Which one would be better overall? I just bought a Yakima roof rack, but I hear that installing a hitch at U-Haul and finding a hitch rack is more reliable. What are your thoughts on this?
by Ok-Bite-1000
Which one would be better overall? I just bought a Yakima roof rack, but I hear that installing a hitch at U-Haul and finding a hitch rack is more reliable. What are your thoughts on this?
by Ok-Bite-1000
45 Comments
Hitch, I don’t want to haul my bike on the roof every time. You’ve got an Outback though, just throw it in the back
I use a hitch rack for a couple reasons:
1) Much easier to load bikes onto a hitch rack than a roof rack. Bikes are always heavier at the end of a ride, because of science.
2) I’ve seen too many videos of people forgetting that they have a bike on the roof until they hit something with it.
3) There’s actually a negative impact to fuel efficiency with a bike on the roof. It’s not huge, but it’s there. It gets worse if you add a bug guard to your bike. I made that mistake just once.
Hitch! Zero risk of driving your bike into an overhang.
Having used both, hitch, all day every day.
Forget UHaul. Buy the hitch from [ETrailer](https://www.etrailer.com) and install yourself.
Hitch rack all day. Big fan of the Kuat Sherpa racks.
You can’t ruin BOTH your garage door/roof AND bicycle with a hitch rack.
I had a roof rack on my VW GTI… low car was ready to load. I then got a subaru outback and the rod rack got tiring quick… so I got a hitch. I don’t know why I waited so long
After forgetfully trying to drive into a parking garage years ago, I swore to always have a hitch rack from then on. (Bikes were thankfully OK, but had to replace a crossbar and felt like an idiot for the longest time. Still might be an idiot but at least my bikes are safer now).
Hitch! 100%
Hitch.
I had a roof rack for a bit and went back to hitch rack for two reasons:
1) can’t go through drive throughs. Sometimes I need coffee or food post ride and don’t want to leave my bike unattended.
2) getting the bike to the roof rack is difficult and if I ever get hurt on a ride it would be impossible to get it onto the rack. To be clear I’m 6’4” and drive a Crosstrek and am just barely tall enough to get the bike up there
For those reccing hitch, anyone make it work without a factory trailer hitch?
For me, on a car – roof and on an SUV – hitch, but I’m 6’5″ so….
I worked in a bike shop for 3 years and sold lots of bike racks. I’d never buy a roof rack. You wouldn’t believe the amount of clients that came in the store with a bike torn apart + damaged car roof + property damage because they forgot the bike was up there.
I have the same (I think) year Outback (assume that’s yours). I put a Curt hitch rack on it, which wasn’t too hard. Disclaimer: I’ve worked on cars some, have a garage, and the minimal tools. Roof just seems annoying, and I don’t trust myself not to drive into something.
[https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Subaru/Outback+Wagon/2019/C13410.html?VehicleID=201986679](https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Subaru/Outback+Wagon/2019/C13410.html?VehicleID=201986679)
Basically, pop the bumper cover, unbolt the bumper rail, put the hitch and the bumper rail back on, trim the plastic bumper a little, and pop it all back together.
1UP bike rack. 🙂
Hitch, gives you the option to put a cargo box on top if you need more space. Have Thule for both, single key, and some models have a built in cable lock for your bikes as well as the hitch
I line in a condo with an underground garage. I KNOW, if I had a roof rack, one day after a long drive I would forget about it and get in the garage with the bike on the roof.
So, hitch 100%
The people fear mongering about roof racks are just that, fear mongering. They’re easy to use and only an idiot would drive into the garage with their bike on the roof.
To me, the decision comes down to this : do you plan on carrying more than just bikes? A cargo box, skis, kayak, a bed, or plywood? If so, roof rack is the right choice. Way more versatile.
If you will only ever carry a bike, then hitch.
Roof rack for cool factor, hitch rack for convenience
I can’t think of anything that would make a roof rack better if both options are available.
We have a Saris hitch rack that not only supports multiple bikes but when it’s in the closed position with no bikes it doesn’t cover the hatch and it tilts back to allow access to the door even when loaded.
Hitch rack
– let’s you load more bikes 2-4+
– is more aerodynamic
– is more secure (can chain your bike to the hitch itself)
– is easier to access (roofs are a paint to reach)
– less risk to damage the bike (only perhaps backing up into things)
– leaves roof open for car carrier
– supports more types and weights of bikes
I prefer roof racks. I also am used to kayaks being up there so running into something with them is something I’m cautious of as a rule.
