<p>Want to buy a two bike rack for my son for his Jeep Patriot. He and his GF are recreational bikers but will bike spring thru fall - he currently just throws the bikes in his trunk which can’t be good for the bikes!! He does not have a “tow” thingy on his car.</p>
<p>Trunk or hatch mount racks are the least effective in terms of securing the bicycles against banging each other or the vehicle, weather, the rack falling off on the road, or theft.</p>
<p>Roof and hitch mount racks are usually somewhat more secure, although they can have their own issues (e.g. don’t forget to remove bicycles from the roof before entering a garage; hitch mount racks may need to be removed to open the hatch). Outside the vehicle storage (including empty racks) also increases wind noise and fuel consumption.</p>
<p>Inside storage is usually the best if there are not other cargo or passenger needs for the inside space.</p>
<p>If the bikes fit in the trunk, it should be fine for them. What exactly is your worry? We have bike racks on all our cars and still the bikes ride inside if there’s not other stuff inside.</p>
<p>What post #4 said. Plus with a trunk rack, if there is a rear end fender bender, gues what gets destroyed first? ,) Over the years, I have used roof racks with great success. With a small SUV, one of the most elegant solutions is to buy small fork mounts that you attach to the second row seat backs. When transporting the bikes, lower the seats, take the front wheels off the bikes, stick them in through the hatch and lock them in. Safe, secure and still leaves room to pack stuff in the rear around the bikes. Most mail order bike parts companies have them. If you are fixated on a trunk rack, look at Saris, Thule and Yakima. They are the best established names in the market and have withstood the test of time with quality products.</p>
<p>I recently bought a bike rack for my daughter, and it seemed that the choices were very limited, and very much based on the make and model of car. The bike shop had a reference manual they used to look up my daughter’s car and told me exactly what to buy. I’m not sure about your Jeep, but if it has a wheel mounted on the back, you’re probably limited to a roof rack.</p>
<p>No wheel mount on back. The original plan was for H to go to a bike shop to ask. I’ll have to nudge him to do that so he can see some things in person!</p>
<p>Laying the bikes on top of each other, even with a blanket between them, is not a great idea. Deraileurs get bent or knocked out of adjustment, brakes get knocked off center. It’s not simply a question of scratches or chipped paint. In the world of racks, a roof rack is the way to go but is expensive (about $600 for a 2 bike system). For transporting inside a SUV, the seat back mounted fork clamps I mentioned are the way to go and are economical ($70 or less for 2).</p>
<p>I have a jeep liberty that has a spare on the back of the tailgate. I have a Thule rack that is mounted to the wheel. I couldn’t lift my bike into a roof rack.
I don’t think the Patriot has a spare tire on the back but I know it has a hitch reciever.</p>
<p>Will second going to REI or a bike shop for Saris, Yakima, Thule or brands of that ilk for a trunk rack. The store will tell you just what you need for that make of vehicle. I have had a bike rack for the back of my old van for about 15 years, and has well stood the test of time, and after strap adjustment, could be put on the car in 5 minutes. A little pricey originally, but am happy to have something with a good design that has stood the test of time. </p>
<p>I do own a rack for car top that would fit on my cross bar used for boats. But for a quick trip, seems like far too much trouble.</p>
<p>Last I checked, bicycles were not that fragile (maybe very cheap or very expensive ones are). Mountain bicycles taken off-road take more of a beating and still keep going. In any case, trunk racks tend to allow stacked bicycles to bang each other worse than laying them inside with blankets between them.</p>
<p>When we moved to 4 bikes 15+ years ago, we needed to put a hitch on and bought a Thule swingaway, which is wonderful. </p>
<p>Prior to that we had a Thule that fit on the back hatch (minivan) and had no problems. Agree with the posters that note you must buy the right rack for your make/model of car, as this Thule doesn’t fit my Corolla. (also agree it’s a pain that you had no hatch access until you take bikes & rack off). Simple internet research will tell you what model you need and probably yield a price cheaper than a bike store or REI. </p>
<p>Regarding the bikes banging, you should strap them so they don’t move around. I typically use a bunge cord, but if I’m going on a short drive and only have one bike (an expensive road bike), I use the straps from the rack to secure it. </p>
<p>PS - if you’re in NJ and if the Jeep takes the same rack as a Chrysler Town & Country minivan, I can sell you a Thule very cheap!</p>
<p>First, I don’t think the OP stated that the bikes were mountain bikes, they could be some of the newer upright flat bar "comfort"bikes built with road frames and components. Even if they are mountain bikes, there’s a world of difference between the “beating” mountain bike frames, wheels and forks are designed to take and the stresses small parts like derailleurs (with their long pulley arms in the rear and parrallelagram cages in the front), rear d</p>
So, what you linked wouldn’t work.</p>