In the Saris Bike Racks range there is a model called the Saris Bones which is a trunk mount bike rack. The rack is designed to fit most cars but there are many vehicles that are still not ideally suited to it. The top straps appear to go over the spoiler and people have concerns that acceleration while the rack is fully loaded will cause some sort of damage to the spoiler, let alone the paint work.
Can you picture yourself driving over rough terrain or driving at a pace down a windy ravine? Surely there is potential for damage to the paint work?
Preventing Damage to the Spoiler and Paint Work.
Well first off it's safe to assume that the manufacturer would have tested the product before releasing it to the market. Actually the straps don't attach to the spoiler but to the back of the hatch. This still means that there is considerable weight on the hatch of the car when the bikes are loaded.
There have been reports of scratches and other damage happening so if you are worried about your "baby" and it's paint job then there is a simple solution.
All you have to do is to get a small rubber gauze-like mat. Cut it and put the pieces under the cups. This is like a thin type of cushioning between the rack and the body of the car.
Fitting the Rack more Securely
If the bike carrier does not fit onto the car body very well, there is a way of overcoming this.
Use something called hatch huggers. The Saris Bones comes with straps and clips which work by running over the spoiler and clipping onto the hatch. If you think the rack is not strong enough because there is not a good place to fix the clips to then use the hatch huggers. They run on the inside of the hatch to a point where the hatch hinges and rear roof meet.
There are 2 models in the bones range; one carries 2 bikes and the other 3. Check with your Saris Dealer to see if the rack will be compatible with your model.
