Hey guys, I want to be able to take my bike with me and I'm thinking about buying a trunk rack. I would like to find one that would not damage my paint or leave any scratches, etc. They all seem a bit iffy to me. Suggestions? Thanks!

 

i'm also interested in the responses...

 

My advice is to get a 1/4 inch trailer hitch attached. They're about $200 installed from what I understand, and you can get them installed at a U-Haul store. I know it sounds funny to put a trailer hitch on the G, maybe it is. But this way you can get a trailer hitch mounted bike rack. It won't even touch your car, and you'll still have trunk access while the bikes are on it. They are also easier to lock.

If I had the funds I'd do it myself, but I'm saving up for a new road bike...

 

You can get the hitch kit yourself for about 100 made by Curt. But you do have to cut the rear bumper a little bit, they claim its underneath and not visible (main part goes behind license plate). You can even tow 2000lbs, like a small popup camper

Curt Manufacturing 11499 Class I Receiver

 

I work at a ski/bike shop and we sell a bunch of different brands of bike racks. The only one that I would ever put on the trunk of my car is the Thule Raceway Platform 2 Bike carrier. It has an awesome mounting and adjustment system, and has the added benefit of a platform so there is no wheel swing or body sway of the bikes thus leaving no chance of a bike moving and touching your car. We install hitches on SUVs mostly, I wouldn't recommend doing it on a car like the G.. Just isn't right in my opinion

 

I'm not too worried about tires swinging as I'm pretty good at securing them. I'm worried about the parts of the rack that contact the trunk...such as the straps and the foam supports. What do you think of the Thule in that regard?

 

there is no trunk bike rack that will not scratch the paint. even if the contact surfaces are soft, the dirt and particles that get under the contact points will scratch the paint.

 

Its great, I dont like the soft foam that some companies use as it slides around on the paint. This rack uses thick rubber that stays planted and uses a crank system to tighten the straps so its super snug, I have never had it on my car but I use it on my girlfriends Audi all the time and the paint is mint. If you dont need the added stability of the platform there is also one for 2 bikes without it or 3 bikes without it.

 

+1 for the Thule Raceway Platform 2 Bike carrier, a buddy of mine has one on this corolla, it is most secure hitch rack i've seen.

 

its not a hitch rack lol its a strap rack

 

sorry got it wrong what he had: He has this one, its very nice, has a platform and locks securely.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=swagman&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=2868467669337918467&sa=X&ei=PAweTvy JCq7gsQLzv729CA&ved=0CDQQ8wIwAg

 

hitch racks are ugly, just get the one in my pic

 

Hey, so I was about to get this until I read the following:
http://www.etrailer.com/Trunk-Bike-R...le/TH9003.html

It looks like it puts dents in a lot of folks' bumpers. Including a guy with a G37 as posted at the bottom of the reviews on that site. Any other options? I really do like the platform setup.

 

I have Saris Bones RS. It is really nice, so far I have no problem carrying 3 bikes with me and it seems to work out perfectly fine.

 

Hmm I have never heard that. Was that only with the platform one? And yes the bones or bones rs are both great aswell.