If you are a cyclist and own a sedan, hatchback or any other car with a trunk, a trunk mount bike rack is a great choice as a rear bike carrier for your vehicle. Even within this type of auto bike rack, there are many brands and contenders. But, there are some foremost things to reconsider when selecting the best trunk bike rack for your bike transportation needs.
Knowing how each type of trunk rack for bikes varies will help you choose the right carrier system. One big factor is the number of bikes you'll need to carry. The more bicycles that a rack can hold, the more expensive, usually. Also, with more carrying capacity, comes more weight and sometimes, more parts. All this should be considered first when selecting a trunk mount bike rack.
Some other options to reconsider are locking, bike mounting mechanisms, and ease of factory and daily use. All these are valid concerns that go into selecting any bike car rack, but especially a trunk bike rack. All things else beyond these factors are a plus.
Installation is foremost because if you use the rack frequently, you want this to be easy. Some trunk racks come pre-assemble, which is ideal. There are many parts that come with car racks for bikes and having to not have to assemble the unit is great. Also, you need to reconsider either you can store the bike carrier in your trunk while not in use or is there a gather and safe way to leave it on.
Being able to leave your bikes on the rack while attached to your trunk is also something to think about. After or before you go cycling, you may want to stop for some food or a drink and taking your bicycles off the rack to lock them off is just a hassle. So many bike racks now come with locks or some sort of locking mechanism so that your high-priced bikes are safe from theft.
There are a few distinct ways that bike rack fellowships employ to mount your bike to the rack. Some have handles that the bike will rest on, then a strap or securing mechanism to keep the bike attached and safe while the car is in motion. Other racks have bars that attach to the wheels or distinct parts of the frame to minimize and possible damage to your bike frame. Additionally, for bikes with unconventional frames, you may have to get an adapter to be able to mount your bike on trunk mount bike racks that are made for standard sized bicycles.
As you can see, to find the excellent rear trunk bike rack, it's not as easy as finding one in your price range. You'll have to explore the brands and options just like an other major purchase. But, as stated above, finding out the number of bikes you'll need to transport is a good place to start your bike rack search.
