[Tell3131]

I am wondering if anyone has carried a bike on top of their X? I need to pull a Seadoo and want to put the bikes up top, so I can have cargo space and extra seats for passengers in the back seat. I don't like the hatch bike carriers, so the only other place is on top.

If you have carried a bike on top.

1) Is it hard to get it on top and take off? I have light road bikes, but just wondering if this is difficult.

2) Do you use Thule or Yakima as carriers?

Thanks!

 

[cookX]

if you have a really light bike, i'd be worried about it's stability up there.

i havent carried a bike on my roof, so i'm not really sure

another option ( i actually saw this for the first time about a week ago) is to use one of those bike carriers designed to "sit" on the rear hatch of a sedan/station wagon/van and mount it in front of the car, on the hood and bumper.

im talking about one of these guys: http://www.allproducts.com/tool/yfy/supplier1.jpg

 

[PacoPico]

I do it, with no problems. I bought two (2) bolt on, front fork mounts and mounted them to the front rack cross-bar. I adjusted the cross-bars to the correct length for the bikes wheelbase, and secure the rear tire to the rear cross-bar with a cinch-strap.

I have driven over 1000 miles with bikes up there, no problems.

 

[lifeinthesouth]

it's no problem... espepcially if you have sidesteps or sliders and if not just open the back doors and stand on the seat.
The lighter the bike the easier it is.
Here's a couple old pics of my mtb on my ghetto fabbed rack... a couple 2x4's with u-bolts attaching them to the rack, mighty mounts for the forks and some slotted angle w/a bungee to hold the back wheel.
It's more work than I felt like dealing with which is why i have a hitch rack now but if you're towing it's perfect.

 

[RogueClimber]

I carry my bikes up top always. From my lightweight racers to my 45 pound cruiser. I do carry a small step ladder to make it a little easier to put up, the sliders work but are a little tight to be easy to lift a bike so close to the truck. And I currently use the Thule racks...

 

[Tell3131]

Thanks guys. I think if I go with a top mount I will use Thule. .

A hatch carrier is a good idea too.

 

[highTech]

I have the Ankle Biter, but I haven't used it yet.

 

[willyswan]

I carry both my mountain and road bikes on top all the time. The further outboard you mount the carriers (up to a point), the easier it is to put the bikes on and take them off. Here are a couple of pictures of my Yakima set up.

I'm considering mounting my cross bars (or a second set of cross bars) below the Xterra rails in order to lower the height.

regards,
Willyswan

 

[tootall2]

i've got athule. carry both bikes and boats on top. Very simple with the right attachments. Go to the thule websire and check out what you need.