Roof bar bike racks

[johnstorr]

So, I'm starting my final year of a masters degree in design engineering in September and we have to choose an individual design project (this can be anything). One of my ideas has been to design an inclusive transportation system for bikes, snowboards, ski's and possibly surfboards. As far as I know you have to buy all these things separately to attach to roof bars or the rear of the car, which can be fairly expensive! I'm just wanting to gauge thoughts from people if you think this is something worthwhile or even needed.

Thanks for any advice in advance

[Johnny]

Sounds good... But the reason you have to buy seperately is the very nature of the load being carried. Do you think an all in one solution to carry multiple loads is feasable?

Bikes
Kayaks
Skis
Snowboards
Roox Boxes
??

I'm sure if you could come up with a modular solution there would be interest

[johnstorr]

Johnny said:

Sounds good... But the reason you have to buy seperately is the very nature of the load being carried. Do you think an all in one solution to carry multiple loads is feasable?

Bikes
Kayaks
Skis
Snowboards
Roox Boxes
??

I'm sure if you could come up with a modular solution there would be interest

Yeah I was thinking this, and a modular system most likely would be an outcome. It would be interesting to investigate and see if it were possible so that you didn't have to buy everything separately

[gangzoom]

I've only just recently bought a roof rack bike carrier for my car. I think what's available on the market is OK at the moment. It really isn't all that hard to take off a bike rack and replace it with a roof box, or put a roof box next to a bike rack once the roof bars are on the car. I've even seen a cannon/roof box/bike on the roof of a 4x4 all at the same time. The problem with having a totally integrated/all-in-one solution would be that at the minimal the rack/carrier would have to be the size of a roof box, which is massive/ugly compared to a simple bike carrier. Most roof rack systems around are already modular, you can buy bits you need and most are interchangeable between different makes, and people can buy what they need when they need.

What would be novel would be roof bars that could be fitted/removed without needing to get out hex keys/screw driver etc...but clearly the problem is every car is different so to designing a universal system would be hard. It would also have to be secure (both interms of been stable but also to stop people from coming along and just unclipping the roof bars and nicking them).

Edited by gangzoom on Thursday 25th July 12:13

[johnstorr]

gangzoom said:

I've only just recently bought a roof rack bike carrier for my car. I think what's available on the market is OK at the moment. It really isn't all that hard to take off a bike rack and replace it with a roof box, or put a roof box next to a bike rack once the roof bars are on the car. I've even seen a cannon/roof box/bike on the roof of a 4x4 all at the same time. The problem with having a totally integrated/all-in-one solution would be that at the minimal the rack/carrier would have to be the size of a roof box, which is massive/ugly compared to a simple bike carrier. Most roof rack systems around are already modular, you can buy bits you need and most are interchangeable between different makes, and people can buy what they need when they need.

What would be novel would be roof bars that could be fitted/removed without needing to get out hex keys/screw driver etc...but clearly the problem is every car is different so to designing a universal system would be hard. It would also have to be secure (both interms of been stable but also to stop people from coming along and just unclipping the roof bars and nicking them).

Edited by gangzoom on Thursday 25th July 12:13

Yeah that's a good thought, it may be an unrealistic idea, due to, as you say, needing to be so big to be able to carry out all of the functions. Thanks for the feedback

[HereBeMonsters]

Something that doesn't scratch my roof would be ideal.

[Fluffsri]

~Have you seen the suction cups that you can buy on Amazon.com? Cracking Idea and something like that could be used in different figurations with different attachments for the different loads.

[johnstorr]

HereBeMonsters said:

Something that doesn't scratch my roof would be ideal.

Yeah this is something I have experienced in the past also so I would definetly true to design it out!