[boopiejones]

Got a new bike for Christmas and couldn’t find any good rack options for the Jeep that weren’t super expensive and/or require removing the rack to get the Jeep in the garage. So I decided to build one. Total cost was around $60. Most of the rack was made from scrap metal I had laying around, but I did buy two $15 metal fence posts at Home Depot and two $13 thru axle mounts and a few assorted nuts and bolts.

Obviously this rack won’t allow me to transport bikes when the hardtop is on, but I recently bought a TJ and drive that when the weather is rainy. The JK stays in the garage at night so I’m planning to keep the top off year round.

The rack stays mounted to the Tuffy security trunk, and folds in half when not in use so it doesn’t stick outside of the Jeep. I probably could have built it with half as much metal, but I wanted to be able to remove the two bike mounts later (via three bolts) and possibly attach to some sort of hitch mount to give me more interior space on a road trip.

 

[damnchad]

So what are you doing with the front wheels? I like the idea as I no longer carry bikes ontop of any vehicle. Nothing worse than driving 4 hrs only to find out you lost a brake line from a tree branch.

 

[boopiejones]

Haven’t figured out the front wheel situation yet. For now i will probably just throw them in the trunk or backseat, but I may build some sort of holder that sits between the two bikes.

I also just ordered a regular quick release mount, so I can transport my road bike or my youngest son’s bike. Since those bikes are shorter than the full suspension bikes, I can stick the quick release mount directly behind the thru axle mount and the rear tire will still be in a good spot on the rear wheel tray.