Hitch racks are convenient. The only real negative for me with hanging anything on a hitch is it will get covered in road grime.
Love my Hollywood hitch rack.
My wife rides an e-bike and a roof rack would be impossible.
Hitch all day, every day, as long as the extra cost isn’t an issue. That being said, I am 5’7″ so getting bikes onto the roof of my lifted 4Runner sucks – your results may vary.
Hitch and 1up
The hitch is way more practical, but the roof rack is very euro-pro coded so that’s something important to consider
Hitch 100%
hitch with a 1up rack. Anyone who says otherwise hasn’t used a 1up rack.
roofs are great if you run out of hitch space, but you’ll end up scratching the shit out of your car, getting it dirty, and its overall more of a pain in the ass than a hitch
hitch rack. Not b.c. of reliability, but b.c. once a year you or your significant other will forget that you have the bike(s) on when driving into undeground parking and ruin the bike, the rack, the roof, or all three. And yes, it happenned to me (all three).
I prefer hitch racks, but it makes me nervous about getting rear ended in traffic.
Hitch. I liked roof racks just fine with my Impreza but the Outback is just tall enough to be a pain. I dropped my full sus once loading it up and went hitch ever after
I have a roof rack, and I hate it. My bike wiggles like crazy at highway speeds and I’m genuinely terrified that a rough wind paired with a passing 18-wheeler will rip it right off
Hitch rack all day. Now I just need a hitch
I have an outback. I have both. I got the roofrack first. Then I decided its a pain lifting the bike up and into position. I also got tired of wind noise. So I bought a factory hitch (for a wilderness) but I haven’t gotten around to installing it yet.
Thinking of getting my first bike rack. I was pro roof rack due thinking I cant access the trunk with hitch rack. Is this a issue?
Hitch. Specifically 1up.
I wouldn’t say either is more reliable but a hitch rack is typically easier to load. Roof racks do require you be aware of increased height bit won’t block your rear dorr/hatch/lid/etc. I’ve personally seen more failures with hitch racks and they do increase the footprint of your vehicle in parking spaces and the like. Some vehicles are rather poorly designed for a hitch and dragging the rack may be a common occurrence. Ebikes can also easily overload 1 1/4″ receivers(though lifting those on the roof can really be a chore). If you already have rails and crossbars, a quality roof rack tends to be a lot cheaper for one or two bikes.
Personally I have pretty much always done a roof rack, but I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone.
For anybody using trunk daily, I highly recommend getting a roof rack or full Swing bike hitch rack. Its an everyday struggle when doing Costco runs.
I drove from Dallas to Boulder with a roof rack, there’s still bugs stuck in that headset, stem, and bar tape. I bought a hitch rack on Colorado for the drive home. I never wanted to experience that again.
Why not both?!
I have both. I mostly use a roof. Why?
It’s always there (not in the way) unless I’m paddling and I need to load a canoe.
A hitch can be used as an obstruction by police (plate or light obstruction) and it’s a pain in the ass to access your hatch. Some are better for this but it’s still a process vs just entering your hatch.
Basically toss a rooftop on for grab and go, get a hitch for bike specific trips.
I will say loading anything above 25lbs on a higher roofline car is a bitch. I’m not weak or short, but you still have to clear the top, get the wheels lined up and lock it down. If the ground is perfectly level it’s another layer of difficulty. But for my road or gravel bike for a impromptu ride, it’s absolutely fine. Neither is more than 22lbs unloaded.
I 100% prefer the hitch rack. Secure, easy to fold and easy to load. I also have two for my roof and only use them when bringing extra people. I find it hard to balance my bike in one hand while utilizing the securing mechanisms. Keep the roof rack for buddies and a cargo box but get a hitch mount for you!
I use a Yakima front loader on my outback and it’s good. I’d like a hitch rack but I got the front loader new for $100 and the outback has bars built into it. For the low expense alone it was a no brainer. A hitch and rear rack would be much more expensive.
Stealth Hitch + Kuat is my go to. Love it as it’s completely gone when my wife wants to use that car.
Roof.
Though right now I have neither, so I’m all about removing the front wheel and guiding it carefully into the trunk of my small sedan….. hey, whatever works right?
Hitch because I’ve seen too many pictures of people forgetting about their bike on top when pulling into their garage etc.
I do have a roof mount in the event of extra riders but it mostly lives in the garage.
Roof. I’m not fast enough for the aero gains of my frame, so I use the mild decrease in drag for a boost in potential fuel economy to justify my bike purchases. And, roof racks look cooler; it’s all about the flex.