So you’re in the market for car bike racks but don’t know where to start.
Chances are, you haven’t decided which car bike rack to buy, and although budget and prices are a good filer, you don’t want to end up with a bike rack that doesn’t match your purpose.
How much do car bike racks cost?…It’s hard to say because each rack is designed for a different carrying capacity and car type. It’s better to take a quick look at the different types of car racks and their prices.
Hitch Bike Racks
Hitch bike racks are designed to attach to the hitch receiver of your vehicle. These are the most practical types of car bike racks and require the least effort when placing the bikes on the rack. Hitch bike racks are compatible with any make and model, as long as there’s a hitch receiver. They come in platform hitch bike racks and hanging bike racks.
Platform hitch car racks have a platform or bed, where the front and rear wheels can be held with straps or in cradles. This is the safest option among car racks.
Hanging hitch racks attach to the hitch of your vehicle, but instead of resting the wheels on a platform, these racks suspend the bike from the frame. There are multiple straps and cradles that hold the bike’s frame.
Price
Hitch racks are one of the most expensive types of bike racks. They are universal for all models and can be interchanged with other cars. Their price of hitch bike racks starts from $200 and can go up to $1,500 depending on the quality and mechanisms like locking features and electric lifts.
Roof Racks
Roof racks are more common with skiers and surfers. You might have seen cargo boxes mounted on top of a car. These boxes are mounted to the roof of the car and roof-mounted bike racks attach in a similar fashion. Roof racks are ideal for people who travel a lot with their bikes and are concerned about ground clearance.
Most people who invest in a roof rack pay a high price, as they can use roof racks for carrying just about anything including kayaks and surfboards.
Price:
Unlike hitch-mounted bike racks, they allow complete access to all doors and keep the bike secure despite wind resistance from high speeds.
Roof racks are expensive initially. They are ideal for people looking to carry 1-3 bikes and don’t have a problem reaching the roof of their car. Roof racks start from $300 and go as high as $700. Once you have your roof rack, you will have to spend a few extra bucks on either a fork mount or a frame mount. These cost an additional $80-$200 per mount.
Many roof racks cost less than $300, but these are either a risk on the road, have minor compatibility issues with cars, or are designed to carry lightweight bikes.
Tailgate Pads
Tailgate pads are designed for trucks. Previously, people used to buy new bikes as soon as they got bored with their old bikes. These days, good bikes cost thousands of dollars and tossing some carbon-framed hybrid bike and intricate dual suspension mountain bike in the bed of your truck simply isn’t affordable.
Tailgate pads are designed to hold the bike from the frame or front wheel. These pads go over the tailgate of your truck and are kept in place using multiple straps. Tailgate pads are great for transporting more than four bikes at once. So, if you’re looking for a car bike rack that can carry all of your family’s bikes and own a truck, you know where to look.
Price:
The price of tailgate pads ranges from $50 to $200. They are relatively cheaper than hitch-mounted bike racks and roof racks. The price is affected by the material used to make the tailgate pad, the padding, spacing and other factors that speak for the quality of these pads.
Truck Bed Bike Racks
Truck bed bike racks are designed to hold the bikes either from the wheel or the front forks. Tailgate pads are also a type of truck bed bike rack. Truck bed bike racks come in various designs, some are designed to fit on the bed rail while others are designed to anchor inside the truck’s bed. They are great for transporting up to six bikes for a full-sized truck bed.
You already know the price of tailgate pads. So, how much do bike racks cost that are going to stay in the safety of your truck’s bed?
Price:
Truck bed bike racks that mount on the bed rail cost around $400, and the standard bike racks that are easily installed inside the truck’s bed can be as cheap as $50, but a good quality bike rack will cost around $150 for your bike’s safety.
Final Verdict
Now that you have a general idea of how much do car bike racks cost, you can enter the market more confidently. Remember to match the purpose with the price and always prioritize why you’re buying a rack in the first place. Usually, a good bike rack across the categories will cost at least $150.