Roof rack for bikes - comments?

[wgee]

I'm toying with the idea of a roof rack on the PU for bikes.  My TV is a '00 Honda Odyssey Mini Van and my PU is a '99 Coleman Sante Fe.  I'll have to check, but it seems that doing the bike rack thing on the hitch may add too much tongue weight.  However, after reading about some roof racks - it looks like you may have to drill holes in the roof of your PU.  I'm not wild about that idea.  Is this a valid concern?  Do all roof racks require drilling holes?  Thanks for any input here.

[PLJ]

We tow with a Chevy Venture so like you we also have hitch limitations. We had the 3 cross braces installed by the dealer to hold a a canoe on the pop up roof. Yes, I believe they are drilled in order to attach them to the roof. We have never had any leakage issues with the roof. These cross braces take the yakima bike rails. We have 2 of these for my wifes and my bikes. The three kids bikes we use one of those strap on bike racks to the back of the van. This setup works well for us.

[bonscott]

Good timing on the post as I was about to ask a similar question.  I'm looking at a '96 Coleman Yukon that already has the rack rails installed.  My concern was the ABS roof problem.  Would putting bikes on the roof rack (no more then 60 lbs total) help this problem appear?

[4campinfoxes]

Our dealer installed the Yakima roof rack to our Coleman Bayside.  Yes, the roof was drilled but we have never had any issue with leakage (we've had it about 4 years).  We're not real happy with the roof rack though, it is a pain in the rear to get the bikes, especially the inside bikes when carrying 4, up & down.  We've also had some issues with bolt(s) shearing off - although we think the fork mounted carriers would work better than the tray style, I think it's called Lockjaw?  Anyway, we think that due to the bouncing of the camper (& the bikes bouncing) while it is being towed the roof rack has suffered.  But, we haven't come up with a better alternative.  We might try putting all fork mounts on the rack this year & see if that makes a difference.

[Camping Coxes]

I'm getting dejavu all over again with this thread.

The ProRac system doesn't require drilling into the roof.  Look for other threads on this system for the pros/cons.  We have one and are really satisfied with it.

[tlhdoc]

I have had the bikes on the roof of the TV, on the drill the holes in the roof Yakima Rack (did this help cause my ABS roof to fail??), the roof tracks for the replacement Alumitite roof and now the Pro Rac system.  I like the Pro Rac the best.  We have had if for a couple of years now and have not had any problems with it.  If you go that way and your bikes doesn't have quick release front axels I would have them put on the bikes.

[balbrt1]

We tryed the Swagman roof mount bike rack and hated it...you have to lift those bikes onto the roof and hubby had to use a 3 step ladder. Way too heavy lifting on them.  It went back to camping world. My hubby made a rack that looks like the Pro Rack out of angle iron and attaches to the tongue. We got bike fork mounts. Tryed it out this weekend with wonderful results.