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, Wed, 17 Sep 2003 17:10:55
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The SAAB factory hitch is 1 1/4" and mounts to 3 mounting holes on the underside of the trunk (spare tire well). From the dealer, it's about $380 or so, plus installation. OUCH!
There are several companies that make compatible frame-mount hitches. Uhaul has some, but I've heard both good & bad things about their installation. Off the top of my head, I cannot think of the names of the other companies. I will post them if I remember. A Google search for hitches should churn them up. Most options are less expensive than the SAAB factory hitch.
Moving on to the bicycle carrier. There are several kinds. One is the "inverted L" type by which the bike is hung by its top tube. Both wheels stay on your bike. Pricier models have arms that fold down to keep the bike(s) from swaying. If you have a bike with a non-traditional frame (full suspension MTB or mixte frame), this type of rack will not work unless you have an adapter (basically a bar that clamps between the stem & seatpost, which serves as an artificial top tube).
I was looking at fork-mount racks, basically the same as those mounted to roof racks, but mounted crosswise behind the car, versus lengthwise on the roof. Thule makes these, but they are large and expensive. Mose racks like this require a 2" hitch socket, but there are adapters and some companies make models designed for 1 1/4" sockets. This type of rack requires the removal of the front wheel. The fork is locked into a locking head, and the rear wheel gets fastened down in a tray.
There are also similar models which allow you to keep both wheels on the bike, and hold the bike by either the frame or wheels.
Most racks like this allow the mounting of 2 bikes, with the possibility of holding up to 2 or 3 more. Most fold up out of the way when not in use. Fork mount models are VERY secure, but if you get one, remember to lock the rear wheel to the rack with a cable. Thieves can easily steal an expensive back whell, since it is right there at ground level.
I currently have a roof rack with 2 fork-mount trays and 1 upright-mount tray. On my next car (9-5 Aero Wagon, finances permitting) I intend to get a hitch rack with 2 fork-mount trays. My wife is 12" shorter than me, and she has a heck of a time getting bikes on and off the roof rack.
I would suggest going to http://www.mtbr.com. This is a MTBing resource website. They will have reviews of bike racks, and going to the hotlinks page will lead you to component & accessory manufacturers, where you will find many bike rack makers.
Good luck!
JMJ
'97 900SE coupe, 90K
posted by 65.162.128...
, Wed, 17 Sep 2003 17:10:55
, Thu, 18 Sep 2003 17:07:16, Wed, 17 Sep 2003 20:10:34
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