Bike rack

Rockmounts makes some good stuff. However depending on the weight of the bikes I would probably do aftermarket crossbars.

I have both a roof rack setup using Yakima crossbars and their King Cobra bike trays and a hitchrack setup using a Sportworks T2 platform rack. You're probably taller than me, but I have to muscle the bikes to the roof by myself using the rear door sill as a step to get them on the roof rack (I'm 5'8").

Either way you can't go wrong...
 
SexualChocolate said:
Rockmounts makes some good stuff. However depending on the weight of the bikes I would probably do aftermarket crossbars.

I have both a roof rack setup using Yakima crossbars and their King Cobra bike trays and a hitchrack setup using a Sportworks T2 platform rack. You're probably taller than me, but I have to muscle the bikes to the roof by myself using the rear door sill as a step to get them on the roof rack (I'm 5'8").

Either way you can't go wrong...
Click to expand...

Thanks bro! I knew you would chime in knowing your a biker. I'm about 5'9 and my bike isn't that heavy. The factory cross bars can take 100 pounds.


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If you're using the factory crossbars, I don't think the Rockymounts trays will work. I tried using the Yakima Forklifts (similar design) but they hung so far off the rear crossbar that I couldn't open my hatch. I had to go with the Yakima Raptor Aero so I could slide the tray forward more. They seem pretty stable around town, but I haven't used them at higher speeds yet.
 
I would pass on the hitch in my opinion. It'll rust out eventually and look really bad after a while. Plus the hitch adds like 50 lbs or more to the rear (depending on manufacturer).
 
"LittleGagne" said:
Thanks bro! I knew you would chime in knowing your a biker. I'm about 5'9 and my bike isn't that heavy. The factory cross bars can take 100 pounds.


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Click to expand...

Anytime. I wish I could say the same. My Chumba weighs in at just under 30lbs, I don't even have a clue what the steel rigid 29er weighs (nor do I want to know hahahaha). I can say on a windy say I have dropped the 29er on the roof after riding while trying to get it up there.

I think the factory rails (not crossbars) are also rated at 100lbs (there is a sticker up there on mine that saids that, not clear on each or total). Since the aftermarket crossbars essentially clamp on to the rails you can possibly run both, but the clearance for the bike tray might be compromised and probably will not work, but I think they should work. Find someone locally with aftermarket crossbars on iS and ask them to try it out.

I can say that into the triple digits the roof rack works well. So if you choose that route it'll do nicely.

I haven't been riding at all in the last 3 months. School was keeping me busy and now I am studying for a board exam so that'll probably nix any riding for a while.
 
SexualChocolate said:
Anytime. I wish I could say the same. My Chumba weighs in at just under 30lbs, I don't even have a clue what the steel rigid 29er weighs (nor do I want to know hahahaha). I can say on a windy say I have dropped the 29er on the roof after riding while trying to get it up there.

I think the factory rails (not crossbars) are also rated at 100lbs (there is a sticker up there on mine that saids that, not clear on each or total). Since the aftermarket crossbars essentially clamp on to the rails you can possibly run both, but the clearance for the bike tray might be compromised and probably will not work, but I think they should work. Find someone locally with aftermarket crossbars on iS and ask them to try it out.

I can say that into the triple digits the roof rack works well. So if you choose that route it'll do nicely.

I haven't been riding at all in the last 3 months. School was keeping me busy and now I am studying for a board exam so that'll probably nix any riding for a while.
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Man your just filled with info! Thanks man. I'm gonna do some more research tonight about it. Hopefully pulling the plug by this weekend. High school sucks, lol. Thanks again man.


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I ordered the official hitch, but the dealer actually canceled that temporarily until getting the OK from me to cut the bumper during installation. Absolutely wasn't going to do that.

I believe I went with HiddenHitch. Way cheaper, and it looks great. I'm not too worried about the extra weight (the FX is comparatively light), and afterward I undercoated the hitch; being all black makes it blend in.

I didn't consider the roofrack since it would be inconvenient for heavy bikes and I don't want scratches. The hitchmount makes a bike mount relatively painless. I haven't yet tried to stuff any of my bikes into the trunk, but now I won't have to.
 
infinitianalog said:
I ordered the official hitch, but the dealer actually canceled that temporarily until getting the OK from me to cut the bumper during installation. Absolutely wasn't going to do that.

I believe I went with HiddenHitch. Way cheaper, and it looks great. I'm not too worried about the extra weight (the FX is comparatively light), and afterward I undercoated the hitch; being all black makes it blend in.

I didn't consider the roofrack since it would be inconvenient for heavy bikes and I don't want scratches. The hitchmount makes a bike mount relatively painless. I haven't yet tried to stuff any of my bikes into the trunk, but now I won't have to.
Click to expand...


Would you mind posting a couple of pics of your hidden hitch? A few from the back, side and underside would be great. Trying to figure out how hidden it reallyis; oem is just plain expensive.
 
I bought my hitch from online for about $150.00 with some coupon code. It's really not that hidden but i had to drill 4 holes in the aluminum rear bumper support. Two holes in the factory location were used.


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I bought a Tule bike rack really nice from REI that had huge end of summer discounts. It was like $200. Holds 4 bikes, folds flat and so you can open the hitch, and is very solid build. Also bought a 8 inch hidden hitch extension online. Love the combo but already put it in winter storage so don't have pics.
 
Sorry, no camera ATM, will post photos possibly tomorrow. I'm in the middle of a number of other modifications as well.

Wasn't going to allow the dealership to cut the bumper. That's the first part of safety in a collision, and a badly cut hole would look stupid ;-). The hidden hitch was roughly half the price of the dealership install (which I believe has no wiring kit).

Otherwise I can say the hidden hitch came with ugly stickers that you'll want to paint black over (eg. rubberized undercoat). They had to remove two superfluous hollow plastic bits, probably part of some kind of aero kit or something. Since the FX50's performance exhaust is uncommon for hitch installations, doing a wiring kit is nearly impossible without the wires touching the exhaust and melting, so I needed to get a 3ft insulating sleeve at an auto customization place...I forget the brand, but it uses velcro to complete the sleeve, and is heat rated for under the hood, and it's worked well so far. A wiring kit isn't necessary with a bike mount, but it's nice to have anyway. IIRC Class 3 hitch, but rated to 3500lbs, more than enough for bicycles or a boat.

I believe this is it-
http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Infiniti/FX-50/2010/87498.html?vehicleid=2010203635
 
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