bike rack

[Jack]

Hi I'm new to the fourm: I too am looking at different ways of taking the bikes (4) of them camping. I have just bought a 03 Cheyenne that has tracs in the roof. Dose anyone use these and how is it working for you. I do like the looks and price of the homemade pvc ones. I'm thinking this may be the way to go but not sure as to how long the pvc will hold up!

[tknick]

Hi I'm new to the fourm: I too am looking at different ways of taking the bikes (4) of them camping. I have just bought a 03 Cheyenne that has tracs in the roof. Dose anyone use these and how is it working for you. I do like the looks and price of the homemade pvc ones. I'm thinking this may be the way to go but not sure as to how long the pvc will hold up!

If you have the tracks in the roof that would be the easiest but not necessarily the cheapest option.  You would simply buy off the shelf towers, crossbars and bike mounts.  That would also allow you to carry other things like canoes and kayaks.  There are also hitch mounted carriers that go between your TV and your PU.  There are still others that mount to the front of your PU and rest partly on the roof of the PU.  Almost forgot, most full size pickups and SUVs can have a receiver mounted to the front of the vehicle and let you carry bikes up front.  One thing to think about with any type of carrier is how hard/easy it would be to place/remove the bikes where ever you choose to mount them.  For some people, the roof is a very difficult place to get bikes on/off of.

hope this helps
travis

[tlhdoc]

I have gone several different ways over the years.

Bikes on the roof of the TV - Hard to get them off and on, reduces mileage, but it can be used to transport the bikes any time, and you can load the bikes the day before you leave the cg.
 
Bikes on the roof of the camper - inside bikes are harder to get on and off (I am not very tall), some wind resistance, first thing you need to unload, last thing you can load, you can't use it without towing the PU.
 
Pro Rac system - Easy loading and unloading of the bikes, fork mount which lowers the height of the bikes and reduces the wind Resistance, but you have to store the wheel (I bungi the wheel to the side of the bike), have to unload first and load last, can't use it without towing the PU.
 
Here is a link for the Pro Rac system
 
http://www.popuptimes.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=P&Category_Code=racks
 
The Pro Rac system is what I am the most happy with.  I purchased a receiver mounted bike rack to carry the bikes when we aren't towing the PU.
 
Good luck on you choice.

[mjdfarm]

I am mounting a front hitch on my truck.  I am going to use a cargo carrier with the bike attachment.  All available from jc whitney.  The bike attachment is for three but I know someone who gets 4 on there w/o the bike attachment.  I got all three parts for about $260 free shipping.  I can use the front hitch and carrier for other things than bikes if needed.