Do All Trunk Mounted Bike Racks Require a Bike Adapter Bar

Question:

Does anyone have a bike rack for the trunk of a 1997 Ford Taurus that does not require an adapter for the bike itself. We are all ladies in my household and these things are a pain to continually put on and take off.

asked by: Donna T

Expert Reply:

All the trunk mounted racks we offer feature a dual arm design, meaning that the frame of the bike would have to sit in both cradles on the two bike rack arms. A bike adapter bar like part # TH982 is usually required to give womens bikes a straight frame that will sit down in the cradles.

If you want to avoid the use of adapter bars entirely, a better choice for your needs might be to install a trailer hitch on your 1997 Ford Taurus, and to use a hitch mounted bike rack.

I recommend Class II trailer hitch # C12232, as it installs on the vehicle with bolts and requires no welding. It will allow you to choose from a wide range of bike rack styles.

In my opinion, the best bike rack for your household would be one with a single arm and rotating cradles, like SportRack # SR2703. The cradles would rotate to match up to the angle of your womens bikes.

expert reply by: Sarah L