Anyone tried to Use Roof Bike Rack in Bed?

[WildHorse]

I don't have my Maverick yet. One of my main use case is to transport my road bike occasionally. I haven't been very satisfied with some discussed solutions:

1.) roof rack: not so convenient and I'm forgetful driving into garage with the bike on top is a highly possible incident waiting to happen;
2.) hitch rack: block the tollgate/camera/license plate, etc.
3.) tailgate pad: not so sure it's good idea for carbon frames
4.) bed rack as Ford DIY project: too lazy to take the wheel off

SO, I get another idea: take the roof rack and tie it on the bed floor. The only question is whether the tie-down is steady enough. Any one has tried the idea?

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[Jah.]

I have a 26 inch cruiser style bike that fits in the truck bed catty corner ( front bike wheel turned parallel with front bed edge ) with tailgate closed . bungee corded in upright position . drove into garage without problem .

 

[SeanBonham]

I have been wondering this same thing. Problem is my 29er is pretty long, would need to have the tailgate down no matter what. I can't think of any quick way to get a roof rack to work in the bed with it being so short.

 

[dedMann]

I considered a synthetic deck plank cut to fit the bed notches and roof trays attached to those two planks. It could be lifted out as a complete unit.

 

[SeanBonham]

I considered a synthetic deck plank cut to fit the bed notches and roof trays attached to those two planks. It could be lifted out as a complete unit.

I love this idea, but I don't think you could close the tailgate even without the bike in the roof tray. Maverick has a baby sized bed haha. There is a 1up tray for sale locally, but I cant figure out a good way to make it work for me.

 

[dedMann]

I have a 150 travel 29r on a single tray OneUp; which is the best I've owned to date. Like all of the hitch racks, it does restrict view on camera, and it has to be rolled away with leafs open to drop tailgate. I would imagine the 29r (or longer travel new 27.5)could be arranged at an angle; back wheel elevated. If I shuttle the whole crew I will temporarily use a tailgate pad. Carbon bikes handle it better IMO. A couple MTB companies make a sick-on rubber shuttle bumper for the downtube. I have seen metal bikes dent at the tailgate(usually chromoly).
I am looking to get a set of These for attaching a pair raised trays. Hoping some extruded aluminum T-Track will integrate with it.

 

[jdh]

"Too lazy to take the wheel off"...... SERIOUSLY????
Does not the front wheel have a quick release....If so, Open QR lever and then loosen about 3-4 turns....Total elapsed time approximately 20 seconds.
If equipped with disc brake, remove thru axle using appropriate size Allen Wrench & then remove wheel....Time elapsed approximately 20 seconds
If front wheel bolted on....Use 15mm wrench to loosen bolts & remove wheel...Time elapsed approximately 20 seconds.

 

[SeanBonham]

"Too lazy to take the wheel off"...... SERIOUSLY????
Does not the front wheel have a quick release....If so, Open QR lever and then loosen about 3-4 turns....Total elapsed time approximately 20 seconds.
If equipped with disc brake, remove thru axle using appropriate size Allen Wrench & then remove wheel....Time elapsed approximately 20 seconds
If front wheel bolted on....Use 15mm wrench to loosen bolts & remove wheel...Time elapsed approximately 20 seconds.

I really don't want to mess with removing my boost axel every time I go out on the MTB. Is it hard, no not at all. Do I want to do it 4 times a week, no. Long term stress on an aluminum axel makes me nervous.

 

[dxpedition13]

I have a 150 travel 29r on a single tray OneUp; which is the best I've owned to date. Like all of the hitch racks, it does restrict view on camera, and it has to be rolled away with leafs open to drop tailgate. I would imagine the 29r (or longer travel new 27.5)could be arranged at an angle; back wheel elevated. If I shuttle the whole crew I will temporarily use a tailgate pad. Carbon bikes handle it better IMO. A couple MTB companies make a sick-on rubber shuttle bumper for the downtube. I have seen metal bikes dent at the tailgate(usually chromoly).
I am looking to get a set of These for attaching a pair raised trays. Hoping some extruded aluminum T-Track will integrate with it.

I'm curious how low does the OneUp single bike rack/tray go when attached to the hitch. Both open and closed.

Do you have a picture by any chance?

 

[dedMann]

You'll notice, I disassembled the hitch part and flipped it. I bought the smaller one so it would fit in any receiver I own. This gave me the option to to rearrange it so the "Filler" block lives above. It lowers the overall height enough to open tail gate with the leaves out. This helps swapping the shoes while sitting on the tail gate

 

[dedMann]

I really don't want to mess with removing my boost axel every time I go out on the MTB. Is it hard, no not at all. Do I want to do it 4 times a week, no. Long term stress on an aluminum axel makes me nervous.

I forgot to mention these handy little guys: Van Tray
Perhaps mounted to the tailgate in a quik release fashion. Back wheel against cab side and possibly set up to use the tailgates lock slots... As in tail gate down, wheel tray connected to conjoining piece that is held by both female ends of the tail gate lock slots, by using some male side pins. May be more efforts, but anything worth your time usually is....

 

[Jakb]

Taking my front wheels off isn't a simple thing, especially with disc brakes.

I bought some custom cut 80/20 to drop in the bed slots and hook up some Thule racks to. I don't have the truck yet but hopefully this works.

 

[WildHorse]

Taking my front wheels off isn't a simple thing, especially with disc brakes.

I bought some custom cut 80/20 to drop in the bed slots and hook up some Thule racks to. I don't have the truck yet but hopefully this works.

Jakb, thanks for sharing. This is close to what I imagined. I wonder if we can even take out the two cross bars and still somehow be able to tie the rack to the bed securely enough.

 

[SeanBonham]

Taking my front wheels off isn't a simple thing, especially with disc brakes.

I bought some custom cut 80/20 to drop in the bed slots and hook up some Thule racks to. I don't have the truck yet but hopefully this works.

oh man, I'm so curious if this will work

 

[dedMann]

For chits and giggles I tossed a RockyMounts roof tray in the bed for approx sizing. Even with the tray slid against the cab; it still pokes out quite a bit and may leave you unable to hold the front. Slid forward enough to hold the bike- it moved you to far forward to utilize the threaded insert. This would need to add “Nut-serts” for the mounting.
all the way back to the cab-

forward enough to hold bike-

bike in tray with rear wheel against back of cab-

actual measurement to end of rack (68.5") when bike fit/mounted in tray-

*TAKE NOTE: the "useable" middle (lash point) of front wheel on a medium (150mm travel) 29'r lands around the bottle opener/tie down

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