Bike racks for the car and MPG difference

[TridenT]

Since I've lost my bike (stolen), I sold my bike rack that was for the trunk of my car. I never got to use it, but I got it for a sweet deal ($20) and then sold it ($50). I'm now reconsidering my decision because I'm dying for a bike.

What kind of gas mileage difference did you experience with your vehicle and a trunk mounted bike rack? (Details on both would be nice) I've been trying to find this info online, but most people seem to choose roof racks and I don't want that. (That would be a serious hit to the fuel economy)

For reference, I have a 2000 honda civic ex coupe.

 

[MiataNC]

The added weight is less than an adult human. The added drag won't amount to much with either a roof or trunk rack.

Unless you are doing mostly highway driving, I don't think you will notice a difference at all. Maybe 1-2 MPG at the worst, but that is just a wild ass guess.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I don't like trunk mount racks for a couple of reasons:

1) They make the trunk unusable with a bike on there.
2) They can scratch and mar the finish of your car.
3) Taking them on and off your car is a PITA.
4) Theft of rack and bike is easier.

I prefer a hitch mounted rack. They are more expensive but also more secure and allow you to access the trunk even if you have bikes mounted on it. They are also pretty easy to remove when you aren't carrying a bike.

Fuel economy will suffer a bit with either one. I don't see any drop in city driving but once you get on the freeway you'll see fuel economy drop a bit. I drive a 2012 Camry Hybrid and I typically get around 38mpg freeway and down around 35mpg while carrying a bike.

 

[NutBucket]

Roof mounted adds a ton of wind resistance. Anyone that tells you otherwise is a fool. I would much rather have a hitch rack as Jules suggested. Roof mounted is OK as long as the rack is securely fastened to the roof..ie factory roof rails or some other means being screwed to the roof. I don't like the towers that clamp around the edge of the roof. I know they're effective but I just don't like 'em.

 

[BurnItDwn]

when I used trunk mounted on my 300M, I lost about 1mpg.
In my forester, I can just fold down the back seats and put the bikes in the car.

 

[TridenT]

The added weight is less than an adult human. The added drag won't amount to much with either a roof or trunk rack.

Unless you are doing mostly highway driving, I don't think you will notice a difference at all. Maybe 1-2 MPG at the worst, but that is just a wild ass guess.

Your wild ass guess is way off. That is why I want actual data from people. Roof racks are notoriously bad for MPG, especially with bikes on them. Cars that get 30MPG will get <24MPG with bikes and frequently <27MPG with just the damn roof racks themselves on.

 

[TridenT]

I don't like trunk mount racks for a couple of reasons:

1) They make the trunk unusable with a bike on there.
2) They can scratch and mar the finish of your car.
3) Taking them on and off your car is a PITA.
4) Theft of rack and bike is easier.

I prefer a hitch mounted rack. They are more expensive but also more secure and allow you to access the trunk even if you have bikes mounted on it. They are also pretty easy to remove when you aren't carrying a bike.

Fuel economy will suffer a bit with either one. I don't see any drop in city driving but once you get on the freeway you'll see fuel economy drop a bit. I drive a 2012 Camry Hybrid and I typically get around 38mpg freeway and down around 35mpg while carrying a bike.

I'm fine with 1, I don't think 2 is going to be much of a problem consider my car's extensively wear already, 3 they seem pretty easy to me, and 4 is a concern even with roof racks. One thing I don't like is that it will make parallel parking a cluster fuck.

I'll consider a hitch mounted one as that would be more secure for theft. (Can't just cut the straps to remove the bike rack from the trunk) I might look into seeing if I can lock my bike to my car with a chain or something of that sort.

Hitch sounds nice tho but also sounds much more expensive.


Highway gas mileage is important. I'm doing 10k+ miles with this shit hooked up. Most of them highway.

 

[MiataNC]

Highway gas mileage is important. I'm doing 10k+ miles with this shit hooked up. Most of them highway.

Why not take the wheels off and store your bike in the trunk or back seat?

 

[TridenT]

Why not take the wheels off and store your bike in the trunk or back seat?

Full trunk already and possibility of 2 bikes. I'm not the only one who is going to be in this car.

 

[JulesMaximus]

The added weight is less than an adult human. The added drag won't amount to much with either a roof or trunk rack.

Unless you are doing mostly highway driving, I don't think you will notice a difference at all. Maybe 1-2 MPG at the worst, but that is just a wild ass guess.

A roof rack absolutely killed highway fuel economy on my Maxima. I went from mid 23-24mpg to 18mpg with just one road bike up there. That is one of the reasons why I decided to get a hitch rack for my Camry Hybrid.

Problem with the hitch rack is you have to install a trailer hitch which adds weight and expense. Hitch racks aren't cheap either, especially the tray type that hold the bike by the wheels vs suspending it from the top tube.

