Best Bike Rack (Pictures Please)

[uncwmac]

I would like to put a bike rack on my beetle and would like to know which one looks best. I have used Thule in the past but seems too boxy for the bug. Suggestions and pics would be great. I know that many of you will tell me not to put one on at all but I am a cyclist therefore I need one.

[Chris333]

I made my own so it wouldn't hang down. I took the whole back end off and welded square tubes to the thick metal around the (real) bumper supports. In the center a piece points down like a regular trailer hitch, but aimed down. I used a bike brake cable attached to a pin/spring to make a release. I pull the cable inside the trunk and lift the rack into the hole till I hear the pin snap into a hole. Pull the cable again and it will drop out.


Sorry no install pics, but I did get the idea from someone else here.

[goaly]

I’ve gotten bugs on my bike before… BUT… I’ve never gotten this many bikes on my bug.



Here are the two racks that I am using. Both of the racks will hold two bikes as they are set up now. The roof rack could be expanded to hold three.

I actually preformed a test today and timed how long it took to mount the racks and bikes. From the time I touched the rack in the garage to the time the second bike was secured to the top of the rack: The roof rack - 11 minutes. The hitch rack 14 minutes. (I expected the opposite to be true.) The racks came off the bug much quicker. From the time I started unloading the first bike till the rack was placed back in the garage: The roof rack 5 minutes. The hitch rack 6 minutes.

The roof rack consist of 2 Barracuda bike holders on an OEM NB roof base rack system. These items were purchased used and separately on Ebay. I have just about $260 in the roof setup.

The hitch rack consist of a hitch receiver I purchased new on eBay for $137 with free shipping. And a “SportRack” 2 bike hitch rack that I bought from Etrailer.com for $159 with free shipping. I installed the receiver myself, it was not that hard.

Here are the pros and cons (As I see them).

The roof rack…
PROS:
1. The rack locks to the car, and the bikes lock to the rack. I can feel better about running into the store with my bikes secured to the car.
2. I can open the trunk with my bikes already on the car.
3. I don’t have to get on my hands & knees to install the rack. (While both systems would probably be easier installed by two people, the roof rack could use a second set of hands more that the hitch rack.)
4. I can use the roof bars without the bike racks to haul a canoe or ladder.
CONS:
1. Unless you find a good deal on a used parts, this outfit will cost more.
2. You must remember that you NB is now TEN FEET TALL!
3. If you have a sunroof, the wind noise from the rack & bicycles can be quite loud.

The hitch rack…
PROS:
1. You can pull your NB into your garage with your bicycles installed.
2. The system is less expensive.
3. You do not have to lift a bicycle over your head.
4. Add a wiring harness, and you can now pull a trailer with your NB.
CONS:
1. Your bikes do not lock to the rack, and your rack does not lock to the car.
2. You cannot open the truck with bikes in the rack.
3. To install the receiver, you are drilling holes into the truck of your NB. (it took a minute, but I got over that.)

Here is a side view of the hitch rack, you can see how this rack is raised to give your bicycles more ground clearance.



In the end we will probably use the hitch rack more often for shorter trips. And the roof rack for longer trips when we want to get in & out of the trunk, and are leaving the car unattended for meals etc. Or when we are hauling more than 2 bikes, then we will use both racks.



I hope this helps!

[kcfoxie]

Thanks much for this; going with the hitch option for myself!

[Mister]

Here's my set up.

[BEETLETHIS]

here is mine