a roof rack if you are able to easily reach, as they are kind of easier to live with when you don't have a bike on the roof (90% of the time for me). As in, on our small SUV I never think about the bike racks when a bike isn't on the car, whereas on the 4WD you always have to be aware of the extra foot or two of folded up bike rack attached to the rear of the car, plus the added faff to access the rear doors.

Cars, duh, are just getting bigger and bigger, and also taller and taller. I had a 2001 Forester, easily got my bike up on the roof. (I'm six foot). Next car was also a Forester, a 2010, and that roof was about five inches higher. Still not bad, but, considered buying the present model Forester, and that's ridiculous. Maybe 5-6 inches higher, still. I chose my present Honda HRV because it has one of the lowest rooflines in an SUV that will also fit a bike easily inside, but, this is maxed out for me. A bigger consideration is my ski box. I used to easily get in there to grab one of four pair, but now I need a ladder to do anything, and this ain't no Expedition I'm driving. The little Audi S A4 wagon in all wheel drive makes me salivate. You look down into your box.

[jadmt]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

I guess the local gendarme don't care about not seeing the rear license plate?

the plate is mostly visible from behind without waterbottles...knock on wood no issues so far. My daughter and her husband both have racks and always have bikes on and never have been stopped in either Idaho or Montana. I have only been using it locally so maybe if I were going to a place like Washington or California I might have a plate printed.

[tepextate]

This happened to my wife and me a few weekends ago while stopped at a red light. No damage, but definitely considered getting a roof rack after this...

https://imgur.com/a/VQIvBgU

[p nut]

Originally Posted by tepextate

This happened to my wife and me a few weekends ago while stopped at a red light. No damage, but definitely considered getting a roof rack after this...

https://imgur.com/a/VQIvBgU

Yikes. Glad there was no damage (and you kept the better bike closer to the car), but not sure a roof rack helps any here? The guy was clearly distracted looking down at something. He would’ve just slammed into your car instead of the rack.