Trunk Mount Bike Racks

If you only occasionally need to transport one or two bikes and you want an economical, easy to use carrier to get your bikes safely to your destination, then a trunk mount bike rack may be just what you’re looking for. Trunk mount carriers are generally the most inexpensive means of bike transport. They’re ideal for sedans and hatchbacks, and unlike roof mount or hitch mount racks they don’t require additional equipment like a roof rack or trailer hitch.

A typical trunk mount rack has an adjustable tube frame with padding where the tubes rest against the sheet metal or glass. Adjustable straps with coated hooks secure the carrier to the trunk or hatch at the top, bottom, and sides. Arms extend rearward to support 2-3 bikes on their top tubes. The tubes rest in cradles and the bikes are held with nylon or rubber straps. Many racks feature anti-sway cages to prevent bike damage while en route.

Their adjustability makes trunk mount racks versatile and one rack can often be shared between similar vehicles. They’re lightweight and can usually be folded into a more compact size for storage. The support arms on most racks can also be folded down, to ease parking if the rack is left on the vehicle. Although at first the many straps may make this kind of rack seem difficult to install, but once the basic adjustments are made installation is straightforward. Care should be taken to make sure the vehicle surface is clean to prevent dirt from scratching the paint.

Unlike a roof mount rack, only a minimal amount of lifting is required to load bikes on a trunk mount rack. On many racks the arms can be adjusted independently to accommodate bikes with different frame styles. If you have a bike without a top horizontal frame tube, portable adjustable tubes are available that secure between the steering and seat posts, so the bike can be carried by a trunk mount rack. On racks so equipped, the anti-sway cages prevent bike-to-bike and bike-to-vehicle contact that could damage the bikes or the transport vehicle.

Supporting your bikes by the top tube isn’t your only option with a trunk mount bike rack. We carry a platform trunk mount that can transport one or two bikes resting on the wheels. The bikes are secured at the wheels and by locking clamps on the frame. Although a bit pricier than the average trunk mount, this rack is super easy to load and the trays are adjustable to accommodate virtually any bike. Many trunk mount bike racks include a locking feature to prevent theft of the bikes from the rack, but for those that don’t we offer locking cables for secure transport.