i have a 2021 hyundai ioniq hatchback – the only trunk rack i can find that is approved (by the manufacturer) is the yakima fullback. they provided me these sample pictures (https://pit.yakima.com/), said i would just need anchor hooks, and i'm good to go. but i'm wondering if this would be a hazard with the hooks essentially going under the back window.
local shop has the rack for about $150. should i go for it? or would it be smarter to buy a roof rack (or hitch), and then buy a bike rack for that? (seasucker's mentioned a lot, too, but $300 for a single bike mount is a little out of budget right now.)
by europeanuppercut
14 Comments
Personally, I would not mount that rack to that car. I would only use those hooks on metal components, never glass.
Plenty of people use these racks and they seem “fine”. I’d never use them, I’d never use anything but a hitch and hitch incompatibility would be a deal breaker for me when car shopping.
I have put my bikes on worse, tie the dangling bits they should not be a problem. The real test will be when you have the bikes on and you forget and start driving like a boy racer
Had a similar set up on an early 2000s celica. It technically fit but was wobbly and not secure. Never took the thing on the highway and had to pull over a couple of times to adjust the straps when hauling more than 1 bike.
Would never get those rack. Did you even tried to put your mtb on one of those? I return one I bought because it was shit. Also you can’t use the hatchback door after that. On my hitch rack, i can incline the rack with the bike on to open my back door.
Metal pulling on glass? That’s a hard NO from me.
1) I don’t want to break the glass.
2) My bike costs too much to not be properly secured from bouncing down the freeway at 70mph…
It’s safe as most of the stress is on the bottom part of the rack that sits on the metal. So unless you do something foolish like jump your car you won’t have any significant sudden pressure changes occur on the portion resting on the glass. Make sure the foam pad is intact as that prevents scratches and more importantly disperses stress. I had that rack on an SUV with the same window concern and drove 100’s of miles with a downhill bike attached to it without issue.
I would feel fine taking it on 35mph roads. I wouldnt take it on a highway or freeway where a mishap could cause someone else their life if your bike falls off.
I have the 19 version of the same car and love it! I Installed a hitch via u haul, and use a 1up USA quick rack as it fits the 1¼ inch receiver. I wouldn’t trust 40+ lbs to be attached directly to glass. Plus dealing with straps is a pain, and unstable. I used strap based racks for years before finally jumping to a platform. I can send you some pictures if you’d like to see how it fits.
I’ve seen that exact set up shatter a hatchback’s glass the moment the latch engaged— like one comment above, metal on glass is a hard no. Don’t do it!
Hitch 100%. Or see if you can find a second hand seasucker
I worked at a Yakima/Thule dealer for many years (a LOOOOONG time ago, went to grad school in ’05) and was trained by both to install all their products (I even had certificates!). At least back then we were trained to NEVER hang anything on glass. I would check to see about getting a receiver hitch installed (Uhaul does it) and get a rack that goes into it. So much better in all respects.
Don’t use trunk racks. They scratch the paint on your car, are insecure, and don’t hold mountain bikes very well. Full suspension bikes require an adaptor, some hard tails may as well depending on the frame size and shape.
When you see smashed up bikes on the side of the highway they are almost always accompanied by a trunk rack.
Yeah that’s a no from me as well, trust yourself on that. I would get roof racks if you can