6zfshdb
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Northeast Pennsylvania
I posted this in another forum but there have been a few posts here on the subject so I thought I'd share.
Most bicycle damage occurs during transport. I've never liked the idea of having a bike hanging off the rear of my vehicle just waiting for someone to bump into me or swipe a part. This is especially true of expensive ebikes.
Roof racks are a slightly better option although I'm past the age where I can lift a heavy ebike up on onto a vehicle roof. I've also heard too many stories of people driving under something too low, like fast food drive throughs and hotel porticoes.
For many years now, I've been using my pickup to transport my bikes in the protected bed. I've come to the point now where climbing in & out of the truck bed and trying off the bikes is too much of a chore. I eventually came up with this scheme which has worked well for 5 years now.
I built a "sled" from 3" PVC pipe which fit snugly into the pickup bed. I bought 2 Thule Sidearm roof racks and bolted them to the sled. A couple of PVC legs and some rope to keep the sled from sliding out too far completed the project. For bikes with fenders, the Thule Big Mouth or SportRack roof racks can be used in place of the Sidearm.
For the heavier ebikes, I added a PVC ramp which saves my back from lifting to side load.
The only down side to a setup like this is the handlebars on some bikes stick up above the cab of the truck. Every bug, dust particle or drop of rain that gets caught in the slip stream over the cab gets plastered all over the bars and can foul the brake & shifter mechanisms. The solution for me was a pair of $12 canvas fruit pickers sleeves which snap easily over the bar ends.
If you are at all handy with tools, something like this can be built fairly easily in a weekend. The cost for the project was under $400 with the roof racks being the most expensive part.
Most bicycle damage occurs during transport. I've never liked the idea of having a bike hanging off the rear of my vehicle just waiting for someone to bump into me or swipe a part. This is especially true of expensive ebikes.
Roof racks are a slightly better option although I'm past the age where I can lift a heavy ebike up on onto a vehicle roof. I've also heard too many stories of people driving under something too low, like fast food drive throughs and hotel porticoes.
For many years now, I've been using my pickup to transport my bikes in the protected bed. I've come to the point now where climbing in & out of the truck bed and trying off the bikes is too much of a chore. I eventually came up with this scheme which has worked well for 5 years now.
I built a "sled" from 3" PVC pipe which fit snugly into the pickup bed. I bought 2 Thule Sidearm roof racks and bolted them to the sled. A couple of PVC legs and some rope to keep the sled from sliding out too far completed the project. For bikes with fenders, the Thule Big Mouth or SportRack roof racks can be used in place of the Sidearm.
For the heavier ebikes, I added a PVC ramp which saves my back from lifting to side load.
The only down side to a setup like this is the handlebars on some bikes stick up above the cab of the truck. Every bug, dust particle or drop of rain that gets caught in the slip stream over the cab gets plastered all over the bars and can foul the brake & shifter mechanisms. The solution for me was a pair of $12 canvas fruit pickers sleeves which snap easily over the bar ends.
If you are at all handy with tools, something like this can be built fairly easily in a weekend. The cost for the project was under $400 with the roof racks being the most expensive part.
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HaHa! Took me a while to figure out the connection with your user ID! Welcome to the forum ... I have been here a few months. Lots of good info. to be found and knowledgeable members just like we have in that other forum. No doubt you will become a respected member here too ... great start with your posts so far!
