WishfulThinking

I thought about it for a long time, and decided to go with a hitch bike rack... here's why:

1. more discreet than a roof rack system
2. my car lives in a parkade

So here it is! The hitch is a <a href="http://www.etrailer.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=E&Product_Code =247414">Da'Lan 247414</a>. I got it from eTrailer.com for ~USD$277. The rack is a <a href="http://www.rackattack.com/racks/2401-yakima-kingpin-4.htm">Yakima KingPin 4 from rackattack.com</a> for ~USD$160 (on sale). I had the hitch installed for ~USD$40.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/9361/dsc08200.web.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/9361/dsc08202.web.jpg">

Note the car's hitch can really only carry 2 downhill bikes - I got the 4-bike capacity rack simply for resale value and the option of carrying 3 light bikes.

It takes all of 1 minute to attach/detatch the rack from the car. There's enough clearance so that you can open the trunk when the rack is attached, however, you still need to watch your bike handlebars. Also, if the forks of the rack are folded down, there isn't enough clearance to open/close the trunk.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/9361/dsc08207.web.jpg">

There's quite a bit of play in the hitch/rack connection, and so I've picked up a Swagman hitch stabilizer ($15) and a strap to attach to trunk lid as well, the latter of which I'll only use for long hauls.

Here are some pics w/o the rack attached.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/9361/dsc08212.web.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/9361/dsc08215.web.jpg">

MB The Body

I like how discrete that is when you take the rack off, very nice !!

Bob Loblaw

Nice. I've seen a B6 S4 on the North Shore with something similar.

Tgr_Clw

Those are cool looking CHs.

needforsleep

nice.

Meskeetdog

j/k. love the wheels