mnkyboy

Anyone have a bike rack for the P5? I have a old trunk/hatch rack from my last car, but its a POS. I would like to get a bike rack that is compatible with the existing roof rack, but im open to anything that works well. Ive seen some hitch racks, but that would mean I have to get a hitch installed and im not sure how that would be on the P5.

Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

roach

Thule has two options. You can go to here to see them. I will be getting my P5 in a few days (Black, 5-Speed, Moon Roof, ABS) and will pick up the 889. I had a Thule on my Impreza and really like it. I hope this helps! (First Post)

mnkyboy

Thanks for the link Roach! I like the roof rack mounts, but I need to transport (2) bikes, so $240 bucks for (2) mounts is a bit of money.

This link has the link to the roof rack and hitch carriers that fit the Protege 5.

I wouldnt mind getting a hitch carrier, since its only about $130.00 bucks.

Does anyone have a hitch on there P5 and pull/carry anything? I just wondering how stable the hitch would be to put (2) bikes on it. Also, would doing this void the warranty or damage the car?

Thanks again for the post Roach, and welcome to the board!

azrakain

In the owners manual there is a section called towing/trailering. It says one thing: "don't tow/trailer anything with your protege."
I laughed my *** off when I read that when I was first going through my manual.

roach

Your'e welcome mnkyboy. I already have the locks and one carrier left over from my Impreza, so I only need to get the 889.

Thanks for the welcome to the board! It was your posts and others on this board that led me to take a P5 out for a test drive. Of course sitting in one at the Cleveland Auto Show didn't hurt any either

biknman

mnkyboy,


I'm a avid cyclist both road and mountain. I have Protégé sedan and I had a roof rack and it sucked. Lots of wind resistance, means low gas mileage and sucks up horsepower, noise from the rack whistling in the wind, bugs that are impossible to remove form the bikes, and if it rains you get water injected into the headset, forks, hubs, bottom bracket, ect. Then it got stolen so I got a 1 ¼” receiver hitch from Draw-Tite cost about $100 takes about 15 minutes to bolt on. And a hitch rack from Thule the Docking Station see www.hitch-web.com. Now the bikes are in the draft no loss in gas mileage or power, easy to but bikes on and off the car, don't have to worry about low garages, even works great as a work stand to help lube a chain before a ride or adjust a cable. I buddy of mine just got the same setup for his Dodge Neon from U-haul cost him $170.00 for the 11/4 receiver hitch and a three bike hitch rack that also works as a ski rack. Did not include installation labor cause we installed it ourselves which took about 1/2 hour. My wife also has a receiver hitch on her 02' Eclipse Spyder which is convertible no roof to mount a rack any-who. Now she can easily tote around her velocipedes (aka bicycle).

mnkyboy

Well, I dont think carrying your bike on a hitch carrier is considered towing/trailing...lol. I can understand that you SHOULD NOT tow another vehicle with your P5, but bikes are a couple hundred pounds the most...

sandman

Couple hundred pounds!!???!!

Are you planning on carrying a Harley or something!?!

You're definitly right tho, i don't think a mountain bike or 2 would be called trailing or towing by any stretch.

I think the hitch is gonna be my choice too.

mnkyboy

LOL

I was just exaggerating! I just bought a new bike, and i was shocked by how light it is.

Ive seen cars with U-Haul hitches. Are these bought and installed at U-Haul, or are they only sold at U-Haul for you to install yourself?

biknman

It depends on the U-haul outlet you go to some install some don't even sale them.
I've been hauling up to four bikes around on the back of my Protégé for three years now. Hell half a dozen times where across the US on extended vacations or to races. In 99' after I got out of the service I took the summer off and toured the US on national Downhill pro circuit (NORBA NCS) with two fifty pound Downhill bikes and a thirty pound Dual Slalom bike on the back of the car. In fact the hitch makers only sale the receiver hitches for use with bike racks the tongue weight is only two hundred pounds with no towing capacity.
Also I forgot to mention the bikes can and will come loose on a roof rack especially if you travel for extended time behind big trucks or in high cross winds and then BAM off comes the bike and getts all fucked up and scratches the hell out of the car. Not with a hitch rack no way to even touch the car. Also if you go riding in the mud and throw it up on the roof when you get home your assured to have **** in all the cracks in the roof and down the sides of the car even worse if you have sunroof. One last thing make sure you put reflective paint or stickers on the rack or make sure you can see your brake lights with the bikes on the rack. If I'm traveling at night with bikes on the back I attach some runners night saftey belts that are super refelctive across the wheels.

mnkyboy

Tnks again Bnkman! Great tips. It looks like ill be buying a hitch carrier. Thanks again.

BTW, if anyone else has any suggestions, or know another good place to buy hitch carriers, please post a reply. Thanks.

biknman

Check this site out, the cheapest you'll find on the web for hitches : http://www.hitch-web.com./vhitch.asp...L1&bumper=None
I bought four hitches from them.

This is their site for bike racks: http://www.hitch-web.com./accessory....=bicycle+racks
my buddy has a Draw-tie and its pretty durable.


This is where I got my Thule 920 Space-station from with 927 Velo Vice: http://www.rackwarehouse.com/thule-hitch-racks.html
FYI with this combo you have no worries about wheels dragging the ground, over speed bumps, up steep driveway, etc. if you've lowered the car like I have.

mnkyboy

Cool! Tnks

Just got back from riding my new bike, I cant believe how nice of a ride it is. Comparing my new bike to my old bike is like comparing my old '95 Grand Am (pos) to my 2002 P5...LOL..

BTW, my new bike is a 2002 Trek 820.

nowkeg

yeah, as an avid biker too.. i like carring my bike behind me, not on top. i used to carry them inside my car when i had a hatchback but now i don't even have fold-down seats. some of the nicer truck mount racks should fit fine... they sit on the glass if your protege so no scratching paint eihter. i'd love to get a hitch rack but they are expencive! plus the cost of a hitch... if that is all you are gonna use it for.

schwinn homegrown (fast.. unfortunantly the rider is slow!)
raleigh roadie (really old but comfy steel frame)

nowkeg

yeah, as an avid biker too.. i like carring my bike behind me, not on top. i used to carry them inside my car when i had a hatchback but now i don't even have fold-down seats. some of the nicer truck mount racks should fit fine... they sit on the glass if your protege so no scratching paint eihter. i'd love to get a hitch rack but they are expencive! plus the cost of a hitch... if that is all you are gonna use it for.

schwinn homegrown (fast.. unfortunantly the rider is slow!)
raleigh roadie (really old but comfy steel frame)

oh yeah, i read an article that top mounted bikes get their grease squezzed out of their heads, and bb and hubs on the hwy... i dunno how much of that is true but yeah... i carry mine and my buds behind me.