Will this work on our cars?!?!?!?!?!?! Options

[tomazws]

I need to go camping soon and I don't want to rent a car if I don't have to.. Anyway, how would you put a bicycle in your car?!?!?!

Will this work?
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3918

[easternpiro1]

i dont know... it looks like its only for trunks BUT there HAS be a way to accomodate for hatches... if not... put the seats down and throw them sumbitches in da back!

[uberschall]

that's not going to work...the upper support would have to go on top of the spoiler (which is NOT good).

i happen to work at a bike shop, so i can say with conviction that there aren't many options for the celica.

if you go to thule's website, you can check out the two best strap on racks. i wouldn't use a cheap one...trust me on that. it's ruin the paint on your car and your bike, and they don't hold the bike very safely/adequately anyway.

a couple notes:

the bottom part of the rack will have to go in the bottom of the license frame NOT on the bumper (it's not strong enough).

you CANNOT use the wiper while it's installed (that's pretty obvious, tho).

the top clips go at the top of the hatch, the bottom clips go on the tow loops below the bumper.

test fit the rack before you buy one. if you go to your local bike shop, they should have a couple racks you can try. don't buy it if it hits your spoiler or isn't stable. the more expensive thule has a bent upper support that *might* clear the spoiler, but i've never tried it on a 3-post. if i were you, i'd be VERY sure it was perfect before i bought it, much less drove some distance with a bike on it.

hope that helps some.

if you have any other questions, feel free to pm me.

-alex

[tomazws]

Wow, thanks for your response. I'll take my time with this bike holder thingy..

The only thing preventing me to put my seat down and shove the bike in there is the rear strut bar blockiing the way :\

[Sammyr]

Be well carefull when choosing and installing the strap on carriers, a friend of mine had one on his car and it managed to tear (yes tear) the hinges for the boot.

I have always just put the bikes in the boot, can get two bikes and a assortment of gear in at a stretch ( one bike has a 20mm bolt thru axel meaning it is difficult to take the front wheel off)

This post has been edited by Sammyr: Apr 12, 2007 - 9:08 PM

[j0e_p3t]

Wow, thanks for your response. I'll take my time with this bike holder thingy..

The only thing preventing me to put my seat down and shove the bike in there is the rear strut bar blockiing the way :\

let me hang on to your strut bar while you go camping.

[Negative]

Don't they make top mounted racks for bikes?

[manphibian]

You could use that type if you take the spoiler off.

Real easy to do. Just don't forget to tape the holes up

[tomazws]

Don't they make top mounted racks for bikes?

oh yea huh.. I should take a look in that too

[Culpable04]

Don't they make top mounted racks for bikes?

oh yea huh.. I should take a look in that too

there are top mounted racks for the celica. that's the good news

the bad news is that they have them in Europe and I think it was a dealer option not available anymore.

This post has been edited by Culpable04: Apr 13, 2007 - 11:54 AM

[RocketScott]

I bought my car used and it has a reciever hitch installed (One of the previous owners pulled a U-haul cross country). It's pretty small and bolts to the frame in the back. I'm not sure if you can just buy one and bolt it on yourself or if this was a custom thing.

If it wasn't too expensive to get the hitch put on you could get a receiver mounted carrier from Thule or Yakima. The bikes would be in the back like the other carrier but you could still open your hatch. You also wouldn't have a big roof rack and it goes on and off fast.

Just a thought.

[malpaso]

I would prefer something genuine for that... It's more expensive, but it's work for sure...

[pepsiman]

So what are our options to carry a bike? I think a bike will fit in the back of a hatchback but does anyone know this? I dont like the idea of the type shown above from walmart i actaully looked at one today but it wont work anyway. Does a tow hitch bolt on and does one fit our cars? To me that would be the best option besides just using a truck. I was thinking i didnt want the tow hitch perminatly attached but if it bolted on and off that would be great.

[azian_advanced]

my bike fits in the back with both seats folded down..
otherwise, i'd say bring a small set of necessary tools to disassemble the bike as much as you can (wheels, seats, etc.) and just stuff it behind the front seats if that's possible.

my sister uses a bike rack for her celi similar to that in the first post. except the straps hook on to the top of the hatch door.. and it has worked for her just don't put too much weight on it (ie. 3 or more bikes)

[pepsiman]

If i get my dad's hatchback i think ill just throw in it there... my front wheel comes off easy so it should work out good thanks

[giang723]

if u know anyone who has a trailer, that would be a better option

[tomazws]

I ended up renting a small pick-up truck from Enterprise for that camping trip...

[jason]

for anyone who cares.... the hitch idea is what ive used previously, you make an S shape out of 3 pieces of boxed material (two 90° bends) one end goes horizontally into the hitch, the middle piece goes vertically up, the third goes out away from the car and the bikes are mounted on there, these are mainly used on suv's, when your not towing, or carrying anything, just take the hitch piece off your car. ill have to put it on n take some pics for those who dont know, but it looks something like this:



have made about 3 of them so far, all ys need is the hitch part!