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Bicycle carrier

26K views 71 replies 37 participants last post by  Colorado17# 
#1 ·
When I get my Canyon I'd like to get a tonneau cover for it. I'd like a hard tonneau that is easy to remove. I'd also like to get some kind of bicycle carrier. I don't want a hitch mounted carrier because I want to keep the hitch available if I need it to tow my camper when I go camping. Do they make a bicycle carrier that can be mounted on top of a tonneau cover?
 
#4 · (Edited)
This is the set-up I have. I simply move the bicycle rack from the back of the Colorado to the back of the travel trailer or vice versa. The 2" receiver makes it very easy to attach accessories.

***WARNING***

Most travel trailer bumpers are very flimsy and only welded in a couple of spots. If you intend to carry more than a couple of bikes such as a platform with a generator and jerry cans of gas, or a motor bike, etc. have a welding shop reinforce it or install a frame mounted class III hitch. Also, be mindful of the fact you are changing the front to back weight ratio of your trailer and may have to re-arrange a few things inside to maintain proper tongue weight and prevent sway. However, a couple of bikes do not change much of anything.



 
#6 ·

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#7 ·
Thank you everyone for your replies. I don't think the hitch mounted to my camper bumper would work. I have a 2005 Rockwood Premier pop-up camper and the bumper isn't really meant for something like that. I think I'm going to look for a tonneau that allows for a bicycle rack to be mounted on top.
 
#9 ·
I think I'm going to look for a tonneau that allows for a bicycle rack to be mounted on top.
I don't think you will find a hard cover to allows a bike rack to be mounted. If you are talking soft cover, just mount the rack in the bed and take less stuff camping!
I frequently see bicycles mounted on a receiver type hitch the back of pop-ups going down the road.
I have also but one drawback is they are so far back and out of your sight, you can only hope they are still there when you get you your destination. I have seen them mounted on top of a pop up also, I am not sure is that is OEM or the owner fabricated it themselves.
 
#12 ·
Yes, take a look at the thread I posted earlier. There is a hard cover retractable tonneau that you can get with the Yakima rails - pretty sure it's the Truck Covers USA one. I went with a different cover and am going to try to mount the Yakima landing pads to the bed rails.
 
#13 · (Edited)
#15 ·
Exactly what I'm looking for. The only problem I see with your setup is you won't be able to open the Revolver with the cross bars on. Probably not a big deal though.
 
#16 · (Edited)
Yeah, that has been a consideration. I'm wondering if I'll be able to get under the first crossbar before the cover "snowballs" and gets too wide? Or if I can fold it, rather than roll it so it pulls underneath both crossbars?

Either way, it would probably take about the same amount of time to make my bed accessible. I'm either trying to maneuver the cover or I'm unlocking and lifting rails.

This configuration will give me the best flexibility and most concurrent functionality without hauling a trailer.

The cover is supposed to ship early June. Once I have it installed, I'm going to order the tracks, landing pads, control towers, crossbars, and install those.

I'll post pics.
 
#18 ·
Attached is a shot of a Truck Covers USA retractable (selected partly for the small canister) on a short bed.
 

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#19 ·
I like the looks of this one. Is it lockable?
 
#20 · (Edited)
Yes, it is lockable. Referencing the attached photo, the key lock is in the center. There is a pull ring (visible in photo) which overrides the lock, allowing the cover to be retracted without using the key. The cover operates sort of like a spring loaded window shade. When closing the cover from retracted position, there are stops every foot, allowing the cover to "lock" in a partially open position. The cover is very rugged. They claim that you can walk on it (although I have not tried that). I had all four drains installed (I park in either direction on a sloped driveway). Two of them are visible in the photo. Selection criteria included: Option for integrated rails (major), low profile and small canister (visible in photo). Not cheap (But then neither was the truck), but worth it for my use. I got LineX AND a BedRug mat, so it is like having an over-sized locking car trunk (The theory was that I would replace the Passat and the S10 with the Canyon... you can see how well that is working from the photo). The setup would be even better if the truck had an electronically controlled lock on the tailgate (Maybe someone will come up with an after-market solution).
 

