Does anyone have experience with a trunk rack. I was interested in the Yakima racks, but i was wondering if it scratches or does anything bad to the trunk.

http://www.yakima.com/shop/bike/trunk

 

I bought a cheap $50 one from target, but I have yet to put it on my car. I have put it on my fiance's car and it has not scratched it yet. The only thing that ya gotta watch is the pedals of the bike if you leave em on. They have to be in a certain position or they will scratch the top of the trunk!!

 

bumping for more results? just purchased a bike and i rather get the trunk bike racks, but worried about scratches and how it fits on our cars with 2 bikes.

 

Funny...when I entered in this thread this wall ad comes up. LOL!

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Might want to look into the curt hitch. Then you can use a trailer hitch bike rack. You'll avoid scratches, be able to open the trunk, and it should be more stable

 

the rack itself usually doesn't scratch the car. Its the bike's pedal. The rack puts the bikes too close to the trunk, especially if your transporting more than 1 bike. I know this because my friend and I always carry our bikes on his trunk rack.

Ap1_Alan is correct, your better off using a curt hitch. The only problem is that option is much more expensive than a typical trunk rack.

 

This is what i did... keep in mind the hitch is pretty flimsy (uses the exhaust mounting points) and won't hold the weight of any heavy rigs. Right now my Marin and my sons schwin pretty much max it out. I even made a short cable to hook to the front of the trunk lid for more support, and that seems to do fine so far.
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Ive heard the saris is the best trunk bike holder in the market.. I personally use the x4 yakima hitch, on my gx470.. Ive looked at the single saris myself for 60.00 but haven't made a move yet.. Let us know what you get!?

 

What type of bikes do y'all ride?? I roll mtb ~ specialized.

 

I have a Saris trunk rack for my car, but I am too afraid to use it on my IS250. I use a Corolla to haul my MTB around. Like others have stated the pedals do scratch the trunk if not tied down and at a certain angle. The clips where it attaches into your trunk can scratch the paint off too. Other than that it is minimal.
I currently have Specialized Hardrock (HT) and Ironhorse MKIII Comp (FS)

 

Watch out for pedals and front tires on bikes when u mount.

 

^^ Oh yeah this too, I usually tie down my front tire with the extra slack from the mount straps to prevent tire scuffs.

 

I have a yakima king joe which is now I guess the superjoe 3.

I have clipless pedals so scratching isn't really a concern for me, but I throw a kids sock over them to store it anyway.

If you get a piece of chamois and dampen it slightly, then put it under the rack fitment, the rack won't slide and it won't scratch your paint (assuming your car was mostly dirt free, don't do this if there's obvious debris or anything.)

If you get a 3 bike rack you can put two bikes in the outermost two positions staggered (handlebars facing opposite directions) and keep them off the trunk well enough. Be sure to secure wheels together and to the rack to reduce tire scrape and movement of the bike.

I have 2 road bikes, a Bianchi carbon frame and a Motobecane aluminum, and fiance has a jamis aluminum and a cannondale full suspension, all fit fine on my king joe in the outermost 2 positions.