Home made bike rack

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by jfsh, Mar 29, 2008.

  1. jfsh

    jfsh chainsaw and shovel

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    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.
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    It can hold 4 bikes. I used 3/4" square tubing.
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    If I remove these 2 bolts it becomes a 2 bike rack.
    [​IMG]

    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.
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  2. faded1004

    faded1004 New Member

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    looks similar to the public bus bike racks?

    how are you going to hold them down?

    looks great!
     
  3. jeffj

    jeffj Bloated Mountain B'hiker

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    This is too easy

    Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrack! :bang:
     
  4. foofighter

    foofighter Ride More Talk Less

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    +1 how do you hold down the rear?
     
  5. 92se-r

    92se-r Active Member

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    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.
     
  6. jfsh

    jfsh chainsaw and shovel

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    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.
     
  7. dstepper

    dstepper (R.I.P.) Over the hill

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

    jfsh chainsaw and shovel

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    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.
     
  9. Bellvis

    Bellvis BUFFALO SOLDIER

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

    xwhoopax New Member

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    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!
     
  11. mtbmichael

    mtbmichael New Member

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

    jfsh chainsaw and shovel

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    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.


    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.
     
  13. CalEpic

    CalEpic member

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    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?
     
  14. jfsh

    jfsh chainsaw and shovel

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    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.
     
  15. Happy_Gilmore

    Happy_Gilmore Blood Donor - Give Life

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    Really nice work Bro !
     
  16. tkblazer

    tkblazer Zack Attack

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    that looks nice Jeff, but it doesn't look 29er friendly to me :protest:
     
  17. danophoto

    danophoto New Member

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

    guero iFroth

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    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!!! :bang:
     
  19. jfsh

    jfsh chainsaw and shovel

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

    gooseaholic Active Member

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    Looks good.Square tubing, not the usual. Is it heavy? I used to build racks for a landscape company and they weighed a ton for what they wanted.

    Oh and the bracing on the underside, do you think a good gusset would work to cut down on weight?
     

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