Easy daily transport

[dracaena]

I have a Nissan Hardbody DC and bought a Thule Bed Rider to safely transport my bikes.

I don't think the Thule Bed Rider is the best option for me.

The bikes don't fit in to bed of the "bakkie" when attached to the Bed Rider.

I have to let the back wheels rest on the "back bak" and secure them with some rope. So the bikes are not riding in the bed of the bakkie but rather on top.

 

Make no mistake, the Thule is well designed and is great for race days when I have to safely transport more than one bike.

 

BUT for most other days, I want something where I don't have to take the front wheel off and can basically get going with the minimum of fuss.

 

I have been toying with the idea of getting a thin piece of foam mattress to put in the bed of the bak. (Covered with some waterproof cover of course.) This way I can just "throw" the bike in the back and be off.

 

Does anyone have a better suggestion or know where I can buy a custom mattress?

[dracaena]

Any advice pls?

Or did I use too many words?

[Nobody]

The problem with just leaving the bike in the back is that it can get swiped very quickly and also when you go over a bump it could bounce out.

I still have not found the perfect way to transport bicycles. they get scratched or become a mission to put on or off or in. The quickest i have seen is the roof rack thingy but then you are limited to the number of bikes.

[dracaena]

Thanks Nobody.

I was thinking of just sliding it underneath the tonneau cover. This way it won't bounce out and less likely to get stolen.

 

But do keep it from getting scratched, I'll need to line the bak with foam or padding.

 

Surely there must be a smart aleck hubber that came up with a solution?

[Scooterza]

I have a double cab and what I do is to put my bike in diagonally, standing upright. The diagonal length gives me enough room that I needn't take off a wheel.

 

I then use one of those clickety click strap thing, take it from the right rear corner (just behind the cab), up and around the seatpost a few times (must trap the strap so the bike doesn't move left and right) and then down the the left rear corner. Then I tighten a few clicks and bob's your cousin. Bike stays upright, can leave both wheels on, and takes a while to steal (ok maybe 30 seconds but at least it takes 30 seconds!)

 

Also the bike is low enough to fit under low things - my double cab is pretty high and I would definitely wipe my bike out if it was higher - I never remember that I have it there!