CX5 Bycicle Transport / Roof Rail vs Back or Trunk Mount

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Karsten

Member
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Mazda CX5 GT
Although winter has just arrived in Ohio it's time to already plan summer activities.
What's your recommendation for safe bike transport? Mount them on the roof rails or transport them at the back?
By the way - my CX5 does not have a trailer hitch!
And with this comes the next question ... my CX5 does not have roof rails (yet). Are these aftermarket/OEM products easy to install?
Thanks for repsonses
 
Well, roof rails+ bars (+ bike rack) will usually cost more than a hitch + hitch mounted rack. Then you have to sit there getting the bike on top of the car and working about scratching or marking the top. + with the b**** you have more options for other uses.
 
If I wanted to transport more than one bike more than a short distance, I would have a strong preference for a hitch mounted rack (or a bumper style rack).

For one bike I just put it inside with rear seats folded down. It's amazing how much bikes on the roof lower highway mpg's as well as performance.
 
Curt 13127 Class 3 Trailer Hitch and a hitch mounted bike rack. The hitch was pretty easy to install, but you'll definitely need an extra set of hands to hold it in place during installation. I got a Yakima Ridgeback. It tilts so I can open the hatch, the way it attaches to the hitch prevents rattling, and you can purchase an attachment to lock the bikes to the rack. I didn't consider using the roof rails because I can see myself driving into the garage not realizing there's something on top of the car.

Something to consider though, the bike will probably set of the BSM so you may need to turn off the BSM for longer trips.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123827451-Curt-hitch-installation-instructions
 
I have a Thule hitchmount rack and love it. It supports the bikes by the wheels instead of the frame so the frame does not take any abuse. Very secure and easy to rack/un-rack the bikes. It's a very heavy unit, but I think it is built to last. As you can see in the pics, it folds up nicely when not in use. In addition, it folds down to allow you to open the hatch both when carrying bikes and when it is in the upright position.

http://www.thule.com/en-us/us/products/carriers-and-racks/bike-carriers/hitch-mounted-bike-carriers/thule-t2-2-bike-917xtr-_-917xtr

<a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/user/minnesotaart/media/20140812_132733_zpsdf82ad3a.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a296/minnesotaart/20140812_132733_zpsdf82ad3a.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20140812_132733_zpsdf82ad3a.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/user/minnesotaart/media/20140812_132703_zpsf0cc43d5.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a296/minnesotaart/20140812_132703_zpsf0cc43d5.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20140812_132703_zpsf0cc43d5.jpg"/></a>
 
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Just a FYI. If you are talking about just one bike it will in the back rather easily. I bought one of those heavy moving type blanket to protect the interior and it works out just fine
 
+1 to what's being said here. If you only have 1 bike to transport, putting it inside the car is a good and cheap way.

If you don't want to put it inside or have more than 1 bike, then a hitch mount is the way to go. I've done both with the car. I started with a roof rack set up because that's what I used on my Protege5, but the CX5 is too tall to match the ease and convenience of the P5. It's doable, just more of a hassle. So i installed the Curt 2" hitch and got a hitch mounted bike carrier for it. It is MUCH easier to load and unload the bikes and have less drag.

2013-05-08_19-23-56_539_zps2b94eaf0.jpg


20140626_170154_zps9ceed004.jpg


20140626_170207_zpsc41a8c4a.jpg
 
Hi.
Thanks for the comments. We have 2 bikes and a kids seat. So top mount or hitch, as a the kids stuff is in the back.
As 'deepfriedsushi' wrote on top will be a hassle over time. So I will need to have a hitch trailer installed to get the bikes in the back. The Curt models seem to fit well, but did you install a class 2 or 3 trailer?
 
