Project: AWD Turbo Family Hauler (PART DEUX)

[JustinG]

Was more so saying, if I did the hitch it's gone with the car. I'm not pulling it off to sell it.

Where I get to keep the tray even after the car goes away.

[.RJ]

DO NOT GET A ROOF MOUNT BIKE RACK.

EVER.

NO.

I know what you're thinking.

DONT DO IT.

Everyone I know that has had a roof mount bike tray has run into something with it - drive through, parking garage, home garage. Everyone. Get the hitch - at some point it will be useful to pull a utility trailer, too. And maybe you can pack a bumper dumper for your next camping trip

I've had a hitch on my last 3 cars, they're cheap from etrailer.com - bumper removal can be a pain, get two people, use lots of painters tape and a big blanket on the ground and buy extra clips and its not so bad.

[ViPER1313]

Wagon people.... it’s so huge and useful as a family vehicle! I just immediately have to install this roof rack and hitch....

Lol.

[Sijray21]

Everyone I know that has had a roof mount bike tray has run into something with it - drive through, parking garage, home garage.  Everyone. 

you know one person - ME. 7 years of relatively heavy usage and no incidents with running into a garage, house, low-hanging plebs, or the like. an open sunroof/moonroof helps, too...

i had a roof rack on the GTI for about 7 years. it was really convienient because i used it ALL the time (pretty much every weekend in the spring/summer and often during the week). When i stopped using so frequently i bought/installed a hitch-rack. here are my thoughts:

if you don't use the rack all the time to transports bikes or anything else get a hitch rack. if you use it frequently use a roof rack.

Roof Rack Pros:
easy to mount unless you're short because you have a wagon and not an SUV
no risk of people rear-ending you and destroying your rack and bikes as well (had a few friends have this happen and the insurance companies are a bitch when they find out some bikes could be worth more than the cars involved...)

Roof Rack Cons:
Fuel economy... i lost about 1-3mpg on the highway
distorts the lines of the car. if you like the way your car looks stick with the hitch-rack

Hitch Rack Pros
Easy to mount and you can simply take off the hitch and store in the garage when not in use (i really like this). it doesn't ruin the lines of the car and helps with fuel economy
better for fuel economy

Hitch Rack cons:
installation is more arduous. i had to remove the bumper and make some cutouts in the diffuser to install a hitch on my wife's MK7 GSW and my buddies' MK7 GSW
potential for someone to rear-end you and destroying the bikes.

---

Wagon people.... it’s so huge and useful as a family vehicle! I just immediately have to install this roof rack and hitch....

Lol.

when you can use the storage inside and put equipment outside and get decent fuel economy for trips, yes it's very useful ;-)

we packed our wagon with infant stuff for a week, adult stuff x2 for a week, beach stuff, a trailer for the infant, stroller, beach equipment, and 2 bikes using a hitch-mount rack on a beach trip to NJ and averaged 44mpg doing so (TDI). that was nice

[.RJ]

Jayray, just wait, your day will come.

I use the rack all the time and still prefer the hitch. Loading/unloading so much easier without having to remove wheels or dick around with adapters.

[Sijray21]

Jayray, just wait, your day will come.

I use the rack all the time and still prefer the hitch.  Loading/unloading so much easier without having to remove wheels or dick around with adapters.

i agree the hitch is easier to use. install is more difficult, but i think it's worth it. the pros outweigh the cons in the hitch vs roof mounting and i'd go hitch every time now. If you frequently used a bicycle carrier of some kind i'd still go roof. there's a reason the pros don't use hitch-mounts on their support vehicles...

[JustinG]

Wagon people.... it’s so huge and useful as a family vehicle! I just immediately have to install this roof rack and hitch....

Lol.

I guess people who install hitches on trucks are retarded too

Please explain to me why I'd want to put a mud covered mountain bike inside my wagon....GTFO with your hate son.

Roof box is still my greatest car purchase. I'd even rock the roof box on a truck.

[WRXtranceformed]

You just bought a wagon man, put the rear seats down, cover it with a tarp or moving blanket and throw that B in the back of the tailgate

[Apoc]

You just bought a wagon man, put the rear seats down, cover it with a tarp or moving blanket and throw that B in the back of the tailgate

I'm surprised someone as anal as you about cleanliness would even suggest this.

Also, you can't put the rear seats down if your kid is in the car.

[JustinG]

I'm sensing sarcasm?

[Steve85]

I've been torn on this after hanging 4 bikes off the back of the Edge with a hitch mount. Roof mount wasn't really an option on that because it's just too high. It was convenient on the edge but can't imagine hanging 4 off the back of this thing though. Putting it on and taking it off kind of sucks too, leaving it on sucks because it's in the way and flips out the parking sensors (BEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPP YOU ARE HITTING SOMETHING RIGHT. NOW.) And honestly we only do 4 for vacations anymore and last time just thought it better to rent when we get there.

I mostly just need a single rack on the roof for taking my bike to ride trails while the kids are at practice and not have the hitch mount in the way for them putting their stuff in the rear hatch. It fits with Jrays comments in terms of how often it's being used. And I can always add trays as needed.

---

Re: wagons and racks-
Needed them on my SUV too, because we do stuff with stuff that doesn't fit in our pocket.

[WRXtranceformed]

I'm sensing sarcasm?

If you had bought a Raptor you could do something like the GearOn system I have for my truck:





Best of all worlds and when the bikes aren't attached you can drop a tonneau on top of it

I really just want someone here to buy a Raptor before I do

[JPolen01]

I really just want someone here to buy a Raptor before I do

I would love one. They are so damn expensive though

Guy one street over from me had a 1st gen Raptor. I noticed the other day he has a brand new one. Must be on a lease. It's so good looking for a truck.

[.RJ]

RAPTOR RAPTOR RAPTOR

[WRXtranceformed]

RAPTOR RAPTOR RAPTOR

RAPTOR SEND IT!!!!

[Apoc]

[JustinG]

So I'd think I may take my chances on an ebay knock off of the M Perf lip that has gotten good reviews for fitment on the forums.

Trying to decide color...

Full paint match



Matte, like the genuine piece



Gloss black, minus the red accent



Bottom half color matched, (ignore the blue car, didn't feel like cropping it out.)




I am really leaning toward gloss black, to match the gloss black grills I'm ordering. Or the black with painted lower portion.

I think fully painted is too much, and I fear matte may look odd with all the gloss black trim on the exterior of the car.

Thoughts?

[Apoc]

I like the matte, but then the headlights stick out all bright-like. :-\

If it were me, I'd probably go gloss black... but I'm putting black things on my GTI... soooo... yeah.

[Sully]

Definitely gloss black

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Sijray21]

I really like the full paint match, but the gloss with red lip is my 2nd favorite.