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Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:15 am

Does anyone drive their ghia with a trunk bike rack on the back and have any problems with it? Anyone have any pics if they do?

Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:58 am

Saris Bones fits well. I wouldn't do more than 2 bikes though. 1 bike if its really heavy.

Mon Nov 22, 2010 2:11 pm

Yes I did a couple of times, it was one of the fully adjustable types that fit most cars and are held on with straps. I wish I'd taken pic now but from memory part of it rested on the bumper and part on the the rear deck just below the back screen. The bike was almost horizontal when loaded, not upright. straps located on decklid and bumper I think.

I won't be able to mock this up again until next year!

Ant

Tue Nov 23, 2010 6:39 am

haha no worries, i just wasnt sure about the weight factor but i think with just one aluminum mountain bike or road bike on the trunk it should be no problem.

Tue Nov 23, 2010 7:21 am

1 good bike is not an issue.

Tue Aug 31, 2021 5:20 pm

70 140 wrote: Saris Bones fits well. I wouldn't do more than 2 bikes though. 1 bike if its really heavy.

This? https://www.saris.com/product/bones2

Looks pretty good.

I wonder if I could get away with something a little cheaper, like this:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Allen-Sports-Ultra-Comp...1/44751220

I have a convertible, so a roof rack is not an option.

Right now I'm just looking to pedal home from the shop (clutch tube job). Of course, once I have a rack, I'll probably want to throw a mountain bike on for road trips.

Sat Sep 18, 2021 2:37 pm

Sat Jun 10, 2023 8:12 am

Replies on this thread are a bit old and I'm curious if anyone has used a Saris Bones successfully and without the rack causing damage to the trunk lid. I contacted the company and they were very adamant that I not try using their rack on my 66 Ghia. Bike to transport is a very light road bike. Any suggestions?

Sat Jun 10, 2023 8:57 am

I’ve done it back in the day.
Now that my Ghia is nicely painted, I wouldn’t dare.

Sat Jun 10, 2023 10:52 am

My suggestion - Go to Uhaul and ask them if/how to put a light-weight trailer hitch on your car. Then get a trailer hitch bike rack.

Sat Jun 10, 2023 4:02 pm

Cause U-Haul has a custom hitch for Karmann Ghias.
Righhhhht.

Not to destroy the OP’s dream though.

Sun Jun 11, 2023 12:21 pm

Thanks for the responses. Just had a lot of bodywork and fresh paint put on my Ghia so, yes, leery of strapping a rack to the trunk lid. I may look into a hitch but I'll go to my VW mechanic about installing that.

Fri Jun 16, 2023 8:11 pm

Blanche66 wrote: ... I'm curious if anyone has used a Saris Bones successfully and without the rack causing damage to the trunk lid. ...
It hasn't caused any damage to mine. The key thing to avoid is dirt getting under the contact points. I've only used it on a clean car in dry weather on paved roads, and the furthest I've gone, so far, is couple hundred miles at a time before removing it (but I did carry two bikes that distance).

Sun Jun 18, 2023 1:00 pm

carlk3 wrote: Blanche66 wrote: ... I'm curious if anyone has used a Saris Bones successfully and without the rack causing damage to the trunk lid. ...
It hasn't caused any damage to mine. The key thing to avoid is dirt getting under the contact points. I've only used it on a clean car in dry weather on paved roads, and the furthest I've gone, so far, is couple hundred miles at a time before removing it (but I did carry two bikes that distance).

I've done worse, towing a tailer with a 63 Beelte, bringing Christmas trees home on the roof... Just realize the car was not designed for this and any "adverse" situation could end with some repairs. Knowing that, fully enjoy your VW and other hobbies like biking.

Thu Jun 22, 2023 6:35 pm

ghiamanjc wrote: My suggestion - Go to Uhaul and ask them if/how to put a light-weight trailer hitch on your car. Then get a trailer hitch bike rack.

I contacted U-Haul and they have the specs for a hitch for a 1962 Ghia, which would enable the installation of a hanging or platform bike rack. This is likely a dumb question, but would the specs for a 62 work on a 66? Turns out, as well, that U-Haul will custom make a hitch if they don't have the specs and they'll do it for free so long as the car is brought to their research and development lab in Tempe, Arizona. Sadly, I'm in Montreal, eastern Canada so that's not an option for me.

Mon Jun 26, 2023 7:35 pm

I am in Flagstaff and have a 66 convertible. If I head down that way in it (cooler weather for sure) I may stop by and try to get it custom made. I have been thinking of a way to carry 2 bikes. I may try to fab something up. Stay tuned.

Wed Jun 28, 2023 7:10 am

carlk3 wrote: Blanche66 wrote: ... I'm curious if anyone has used a Saris Bones successfully and without the rack causing damage to the trunk lid. ...
It hasn't caused any damage to mine. The key thing to avoid is dirt getting under the contact points. I've only used it on a clean car in dry weather on paved roads, and the furthest I've gone, so far, is couple hundred miles at a time before removing it (but I did carry two bikes that distance).

Thanks for the feedback! I'm looking into the Saris Bones further. I don't plan to travel on gravel or dirt roads, but I might be on highways. Two light street bikes at the most and usually just one.

Wed Jun 28, 2023 7:12 am

TopBud wrote: I am in Flagstaff and have a 66 convertible. If I head down that way in it (cooler weather for sure) I may stop by and try to get it custom made. I have been thinking of a way to carry 2 bikes. I may try to fab something up. Stay tuned.

Please do let us know what you learn from U-Haul. From what I can gather they have specs for a hitch to work on a 1962. I'd be keen to hear more on this.

Wed Jun 28, 2023 2:57 pm

I once built my own bike-rack to fit on the bootlid of my 1984 Alfa Spider (which is a convertible, of course).

It had 4 sturdy feet and caused no damage to the paint or the bootlid. The bike carrier/restraint itself was a simple, single rail item which one can buy at any bike shop. It had the standard hold-down for the rear wheel and a quick-release clamp for the fork of the front wheel. The front wheel itself was carried in the boot or on the back seat.

I had a lightweight bike I used for triathlons, and drove 1800km (1100 miles) on roads of different grades and as I say, without damaging my car.

Wed Jun 28, 2023 8:49 pm

I use a SeaSucker bike mount.