Trunk strap-mounted bike rack VS. hitch-mounted bike racks
Strap rack or Hitch Rack? It's a question our customers struggle with everyday as the cost difference is considerable if your vehicle does not already have a hitch. First thing - Strap racks have come a long way in the last 1o years - the feet and clips that touch the finish of the vehicle are nicer and tend to do less marring and scratching (notice I said "less").
They have gotten easier to tighten to the vehicle with nicer straps, and companies like Yakima putting nice large rubber buckle bumpers over the metal cams on the straps is a big bonus. The racks are easier to fold up and store when not in use. With all that said here are the customers that normally buy strap racks - they are using them only a handfull of times a year. They are using them on a variety of cars. And they have a budget of around $150 or less.
Customers that have owned strap on racks or Trunk Racks rarely come in asking for them again. We try to discourage brand new car owners from purchasing them and when they ask why - we respond "the money saved up front on a strap on rack will cost you dearly on the tail end". If you are using it with any regularity and want it to be easy (you will ride more if transporting it easy) then spend the few extra dollars, install a hitch and do it right. Hitch Bike racks can be shared with a variety of vehicles now a days too (they all need a hitch of course) but most of Yakima and Thule Hitch mounted bike racks out of the box will fit both hitch sizes.
Even if the strap rack does not leave any marks on the vehicle, the bikes may. Tires spinning and hitting the car, pedals digging into the hatch or bumper, handle bars scraping along the trunk lid or hatch - for hundreds of miles. Believe me, we've seen it all. Even strap racks in the middle of the freeway with the owner of the vehicle completely unaware that they have come off (not typical of course - we're just stressing the fact that strap racks just require more diligence to install and maintenance to make sure they stay tight and secure to the car).
The racks have changed a lot as you can see by the picture above but the premise of the rack has not changed. They still strap to and sit on the finish of the vehicle. DO NOT put anything under the feet where they touch the paint - the strap rack is relying on that friction to help hold and keep it tight to the vehicle. The less weight the better. Car sheet metal is getting thinner (so we can all get the good mileage we're all after). Customers call wanting 4 bike strap on racks, and as you can imagine, Yakima and Thule do not make them for a reason...
This post is not to knock Strap Racks or Trunk racks as there is definitely a place in the market for them. We're just accentuating all features that may encourage you kick it up a notch and make the investment for a hitch rack and hitch.
What would you rather have mounted on your brand new 2009 Scion XB? Hitch Rack or Trunk Rack. This customer will have the hitch rack installed, bikes loaded and hitting the road while your still figuring out where the straps go...
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