Part 4 of Choosing bike racks

A bit more on the most important pros and cons of these racks:

Strap-on trunk mounted racks usually cost between $50 and $150. The rack needs to be tightly strapped onto the vehicle and the vehicle’s paintwork properly protected from damage if parts of the carrier rest on the body. These strap-on racks usually carry one or two bikes, sometimes three. More than that and you risk damaging the car or bikes.

Pros
• They are good if you often change your vehicle as they are universal fitting.
• They are usually a manageable height for loading bikes on to.
• When not in use, they fold down for easy storage.
• With prices starting at just $50 they are the most affordable of all bike racks.
Cons
• The usual method of fitting means the weight of your bikes and the rack is all taken on the car’s panels, risking damage (I speak from first-hand experience!).
• The webbing fitting straps can snap or wear out in the fullness of time.
• Theft is a high risk as the straps can be easily cut with a knife.
• Care needs to be taken when reversing as the bikes project way out beyond the tailgate.
• In many cases it’s not possible to open the trunk once the bikes are loaded.
• The rack position means that the driver’s view to the rear is often blocked.