I've been going back and forth between a hitch rack or roof rack for our bikes. We have a 2003 EX that we bought earlier this year. It came with the factory roof rack. If we went this route, I was looking into the Yakima Front Loader (we'd need to - I have a Gary Fisher mtb, and my daughter has a 20" K2, both aluminum frames).
I also have a 2" Yakima Rim Roc hitch rack that I kept off my old car. However, we don't have a hitch installed on the back (yet).
I'm going back and forth between the two and which will serve us better. I like the idea of the roof rack because it still gives us full access to the back of the Element. However, I stand a towering 5'6" tall. Lifting the bikes over my head isn't too big of an issue, however I suspect I'll have to get a stool or step ladder to store in the car.
I've looked at a few pictures of the installed hitches. For those who have it, can you access the back. The tailgate - probably not. But can you pop open the glass? Our hitch rack does fold, so I could lower it. But I found with our last car, I hardly utilized the storage in the back when I left the hitch on.
Thanks for any advice you can give!
Oh, I should say that investing in a full blown Thule or Yakima system isn't in our budget right now. All I could really afford would be the attachments.
I also have a 2" Yakima Rim Roc hitch rack that I kept off my old car. However, we don't have a hitch installed on the back (yet).
I'm going back and forth between the two and which will serve us better. I like the idea of the roof rack because it still gives us full access to the back of the Element. However, I stand a towering 5'6" tall. Lifting the bikes over my head isn't too big of an issue, however I suspect I'll have to get a stool or step ladder to store in the car.
I've looked at a few pictures of the installed hitches. For those who have it, can you access the back. The tailgate - probably not. But can you pop open the glass? Our hitch rack does fold, so I could lower it. But I found with our last car, I hardly utilized the storage in the back when I left the hitch on.
Thanks for any advice you can give!
Oh, I should say that investing in a full blown Thule or Yakima system isn't in our budget right now. All I could really afford would be the attachments.