Ever since I bought my second-hand KHS Alite 1000 bike back in 2006, I've always carried it in the back of my Teg by removing either the front or both wheels. I have to remove both wheels to get it in when my son's car seat is installed. Before this year I never really rode that much, but as of a few months ago I'm pretty much obsessed with cycling, and I'm getting sick of having to put it in and take it out of the hatch.

My wife and I are taking a beach trip in August, and I plan to take the bike with me. I can put the bike in the back of the car if needed (son's seat will be gone), but it would be a lot easier to have it outside the car I think. But there's no way I can afford a $400-$600+ roof rack system by then. I might be able to swing a trunk rack, though.

This past weekend I was out at the local MUP and saw a CR-Z hatch with a trunk-mounted rack, with straps going up to the top of the hatch glass, in the same way it would have to be on an Integra 3-door. I have looked at Yakima, Thule, and a couple other trunk rack brands, and the thing I like about the Yakima racks is the straps made specifically for glass/hatch use. They have these large foam cylinders that hold the strap secure from inside the hatch interior trim, instead of trying to clip onto the edge of the exterior glass or trim. Seems like a much better solution.

But then the other issue is the metal running underneath the rear tail lights, above the bumper cover, on the 3-door Integras. Not sure how the bottom straps of the rack would secure to either this or to the bottom edge of the hatch lid (if that's even possible).

Thoughts? If I can't come up with something I'll probably just go ahead and carry the bike inside the back of the car. Would probably be better security-wise anyway.

And yes, I am driving my 18-year old Integra with 314,000 miles on a 9-hour drive in a couple of months. I ain't skurred

 

definetly be more aerodynamic back there. In for results. BTW huge fan of your car. Hope to see 300k myself one day.

 

heh thanks. Saw a couple different trunk racks at wally world, may just try them and return if they don't work.

Haven't been on here much in the past year due to too much going on, plus I've been pretty obsessed with cycling and barefoot running since last summer and have spent a lot of time on the Barefoot Runners' Society forums and Bike Forums.

 

I mount those all the time, you can hook the straps to the bumper they are just to keep
it from bouncing there is no weight on them. What rack are you going with? 4 strap or
6 strap the 6 might be more difficult because 2 goto the top 1 to each side and 2 under
the bumper, thats how it mounts on my hatchback.

 

They will damage your paint!!! I have had several over the years. The foam compresses and wears away and you will have metal on metal contact especially if you are carrying more than one bike. If you do use this style, use something under the foam for extra protection like a soft cloth. Personally I prefer a hitch mounted bike rack. If you can deal with a hitch on your teg. I would try and go that route

 

I would love the hitch rack, but the cost of everything including the hitch receiver bar approaches the cost of the roof racks.

Also I would not leave the rack on the car for any extended length of time. My car is situated in my garage with only inches between the bumper and the garage door, so it would have to come off always after I got home. And if I took it on this vacation to FL I would remove both the rack and the bike and keep everything inside the condo while there. But I still might wrap a microfiber cloth around the foam pads or something.

I can't remember the brand names but I saw a couple of trunk racks at Walmart yesterday for around $50-$60. If they're just totally junk then I won't use them. The thing that concerns me most about the straps is having to use a hook around the top edge of the glass/trim on the hatch. Looks like Yakima's method is much better.

 

Had a trunk mount for about a week. Returned it and got the hitch mount, much much better. Spend the extra $$

 

Don't use hooks on the window those are fine some other companys make some also.
Hitch rack would be best if you care about your paint, about 190 for the hitch and
150 to 350 on the rack. Hoolywood saris yakima and thule all make good racks.

 

Where in FL are you going for vacation. If your around the Pensacola area(whitest beaches in the world) let me know, I can tell ya where everyone meets on Sat. nights.

 

I have one from Reese. I wouldn't trust it for a long drive....or a drive over 50mph. It looks so damn flimsy.

There's hitch mounted ones that are better. But you have to buy a hitch.

 

i was thinking about to get one too lol

 

$200 dang, can't swing that right now. Guess I'll just carry the bike in the car for the trip.

Destin, though there is a restaurant on the beach there in Pensacola I want to go to, possibly on the way there. Gotta get the name of the place again from a colleague who told me about it.

 

You got to eat at Louisiana laigiappe ( think that's how you spell it) awesome seafood and closer to where you will be. Mcquires Irish pub is another awesome place near where you will be. As far as on pensacola beach, there is the grand marlin which is a very nice place. There was Peg Leg Pete's and Flounders but I haven't been impressed with either the past few times I was there.

 

Flounders is the place. The location and scenery look really cool, though, so I think I'd still like to try it out.

 

I think you can get a hitch bike rack at Harbor Freight for about $30.
Check their website.