Virtually all modern vehicles are capable of fitting
up to 4 bikes
on top of the roof (sometimes more), if you need to make sure that this is possible, simply use our Roof Mounted Bike Carrier Guide to see how many Thule Bike Carriers can be fitted on your vehicle.
How much space should be between roof racks?
The normal spacing of roof racks is
about 700mm
. Any further apart and your load may touch the roof between the bars. The accessories you’ll need will depend on the type of load to be carried.
Can you put bikes on a roof rack?
Roof racks are a good choice if you don’t mind lifting the bike onto the roof
and low-clearance garages or ceilings aren’t an issue. Some roof rack styles let you secure bikes while keeping both wheels on while others require you to take the front wheel off and secure the fork.
Where should roof bars be placed?
They recommend
the leading edge of the front bar to be positioned 430mm from the top edge of the front windscreen
. The rear bar is 700mm behind the front bar (measured centre to centre).
Can I fit a roof box and bike rack?
You’ll probably be able to fit at least 4 bikes/cycles on the roof, or perhaps 2 or 3 bikes together with a long roof box
. Most of these carriers will only fit to standard 32mm by 22mm roof bars or slotted oval shaped aluminium aerobars.
How do you put 4 bikes on a bike rack?
How do you put 3 bikes on a bike rack?
Can you fit 5 bikes on a bike rack?
Hanging racks are available in capacities ranging from 2 to 5
and can often accommodate bikes with wheel sizes 16′′ and up. If you are on a tighter budget, especially if you need to haul 3 or 4 bikes, hanging racks are your best bet.
Do you have to have cross bars for a roof rack?
A basic rack system consists of crossbars and supports.
You need two crossbars to go across your vehicle
and a way of attaching those bars to your vehicle.
Where do you mount a roof rack?
What is bar spread on roof rack?
Crossbar spread is
determined by where the towers of your rack are placed on your vehicle
. This spacing will determine which accessories and what load your vehicle can carry.
Do bike racks damage your car?
A trunk-mounted bike rack can also damage your car if the bikes are not fully secure
. If the front wheel of the bike is able to move, it can easily rub against the paint while you’re driving. This will surely result in scratches and fading paint over time.
How do I tie my bike to the roof of my car?
How do you attach a woman’s bike to a car rack?
How will roof rack affect your car?
Explanation: A roof rack
increases your car’s wind resistance
. This will cause an increase in fuel consumption, so you should remove it when it isn’t being used. An aerodynamically designed roof rack or box will help reduce wind resistance to a minimum, but the rack or box should still be removed when it isn’t in use.
Do roof racks affect gas mileage?
As we found when we tested roof- and hitch-mounted bike racks, the SUV’s mileage, on the other hand, showed less of a drop.
The empty roof rack had a nearly 2 percent impact on fuel economy
, which translates to a little more than three-quarters of a gallon of gas. Mileage went from 41 mpg at 65 mph to 40 mpg.
What’s the difference between roof rack and roof bars?
Roof rails run front to rear on both sides of the roof. They are often factory fitted. On their own, they cannot be used as roof racks.
Roof bars run across the roof which are clamp mounted (secured with fit kits to the door frames), mounted to factory fitted fixpoints or roof rail mounted
.
How big can a roof box be?
So how big is…..
Small – Typically 300 litres
and you can fit 2-3 holdalls in one. Ideal for small cars. Medium – Typically 400 litres and you can fit 4-5 holdalls in one. Ideal for hatchback and saloon cars.
Can a roof box overhang?
For most people, this is likely to be a dealbreaker.
Some overhang (of the roof) at the front shouldn’t cause too many problems as you are unlikely to be affected by it once you’re in the vehicle
. Obviously, you probably shouldn’t install an 84-inch long box on a Mini!
How do I stop my bike rack from bouncing?
How do I install a Thule 4 bike rack?
How do I stop my bike from hitting each other on the rack?
A way to keep your bikes from bumping into each other on the bike rack is to
put a barrier between the bikes
. One easy but pricey solution is to buy detachable bike bumpers and attach them to where contact is made.
Can you put a bike rack on any car?
Where the Rubber Meets the Road. As you can see,
it’s easy to mount a bike rack on almost any car, truck, or SUV
.
Do you have to have a hitch for a bike rack?
Do you need a trailer hitch for a bike rack?
To use a hitch mount bike rack, you do need a trailer hitch on your vehicle, while roof and trunk racks don’t require a trailer hitch
. A trailer hitch can be installed on just about any vehicle – from small hatchbacks to minivans to oversized SUVs.