I paid $150 for the hitch which I installed on the car myself (huge PITA) and I bought an inexpensive hitch rack that hangs the bikes by the top tube for $180. I think I'm going to spring for a 1UP USA rack though. They get excellent reviews and seem to be very easy to use and well made.

 

[MiataNC]

I never would have guessed bikes added that much drag.

Really goes to show just how good the engineers are when they develop cars.

 

[MiataNC]

Full trunk already and possibility of 2 bikes. I'm not the only one who is going to be in this car.

Have the passenger pitch in for gas, and don't worry about the mileage hit. :biggrin:

 

[NutBucket]

A rooftop cargo box is more efficient.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I never would have guessed bikes added that much drag.

Really goes to show just how good the engineers are when they develop cars.

One bike is like a freaking sail up there and the faster you go the worse it gets. They are surprisingly noisy too... even just the rack by itself with nothing on it.

 

[Alienwho]

I have a jeep grand cherokee and it had a roof rack on it when I bought it. Since I took the roof rack off I've gained almost 3mpg. Seriously my range on a tank of gas has gone up over 50 miles per tank. That's crazy to think about.

 

[NutBucket]

I think that's why the crossbars are a dealer option on the Acadia. If they are standard then you'd have to do EPA estimates with them installed.

 

[Vetterin]

I had a roof rack on my Subaru Legacy GT Wagon and with my road and cyclocross bikes (40 lbs total) mounted I lost between 5-7 mpg in hwy driving. I now have a trunk mount on my Chevy Cruze Eco and with the same bikes am down 2-3 mpg. FWIW, I love the trunk mount as it can be put on or taken off in 5 minutes once you know how, plus it's a ton cheaper than installing a hitch for the few times you need to lug your bikes somewhere.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I had a roof rack on my Subaru Legacy GT Wagon and with my road and cyclocross bikes (40 lbs total) mounted I lost between 5-7 mpg in hwy driving. I now have a trunk mount on my Chevy Cruze Eco and with the same bikes am down 2-3 mpg. FWIW, I love the trunk mount as it can be put on or taken off in 5 minutes once you know how, plus it's a ton cheaper than installing a hitch for the few times you need to lug your bikes somewhere.

I lug my mountain bike somewhere at least once a week so the hitch rack is definitely worth the investment. I had a trunk mount rack but returned it because it was just too heavy. Add a couple mountain bikes and you're hanging almost 100lbs of weight off your trunk lid which it definitely wasn't designed for.

Plus you can't use the trunk when you have a bike on the rack (pretty difficult to use with just the rack on there too IMO).

BTW-I hope your bikes don't have carbon fiber frames because trunk racks clamp on the frame and it is not recommended to clamp anything on a carbon frame.

 

[Vetterin]

Nope......the only carbon I have is in my forks and my bikes aren't clamped down, they are strapped down.
Good point about the trunk except I couldn't even tell you the last time I needed to get in my trunk while going somewhere but it was probably even before they invented the fold down rear seats.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Nope......the only carbon I have is in my forks and my bikes aren't clamped down, they are strapped down.
Good point about the trunk except I couldn't even tell you the last time I needed to get in my trunk while going somewhere but it was probably even before they invented the fold down rear seats.

I keep my bike pump in the trunk and usually end up throwing my helmet and shoes in there too. I don't like leaving stuff laying around in the cabin because it can become a projectile in an accident and it invites theft.

 

[TridenT]

Trunk racks vary, Jules. The one I had used rubber straps to hold the bike in place.

 

[MrPickins]

I never would have guessed bikes added that much drag.

Really goes to show just how good the engineers are when they develop cars.

They spend a lot of time trying to reduce wind resistance in modern cars. Every MPG helps.

Hell my 2013 Frontier had a tailgate spoiler added that year. Good for 1 MPG on the highway, I've heard.

 

[exar333]

I always wondered....with a roof-mounted rack, doesn't your bike end-up with all sorts of bugs and other crap on it after a long-ish drive? Seems like a trunk-mounted or bumper-mounted would protect it a lot more.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Trunk racks vary, Jules. The one I had used rubber straps to hold the bike in place.

I had this one for a few days and then returned it and ordered a trailer hitch and hitch mounted rack for my car. The Thule rack was secure in the way it mounts to the car but it is ridiculously heavy and, like I said, you could barely open the trunk with it on there and certainly not with bikes mounted on it. Plus, it didn't seem to hold the bike very securely. I noticed my road bike moving around quite a bit in the wind at freeway speeds. It also put the bike up higher than the hitch rack does so it creates even more drag.

 

[NutBucket]

And I guarantee it will deform the trunk lid.