I'm looking for exactly a similar solution. The plastic tubs will not work for me because of the lack of height, and i would prefer for the bike to lay flat so it would not topple if I accelerate or make a sharp turn.
I also want there to be ZERO chance of damaging the car interior. My ideal solution is a thickly padded cover that I can use to enclose the bike with enough padding to keep the bike, and more importantly(!), the interior of the car safe. So it needs to be super tough padding that is thick enough. If anyone knows of a solution, please let me know.
I'm thinking worse case scenario, I can buy high quality mover's blankets. Lay down about 5 of them one of top of each other and then essentially wrap the whole bike with them and bundle it all together with rope or bungee.
I could maybe use perhaps 5 layers of mover's blankets followed by a memory foam type layer to keep the bike completely wrapped and covered. It would also then be easier to load in the car horizontally with two people holding the entire wrapped budle from either side.
Sounds a bit like overkill to me. 5 Moving blankets? One or two doubled(folded)will protect against normal jostling or shifting in the car, unless you are talking bumper-car activity. The foam that the bike comes with, between the folded halves, is what is shown in the photos in my post referred to above. (I will replace that with a tougher 2x2 ft. section of rubber linkable floor pad 1/2 inch thick.) What kind of car are you talking about? Any rear deck, and most rear seats, except in a sub-compact would, I think, offer the 29 inches of height required with the bike folded with the handlebars removed. (Removing the bars is a few-seconds operation, and they are then tucked into the tote beside the bike, as in the photo. I don't think this would be possible with only the 40 gal tote. In the case of the large tote, there is nothing extending outside the tote's sides,...only above the top. Naturally, bar extenders, mirrors, phone, GPS, bell, etc., installed on the bars will make them to unweildy to "tuck", so they will be laid(padded) on top ofthe bike/tote package. The "lack of height" you mention would not be an issue with the bike folded/packed in the tote the way I have it. No toppling! The tote/load, has a flat bottom and a low center of gravity, and at most should only slide/shift a bit, ...unless you intend to drive wildly to your trailhead/riding area ;-). The seat, battery, panniers, will fit elsewhere(smaller tote?) of course. With the whole package blanket-draped, I don't see how either bike or car can be damaged. The two people you mention can load this setup as easily as the "wrapped bundle" you describe. I am aiming at one-person usage at times, so one-person loading will be in order. The (6")wheels of the large tote definitely aid in maneuvering. I have a 5' section of aluminum roller track (think truck loading at UPS or the Post Office,) that I will be using as a ramp, when solo loading. The track and 2 totes, packed as I describe, fit neatly in the rear of a Toyota 4Runner (rear seats down)r. If your vehicle is too small for "sports" hauling, maybe a larger one would be more suited to your activities. Harsh reality - It is difficuolt to get 10 lbs. in a 5 lb. sack, especially if the load is bundled in 5 blankets! :-0
How do you carry your canoe/kayak/picnic umbrella/cooler/skis/surf/paddleboard/kite/para glider/pet carrier/tent/camp chairs/potty box/kitchen sink, etc.?
Do you not intend to ever go riding with a friend/partner? This means 2 bikes, no? If you are willing to have your bike(s) exposed to weather, dirt, rear-ender damage, thieves, etc., I suggest the hitch rack used by Jeremiah McIntosh, as in his video.
TMI? Does your head hurt yet? Mine does
Note to readers of my previous post on the tote method: Roll the tote to the rear of the vehicle wheels first, and lift the wheeled end in first. Otherwise, when you try to lift the non-wheeled end onto the deck, the tote will try to roll away from the car, and if you are alone, it will be difficult to keep it in position until you get to the non-wheeled end to lift/shove the tote in. (If you have a helper, everything goes easier, of course. When you get where you are going, you can fight over who gets to ride the single bike!
