Will this rack scratch the car if installed properly? Will bikes sway enough to scratch the car?
304933
We'll, I have not removed the rack since I installed it, so haven't noticed any scratches. I do wish it had two separate tied downs for the trunk as it seems to tilt some. My bike does not sway. But I also purchased some extra Velcro straps to secure the wheels. I have an '04 Honda Accord. No spoiler.
304934
I haven't had that problem. The Bike that rest on the closes rack to the car is stopped by the bar. I also use the straps extra length on the bottom strap to gently tie the two bikes to the bar so that they do not sway much. It is a lose tie not tight. We have two mountain bikes and I have not had this trouble. We have a 2010 Honda Accord.
304935
I had no scratches attaching to my SUV using 2 bikes. Theres enough extra strap to wrap around front wheels to secure
358464
I have a black bumper and have not removed yhe rack. I will say that it is pretty tight on the bumper so I guess it could scratch it. You could put down some kind of material between the rack and the bumper to prevent scratches. Hope this helps.
366985
Harold, I used the bike rack on my 2011 Prius and the car showed no sign of damage. I was concerned because part of the frame rested on the rear window glass, but the bar is well padded and didn't scratch the glass. I put two adult hybrid bikes on it and it supported them fine.
335931
I am pretty OCD about cars so I would not use this if it hurt my car in any way. If you keep the pads clean and properly apply the stickers to the clips, you will be OK. I washed and waxed my car before every time I put the rack up on my car. Had it for about a year and the rack is on about 90% of the time and my car still looks great.
464158
I have two 29s that I put in this rack. It workss best if you load them with the back tire in the rack, side by side, and then use a strap to keep them from rocking too much. Without that, , the bikes will tip. With the strap, works like a charm.
518536
yes to hold them on the rack, but need to stabilize the front wheels from twisting/steering.
1912341
It should be fine. The rack is secured (strap tightening) inside the car so as long as it is secured tightly you should have no problem.
1114001
the bag is designed to be attached to crossbars front and back, and to the racks on both sides. I simply put a exercise mat on the roof. I drove 2,600kms (1,600 miles) and no scratches. If your basket is large enough so that the bag doesn't "spill" over, I guess you should be alright.
1959843
Should be just fine, call Thule customer service for further info. I found that I needed to use small pieces of microfiber cloth on the upper arms to stop the marks left on the top of the trunk left by the rubber. Still the best rack I've ever used, easy on and off, very stable at any speed.
2260637
No because I've hung the rack low enough so that the bottom wheel rests on the floor. I guess if I've hung the rack higher, then the front wheel might incur some damage.
589933
No, it shouldn't fall over unless it is hit hard or something, it is a very stable rack
1630484
I have used the rack with carbon rims and the straps do touch the rims to secure the wheel but I have not noticed any rubbing. The large plastic piece only touches the tires.
1841003
I suspect that parts of the bike (pedals, handlebars, tire) would scratch wall, as these hooks would not standoff from the wall surface enough to keep the bike clear. The 100 pound per hook rating is probably a bit conservative, these are stroog hooks when mounted into structure!
924559
No, it shouldn't tip unless one side is ridiculously overloaded with heavy items hanging on one side and nothing on the other. It is solid and moves very well when heavily loaded. I've seen some useless garment racks and this one is not one of those. It's worth the price.
117445
Its a very sturdy bike/heavy bike rack but I really like the one I bought. I would say as long as the 2 inch receiver you have put on your vehicle will hold a decent amount of weight you will be okay. I would say the rack plus 3 to 4 bikes will weight between 100-125 depending on the weight of the bikes. Again I did a lot of research before I bought my bike rack and it works very good.
1511291
I didn't have a problem. I washed my car before putting them on and I would advise that. The material that these are made of won't really scratch your care unless you are careless with the buckles. Like I said though if you put these on a dirty care the dirt between the racks and the roof could certainly be abrasive and harm your car's finish. The hold tight enough to not move so even then it shouldn't be a big deal. I was a little worried about putting them back on after being at the beach for a week (sand and salt) but my finish was fine.
680235
I have had all 3 of my bikes (road,mountain and hybrid) on the rack with no tipping issues whatsoever. I don't see the size of the bike being a concern.