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Looking at getting one for my Landcruiser. My only experience of bike racks is my Dad's old one from 30 years ago that had a gajillion ratchet straps and always felt like it would bounce off the car, and I'd see bikes bouncing on the road in my RV mirror!
I have a tow bar. But the bikes are all weird shaped so I'm guessing horizontal racks don't work great with swoopy frames? So would a rack that hangs the bike from the front wheel be a better option? Would be for 3 bikes max and would need to be easily moved to get in and out of the boot.
What should I look at, and more importantly, what experiences have you had and what should I avoid?
You want a towbar rack where the bikes just stand on it. Weird frame shapes make no difference.
Mine is a Buzzrack, I think it's a hornet-e or something. Absolutely solid.
Hmm... not sure I like 3 bikes like that. It looks like it sticks out a fair bit - on an already large car. I think I'd prefer one where the bikes hang from the front wheel - gives a smaller appearance (I think!). At least it's an idea and gives me a rough price range - it's gonna be about a grand I think. Do-able. And less of a pain than roof rack mount that obviously I'd forget about and smash into a height restriction barrier!
Have a look on roofbox.co.uk
they have a wide selection and are well priced
roof rack mount that obviously I'd forget about and smash into a height restriction barrier!
Been there done that - although there was no barrier, or warning. It was a barn that you drive through (to reach the rear of a property) - everything was fine until halfway through and bang. 🙈
Quite happy with my tow bar mounted solution. SO easy to get the bike on and off.
The rack is really easy to get on and off too - my tow ball is detachable, so I just detach the whole lot all in one go. It takes seconds.
It does make the car longer as you say, but my little hatch isn't particularly long so I can get away with supermarket parking spaces.
You're Australia based aren't you? Or am I confusing you with someone else?Possible more/different racks and mounting styles like from US? And guessing costs different too.
You got rear mounted spare wheel? Can get some that go on it, not sure if any good, but another consideration.
Hmm... not sure I like 3 bikes like that. It looks like it sticks out a fair bit - on an already large car. I think I'd prefer one where the bikes hang from the front wheel - gives a smaller appearance (I think!). At least it's an idea and gives me a rough price range - it's gonna be about a grand I think. Do-able. And less of a pain than roof rack mount that obviously I'd forget about and smash into a height restriction barrier!
Don't discount something you've never tried because honestly after trying every method of carrying bikes on cars this is the one I'm most happy with.
The racks is bombproof. It fits and removes in minutes and it folds up in the garage when not in use.
The type where the bike dangles from the front wheel aren't really available in the UK. You can't put something that high on a tow ball, you need a square hitch.
There is a euro bike article just up with a vertical rack
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/randoms-new-bikes-and-tech-from-euro-brands-part-ii-eurobike-2025.html
It looks like it sticks out a fair bit
I wouldn't say it's that noticeable in the scheme of things - my partner's Volvo estate with 2 ebikes on the back, length isn't an issue (fnaar). Definitely the most efficient was to secure and carry the bikes.
Or if you don't want to spend 580EUR on a kick starter, there's always this 4 bike option from the aforementioned roofbox.co.uk
Isn't the vertical height of a bike more than the horizontal width of three stacked though? Don't think there's much in it.
Personally I don't fancy the physics on the vertical racks, I'll just stick with our run-of-the-mill 4 bike rack that the bikes stand on and cantilevers away from the car if you want to get in to the boot.
Or if you don't want to spend 580EUR on a kick starter, there's always this 4 bike option from the aforementioned roofbox.co.uk
Isn't the vertical height of a bike more than the horizontal width of three stacked though? Don't think there's much in it.
Personally I don't fancy the physics on the vertical racks, I'll just stick with our run-of-the-mill 4 bike rack that the bikes stand on and cantilevers away from the car if you want to get in to the boot.
Still doesn't work on a UK or Euro tow ball. 2 inch receiver only. Where is the OP based?
That one on Pinkbike just looks like a giant vertical windbreak unless you're attaching it to the back of a bus or something. And their top selling point is that the bikes don't touch each other. So, just like every Thule and Buzzrack horizontal rack which use clamps to hold the bikes steady.
Mine doesn't stick out too far because I have the 2 bike version. No point buying the 3 with my social life.
I managed to nab a Scorpion Rack vertical bike rack from someone on eBay and its great, my long enduro bike was wider then my wing mirrors when on the Thule which made me wince going down lanes! Shame Scorpion Rack are no more, but I've seen some appear on eBay and Marketplace now and again.
The Yakima vertical rack is interesting, says only fits US/Australia design, a quick google shows converting to this is 50:50 on ease, but the actual difference is 50mm ball vs 2 inch ball, which is 50.8mm, is 0.8 of a mm going to make much difference?
It's not a 2 inch ball. It's a 2 inch square hole called a receiver hitch.
You can put a towball adapter into a hitch but you can't put a hitch on a ball.
In Oz you definitely want a vertical rack. Look at Dirty Possum and Shingleback. I have a four bike Shingleback as it's relatively light.
If you're not in Oz, then this folding Thule seems to be the one for big bikes and has been with the easyfold has been getting rave reviews for utility, including big bikes n e-bikes, despite the price. Thule are expensive, but just work.
Those vertical hanging racks give me the heebie jeebies.
Went MTBing at Bear Mountain NJ years ago. The crew who drove us out there had a monster 8 seater pickup and racks on the front and the back for total 10 bikes. They were like the thule racks with wheel wells for each bike. Crazy.
and here's the link....
https://www.thule.com/en-gb/bike-rack/towbar-bike-racks/thule-epos-2bike-13pin-_-978200
Here's a 10 bike Troopy commercial set-up. Six on the back, four on the front and 11 people inside with the driver. 
my long enduro bike was wider then my wing mirrors when on the Thule which made me wince going down lanes!
I was ready to fabricobble something with a direct fork mount (very narrow lanes here), but as it happens it's fine (my bike ins't that long after all).
But if you already have a traditional rear rack and fancy narrowing your profile, that's an option. Fine if you're only carrying one bike. Probably a PITA if you're carrying two bike as you might run out of space to carry the wheels.
I'm definitely still in Oz.
Bike rack on temp hold as I've just spunked 2k on a new steering rack, and a lovely letter from DoT saying my rego is due, so that's another grand. FFS!
A Land cruiser should be plenty big enough to get them in the boot. If they won't fit because of other things I'd much rather get a roof box for the other things and still keep the bikes inside