Cheap Thule Fit Deals

When looking for cases, I considered several factors, price was a consideration, but weight and strength were also important. The cases I looked at included the Trico Sports Iron Case, the Tri All 3 Sports Velo Case, and the Biknd Helium Bike Case. The Trico Sports Iron Case weighs about 31 pounds and cost $290-$399, Tri-All 3 Sports Velo case weighs about 35 pounds and cost about $550-$600, Thule Round Trip which weighs 30.5 pounds and cost $327-$439 and the Biknd Helium Bike Case weighs 19.8 pounds and cost $600.The Tri All 3 Sports case seems to be a stronger case and easiest to pack, with its internal cross bracing to support an aluminum frame and a rigid poly ethylene shell, but is quite a bit more expensive. The Biknd Helium case uses inflatable air bladders to provide protection and disperse pressure away from the bike. The Trico Sports Iron Case is very strong as well, but uses foam combined with the tough polycarbonate external shell to dispersing pressure from bumps and impacts. The Thule Round Trip uses a similar method of protecting the bicycle, but the shell is made of ABS plastic and several reviews I have read comparing the two said the Trico Sports Iron Case's shell seemed more durable.Since I have only owned and used the Trico Sports Iron case, I can not say which case provides the best protection. I did however test the Trico Sports Iron Case I stood on top of the case (I weigh a 185 pounds), without causing any damage to my road bike's carbon frame or its wheels.Packing…

I reviewed many carriers and am so glad I chose this one. First, you get what you pay for, as this one is a little more money. However the features out do all the other bike carriers. It took me about 20 minutes to get it on the car, a Honda Accord, correctly. It has 4 metal cables wrapped in rubber, not straps. The cables work on a pully system that when tightened there is no left over flapping in the wind. There are two locks so you can go inside to have lunch without worrying about them not being there when you come out. A hurricane couldnt remove this when properly installed. The only downside and thats with all rear bike carriers, is it does block your view to some degree. Buy the 3 bike, I only have 2, as the space between the bikes works well.

Pros: this rack carries 4 bikes without any of them touching, and they are supported exactly the way they are designed to be supported. The carrier appears indestructible. If you have a lift back, the hatch can be opened when the carrier is mounted (but not when the bikes are on the rack). Any size or shape bike can be carried. When driving, the bikes are secure and silent.Cons: weight -- the disadvantage to indestructibility is that a lot of steel was used to build the rack, and that makes it heavy (about 60 lbs without bikes). This weight only comes into play when putting the carrier on your car, or taking it off. loading -- If you have a lift-back, you need to get into it before the bikes are loaded. The upright bars can be tilted away from the back of the car far enough to open the back. length -- you have to remember that this carrier is sticking out a few feet behind your car. Storage -- even folded up it takes a lot of room in your garage.We need to carry several bikes at a time: road, hybrid and "step-through" (ladies) -- and sometimes a mountain bike.The wheels fit in lower channels, which may be adjusted for wheel length and to avoid interfering with the next bike's pedals. Then the "hold down" hook keeps the bike firmly in the channels, and the hooks are well padded. You can leave your frame pump on the bike if you want (although a rough road may vibrate it off if it's not secured). Finally, Velcro straps across the tires ... well, I'm not sure…

Sturdy, secure, comes with all the locks. I gave it four stars because nothing is perfect, but this rack works like a champ. I used to have a roof rack and much prefer this one. Would recommend the adapter bar for non standard geometry bikes, (women's beach cruiser or MTN bikes with other than straight top tube).

Was very easy to mount on the Sequoia, and feels pretty sturdy (and watertight). Absolutely no wind noise or rattling could be heard inside the vehicle at 75 MPH. I bought it because the width and height makes it better for carrying family stuff than comparable size Thule or Yakima boxes, though it's not long enough for skis. Low price is a huge bonus. I also like that it opens from the back instead of the side, since on my tall vehicle the easiest way to reach the box is standing on the rear bumper. I looked at the big name boxes, and I can't see how they are worth 2.5x as much.**UPDATE** Have now taken on a few long trips. It did not seem to affect gas mileage at all, and stayed dry inside through 300 miles of downpour. I have to take it off to fit in the garage, which would be true of any box, but I can get it on or off in less than 10 minutes. I fit 2 carry-on suitcases, 4 sleeping bags, a stroller, a full-frame baby backpack, and a small baby bouncer seat inside.

I purchased this item from Amazon retailer, Rack Attack. PROS: 1) After using this item on a recent camping trip and a 10-day vacation, I wouldn't even consider a bike carrier that didn't swing-out and provide access to the rear hatch of my SUV. I used the swing-out feature numerous times during both those trips and while loading/unloading vehicle., 2) IMPORTANT! The swing-out feature also allowed me to store and secure my bikes conveniently on the carrier when not in use. Indispensible during the overnight and for those daylong sightseeing trips., 3) When not in use, the rack's fold-down feature is both functionally and aesthetically pleasing., 4) Well designed. CONS: 1) Price. However, the swing-out feature definitely justifys the extra cost. Amazon's competative pricing, no-sales-tax and free shipping sealed the deal and softened the blow. A definite "feel good" moment during these troubled economic times. 2)The built-in Thule cable lock alone is no match for a pair of bolt cutters. I ramped up the security with two Kryptonite Cables and three Kyryptonite U-Locks securing the bikes' wheels AND frames to the carrier's hitch post. Although time consuming and tedious, my bikes were still on the carrier every time I walked out to my vehicle., 2) Bulky. The carrier may require a dedicated space of its own in the garage. In conclusion, this item is well designed and a must-have for those who enjoy traveling with their bicycles. For those who don't...the Thule 964 Revolver…

This was almost exactly what I was looking for in a bike rack for my pickup truck. No drilling. It is held in place by tension and rubber pads. I drove about 700 miles with two bikes on it without any issues. The only thing I would like to see is a way to actually lock the bikes to the rack. If I could have done that I would have given this a 5 star rating.

