DIY Bike Racks/Carriers - Show us what you made

[Grebel]

There have been many threads started asking about different bike rack options to buy. There are a lot of capable people on this forum that have resources/skills available that allow them to build their own creations. Some of them are purpose made and some are copies of solutions that are already commercially available.

 

It would be interesting to see what you have made. so post pictures of your DIY home built bike rack/carriers

 

I finished mine this weekend. I need an additional Holdfast rubber clamp for the third holder to finish it off but other than that it's done.

 

 

 

 

A DH bike, trail bike and a road bike.

[DR ◣◢]

Nice. Maybe some additional bracing on the L section where it mounts on the tow-bar.

[Ed-Zulu]

There have been many threads started asking about different bike rack options to buy. There are a lot of capable people on this forum that have resources/skills available that allow them to build their own creations. Some of them are purpose made and some are copies of solutions that are already commercially available.

 

It would be interesting to see what you have made. so post pictures of your DIY home built bike rack/carriers

 

I finished mine this weekend. I need an additional Holdfast rubber clamp for the third holder to finish it off but other than that it's done.

 

 

 

 

A DH bike, trail bike and a road bike.

Well done! Looks bulletproof!

 

And you manufacturing cost compared to the retail prices as a percentage?

[Grebel]

Nice. Maybe some additional bracing on the L section where it mounts on the tow-bar.

 

Thanks! Thought about extra bracing. I weigh a meagre 100kg and I have sat on the end without and bending or damage. Material is 32x2 SQ tube which should be up to the task.

[W3RN3R]

[rouxtjie]

jcmeyerss has a very nice setup for a bakkie....bracket on bin with thule roofracks over it.

[Grebel]

Well done! Looks bulletproof!

 

And you manufacturing cost compared to the retail prices as a percentage?

 

This has been a work in progress for a while now. So far the costs are not too bad. Material including plastic plugs was about R350, Laser parts came to about R100, bolts (including thumb screws) were about R150 (All galvanised and I used nylock nuts) Lights and number plate holder were about R200, straps were about R100, Holdfast rubber straps cane off an old rack and plating was R50.

 

Total comes to around R1000 excluding labour and "consumables" which is about half the price of buying one of the cheaper 2 bike racks. Those prices are approximate as I have been collecting bits and pieces over the past few months.

[Grebel]

jcmeyerss has a very nice setup for a bakkie....bracket on bin with thule roofracks over it.

 

I was using this:

 

 

Edited October 22, 2012 by Grebel

[Shebeen]

very nice...I think there is huge scope for designs that look different to the standard we see in stores.

[mazambaan]

Nice neat job. I've made one hanging type rack and second the comment about supporting the 90 degree bend (I know it looks galvanised now so not easy). The other weak point is the plate on the towbar. I made one with 5mm angle and it bent. My current Holdfast one is 8mm plate and it's bent. The set up looks a bit low. I would angle the rack up 5 degrees or so to clear steep driveways, ditches etc.

 

To my mind the biggest advantage of the Thule type racks is fixing directly to the towbar.

 

But I maybe the 50mm square hitch receiver as in the USA is a good option (if we had more vehicles with it). That may be better than the two bolts that hold the towbar on and avoids the bend.

[Grebel]

Nice neat job. I've made one hanging type rack and second the comment about supporting the 90 degree bend (I know it looks galvanised now so not easy). The other weak point is the plate on the towbar. I made one with 5mm angle and it bent. My current Holdfast one is 8mm plate and it's bent. The set up looks a bit low. I would angle the rack up 5 degrees or so to clear steep driveways, ditches etc.

 

To my mind the biggest advantage of the Thule type racks is fixing directly to the towbar.

 

But I maybe the 50mm square hitch receiver as in the USA is a good option (if we had more vehicles with it). That may be better than the two bolts that hold the towbar on and avoids the bend.

 

Thanks mazambaan. Adding the gussets isn't that big a deal. (Using an emory disc to remove the galvanising is a 5 minute job. Weld the gussets won't take long and then send it for plating again. The whole rack bolts together so that if it gets damaged I need only replace the damaged bits) but I am confident that it will be up to the task.

 

It uses the standard Holdfast backing plate and the rack sits slightly higher than the ball. Having said that though, steep driveways and deep ditches will always be a problem. I think the Thule does sit slightly higher though.

 

I wasn't in a position to spend R3500 on a platform carrier (comparing features)and building it yourself is always a bit of a feel good project especially if it turns out the way you intended!

[Christopher Brunsdon]

+1 OP

 

I saw a similar one on Saturday but he uses a wheel clamp to fasten it.

[Grebel]

+1 OP

 

I saw a similar one on Saturday but he uses a wheel clamp to fasten it.

 

When you say a wheelclamp, do you mean the tyre gets clamped between plates?

[Dexter-morgan]

Thanks Grebel, I am glad I found this, also going to try and make something to go above my load bin, I am using a Torneu cover at the moment.

Will post pictures as soon as I am done and things look OK.

[The Ouzo]

Many years ago Holdfast had a very similar rack to this

At the time it was one of the few foldable racks on the market.

One particular morning i was sitting in traffic behind a car with one of these and decided I was going to make one. Did the design in my head on the way to work, put it on paper when I got to work and over the next month in my spare time i made the thing.

But I designed it so that it would be a 2 bike rack, and then had an extension that bolted on for an extra 2 bikes for the few occasions it was needed.

I could not design a tilt mechanism for the boot to open, but on one trip with 4 bikes to Rustenberg the entire rack bent. When we got to Rustenberg we stopped at a hardware store and re-inforced the rack by putting square tubing inside the uprights after we had bent them straight. But we left just enough bend in for the boot to open.

 

this thing weighed around 15 off kg, but served me well for many years.

 

I'll have to find some printed pics as it was used pre digital camera days.

Edited December 1, 2022 by The Ouzo