Home made bike rack

[jfsh]

I've been working on a new bike rack. I wanted something that was easy to load. I got a few ideas and started welding. This is what I came up with.




It can hold 4 bikes. I used 3/4" square tubing.


If I remove these 2 bolts it becomes a 2 bike rack.


I loaded it up with 4 bikes and drove it around a bit. Nothing fell off so far. The bikes don't wiggle much either. We will do further testing tomorrow.

[faded1004]

looks similar to the public bus bike racks?

how are you going to hold them down?

looks great!

[jeffj]

This is too easy

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrack!

[foofighter]

Originally Posted by faded1004

looks similar to the public bus bike racks?

how are you going to hold them down?

looks great!

+1 how do you hold down the rear?

[92se-r]

Wheelbase is too short on the rack. Extend it out so even a short wheelbase bike or long wheelbase bike can sit inside instead of sitting on top like the Cannondale is right now. I made a rack similar to this. However, I finally broke down and bought the Performance 4 bike one because I could slide the wheel trays so when handlebars conflicted, I could adjust it. Nice home made rack though. Looks good.

[jfsh]

Originally Posted by foofighter

+1 how do you hold down the rear?

I just use a cam strap. I put the strap on so it pulls down and forward. That pulls the front tire further into the hoop. I will probably put a strap on the front wheel as insurance on a long trip.

[dstepper]

Jeff is it just me? Or does that rack kinda look like your fence? Are you going to paint the rack white?

[jfsh]

Originally Posted by dstepper

Jeff is it just me? Or does that rack kinda look like your fence? Are you going to paint the rack white?

It is built with leftover fence material. Very observant Dean. I think I can make anything look like a fence. I guess I have to paint it but that will double the materials cost.

[Bellvis]

Looks good, nice work. Im curious as to why you would want a hitch mounted rack when you have a truck bed. When I had my trucks, I would just strap my bikes down. Is it that much easier to just load it on that rack?

[xwhoopax]

my buddy with a tacoma used to how-to guide to make his homemade bike rack

http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/bikerack/makerack.htm

made of pvc pipe

kind of pricey. but his dad is a contractor so he got most of the pipe from his dad's leftover.

it works well. and if the pipe ever breaks, which it hasnt yet, you just shove a pipe the diameter of the hole inside to hold the broken pieces together and put some glue. bam, stronger than before!

[mtbmichael]

very nice. looks pretty sturdy and solid. how much was the cost of materials?

[jfsh]

Originally Posted by Bellvis

Looks good, nice work. Im curious as to why you would want a hitch mounted rack when you have a truck bed. When I had my trucks, I would just strap my bikes down. Is it that much easier to just load it on that rack?

Good question. I do quite a bit of shuttling where we carry more bikes than I can fit in the back of the truck. Also, when you go on a trip it sure makes packing easier when you can hang the bikes off the back. They take up a ton of space in the bed.

Originally Posted by mtbmichael

very nice. looks pretty sturdy and solid. how much was the cost of materials?

On this project I have spent $6. All of the steel is left over from another project. If I had to guess I would say $40-50.

[CalEpic]

That looks great Jeff. One thing I noticed. I would be carefull of the wheel trap hanging down below the rack on the back bike(s). Especially when going up/down steep driveways, etc.

My Sportworks rack is nearing the end of it's life and I've been eyeing a welder. I think you mentioned you have a 110v wire feed. Is that what you welded this rack with?

[jfsh]

Originally Posted by CalEpic

That looks great Jeff. One thing I noticed. I would be carefull of the wheel trap hanging down below the rack on the back bike(s). Especially when going up/down steep driveways, etc.

My Sportworks rack is nearing the end of it's life and I've been eyeing a welder. I think you mentioned you have a 110v wire feed. Is that what you welded this rack with?

That is something I am a little concerned about as well. The front tire does hang down a little but is not the lowest thing. The bottom of the hoop is lower so it will scrape well before the tire will. Also the back 2 bikes are 2 inches higher than the front bikes. This helps with dragging and with handlebar/seat conflicts. My driveway is pretty steep as you know and I was able to back up into the driveway with a few inches to spare.

I welded this up with my 110v Miller 135. I use CO2 shielding gas. That little machine kicks butt.

[Happy_Gilmore]

Really nice work Bro !

[tkblazer]

that looks nice Jeff, but it doesn't look 29er friendly to me

[danophoto]

Saw Jeff's rack today. It's pretty sweet- stiff from side to side with good clearance...

[guero]

is there anything that you can't make? sounds like dan'o really likes your new rack...what does melanie think of it? lol

looks nice duder!!!

[jfsh]

Originally Posted by tkblazer

that looks nice Jeff, but it doesn't look 29er friendly to me

That is an interesting question. I don't know how a 29er would work on there. I didn't even consider it.