I purchased Thule 9031 Vertex Swing Away for about $320 from HumblePower, it was delivered free to my house.I needed to replace my Yakima Swingdaddy after a auto accident. I wanted a updated swing out rack for my Suburban, and the Thule 9031 Vertex Swing Away fit the bill.Love the new arc design, it's practical and makes it easier to load and unload bikes, provides better ground clearance, and allows for greater distance between my and my kid's bikes. So far, so good. Happy with this rack.

I owned this product for about a year. From the beginning the locking mechanism on it felt a little odd. It never quite fit right. Everything else about it seemed pretty nice. As I was driving down the hightway a heard a rattle on my roof and stopped to realize the lock had fallen out of the rack and onto the highway. A friend who worked in a Ski shop said he had never heard of this before and later discovered that Thule issued a notice that they were having problems with the rack specific to the locks. However, because it was only a security issue and not a safety issue it would not be an official "recall". It took forever for me to find someone to return the rack locally and get a refund. So I guess as long as your okay with someone stealing your bike and losing your expensive Thule locks on the highway then Thule is happy to have you buy their products.

This was perfect for our trip to Disney World. We able to stash the stroller, beach toys, toy trucks and much more that would have eaten up our trunk space. Assembly does require two people, particularly when installing the hinges. We had rain for about 400 miles and only a few drops made it inside. Highly recommend it as a great buy.

I recently purchased the subject bike carrier after reviewing many other simular product. Swagman has been around for some time and manufactures a great product. The construction and quality is very good and quite sturdy. I wanted a rack that would hold 4 bikes secure and still be easy to use. I am currently only using it as a 2 place bike rack and did not assemble the section for the other two bikes until the kids get older. It is working out real well and takes up less space when in the down position. The assembly was real easy about 25 minutes. The wieght is not an issue and can be put on and taken off by one person. Due the the position open and in the folded up position the back up sensors on my Flex thinks you are near an object but it is a non issue and just have to be careful backing up. I would recommend this product to anyone looking for a 4 place bike holder. Quality parts and craftsmanship. The pin for the hitch is very secure and you can purchase a locking device if you feel you may have a problem with theft. The ratchet hold down bars have holes for small lock to prevent theft while the bikes are on the rack. I use a cable lock around all of them intead of single locks.

Pros:-The receiver bar tightens nicely into the hitch (1.25") so there isn't any clanking/rattling as you drive over bumps. The threaded hitch-pin gets the credit for this awesome feature.-Folds up and fits in your trunk when not in use. (see cons)-Well-made. All of the weld seams are nicely done and it looks like a professional product.-It was decently packed in the box it came in. There were other reviews that had issues with damage during shipping but mine came in perfect condition with everything wrapped nicely.Cons:-Security: I wasn't expecting Fort Knox - but a functioning locking mechanism would have been nice. The hooks that hold your bike in place have a hole where you can fit padlocks. Problem is, this is only visual. With the locks in place (the same locks recommended by other reviewers) you can still push the lever down enough to lift the hook and release the bike. This is the case with both hooks that came with the rack.-The threaded hitch-pin makes this a less-than-quick release. You'll want to keep a ratchet and socket in your trunk if you think you will be adding/removing this from your car on a regular basis.-Vehicle Clearance (2010 Mazda3): I only have one bike (for the moment) to lug around so I only put on two of the wheel mounts - it's great having this flexibility. However, putting the bike on the inside of the rack makes it so my pedals will chew up my bumper so I had to move the bike to the outside of the rack. When it comes time to fill both sides…

I purchased this carrier after extensive reading of the online reviews for all the different brands. I have a family of 5 and we needed a way to transport our bikes to the Apple Cider Century Bike Ride in Three Oaks, Michigan this past month. I found it easy to install and use. All 5 bikes fit on the rack on the back of my full-sized van and did not bounce or sway. I did decide to pad each bikes frame with a rag where it would touch another bike so that there would be no loss of paint. This did take a little bit more time , but I found the bikes in great condition after the 5 hour drive. I also would warn anyone to check ground clearance between the bottom of the lowest bike tire and the road. This could pose an issue if you back up or go across steep ditches with a low riding vehicle. I did use the enclosed strap to cinch the bottom of the bikes to eliminate swaying. It worked great. I noticed several Thules in the parking lot where 5000 riders began the race, as well as many other brands. The Thule seemed easiest to use among all that i saw. It reaffirmed my choice was a good one. Since Thule is also a reputable name, I can be assured of replacement parts should the need arise. My only difficulty was with my daughters bike. I had to buy a $32 adapter to extend from the seat post to the handle bars, for it to fit on the rack, since the bike rests on the frame cross bar found on all men's bikes. The ability to flip a lever and get into the back of my van without removing the…

I love this carrier. Easy to install, fits easily on both my Volvos (850 and S70) and my old BMW (3-series). Setup is quick and easy and I really like the 4 cables versus 6 straps. Have only made some short trips around town so far but plan some longer trips in the near future. Highly recommend.Update 11/29/2011: Since my initial review we have made several trips including 2+ hours through the mountains to Asheville, NC and several trips to Cades Cove in GSMNP. On all these trips the bikes were carried without incident; no slippage of any kind. As for the car itself, no damage of any type, not even a scratch. Very pleased with this purchase.