Tuckerman

Tuckerman TMRT02 2-Bike Trunk-Mounted Tray Rack

[11/1/2008] Reviewed by: Roger Simpson - rogerwsimpson@gmail.com

Applicable to: '90 - '97

2-Bike Trunk Mounted Tray Rack

This bike rack was a disaster; the rack broke off of my car on the freeway, causing me to lose one of my bikes and the rack. (Fortunately I was able to salvage the other.) The rack mounts on top of your car trunk with the bikes standing upright in two rails. A "U-Bar" between the two bikes purportedly provides stability. However, the bikes are positioned horizontally to the wind, thereby causing maximum pressure. While driving on the freeway on a long trip, the wind resulting from my moving car caused the U-Bar to bend and, ultimately, the bike rack broke off of my car causing the bikes to fall onto the freeway at 65 mph. Fortunately, it did not cause an accident; the cars behind me were far enough back that they were able to veer around the rack without getting into an accident with other vehicles. Had the freeway been busier, it could easily have caused a major, multi-vehicle and life-threatening accident. I was able to salvage one of the bikes. Because my car was fully loaded for the trip, we had to drive the next two weeks with the windows rolled down and one of the wheels poking out the car. I could not fit the other broken bike nor the broken bike rack into the car. Besides, it would have been useless to return the bike to the company as they only offer a replacement rack, which I would never risk using again. The instructions did not give any indication that the bike rack was dangerous for use on the freeway. NOT BUY THIS RACK!!!!

Under 30 minutes to remove completely

Tuckerman RT Bicycle carrier

[12/27/2007] Reviewed by: Robert Pinder - rpinder1@cogeco.ca

Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99-'05 '06+ 1.6 liter 1.8 liter

Trunk mounted bike rack for two bicycles

Here is a letter I wrote to the company after my first experience: Hello. Just finished setting up my RT rack on my '03 Miata. I must congratulate you on a brilliant piece of engineering! Every step of the way I thought: this thing isn't going to work and yet every possible complication had been anticipated in your design. It just kept allowing me adjustments for everything. The quality of the materials is second to none, from the stainless steel Allen head hardware with aircraft nuts to the anodized aluminum finish to the fool-proof ratcheting mechanisms for strap take up. The real kicker came when I removed it after set-up and thought: surely this won't fit in the "trunk" of this little car but I folded it up, opened the lid and it slipped in with lot's of room to spare!! I am knocked out - it puts my Thule and Yakima roof racks to shame. The only caveat (and it seems hardly worth mentioning): the lower straps are too short to reach the towing loops under the car. I looked for a bike carrying device to put the weight farther forward than the typical trunk rack on this featherweight car and I found it and so much more - thank you. Regards, Robert Pinder P.S. I no longer see the Miata listed in your fit list????

I have a feeling this company MAY be out of business - I have not been able to contact them via email. I'm sure there are lots of these racks available out there however.

Under 5 minutes to remove