That's a really nice setup! I'll be looking into that. Just have to find someone around here (DC area) willing to install the custom hitch on my SC.

 

thanks to bfigard, here are more pics

one more comment from him, hehe

------
Might want to include disclaimer to ensure a professional receiver installer/welder be used. I was watching the rack bounce around when I was on the freeway, and the bumper hasn't moved or shown any signs of compliance. If I had asked Uncle Rich to weld it on, who knows!
------

 

Wouldn't rear view be compromised significantly ?

 

Compromised, yes. Significantly, no. You can see through the bike.

I cranked the mirror upward to keep eye on the straps on the bikes, make sure not about to fall off.
On the way to get the rear plate mount welded, I was doing a lot of checking to see if cops behind me. Had to do some shifting to see what kind of car back there, but easy to see a car is back there.

Nothing sticks out to the right/left, so parallel parking was easy as minding how far back the rack extends.

 

So now that my wife is getting an SUV, I am looking to replace this receiver for bike rack and get a bumper cover that doesn't make my plate stick out behind the bumper. Anybody out there with a dark blue SC interested in swapping bumper frames/covers to get a free bike hauling feature? The receiver would cost you about $450 to have installed on your SC, which is about what it will cost me to cut off the receiver, buy a new bumper cover and get it painted. Maybe we can save each other that chunk of change?

 

I guess I could use that instead of a spare tire, when I switch out my RF. LOL!!! I like it, I'll have to keep that in mind. Here I thought I was going to have to buy an suv for that job.

 

DEFINITELY KEEP IT!!

1. Getting the smaller 1 1/4" (I think this is the size) will ONLY (as you stated) save you a "fraction of an inch".

2. The 2" mount is MUCH more sturdier. I had the smaller one on my IS300 and it wobbled like crazy.

3. It looks good I was looking at your pic in the 1st post and thought "OK, I see the before picture, but where is the install pic?"

 

very creative

 

I made this bike rack using the towing bolts. I had a welding shop attach a small round plate to the ring at the top of the bolt. I then had them cut up an old detachable roof rack in two 12 inch pieces which were welded to the small round plates.
To use the rack, the bolts are screwed into the car and the cut roof rack parts protrude out the back of the car 12 inches. I then attach a regular roof top bike rack to the protruding roof rack pieces ... and wala!
I also bungee cord the front tire to the bike.
It takes less than five minutes to put the whole thing together.

 

shloime1,
Nice rack and great use of the towing bolt holes! Is your bike titanium?

I ride as well but my wife would have a problem with me putting a rack on her SC. Guess I'll just have to get my own.

 

Very interesting -- more pix of the components, please. This may be the best bike mod ever.

 

There have been a few threads on this and one guy actually did it. Now I'm taking the plunge. Interested in any thoughts, especially from structural engineers.

First, this is a picture of the rear of the car, just to give perspective.


This picture is also taken from the rear, but from just under the rear bumper lip. The support piece is bolted to the bottom of the spare tire well in the trunk, then goes forward, under the muffler. You cannot see where it terminates in this picture. But there are two bolts which hold diagonal sway bars (??) and it seems to bolt there.



I mislabeled "rear tire well" in this picture it should be "spare tire well" The spare tire fits vertically in the trunk and this is the bottom of the well.

The guy who did this one then had the support turn up, behind the bumper, and out the license plate area.




I this is too much effort because it probably required the bumper to come off during installation. Plus, when the rack isn't attached the license plate doesn't sit flush:



So I am thinking that it would be easier for the receiver to just come straight out from the bumper like the exhaust does. I am interested in hiding this as much as possible, so maybe it could terminate under the bumper and then use an extension.

BTW, this will only need to support a pretty light road bike. I also found a well-reviewed one-bike rack which is made from aluminum and very light. I will NOT be towing a boat.

I found a hitch specialist a couple hours away and am driving there next week for us to come up with a plan and do the install. So I'll take any ideas that anyone has since the plan is wide open right now.

 

I was going to do this as well last year, but never got around to it.

I drew up a little schematic of what I was planning to do, using two tow-hooks with the loops cut off as the mounting points. You're more than welcome to try it if you want, can't guarantee it's safe or anything.

 

ROADTRIP!!!!!

Can I come?

 

I looked into this before deciding this method works best. If it's warm enough to ride a bike, it's warm enough to have the top down.