[I.Greyhound Fan]

Hi, I am looking at buying a trunk based bicycle rack for my son.  My budget is under $200.  It can be a 2 or 3 bike rack.  I have been looking at the Saris Bones rack but reviews on this rack and other racks are all over the place.

Does anyone have any experience with this rack?

Thanks for looking!

[nlitworld]

What kind of bikes are you placing on the back? Light weight road bikes on a trunk are not bad. Full suspension mountain bikes are a bit more tricky if possible at all. I love my Thule hitch rack and previously had the Thule roof mount ones, but I only went that route because my mountain bikes didn't fit well on a trunk mount rack.

[Letitroll98]

I carry my non suspension Gary Fisher mountain bike on an old Thule trunk mount that I reconditioned and haven't had any problems.   It has a four bike capacity, but I'd never try that many more than a couple miles.  The newer models are much more robust, but I still would be nervous with more than two on a trunk mount.  And even with one bike I use two or three bungee cords and a styrofoam block on the inside pedal.  My son owns a bike shop and he only uses a hitch mount.  U-Haul is best for getting a hitch installed, but then we're over $200 all inclusive.  Previously he used a roof mount and traveled the east coast with it.  Back to trunk mounts there a lot of cheap junk out there, I'd stick with name brands like Thule.

[Doublej]

Yakima or Thule for me. Yakima currently has one on sale on their website. I don't know if it will fit your son's car.

https://yakima.com/products/halfback

Good luck.

[listenermark]

I have a Saris rack that I found for 40 bucks on CL. It works well for me, but I only carry a single road bike, so your experience may vary. The only thing I dislike about it is it lacks any sort of security. Some of the Thule and Yakima models can provide a bit of security.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

What kind of bikes are you placing on the back? Light weight road bikes on a trunk are not bad. Full suspension mountain bikes are a bit more tricky if possible at all. I love my Thule hitch rack and previously had the Thule roof mount ones, but I only went that route because my mountain bikes didn't fit well on a trunk mount rack.

He has a 22lb road bike and a 30-32lb mountain bike.  It will be for 1 bike unless he takes a friend.

Thanks for all the replies.

[mick wolfe]

I had a Thule roof rack for years. (highly recommended) I'm sure a Yakima would be excellent as well. Never liked my trunk rack. To me it just served as a bumper extension that would destroy a bike or two if you were hit from behind. Not that a roof rack doesn't require your attention though. Don't pull into your garage or carport forgetting that bike that's on your roof. Currently just put my bike( front wheel off) in the truck of my Mazda 6. It's rear seats fold down. One bike only in this scenario though. Either road bike or MTB will easily fit.

[veloceleste]

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[nlitworld]

He has a 22lb road bike and a 30-32lb mountain bike.  It will be for 1 bike unless he takes a friend.

Thanks for all the replies.

Thise should be just fine for a trunk rack. Definitely make sure to watch pedals and derailers against the car, unless the car doesn’t really matter. I would suggest looking for a better long term solution with a roof or hitch rack for better security and damage risk. Keep cruising craigslist or Facebook marketplace. I found my Thule T2 rack for $250 a few years back.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I am leaning to the Saris Bones.  I use a Thule hitch type bike rack for 4 bikes.  My son is moving to Baltimore to start Nuclear Medicine school at Johns Hopkins and can't afford $500 for a hitch and then another $250 for a bike rack.  The Saris is light weight and should be fine for 1 or 2 bikes.

[nlitworld]

Yeah that one should be fine provided the top tube of his mountain bike works with the ties. Road bike will be totally fine with no issues though.

[SoaringBear]

Have a 1-Up rack. Works very well. All metal. Only drawback is fit will not work with small kids bikes.