Instructions for a Bicycle Carrier

When bike trails and bike friendly roads are too far away, you may have to drive your bike to the starting point. Special carriers let you take cycling trips that begin and end at trail heads or bike paths, and the carriers offer the opportunity of taking your two-wheeler on vacation.

  1. Picking the right carrier

    • Carriers fit most vehicles, and come in versions that mount on the trunk, on a receiver hitch, or on the roof. Wishbone-style trunk-mounted carriers are stable, for little bike bounce that could cause car damage. This type is easily removed for storage and leaves no permanent hardware on vehicles.

      Hitch-mounted carriers, of course, work only on vehicles with a trailer hitch. Roof racks don't require any special vehicle equipment, but have to be configured for the specific vehicle (because their mounting hardware mates with the vehicle's rain gutter, and those vary greatly). Roof racks can carry as many as seven bikes; the other types typically carry a maximum of three or four.

    Installing the carrier

    • The procedure for attaching roof- and hitch-mounted carriers is straightforward, but varies with the carrier model. For trunk-mounted carriers, three sets of hooks typically are attached to the rear bumper and trunk. Pop the trunk, then close but don't latch it. Make sure the carrier is centered on the trunk with bumper stabilizers touching the back bumper and trunk.

      Position the top, bottom and side hooks (if side clips are available) under the trunk in their respective positions, then latch the trunk. Tighten the straps so the carrier can't be moved from side to side with firm tugs. Then tighten down the two side straps. A loose carrier will bounce on rough roads and can cause damage to the trunk.

    Ongoing care

    • Check carrier straps regularly and tighten as needed. Remove carriers from the vehicle when not in use to avoid reducing your vehicle's fuel economy unnecessarily.