How to Carry a Trike on a Car

I have a SUN EZ-3 SX and a Chevy Cavalier and I want to go to Ventura CA to ride with a recumbent club up there. Since Ventura is 100 mi. from here I needed to be able to load the trike on the car. I had seen mention on another list about using a standard bike rack on the back of a car, putting the front axle on the bike rack and setting the rear wheel on the roof of the car. figured it could work for a delta and went off to the local thrift store. This is what I found.

http://home.earthlink.net/~leakyduck/rack.gif

With the bike loaded:

http://home.earthlink.net/~leakyduck/rear.gif
http://home.earthlink.net/~leakyduck/front.gif

Took it for a test drive and every thing stayed where it belongs.

 

Now that is an interesting delta...haven't seen one quite like that.

 

So how well did it work. Did it leave a mark on the top of your car? Very interesting idea. Was it hard to get your delta trike up there?

 

No mark on top of the car - it kind of dimpled the roof when I tightened down the ratchet strap. Takes 2 people, one on either side. Put bunge cord on front wheel to frame so it doesn't flop around when you are lifting it.

Total cost - rach from thrift store 5.95 - 2 racheting tie downs * 10.00 each. The car has been hit twice so a little scratching really isn't a problem.

 

Thats Great!

I really like seeing innovation. I am curious to see what it does to your mpg.

Ward

 

I have a 3/4 T Pick-up and carrying the trike in that is easy, but it gets 10mpg at the best. The car gets around 30mpg, so I can lose a few mpg and still be ahead.

In our trial run to only problem we found was that the nylon strap holding the front down hums in the wind, really loud. I can stand the noise as long as I can take my trike and go places.

 

You could get a single roof bar type set up (either bought used or fabricated) and a short wheel tray (intended for a rear wheel). Attach the wheel tray to the cross bar and wal-la, no dimpled roof.

You'd still need the tiedowns. Rope could also work for this (instead of straps) by using a "trucker's hitch". The rope probably wouldn't hum as bad. That's what I use for bow tie downs for the kayaks and I don't get any humming going down the road.

Mike

 

Really easy folks if you've got a car trade the car in for a Pickup and you can either if you have a cover for the bed of the truck just strap it to the top of the cover, or if you don't have a cover on the bed just put it in the bed of the truck. If you have a Van or SUV. Easier yet put the seat, and handle bars down if it's an OSS. if it's a uss don't have to worry about the handle bars. Just ask me I've had to do just about everyone of the suggestions I just typed. Only one I have done yet is put it on top of a car Thank God LOL.

Cheers

dragnfly

 

That is what I did with my Wiz Wheelz trike. Worked great!!!