RE: Another bike rack question......

[TheWallRocks]

 
I had a recent post...... " Bike Rack - Front or Back?"  that was answered well by several people.  As you recall, I have Yakima cross bars installed on the front and rear of the Bayside for carrying a canoe (previous owners..... we don t have a canoe) and am adding a 3rd cross bar so we can add bike racks.  I ordered a new cross bar and didn t realize that they come as a kit.... meaning I just received 2 cross bars.  
 
 My question now is...... has anyone installed 4 cross bars on their ABS roof?  I figure I may as well use the 4th bar on the rear for maybe a cargo rack, or surfboard, or some other attachment.
 
 Any thoughts/comments would be appreciataed.  I realize weight is my main concern loading the rear.  The front will be used for 4 kids bikes.
 
 
 

[6Quigs]

 TheWallRocks
Personally, I would mount the racks so you could carry a bike front or back, whatever you choose.
 If you ever got a canoe, or even borrowed one, you could carry it on one side, and the 4 bikes on the other side, 2 on the front, 2 on the back.

[tlhdoc]

 TheWallRocks
Did you get the installation instructions with the cross bars?  If you did they should tell you where you CAN install a cross bar.  When I had mine installed 2 years ago there were set spots for instillation.  Coleman says to only put 300 pounds maximum on the roof when it is closed.  If you had a canoe and 4 bikes, 4 cross bars, 4 bike trays, you might be over doing it. Maybe you could sell one bar and get some of your money back.  You could list it here at PUT.  Maybe some one with cross bars for bikes would like to get a bar for a canoe.

[TheWallRocks]

 TheWallRocks
The crossbars and racks are on.  2 bars in the front and 2 in the rear.  I did put all the lockjaw racks in the front and will most likely only put my kiteboard on the back, and that weighs next to nothing.
 
 The lockjaw bike racks specify the crossbars be 16-44 inches apart, so I split the difference and mounted them 30"  apart.  Works great in the front, but I should have done some measuring before I drilled the holes in the back.  The screen door bracket interferes with the crossbar plate, so I am going to have to trim the plate a little bit.  28"  and I would have been home free.  Hind site is 20/20.
 
 Tried the bike racks out this weekend and they work great.  It was also a nice weekend to get back in the woods and smell a campfire!
 
 Now if I can just get the water pump fixed!