My adventure Crosstrek
Posted Apr 3, 2023, 7:55 PM UTC
248
Ultimately I'm planning on getting a hitch installed on mine and using my existing 1Up rack, but until I can get one (no OEM or aftermarket ones yet for 2024 models) I have to figure out what to do with my bikes.
I'm hoping that I can fit it upright in the rear with the front wheel off and using a fork block - eyeballing your bike next to the Crosstrek, I think it might be possible, but it would probably be tight.
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My size Large MTB fits in the rear with the front wheel off laying down. I haven't tried with it upright in the rear but I could try it this weekend. I'll be adding a hitch to mine for my dirt bike carrier at some point so may get a hitch rack at some point also.
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I can get my bike in my Golf on its side, so I was confident already that that works - I find it's really easy to scratch up the bumper that way, though, since the pedals invariable rub against it. If I could keep it upright, I think it's less likely to damage things, and it also keeps more space available around it.
FWIW, I highly recommend the 1Up racks if you do go that route.
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I have protectors covering the entire inside of car and a flap that folds onto the bumper for loading so keeps everything protected! 1Up racks have been highly rated by a few friends also so looking at them for sure.
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Any issues and/or recommendations with the roof mounted bike rack? I'm in the market for one and I don't want my bike tumbling down the highway.
I’ve done 7 hours straight with a 35+ lb bike in the rack on freeways and Seattle traffic with no issues. The Subaru Aero bars are not the stiffest so you get a little bit of creaking sort of noise but as long as the bars are tightened down well, it is quite secure. This is one of the newest fork mounted ones that Thule makes and it ran me $260. Hauled both aluminum and carbon bikes on it. Came with fork adapters for all the main sizes. Main annoyance is bugs getting stuck to the bike! I think I’m going to find some way to cover it that doesn’t cost a ton. Easy to load the bike into it as you bolt a cylinder into the fork when on the ground and then latch it into the rack and strap the rear tire/wheel down.
Thanks for the info. My biggest concern is the difficulty in getting a bike up on the roof. I think a rear hitch might be better. But there's a lot of stuff I want to mount to the roof. Surfboard, snowboard, etc
Yeah the fork mounted one is not too bad for me at 5’11” tall to load without needing to step up on anything. Depending on your height, it may be more difficult. Thule makes tire steps for the Subarus to help with roof access but I haven’t gotten one yet.