Another Bike Rack Thread

[boozin]

Hi
I am looking for a cheap 3-bike rack for my Mach-E. Previously I just bought a cheap Allen rack for $50 from Walmart. It seems that won't fit. (like WTH). Anyways, all the threads show weird solutions (I don't know what a hitch is, I'm sorry, but it looks like it needs professional installation). Any recommendations for bike rack under $100? I don't need it that often, maybe a couple of times a year.

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[AKgrampy]

Hi
I am looking for a cheap 3-bike rack for my Mach-E. Previously I just bought a cheap Allen rack for $50 from Walmart. It seems that won't fit. (like WTH). Anyways, all the threads show weird solutions (I don't know what a hitch is, I'm sorry, but it looks like it needs professional installation). Any recommendations for bike rack under $100? I don't need it that often, maybe a couple of times a year.

Most of the people on the forums appear to install a hitch for their bike racks. I do believe I read of someone using the suction cup style of roof rack. If you are not using a rack that much then I suggest folding the rear seats. The bike may fit with front wheel removed. I would not choose to go with a low cost rack on my Mach! I have a truck and Expedition I use to haul bikes when needed but may add a hitch to my Mach over the winter.

 

[boozin]

This is my daily driver and I am only planning to keep the car 6 months at best. I have no plans on spending that kind of capital. I find it very surprising that something that has been there for decades cannot be done on this car.

I already tried folding the car rear seats down, bike doesn't fit. I need to put 3 bikes. What kind of solution is to remove the front wheel.

 

[kevC]

My wife and I are road cyclists and both our bikes fit with the seats down (without removing the front wheel, which honestly isn't a big deal for road bikes). We put moving blankets between the bikes to prevent messing up the bikes from them hitting each other. But yes, the lack of a legitimate bike rack solution is very frustrating.

 

[Logal727]

I'm wondering if there's a good way to transport some 70lb e-bikes without getting a hitch.

 

[mdolan92869]

I'm wondering if there's a good way to transport some 70lb e-bikes without getting a hitch.

From my experience, no. I ended up scratching the paint on the bumper when trying to get it out of the back. ?

I got a hitch installed.

 

[boozin]

how much does a hitch cost?

 

[Motomax]

What kind of solution is to remove the front wheel.

A very common one for anyone that doesn’t own a truck lol.
A strap on rack will mess up your paint anyways.

 

[mdolan92869]

how much does a hitch cost?

Here in SoCal, I got a Curt hitch parts and labor installed for just less than $600 from RackAttack. Took a few hours for the install. Then the bike rack itself is another thing. Just look at Amazon for more bike racks for 2" hitches than you'll want to ever see.

 

[NewGuy]

yes, the lack of a legitimate bike rack solution is very frustrating.

What do you mean? A couple companies make roof racks that work with the
Mach E and a couple make hitches.

how much does a hitch cost?

Go to Etrailer.com and put in the specs for your car and it will show your options.

 

[boozin]

Do people seriously spend $500 on a bike rack? To me, thats insane, esp since I don't even bother $200-300 for a bike itself

 

[RMoore]

But yes, the lack of a legitimate bike rack solution is very frustrating.

Agree with @NewGuy here, there are actually several options including a few roof racks but also any number of racks that fit into a trailer hitch once you have one. But I do agree that unlike many SUVs that can be ordered with a trailer hitch option the Mach e requires you to do a bit of research to figure out which hitch to get and then you have to either install it yourself or pay a pro to do it. This obviously becomes more of an investment than many would like.

Over the years I’ve used those racks that strap on the back of the car but eventually found them to be a pain so moved to the roof racks (first a Yakima then a Thule). I’ve since moved to hitch-based ones and love the Kuat Sherpa 2. They are easier on the shoulders vs the overhead ones and you don’t have that worry about forgetting they are there and driving into the garage with bikes on the roof.

 

[boozin]

Honestly, I was looking for a solution under $100. My current solution is <$50, worked fine on my BMW. I don't understand why Ford had to go out of their way to create a problem that didn't need to exist.
I have 3 bikes that I paid <$500. Not planning to keep the car longer than 6 months, so I don't see the value of spending money on a hitch, esp when I only plan to take the bikes out 3-4 times a year.

Can anyone recommend roof racks that go with the glass roof?

 

[RMoore]

Do people seriously spend $500 on a bike rack? To me, thats insane, esp since I don't even bother $200-300 for a bike itself

Good bike racks are in that range (better ones are actually more). Not sure why that’s a surprise to you given how popular cycling is (and the fact that you spent upwards of $50K for a car). And if you are happy with a $200 bike that’s great but many enthusiasts spend thousands on bikes. But of course like with so many things you can spend very little if it’s not your thing to a lot if you are an enthusiast.

 

[boozin]

Im not an enthusiast. I dont want to spend money on a rack. That's like saying I spend $50k on a car , and another $100k on shipping it from dealer to home.
Anyways, any recommendations that are cheap? $100 or $200 tops?

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