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Years ago, after most car manufacturers abandoned the pop up or rolldown window on the rear of SUV's, I got a RakAttach swing arm. There were two huge and unanticipated bonuses. First, it positioned the bike rack far enough from SUV that I could lift the hatch without lowering or swinging away the rack, which was amazing. Second, I loosen an arm of the rack and pump tires, etc. with the bike in the rack. Bolt checks and the like are also with the bike in the rack. And I put the bike in the rack as soon I get back to the car.
I recently broke down and bought a truck, because I wasn't interested in the few SUV's left that aren't glorified station wagons. With the truck, I'm going to try running a single tray unless I'm taking a trip. The single tray disappears under the tailgate when it's down, and I can get quick access to the back via the tonneau cover. The added length of the swingarm on the back of the truck sucks in parking garages, especially the one I park in every day at work.
Here's the dumb part: I'm going to lean the bike against the truck, sit on the tailgate, and the bike is going to fall over. I know myself well enough to know that I'm going to forget and do it on a somewhat regular basis. I've got a couple of the scorpion style bike stands and I could throw one in the truck, but I'll probably get in a hurry and not use it. Plus, it won't do me any good the days I'm on the ebike. I've also looked at other types of stands, but I'm a little suspect of something like the Feedback Sports RAAK stand in a gravel or dirt parking lot, and it would be uber dorky to pull one out every single ride.
I'm trying to come up with something simple and very quick that would hold the bike well enough against the truck that a little jostling from sitting on the tailgate wouldn't knock it over and I could air up tires, check suspension pressure, etc. without having to be uber careful. Current though is one-half of a magnetic paper towel holder with some heavy modifications. Keep it just inside the tailgate stuck on the wall of the bed and then move it down the outer edge of the bumper to hold the rear tire. Picture below.
Anybody got any tricks or ideas?
You have a couple of options that I’ve used and seen around the Rockies that work pretty good.
In the winter, I kept seeing these on cars when I walked through the lot and I have two kids and a wife who kept leaning their skis up on my truck. It seemed smart.
https://a.co/d/0hrzaACQ
I ended up finding some single unit magnet on a deep dive Etsy or Amazon like five years ago, it takes the handlebar I think it’s the solution to your problem.
Maybe this is the one I got them with a new name?
https://www.rigstrips.com/products/sunstrip?variant=40277626192042
Search sno strip magnet
Pretty much lives in my truck year round
What about leaning the bike with the wheel/tyre against the car's wheel/tyre? That way even if you sit on the tailgate and move the body, the wheel doesn't...
The only way to lean a bike against a car is the rear bike tire against a car tire.
Everyone always leans the pedal/crank/seat/bars etc on stuff and wonders why bikes fall over all the time. Leaning the rear tire against something stops the the bike from being able to roll at all. If you do that you can jostle the bike around a lot and it won't go anywhere.
Was worried I was gonna feel dumb for even posting this. Nice to get helpful replies. Thanks.
Going to explore the ski stuff.
@maximumradness Basic Google AI is struggling searching that image. You remember where you got that thing, it's intended use, what it's called, etc.
@Primoz moz that's a good idea. I've had an SUV before where it worked well to jam the rear tire between the car tire and body, but doesn't work well on my current truck. Want something that positions the bike more towards the tailgate for easier access, but that's a mighty good habit to get into when I'm coming back because I forgot something and am just leaning the bike up real quick.
This thing looks brilliant. Surely someone can make one for less than $85? https://canyonadventurevans.com/products/cav-magnetic-bike-stand?srsltid=AfmBOors7STVJtqcyabCS1wz4Ylq_iDHGU6JqLAxHB-t6oR6yzmYrLcQ
Think I triumphed over AI with some simple word searches, but the clock's ticking on that victory.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1749364241/magnetic-ski-bike-car-mount-heavy-duty?gpla=1&gao=1&variation0=4567619926
Also, one of the images in this listing needs to be seen. Should we start a separate thread solely to discuss everything that's going on? And absolutely not hating on this thing. I love that they're people out there building up weird things like this.
https://a.co/d/07BWvdPT
I’m1000 percent sure it was amazing with my work account. No history in my phone but this thing seems similar in shape and execution and style
So, hear me out: is that rear rack set up to sit level at sag?
Of all the things on that bike, the not-even-close-to-level rear rack was the one thing that was killing me, but then it hit me- maybe it actually sits level when they sit on the bike? On the one hand, there's no way this rolling garage sale has that much thought put into it. On the other hand, this is exactly the sort of OCD rider who might think of something like that.
I recently swapped forks out on one of my bikes. During the install, I lightly tightened the hose clamp bolt, making a mental note to snug it down after I'd finished installing and aligning the brake caliper (to be able to pull all the play out of the hose). It took me 2 rides to realize that the rattling coming from my normally quiet bike was because sure enough, I did NOT remember to snug down that hose clamp bolt after all. At least it didn't come off on the trail. 🙄
I haven't seen so much WTF in one picture in a long, long time.
@TEASMROBOT, not OCD with this set up. Note the rear valve stem isn't label aligned
.
Hawk eyes. We might need a whole thread to analyze this bike setup. @iceman2058 are we looking at a potential Bike Of The Day here?
If only he had trimmed those cables. Close, but no cigar. It's always the little things that get you.
I say he's put it at the exact spot where it aaaalmost touches the seat post at full compression. 100% functional build.
So much to unpack on that bike. I mean that literally. What am I looking at?
Is it a Cross-downcountrytrailendurodownhill bikepacking rig? Yes.
Gonhoherpesyphilaids
Edit: Jokes aside it's probably perfect for the person who rides it, and isn't that all anyone ever wants in a bike?
I didnt have a bike rack for my vehicle, so id take the front wheel off and toss it in the back of my SUV.
Once day I had a particularly long ride and overexerted myself. Got back to my vehicle and took my front wheel off like usually do. Threw my bike and gear in the back and then sat down for a minute drinking some water and trying to cool off before I drove home. Got up and hopped in my SUV and drove away. This was also a brand new bike by the way, one of my first rides on it.
Got home and took my bike out of the vehicle, and realized i had left my wheel leaning against the passenger side of my SUV. I immediately rushed back in a panic, hoping it wasnt stolen or ran over. I was lucky enough that someone had just moved it out of the asphalt parking lot area and leaned it up against a tree. There were tread marks on the side of the mtb tire where i had ran it over slightly, but somehow i didnt completely ruin my rim. Gave it a tiny bit of truing and i was good to go.
Since then I get out and do a walk around my vehicle once or twice to be certain nothing has been left behind. Its a good habit because there was one time I left my multitool on the back bumper.
Shut up, Hippie.
But yes, that is certainly the case. However this is a good forum for good natured malignment.
Yes. I meant "Cross-downcountrytrailendurodownhill bikepacking rig" as sort of an astonished compliment. 😎
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