Types Of Bike Racks For Cars

There are five types of bike racks for cars, each aimed at meeting the demands of various vehicle designs and bicyclists of differing levels.

First, you need to answer on several questions regarding your demands about bike racks for cars, once you have it clear with your self,  we can proceed and take a look at some of the main varieties of bicycle racks.

1. Roof Mount Bike Racks
2. Hitch Mount Bike Racks 
3. Spare Tire Mount Bike Racks
4. Trunk Mount Bike Racks
5. Truck Bed Bike Racks

Roof Mount Bike Racks

The roof rack is good as it uses wasted space and doesn't hinder access to doors or the trunk but it can be quite difficult to load up due to the working height. It is the most versatile, but the most difficult to use.

Hitch Mount Bike Racks 

These bike racks lock directly into a drawbar receiving tube or hitch tube and allow you to either strap the bicycle frames into a tube top or rest them, wheels down, in a tray rack. The most expensive but easy to operate and can take a lot of weight. 

Spare Tire Mount Bike Racks

These racks attach behind the tire, which means you don't have to sacrifice your spare to lug a few bikes around. Mounting aside, these racks hold bikes in the same way as a hitch mount rack. You simply strap and lock the bike frame into place. These racks typically carry two bikes.

Trunk Mount Bike Racks

These folding racks fit a wide range of trunk styles, from classic, flat car trunks to nearly vertical SUV rear doors. They simply lock and strap into place around the edges of your trunk lid or door. Trunk mount bike racks are inexpensive and versatile enough to fit nearly any kind of automobile.

Truck Bed Bike Racks

If you have a pickup and don't need all the space in the bed for other stuff then the bed-mounted racks are great. This method may save you time, but it doesn't help you to secure the bikes in place or protect both truck and cycle from scrapes, chipped paint and possible theft.