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How to Choose Car Racks

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You ski. You hike. You travel. You ride a bike. You run and kayak and rollerblade and climb. And you camp—by car, backpack, canoe or llama. You have more gear than the crew of the space shuttle. But you lack the three-stage rocket to carry it all to your destination.

The solution to your gear-hauling woes is a versatile, multisport vehicle rack with the accessories that meet your needs.

Know your vehicle.
Know your activities.
Know your price range. If you invest in a quality base system you can add accessories as your budget allows.

Know Your Vehicle

Car racks are versatile in the extreme. If you know what kind of vehicle you have, you can figure out what rack you need. Four basic types of vehicle racks work with most cars, SUVs and trucks.

* Rooftop Racks—These racks attach to your vehicle's roof or factory-installed rack. If your car lacks gutters, the attaching device—sometimes called a tower or foot—clamps in the seam between the door and vehicle frame. These hold the bars which complete the rack. You can add carriers to the rack to suit your needs.

* Trunk or Deck Rack—Hooks and straps are used to mount rear racks to your hatchback or car trunk. These are also called mounts since they aren't racks in the purest sense of the word.

* Hitch Racks—These attach in 11/4-inch or 2-inch configurations to your car or truck's receiver standard hitch. Hitches either come with the vehicle or can be purchased and installed separately.

* Spare Tire Racks—This type either attaches to the spare tire (which is attached to the rear of the vehicle) or attaches with a special device to the spare tire's own attaching mechanism for a more secure fit.

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