The Best Bike racks for vans

Minivan is an American car classification for vehicles designed to transport passengers in the rear seating row(s), with reconfigurable seats in two or three rows. Depending on the type of van it can be bigger or smaller than a truck and SUV, and bigger than a common car.

Minivans are of a much smaller configuration than regular vans like the Ford E-Series, Dodge Ram Van and Chevrolet which are referred to as simply Vans and are used for transporting both goods or people.

Vans have a higher roof, a flat floor, a sliding door for rear passengers, and high H-point seating. Even though the vans have more space inside it still requires a bike rack to carry your precious bikes. 

You can take off your front wheel and store in in the van itself but you would not have much space for anything else. There are so many bike racks on the market to choose from that sometimes it is difficult to get your pick of the best bike racks.

Which bike racks for vans are the best? I’ll help you.

Best Bike Rack Placement

You can get a roof rack for your van and fit your bike rack on top of it. That is a good option, however, you have to be mindful of the fact that the minivan is much higher than a normal car and you may encounter low bridges and tunnels. 

The typical van height is about 7-ft off the ground and when a bike, which is at least three to four feet in height, is attached you will need about eleven feet of clearance. 

The additional problem with the rooftop bike racks is that they take up space on top of the van that you can use for carrying your roof box or to carry other gear like your rooftop tent. 

The best type of rack is, therefore, a hitch mount bike rack, tire mount, bumper mount or trunk mount bike rack. If you have no need to carry extra gear, a rooftop bike rack can be a perfect option. As long as you are not worried about gas mileage.

Best Trunk mount bike rack vans

Trunk mounted bike racks are lightweight and economical to use. They are outfitted with straps, hooks,  and buckles that secure the bike to the back of your minivan. 

The beauty of these types of bike rack is that they do not require any additional equipment to like crossbars or hitch to work properly. 

The only real complaint of the trunk-mounted bike rack is that it makes it difficult to access the rear of the minivan when the bikes are mounted. 

The trunk-mounted bike racks compact design allow them to be assembled easily. In addition, trunk-mounted bike racks can also be easily broken down and stored conveniently when not in use. 

Check out this Trunk-Mount Bike Rack, the Tyger Auto TG-RK3B203S Deluxe 3-Bike Trunk Mount Rack on Amazon. 

Best Hitch-Mount bike rack for vans

Hitch mounted bike racks is a great option for your van if it comes with a hitch already installed. If it doesn’t you can get one fitted easily.  

This type of bike carrier system is very good and easy to use. You slide the hitch into the hitch receive on your vehicle and lock it with the included the lock. 

As the rack is connected to the hitch of your vehicle it minimises the chance of damaging your vehicle paint job. 

As the rack is connected low, you can load your bike easily. However, it may interfere with the operation of your back door. 

If you are worried then you can get a bike rack with the tilt feature. You can check the price of this Hitch-Mount Bike rack on Amazon, the  Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Racks for 2 in. Hitch.

This, Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Racks for 2 in. Hitch, is a 4-bike rack that fits vehicles with a 2-inch trailer hitch. The vehicle will require professionally installed Class III or IV 2″ hitch to use this product. 

It has 22-inch long carry arms that individually secure the bicycles with Allen’s patented tie-down system. 

The folding carry arms quickly drop out of the way when the rack is not in use. You can set up and installs this rack in less than 5 minutes. 

You do not have to worry about quality because it is made of sturdy steel construction with a black powder coat finish. If you buy this product you’ll receive a Lifetime warranty.

Best Roof-mounted bike rack for vans

The traditional way to carry your bike is normally on the roof. The roof-mounted bike rack is mounted to crossbars on your roof carrying your bike out of the way so that you can access all doors. 

Remember the problems with transporting the bike on your roof, low bridges and tunnels. If you have to carry your bike on your roof, you can try the  Yakima HighRoad Roof Bike Rack or the Venzo CyclingDeal Alloy Car Roof Bike Carrier Rack for 1 Bike Max Load 37 lbs bike. You can check the price on Amazon. 

Best Bumper mount for vans

The bumper-mounted bike rack is more suited to your gift wheel than to you van. I would choose one of the much easier option to install.  

You can try the Quick Products QPRBM2R RV bumper-mounted 2-Bike Rack on Amazon. These are good on your 5th wheel. 

This one is too challenging to put on your van unless you are handy with tools. It is much better to choose other options. 

What to Consider When Purchasing a Bike Rack for Vans?

These are some of the questions you need to ask yourself before you purchase a bike rack for your van. 

• How often will you carry bikes?
• How many bikes do you need to transport?
• How much are you willing to spend on a bike rack?
• The type, shape and size of the bikes that you need to transport?
• Does your van have a tow bar, hitch receiver, spare tire on the door or a roof rack? 

Conclusion

Whenever you drive at high speeds with anything outside your vehicle, potential risks are involved. Make sure that your bikes are secured properly to the bike rack to prevent swaying and rattling. Use locks to secure the bike from theft.  Hope this info on the best bike racks for vans was suitable.