I’ll be getting a new car for 2026 and wanted to poll for opinions on the pros/cons of roof or hitch rack.
I’ve never had either as I’ve always had to just bring the one bike and drove an outback where I could put the whole bike in the back with the seats down. Over the past few years I’ve managed to get the family more into bikes and now will need options for 2-3 bikes.
Of note my parking is outdoor only so I do not have any concerns with accidentally driving into a garage with bikes on the roof.
Also one potential point to the roof option is that I’m likely to go Subaru again and will likely have roof rails come preinstalled on the car.
If you’re looking at a car with a hitch mount I would go that way 100%. Zero roof crashes (it’s not just at home), better aerodynamics/fuel economy, less rain/weather impact, and much easier to load and unload. Downsides would be potential to melt rims/tyres with a hot exhaust, and maybe messing up the rear parking sensors.
I produced these for hanging on the rearview mirror because one of my customers collected her bike after spending ~$400 with me getting her MTB serviced, then went shopping with it on the roof and trashed a carbon front wheel (she was lucky, it could have written off the whole bike):
I’ve got a 1Up double tray 2” hitch rack that I really like. It is easy to pop on and off the car and does not sway the way a previous rack did. It is also possible to add two more trays if needed. Plus I don’t need to hassle with thru axel fork adapters they way I did with my roof rack .The biggest drag to the hitch rack is the back up camera is made pretty useless. I feel like modern cars have worse blind spots because the assumption is the camera compensates for them.
Even as someone who has never owned a hitch rack, or even a vehicle with a hitch, I too vote for a hitch rack over roof if you’re able. Much easier to use in most regards. But you might also need a way to store a hitch rack, or worry about it being stolen.
Had both types. Hitch is sooooo much easier to use and worry-free. The roof one is hard for anyone smaller, a higher car or heavier bikes. The hitch is super easy to use and convenient. Downside - you need a hitch.
I can beat any “roof rack idiot” story. I’ve used them for years, and always remembered when approaching limited height entrances (I don’t have a garage).
One day my wife wanted to drop the car in our town near the bus stop as she needed to get the bus somewhere and was running late. No problem, I’ll pick it up on my ride home from work.
Now the problem with not driving the car IN to the car park yourself is that you forget about the height barrier on the way out again…. Yes I dutifully stood there in the car park, with the height barrier on the entrance not ten feet away and put the bike on the roof before driving the bike straight into it.
Luckily I also failed to lock the rack properly as I didn’t have the key with me, and the arm was forced open, meaning a couple of very slight tube dents and a wheel truing were the only damage (good old ali bikes).
The most important thing of course, is that I don’t think anyone saw me do it…
If you have a garage or shed, you can normal hang the hitch rack against the wall with ladder hooks. Minimal space taken up and the right height to just lift off. I have mine at 90 degrees.
Also hitch racks that tilt back so you can open the rear doors takes away a lot of the faff of a hitch rack
If you’ve already got a roof rail system and just need the bike tray(s), a roof system might make sense. Starting from zero I’d probably go with hitch.
Hitch is generally easier for people of different sizes and strengths to use.
I’d disagree about less weather impact with a hitch mount. All the crud that ends up on your back window in dusty or wet conditions will end up on the bikes.
If there’s an ebike involved hitch is probably the only option.
Hitch all the way for me. It is more expensive, the cost of a towbar install adds a considerable cost. But it should be more fuel efficient and even if you don’t park in a garage at home, there’s always the chance of going into a height restriction barrier at public car parks.
I met someone who wrote of his bike, a friends bike and his wife’s car when driving into a car park with bikes on the roof. That put me off roof racks hearing that.
Also being of the shorter height range I find roof racks harder and if I had heavier bikes I’d struggle and might end up damaging the roof of a car loading them. The hitch mount has none of those drawbacks.
We bought a new Outback last fall and I would strongly recommend getting the factory hitch installed if you’re planning on a hitch rack. In addition to looking better than the aftermarket hitches you won’t have any warranty issues regarding the electrical system, which is not a small matter on a modern car. It’s also not a huge cost difference if you do it when you’re purchasing. We already had a Yakima Hold Up so had the dealer install it before we picked it up.
I was a mechanic for years and I’ve lost count of how many customers have called me 1/2 hour after picking up their bike in or near tears after running it into a garage.
It depends on if you’re getting a car or a CUV/SUV. I could get a hitch made for my car, but I would have to have some minor body work done to the rear diffuser to make it usable. The only realistic solution for me is a roof rack. Fortunately, my bike will fit in the car without removing a wheel, so I only need the rack if I’m carrying more than one bike. If it is an SUV/CUV with a factory hitch offered, hitch rack all the way. The ideal would to have both available.
This summer I drove my Honda HRV close to 2,000 miles round-trip to Yellowstone with my MTB on a hitch rack with significant time under rain and wet roads and it didn’t pick up hardly any grime. Maybe behind a sedan I could see it bikes getting dirty, but not behind a CUV or hatchback where they don’t get that much airflow.
Went with a roof rack many years ago after a friend was rear ended on the way to an event. The roof has been mostly fine, but I’d go with the hitch rack if making the choice today.
Hitch rack 100%. Used roof racks for years and will never go back. For me, a shorter-than-average guy, I got to the point where the hassle and risk of injury of getting the bikes on the roof just didn’t make any sense. I have 1up 1-tray and 2-tray racks. The 1-tray rack is much lighter for daily use unless I need to carry 2 bikes. I don’t leave it on the car, it’s so quick to put on and off. I had an idea to make rack to hold the racks, and friend helped me refine the idea and build a rolling racks for my racks!
