If you like to travel and take your bicycles with you, finding a way to carry them securely is essential. Bike racks made for specific vehicles are often a good option for ensuring your bikes are safe on the way to your destination, and there are many kinds of racks that can make loading and unloading easy. 

Mounting And Security

When you are selecting bike racks for your vehicles, you will need to consider the way they mount and if the rack is going to be permanently mounted to the vehicle. The rack needs to be secure when it is in place, or the bikes will not be safe. The way it attaches to the vehicle can significantly affect how secure it is, the weight it can support, and if it is safe from theft. 

Bicycle racks that mount using straps may work, but they do not offer the security afforded by a permanently mounted rack or one that uses a receiver hitch and locking pin to secure them. There are many different options for bike rakes, but security is enhanced when the mounting systems require some effort to disassemble. 

Strength And Durability

When selecting a bike rack for your vehicle, it is essential that you use a rack made from a strong material like aluminum that will support the weight on the rack easily. Most bike racks have weight ratings that make it easy to determine what you can expect them to support. 

A bike rack that is intended to hold three bikes still needs to have a weight rating high enough for the bikes you choose to put on it. Mountain bikes, for instance, are much heavier than bicycles used for road racing, so there could be a significant difference in the weight of the three bikes. Understanding the weight limits before you purchase a rack is vital, and a dealer can go over the rack opens for your vehicle to help you select one that will perform as you expect it to. 

Professional Installtion

When you are considering bike racks for cars, you may want to have the dealer install the rack for you. If the system is a permanent addition to the vehicle, it must be installed correctly so it does not come loose later.

The installation of most rack systems can be completed quickly, but ask the dealer how long they will need to have your vehicle so you can plan accordingly. Once the rack is in place, if you are unsure how to use it, the dealer can go over placing bikes in the rack and securing them with you.

For more information about different types of bike racks, like Thule bike racks, contact a local seller.