Building a bike rack

[awesome]

I'm looking to build my own bike rack because I hate the one I have. I'm kinda limited with options since I drive a corolla (that's what happens when you spend everything you have on a tractor).

The current bike rack I have is a bad design. The bar that holds the bike down has this clamp that thightens agains the vertical bar using a knob. So it only holds there with friction and it always ends up becoming loose

The obvious choice would be to drill holes and make the knob screw go across, but the granularity I need would require that I drill a lot of holes.

Any other suggestions for a mechbism that would work and would not cost 1000$ to build?

 

[rc51stierhoff]

Good day.

Maybe I am not sure what type of rack or what really trying to do…but, for way less than $1000 you can get a 1upUSA rack. I bet if you asked them they may let you assemble it (since you wanted to build it) which would allow you to build it for less than 1000 per your request . 1up makes an above average hitch rack. I’ve had one for 10yrs and I have no complaints. It’s very durable (been on the back of my FJ for most all my expedition travels) and it sets up pretty high so as not to ruin your departure angle. Good luck.

1UP USA

1up-usa.com

 

[GreensvilleJay]

1st idea...
Once adjusted for height.... from the other side ,drill hole through the bracket and bar, use bolt and nylock to secure,then remove knob screw. 5/16 would be fine, 3/8" overkill.....

 

[awesome]

1st idea...
Once adjusted for height.... from the other side ,drill hole through the bracket and bar, use bolt and nylock to secure,then remove knob screw. 5/16 would be fine, 3/8" overkill.....

Yeah, good idea. But I wanna be able to transport other bikes too.

 

[jimh406]

Look at Amazon at least for design ideas.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

So that large black knob keeps loosening up?

 

[Vlach7]

I got a $175 rake on Amazon similar to your pic for my E-bikes which are heavy so I welded inner tubing and gussets at critical point, always use a Bungys to pull down on the top bar because yes it would lift/loosen, remove my 20lb batteries and at least a couple locks to slow down the thieves. Went cross country and worked great, in wet weather a cover is recommended to help keep clean.

 

[jyoutz]

Just mount a receiver hitch to the vehicle. There are many cheap and very serviceable receiver hitch bike racks on the market. Some for less than $150.

 

[awesome]

So that large black knob keeps loosening up?

No, It stays screwed in tight. But it seems that no matter how hard I tight it, the assembly will still slide across the square bar if given enough force, such as driving with a 12yo suspension on a corolla.

So I want to lock it into place. I was thinking something with a ratchet mechanism maybe.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Knobs stick for that kind of clamp.
Look up "Cam lever locks" or "Lever nuts", both will do much better!

 

[Ping]

I'm looking to build my own bike rack because I hate the one I have. I'm kinda limited with options since I drive a corolla (that's what happens when you spend everything you have on a tractor).

The current bike rack I have is a bad design. The bar that holds the bike down has this clamp that thightens agains the vertical bar using a knob. So it only holds there with friction and it always ends up becoming loose View attachment 141426

The obvious choice would be to drill holes and make the knob screw go across, but the granularity I need would require that I drill a lot of holes.

Any other suggestions for a mechbism that would work and would not cost 1000$ to build?

OP,
Any way to add a sort of 'loader cylinder safety stops' around the vertical tube shown to prevent downward movement? You could have a different stop for different bikes.
Regards