Build Your Own DIY Car Bike Carrier

Building a DIY car bike carrier is a great way to transport your bikes safely and conveniently. You'll need a sturdy platform to attach to your car's roof or trunk.

The platform's dimensions will depend on the size of your bikes and the space available on your car. Typically, a platform that's 60 inches long and 24 inches wide is a good starting point.

You'll also need to consider the weight capacity of the platform, which should be at least 100 pounds to accommodate most bikes. This will help prevent damage to your car and ensure a safe ride for your bikes.

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To install a DIY car bike carrier, you'll need to attach the mounting brackets to your vehicle's roof or trunk. Make sure to choose the right mounting type for your vehicle's make and model.

First, locate the mounting points on your vehicle, as described in the "Choosing the Right Mounting Type" section. These points will determine the type of mounting brackets you need to purchase.

Next, attach the mounting brackets to the vehicle using the provided hardware and following the instructions in the "Mounting Bracket Installation" section. This will ensure a secure and stable installation.

Remember to check the weight capacity of the mounting brackets and the carrier to ensure they can handle the weight of your bike and any other cargo.

Place the fork mount over the channel to determine where you want to protect your rails. This will help you visualize the installation process.

Use an old punctured bike tube to wrap the rail where the hardware will go. Overlap the tube about half and use some duct tape to keep it in place.

Black duct tape will make the wrapping look neater, but regular duct tape will still do the job. The key is to use extra duct tape and overlap it to ensure a long-term stick.

Wrap the back rail as well to prevent small vibrations from causing damage over time. This is especially important if you're planning to use your bike rack for extended periods.

Fit some tubing over the feet of the fork mount before clamping it all down. This will provide extra protection and stability.

Use two more u-bolts over the feet of the fork mount to secure it in place. Don't forget to add a lock washer under every single nut to prevent vibration from causing problems.

For another approach, see: Rv Bike Carrier Bumper Mount

Now that we have both tubes in position, it's time to think about supporting the bikes upright. The rectangular steel tube will be cut and welded to create two vertical supports that attach to the base.

These supports will serve a dual purpose: keeping the bikes stable and providing a solid attachment point for the frames.

Cutting and welding the vertical supports requires some precision and care to ensure they are sturdy and secure.

After mounting the bike carrier, you'll want to add some inner wheel support to prevent the wheels from sliding across the frame during transport. I drilled 4 holes to secure the bike carrier to the car trailer with 4 M10 bolts and washers.

You can use short pieces of steel angle to create the inner wheel support. These should be cut to size and one end should be cut at a 45° angle. I found that welding them to the inner wheel support on both sides worked well.

Cut two shorter lengths of steel angle and weld them to each end to form the frame of the bike rack. This will give you a sturdy base for the inner wheel support. Two more crossmembers were then cut and welded to finish the base framework.

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If you're looking for a simple and effective way to install a bike rack on your car, consider using a bike tube or thin rubber tubing. You can cut it up and stick it between the hook and the trunk/hatch.

For a custom size padding, you can use lifting grip pads, which are fairly cheap, durable, and easy to custom size. They'll keep your car's integrity at ease while providing some extra grip for your bike rack.

Some people have found that grip pads can be a bit too thick for their trunk, so it's essential to check the fit before installing. In that case, you can consider using something like pipe lagging, which is available at DIY stores and comes in various sizes and thicknesses.

Pipe lagging is a great option because it's easy to lap over flat edges and is relatively inexpensive. You can also find coated versions that are more resistant to wear.

To build a sturdy frame for your DIY car bike carrier, start by cutting two lengths of 50-degree angle to the full width of your trailer. These will form the main support for the bikes.

Measure the minimum width of the bikes to be carried, and make sure to leave enough space between the trailer box and the jockey wheel.

Removing the jockey wheel can be a good idea if you need more space, as it can help with attaching and detaching the trailer, but it's a sacrifice that may be necessary.

All three of our mountain bikes have a similar wheelbase measurement, so we didn't need to have any adjustment in the bike rack framework.

Mount your DIY car bike carrier on a sturdy roof rack or hitch, ensuring it's securely attached to the vehicle.

The recommended weight capacity of your carrier is 150 pounds, so be mindful of the combined weight of bikes and carrier to avoid overloading.

Before loading bikes, test the carrier by attaching a few dummy bikes to ensure it's stable and won't shift during transport.

To mount the channel to the front of your vehicle, start by placing it on the roof and figuring out where your front u-bolt will go. Mark the location of the holes you need to drill.

It's a good idea to use a drill press and a vice to ensure the channel is held tight, especially when drilling at an angle. This will prevent accidents and make the process safer.

Drill a hole that's one size up from the diameter needed for the bolt leg, but be aware that this might not be entirely accurate. You may need to step up a few sizes to ensure a proper fit.

After drilling, use a metal file to clean up the holes and remove any sharp edges that could damage your paint job or tires. This is a crucial step to avoid any potential problems.

Don't worry about tightening the u-bolt yet, just focus on getting it securely mounted to the front rail. Measure and mark the location for the holes to mount the channel to the rear rail.

Mounting two bikes can be a bit of a challenge, but with the right tools and a bit of creativity, you can get it done.

First, you'll need to secure the bike carrier to the car trailer with 4 M10 bolts and washers. This is a crucial step to ensure the carrier stays in place.

Drilling 4 holes for the bolts is a straightforward process, but make sure they're in the right spot.

The bike carrier needs to be positioned so that the bikes can be easily mounted and dismounted. After a test run, I found that the wheels needed some extra support to prevent them from sliding across the frame.

Cutting short pieces of steel angle and welding them to the inn wheel support on both sides is a simple solution to this problem.

The finished DIY car bike carrier is a sturdy and secure way to transport your bikes. It can hold up to 3 adult mountain bikes.

This bike rack attaches to a car trailer, providing a safe and convenient way to transport your bikes on long trips, such as the 1000 Km journey from Brittany to Grenoble.

Making another one of these rigs is a breeze once you've got the hang of it. The second one will come together in about a third of the time it took to build the first one.

You'll be able to stop worrying about your bikes moving during transport, as the second one will also perform flawlessly. I stopped a couple of times on a highway trip and everything stayed solid for a few hundred miles.

The cost savings are significant, with $40 being a more manageable expense than $200.

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The finished trailer bike rack held 3 adult mountain bikes.

It was a safe and secure way to take the bikes along on a long trip, such as the 1000 Km journey from Brittany to Grenoble.

The bike rack was made from steel sections, which cost around 200€ just for the raw materials.

A more cost-effective approach was to repurpose materials, like the steel trellises from the tractor trailer.

With a couple of coats of black paint, the bike rack was ready to go.

It was a simple yet effective solution to a practical problem.

I've found that a key consideration when building a homemade bike rack is securing the bike carrier to the car trailer. This is typically done with 4 M10 bolts and washers, as shown in the example where 4 holes were drilled to attach the carrier.

The type of bike carrier you choose can also impact the overall design of your rack. In my case, I opted for a frame-mounted design that allows for easy mounting and dismounting of the bikes.

To prevent the wheels from sliding across the frame, it's essential to provide adequate support. This can be achieved by adding steel angle pieces to the inn wheel support, as I did by cutting short pieces of steel angle and welding them in place.

I was able to complete the homemade bike rack with a test run, mounting the bikes on the frame and making any necessary adjustments along the way.