I got the Curt Class 3 (2") from amazon. Install was super easy, but like Cis4 said, it's better to have someone help you lift the hitch up to the car when bolting it in.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/ (commissions earned)

For just carrying bikes, either class 2 or 3 would work fine. However, most people seem to choose the class 3 hitch for the availability of more selection in bike carriers or any other hitch mounted items. Others just prefer the "manly" or beefy look of the 2".
 
deepfriedsushi said:
I got the Curt Class 3 (2") from amazon. Install was super easy, but like Cis4 said, it's better to have someone help you lift the hitch up to the car when bolting it in.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/ (commissions earned)

For just carrying bikes, either class 2 or 3 would work fine. However, most people seem to choose the class 3 hitch for the availability of more selection in bike carriers or any other hitch mounted items. Others just prefer the "manly" or beefy look of the 2".
Click to expand...

Did you have to cut out the bumper, like is required of the OEM hitch? I was considering the Hidden Hitch option that protrudes under the bumper and requires no cutting.

Edit:

This is the Hidden Hitch that @Kedis82ZE8; had linked in another thread.


http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Mazda/CX-5/2015/87623.html?vehicleid=2015308412

But that price on the Curt hitch is tough to beat.

Double edit:

I know I should stop being lazy and just search for the answers. Hahaha. Per the instructions there's no cutting required for the Curt hitch:

https://www.curtmfg.com/masterlibrary/13127/installsheet/CM_13127_INS.PDF

Looks like I'll be adding that to my shopping list.
 
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I had the Curt Hitch on my last cx-5, no bumper cut. The hitch slightly pushes up on the bumper though. You can't even tell unless you get right up on it though. The new car had the oem hitch so it was cut already; I swapped the curt hitch back on and the cut isn't even visible because of the hitch cover. In hindsight I should have just sold my curt hitch.. I forgot the bar on my bike rack could be swiveled for 1.25 or 2".. oh well lol (well my hitch cover is 2" though). Now I am trying to sell the OEM hitch.
 
I had them "throw in" the Mazda hitch on my 2015 Touring FWD. They did have to do the cut out of the bumper, which I thought was pretty cheezy for OEM hitch to have to make a cut like that.
 
With Roof rack mounted bicycle, you risk forgetting that you have it up there and run it into your garage, underground car park, air ventilation in parking lot, whatever.

Sure you might go a lifetime without forgetting, but it will never happen with a hitch mount whether you remember or not. My vote goes to hitch mount.
 
We currently have a trailer hitch with a rear mount rack. I had always had a roof rack on all of my vehicles and didn't like the hitch mount racks due to the fact that the bike frame would hang on the rack and the bikes would swing around. The newest ones secure the bike from the wheels primarily.

I'm going to recommend that you look into what I consider to be the best rack on the market, bar none. (Amongst my mountain biking friends, 9 out of 10 have this rack). It is the 1UP USA. Hand made in Wisconsin. Bullet proof combination of aluminum and stainless. The best thing about these racks is how you put the bikes on the rack. It takes no more than 3 seconds. You simply swing the arms out of the way with a lever, but the bike on the tray and push the arms onto the tires. The arms only go one way unless you release with the lever. Truly brilliant. Folds out of the way and further folds for storage. You can only get them direct. Almost forgot- this is a modular system so you can have from 1 to, I think, four racks on the same setup. Here http://www.1upusa.com/bicycleracks.html

I installed the Curt 2" hitch. Clean, stock look. Took about :45. Instructions are excellent and hitch is super solid. http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Mazda/CX-5/2015/C13127.html?vehicleid=20158678


16315099646_0956e3b7e0_b.jpg
 
@ CyclistInMa, thank you for your note, I think like both products - the hitch and the bike rack.
I went to the websites and watched the videos. Did you install the hitch by yourself? And as you have a support for 2 bikes .. are you able to turn this support down to open the trunk w/o that the bikes touch the street/ground?
 
Hi Karsten... sorry for the late response.

Yes, I installed this myself with the help of a friend. Key to the installation is to loosen the exhaust off of the rubber hangers. Just lube them and they come off easily. I supported the exhaust on some 2x4s just to make it easier.

The whole rack will swing down to allow you to open the tailgate when you have bikes on it, although with two bikes on, it is pretty heavy.

I hope that this helps... let me know what you end up doing!

Chris
 
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