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#21 ·
#25 ·
I will try it today and respond. Should be close with the wheel on.
 
#24 · (Edited)
It's available.



Thanks for the link, I have come back to the forum after a break and had missed that thread. I subscribed to it, and look forward to seeing how your install goes.
 
#27 ·
The other thing to be aware of, cause this happens to lots of people, is that with your bike up that high some guys ram their bike right into a drivethru covering, or a parking garage, or even their home garage.

Be careful.

The ideal situation for me is a folding camper that locks up to hold my MTB and gear as when it's not raining I can get in some good trail riding at least 3x per week right after work. Like a Fastkap.
 
#28 ·
The other thing to be aware of, cause this happens to lots of people, is that with your bike up that high some guys ram their bike right into a drivethru covering, or a parking garage, or even their home garage.
I was once at a tropical fish store and some guy walks in and was greeted with puzzled welcome. It turns out he left the store not more than 30 minutes ago with a brand new 300 gallon aquarium strapped to the roof. Excited for his purchase he forgot and attempted to pull into his garage. Whoops.
 
#30 ·
I try to be frugal and am not a serious mountain biker. I have a $165 mongoose. I also..... a bit bigger than I should be so it may be difficult to get 3 bikes in and out of the truck bed if sitting low.

Either way, my plan is to get 3 of these: Amazon.com : Bicycle Bike Fork Mount Rack Car Carrier : Sports & Outdoors

Screw them into one of these: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/2_By_4_Clue_Stick.jpg
.. And shove it into one of the grooves in the bed. To make sure they stay secure, I might throw a quick bungie cord over them and maybe even lock them up a plastic covered steel cable if the mood strikes.

.. now to wait for the truck to be shipped. It should be built by now.
 
#31 ·
I try to be frugal and am not a serious mountain biker. I have a $165 mongoose. I also..... a bit bigger than I should be so it may be difficult to get 3 bikes in and out of the truck bed if sitting low.

Either way, my plan is to get 3 of these: Amazon.com : Bicycle Bike Fork Mount Rack Car Carrier : Sports & Outdoors

Screw them into one of these: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/2_By_4_Clue_Stick.jpg
.. And shove it into one of the grooves in the bed. To make sure they stay secure, I might throw a quick bungie cord over them and maybe even lock them up a plastic covered steel cable if the mood strikes.

.. now to wait for the truck to be shipped. It should be built by now.
I've been looking for other ideas for hauling my bikes as well. I already have the Tailgate pad for whenever I carry more than 1 bike. Really want to get my hands on a pair of GM Crossrails but don't wanna spend $300 on them. I was thinking of mounting Thule square bars and just bolting them onto the GM tie downs so I can mount my Thule Sidearm roof rack on them. Been using racheting straps for now until I can find another alternative.

 
#32 · (Edited)
This is how I haul my bikes, when bikes are unloaded I loosen 2 screws per rack and slide them forward so the tailgate will shut. Out of sight with tonneau cover closed.


 
#33 ·
I ordered the Yakima tracks from Amazon. I have the short bed so the 42" fit perfectly within the space notched with two channels in the bed rails. I have yet to order the landing pads, control towers, crossbars, or racks bit it should work when I get around to getting the other stuff.
 
#38 ·
This might be a dumb question, but I am in the market for both a truck and a bike (unrelated).

What is wrong with just laying the bikes down in the back of the truck and throwing a bungy across to hold them in place? Do you guys mount your bikes upright to avoid scratches? Or does it damage the bike to lay it down?
 
#45 ·
I thought about getting the sliding tracks for bedrail mounting initially. But I already had my 51 inch load bars/mounts/rack from a previous car and didn't want to replace all of it. So I decided to go with a Thule 3114 kit and direct mount it to my bed cover. The nice thing is I can take the brackets/bars off at the end of the season and use the bracket covers included with the Thule kit to cover the mounts. I originally saw it on ORS direct's website.
 

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