Bike carrier for small SUV

[NickD]

I will be taking delivery of my new car (Suzuki Vitara S) shortly and will want to carry my bike in/on it.

I have investigated the possibilities of 1) Roof mounting 2) Tow bar mounting 3) inside carrying

Ideas 1 and 2 are not very practical for me as I am not very tall and my car is, and I don't want to spend excessive money on a towbar as well as the bike rack, so 3 looks a possibility.

The one idea I am most interested in is the BikeInside rack which allows the bike to be stored and carried inside the vehicle with the front wheel removed and seems very good value for money (actually it can carry up to 2 bikes and there is a bag available for storing the front wheel). Has anyone any experience of this carrier and has it got limitations as to which vehicles it will fit? Any other suggestions also welcome!

 

[vickster]

Can't you just put the seats down and lay the bike(s) flat?
Or the inside rack option sounds like a good un

 

[welsh dragon]

Have you had a look on YouTube? They have quite a few videos about making an inside bike carrier. You can customize it to fit your car an if you have a quick release front wheel, even better.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Take a look at the recent thread https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/bikes-in-vans-any-pics.202634/
- you can make your own system very easily using a fork mount and piece of batten or ply. You have to watch that the boot opening is high enough for you to get the bike in easily without lowering the saddle. The front wheel can simply be carried leaning against the frame.

 

[MarquisMatsugae]

I would go with the rear towbar mount,you don't haveto be tall for that.
It shouldn't come to any more than £50 for the two pieces

 

[KneesUp]

If the rack inside will fit, and there is enough height for the bikes, then go for it. Bikes are much safer inside, and it's more aerodynamic. It wouldn't work for me because we need to carry bikes and use the back seat when we go on holiday - plus with bikes taking up the boot and the back seat there wouldn't be much room for luggage even if we could fit in all the passengers.

I have a towbar rack, which is the best blend of aerodynamics, easy loading and use of space for us, but obviously it depends on your situation (plus I need a towbar anyway because we take a trailer camping) If you think you can fit all the people, bikes and luggage inside the car, I'd definitely go for the bike inside rack.

 

[KneesUp]

I would go with the rear towbar mount,you don't haveto be tall for that.
It shouldn't come to any more than £50 for the two pieces

I'd be astonished if you could get one for £50.

My towbar was 'free' (it was fitted to a car the same model as mine at the garage I bought it from, so I negotiated it as part of the deal - it was in the boot when I collected the car) but it still cost £60 to fit, and that was a mobile chap with no building to pay for - fitting them is quite involved on a lot of cars - on ours you have to remove the entire back bumper and some of the boot trim. And don't forget you need at least one electric socket for the trailer board. On top of that you need a carrier to attach to it.

 

[MarquisMatsugae]

I'd be astonished if you could get one for £50.

My towbar was 'free' (it was fitted to a car the same model as mine at the garage I bought it from, so I negotiated it as part of the deal - it was in the boot when I collected the car) but it still cost £60 to fit, and that was a mobile chap with no building to pay for - fitting them is quite involved on a lot of cars - on ours you have to remove the entire back bumper and some of the boot trim. And don't forget you need at least one electric socket for the trailer board. On top of that you need a carrier to attach to it.

Of course,you are quite right.
I got mine from a scrappy off the same model,and fitted by a friend.
But yes,more than £50 normally.
I would still go with the rear towbar mount though

 

[T4tomo]

With a vitara you shd have the height to remove front wheel and slide it in vertically, with one side of rear seats lowered. Bungy tie against side, pad as necessary.
I do that with my volvo estate, but need to remove seat posts (pre mark with insulation tape so you keep height correct. I also fashioned a fork spacing protector out of an offcut of wood. Two bikes fit easily with the 40% bit of the rear seat down.

 

[youngoldbloke]

If you have the cash the Bikeinside looks good. There is at least one other less expensive version available, maybe Tredz sell them?
Edit - I'm thinking of the Minoura Vergo, Tredz are out of stock at the moment.

 

[fossyant]

Quite a few folk have made them - you just need a front fork mount and a plank of wood.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

If the rack inside will fit, and there is enough height for the bikes, then go for it. Bikes are much safer inside, and it's more aerodynamic. It wouldn't work for me because we need to carry bikes and use the back seat when we go on holiday - plus with bikes taking up the boot and the back seat there wouldn't be much room for luggage even if we could fit in all the passengers.

I have a towbar rack, which is the best blend of aerodynamics, easy loading and use of space for us, but obviously it depends on your situation (plus I need a towbar anyway because we take a trailer camping) If you think you can fit all the people, bikes and luggage inside the car, I'd definitely go for the bike inside rack.

does that mean the bike carrier can still attach when using the trailer? we are similarly trailer campers, and the ability to take the bike too sounds great, if a bit of a negotiation with the other half…

 

[ufkacbln]

Have you had a look on YouTube? They have quite a few videos about making an inside bike carrier. You can customize it to fit your car an if you have a quick release front wheel, even better.

+1

As above, fork mount and a plank!

 

[Nebulous]

does that mean the bike carrier can still attach when using the trailer? we are similarly trailer campers, and the ability to take the bike too sounds great, if a bit of a negotiation with the other half…

A lot of bike racks attach to the towball which rules out towing as well. We have a Thule one which is only suitable for bolt on towballs. You need to remove the ball, put a backing plate behind it, then bolt on the ball (you sometimes need longer bolts) with the plate between the ball and rear of the towing bracket. You can then load the bikes and fit a trailer on the ball as well. You need to be aware of the nose weight limit for your car as exceeding it is very easy with the weight of the bikes and the nose weight of the trailer.

 

[KneesUp]

does that mean the bike carrier can still attach when using the trailer? we are similarly trailer campers, and the ability to take the bike too sounds great, if a bit of a negotiation with the other half…

Yes you can two and use the rack, it connects to a mount plate bolted to the tow bar. However with our trailer there is insufficient clearance between the car and the trailer to fit more than one bike. Maxxraxx do height extenders which would help but rack plus height extender plus bikes plus trailer would be over our tow ball limit because it's only 50kg for this car. It was 80kg on the previous car though which would have been fine.