what hitch rack?

[8Trak]

Originally Posted by Acadian

just trying to spread a word of awareness. I would hate to see this happen to someone else. just keep a close eye on those brackets.

Cheers!
- Luc

Did you contact Thule about this? Did they have anything to say in response? Thanks for the warning.

-Dave

[BrewMaster]

I just did all of this yesterday here in the Bay Area on my Matrix. I had a Hidden Hitch installed by a local place (A & B Trailer Hitch). The hitch was $135 with $70 installation charge.

Rack N Road set me up with a Yakima Kingpin 2 for about $200 out the door with a lock that will keep the rack from getting stolen. I liked the Kingpin 2 because it comes with anti-sway clips and it will tilt down so I can open the hatchback on the Matrix. It's solid for holding 2 bikes.

Altogther about $400 to get it all installed and set up. Not bad I think.

I highly recommend Rack N Road. They didn't have the hitch for my car in stock, so they told me where to go to get it done. Once I had the hitch installed, they had the rack all built up and ready to go on my car. Nice people, good service, and the best prices I found. That's all I need.

[mazer75]

Originally Posted by BrewMaster

I just did all of this yesterday here in the Bay Area on my Matrix. I had a Hidden Hitch installed by a local place (A & B Trailer Hitch). The hitch was $135 with $70 installation charge.

Rack N Road set me up with a Yakima Kingpin 2 for about $200 out the door with a lock that will keep the rack from getting stolen. I liked the Kingpin 2 because it comes with anti-sway clips and it will tilt down so I can open the hatchback on the Matrix. It's solid for holding 2 bikes.

Altogther about $400 to get it all installed and set up. Not bad I think.

I highly recommend Rack N Road. They didn't have the hitch for my car in stock, so they told me where to go to get it done. Once I had the hitch installed, they had the rack all built up and ready to go on my car. Nice people, good service, and the best prices I found. That's all I need.

Hey thanks! Rack N Road was a good lead for my car. They didn't have one though, but suggested I call Hitch Crafters in Costa Mesa.

Turns out that Hitch Crafters does custom welded-on hitches, and can do one for my car. The guy I spoke to (Mike) said they could custom make and install a Class I hitch with a beefed-up tongue weight (to 350 lbs) for $225.

That price seems almost too good to be true, but I'm going to at least have them look at my car and see. Not open on weekends, and gone until Monday next week, so I won't find out for sure if they can do my car until Nov 30th. PM me for their phone number if you want to ask about your own ride.

[Acadian]

Originally Posted by 8Trak

Did you contact Thule about this? Did they have anything to say in response? Thanks for the warning.

-Dave

I sure did. They send me a replacement tray and bracket + paid for the damages caused to my bike. still...I chose to sell the WRX and get a vehicle where I could fit my bike inside.

I'm just glad I didn't hit anyone else or worst, cause an accident. Good thing I was coming back from a middle-of-the-night ride (around 5am) and there was no traffic on the hwy. usually hwy 280 (where it happened) is bumper to bumper.

[kanga]

I've been looking at the cyclesimplex racks. They seem simple enough, fit any bike, and I have seen bikes fall off T2's and other clamp-down-the-wheel type of racks several times. I haven't dropped in on a hitch rack yet, but my rooftop Yakima is too expensive to run when the fuel economy is factored in, so I've been looking at hitch rack alternatives that don't clamp down the wheel, or dangle from a top tube (which wouldn't work on my Bionicon). Anyone tried or used the cyclesimplex designs? It's different to the anklebiters, and looks simple enough that there wouldn't be anything to go wrong.

The other one I found was a Badger rack, but they've been out of business for several years. Theirs clamped the bottom bracket, but they're not available anywhere.

[92se-r]

Wow, that bracket is pathetic. When you put a bike on that, the weight puts a huge moment arm on that little bracket. I don't understand why they didn't weld it on and weld side braces on it.