Tire Rack Selection Guide
by Rodney Sawyer on 2007-09-22
If the active life is for you and your vehicle you will need all the help you can get to make sure you enjoy your relationship on and off the road. For the sporty driver, it will not do to just keep your sports gear, fishing gear, or camping gear in the passengers side of the car. The solution is a multisport car rack that is versatile enough to meet the demands of your adventures and activities.
1. Know Your Vehicle
First of all you have to know what you need and what you have before buying a car rack. Car racks are extremely versatile. The type of rack you purchase depends on the type of vehicle you have. There exists four types of car racks that work with most vehicles.
2. Rooftop Racks
These are the racks that attach to the roof of your car. These types of racks are sometimes factory installed. It can either attach to the gutter of your vehicle or to the clamps inbetween the frame and the door. With this in place you can now place additional carriers on the rack customizable to your needs.
3. Trunk or Deck Rack
Mounted using hooks and straps, these are attached to the hatchback or the car trunk. Some don’t consider them as pure racks so they may be called mounts at times.
4. Hitch Racks
These attach to your car receiver standard hitch and may be preinstalled or installed separately.
5. Spare Tire Racks
Spare tire racks attach to a device that interfaces with the spare tire attachment. It may attach to the spare tire itself too. This makes for a snug, secure fit. Always consider the height limitation of your carport and your garage. Garages usually have enough room to accommodate most car racks. Keep in mind that this will add height to your vehicle so your car may not be able to fit in the same underground parking areas you are used to. Many adventurers forget that their stuff is on top of the vehicle. This has led to quite a few losses of equipment among rack owners. If your garage cannot accommodate such top-mounted racks, you should choose a rear or tire mounted rack instead. Cars will usually do well with a hitch rack while SUVs do well with tire racks.
6. Know Your Activities
Your choice of rack also depends on your activities. For activities such as biking, or skiing, you will want a basic rack that can be configured to accommodate more gear. Among them, the hitch rack and the rooftop rack are the best when it comes to versatility because they have a modular build that means you can configure it according to your needs. If you need to transport a kayak or surfboard, however, or rooftop racks are the only way to go.
7. How Much Can You Shell Out?
Carefully consider what you need before you make a purchase. Many people succumb to buying whatever looks shiny. Never salivate over features that, frankly, you do not yet need. Plan for your future needs but leave out features that you are sure you do not need. To save yourself a great deal of pain and cash, always consider which rack you will often use. The best way to go is to buy the basic attachment mount and then add the accessories later. Since these attachments are modular, you will not have a hard time removing and re-attaching accessories you may need.
1. Know Your Vehicle
First of all you have to know what you need and what you have before buying a car rack. Car racks are extremely versatile. The type of rack you purchase depends on the type of vehicle you have. There exists four types of car racks that work with most vehicles.
2. Rooftop Racks
These are the racks that attach to the roof of your car. These types of racks are sometimes factory installed. It can either attach to the gutter of your vehicle or to the clamps inbetween the frame and the door. With this in place you can now place additional carriers on the rack customizable to your needs.
3. Trunk or Deck Rack
Mounted using hooks and straps, these are attached to the hatchback or the car trunk. Some don’t consider them as pure racks so they may be called mounts at times.
4. Hitch Racks
These attach to your car receiver standard hitch and may be preinstalled or installed separately.
5. Spare Tire Racks
Spare tire racks attach to a device that interfaces with the spare tire attachment. It may attach to the spare tire itself too. This makes for a snug, secure fit. Always consider the height limitation of your carport and your garage. Garages usually have enough room to accommodate most car racks. Keep in mind that this will add height to your vehicle so your car may not be able to fit in the same underground parking areas you are used to. Many adventurers forget that their stuff is on top of the vehicle. This has led to quite a few losses of equipment among rack owners. If your garage cannot accommodate such top-mounted racks, you should choose a rear or tire mounted rack instead. Cars will usually do well with a hitch rack while SUVs do well with tire racks.
6. Know Your Activities
Your choice of rack also depends on your activities. For activities such as biking, or skiing, you will want a basic rack that can be configured to accommodate more gear. Among them, the hitch rack and the rooftop rack are the best when it comes to versatility because they have a modular build that means you can configure it according to your needs. If you need to transport a kayak or surfboard, however, or rooftop racks are the only way to go.
7. How Much Can You Shell Out?
Carefully consider what you need before you make a purchase. Many people succumb to buying whatever looks shiny. Never salivate over features that, frankly, you do not yet need. Plan for your future needs but leave out features that you are sure you do not need. To save yourself a great deal of pain and cash, always consider which rack you will often use. The best way to go is to buy the basic attachment mount and then add the accessories later. Since these attachments are modular, you will not have a hard time removing and re-attaching accessories you may need.
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