TOURIST & ITS TYPE &MOTIVETIONAL FACTORS & BEHAVIOR .pptx
Get The Correct Bike Rack for Your SUV
1. Picking the Best Bike Rack for Your SUV
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A SUV is a great, versatile vehicle for families who love to spend time in the great outdoors. These
vehicles typically have plenty of room for the entire family and their luggage, but adding a bicycle or
two or three to the mix may pose a problem. If your family is fond of biking and want to go on cycling
adventures that stretch further than a few blocks from your home, it might be time to start looking for
bike racks for your SUV.
Options Galore
A wide variety of bike racks exist, in all kinds of shapes, capacities and designs. However, not all of
them are suitable for SUVs, and even the ones that are, might not fit your specific vehicle. Before
purchasing an SUV bike rack, it is very important to weigh all of your options and to know the pros and
the cons of each model.
Roof Bike Racks for SUV
Roof racks are very versatile, and with the right accessories a roof rack can not only carry bikes, but
just about any other thing you can think of, from kayaks to cargo boxes. Roof racks are very stable and
allow you to carry the bikes out of sight. But a big downside is that SUVs are typically already high-
roofed vehicles and require you to lift the bikes over your head. If your name is Chuck Norris, or you
look like Arnie in his golden days, you may be able to do it with one hand behind your back, but a roof
rack is certainly not for the faint hearted.
This is especially true if you are planning on going on biking trips regularly. Also keep in mind that, with
bicycles on the roof, your SUV might not make the height restrictions of many restaurant drive-throughs
and parking garages. If your vehicle is already equipped with a roof rack or cross bars, simply getting
an adapter for bikes may be a cost effective solution. You get different types of mounts, some will
clamp onto the bike’s front wheel while others hold the bikes upright by their frames.
Pros:
Very versatile solution
Can store other cargo as well
Often holds up to 5 bikes
Supports alternative-frame bikes
Very stable, so bikes won’t sway
Don’t obstruct the driver’s rear view
Relatively low costs
Cons:
Need to lift bicycles overhead
SUV will be less aerodynamic, which will make it heavier on gas
More wind resistance may make for a more noisy drive
Vehicle may become unstable in high cross winds
Height restrictions may apply
2. Won’t fit vehicles with a curved roof
SUV Hitch Mount Racks
If you are looking for something that require less muscle power from you to load and offload the bikes,
an SUV hitch mount rack might just be the solution for you. That is if you don’t have a Jeep or one of
the other types of SUVs that have the spare tyre mounted at the rear. Most vehicles come with a hitch
mount, but you need to figure out what class your hitch belongs to, to ensure you get the right fit.
Hitch mount bike racks come in a huge variety shapes, styles and sizes and can carry anything from 2
to 5 bikes at a time, depending on the design. Although they are not as multipurpose as a roof rack,
hitch mount bike racks for SUVs will keep the bicycles out of the wind, so your vehicle will be more
aerodynamic and consume less gas. Hitch receivers come in two main sizes, the 1 ¼ inch and 2 inch
size, with the mounts simply sliding into these receivers. They also come with all kinds of solutions to
keep the SUV rear door accessible, with swing, tilt or fold up options. Bikes will either be held in place
with Velcro straps, trays or a vertical staff.
Pros
Wide variety to suit each budget
Easy to install
More ergonomic
Not permanently attached to SUV
More aerodynamic
Cons
May block rear door
Won’t always fit with spare tires on the back
Bikes in trays are prone to sway
Swing-away models are expensive
Ground clearance might be an issue with some models
Extends vehicle length, making it harder to manoeuvre
May obstruct rear license plate and taillights, or driver’s rear view
Alternative frame bikes may need special adapters
SUV Strap-On Trunk Bike Racks
If you don’t have a hitch receiver on your vehicle and don’t want to carry bikes on the roof, a trunk rack
is a simple solution. They are usually very easy to install and don’t require many accessories to make
them work for different bike frames. Trunk style racks are also usually very lightweight, making it easy
to use on different vehicles in one family, but they can typically only carry one or two bikes at a time and
have a weight limit.
These racks are definitely a better solution for a sedan or hatchback than an SUV. Most trunk mounts
only use cables or nylon straps with hooks, so security against theft may be a concern. You will also
not be able to access the rear door with the rack installed.
Pros
Versatile, can fit many different vehicles
3. Easy to install and remove
Compact storage (usually fold away)
More portable
Less expensive
Great for occasional use and short trips
More aerodynamic than a roof rack
Cons
Block rear access to vehicle
Stability relies on how securely you attach the straps
May obstruct your rear view, or taillights and license plate
Won’t work with a rear spare tire installed
Not always lockable
Risk of scratching the vehicle when attaching the hooks
Require constant checkups during transit to ensure rack hasn’t shifted
SUV Spare Tire Bike Racks
If your SUV carries the spare tire at the back and you only need to carry one or two bikes at a time, a
spare tire bike rack might be a good solution. Most spare tire racks can carry only two bicycles at a
time and are easy to install. Just like the trunk bike racks, spare tire racks also strap onto the back
wheel and are light, compact and easy to store.
Pros
Not too expensive
Easy to install and remove
No high lifting involved
No direct contact between vehicle and bikes
Cons
Carry only two bikes
Have to remove tire covers
Not very stable, bikes may sway
Limited anti-theft options
May obstruct rear view or license plate and taillights
Conclusion
When looking for a SUV bike rack, you have a lot of options, but your final choice will depend on your
vehicle’s design, how many bikes you wish to carry and how often you will transport your bikes. If you
and your partner are planning to only go cycling occasionally, a trunk rack or a spare tire SUV bike rack
will suffice.
If you and your whole family go biking all the time, often to far away locations, you will probably have to
look into a hitch bike rack with adapters for alternative frame bikes. If you don’t need to carry bikes very
often but also enjoy other outdoor sports such as kayaking, surfing or skiing, a roof rack is just the thing
for you. Whatever you choose, be sure to do some thorough research and read the reviews for the