What about roof racks?

blackjack17:

What about roof racks?

Plus they use a lot more petrol. Supposedly noisy too, but never tried one.

AlDrag:

 

Also the cloth on the frame holder to avoid scratching? This is exactly the reason I want a better rack like the Yakima Hold Up. I mean sure, you could be arguing I am just being fussy, but if I had a Hitch, then I could get a better rack for basically the same price as these other platform ones.

Yeah that's my partner's bike. I wasn't taken any chances with the paint on hers. The clamps have quite soft rubber. I take my bike with me for work so it's seen 10,000kms on the rack. I should take a photo of where it grabs my bike. But then I'm not as worried about rub marks now, sure when it was new.

The issue I see with the Hold up rack is that with an allen key and small bolt cutters you'll only be left with the front wheel on the rack. That said, the rack I have comes in either a hitch or tow ball option. I got the tow ball option as I had the Camry when I bought it, then ironically the Corolla came with a two inch hitch. I wouldn't necessarily get the same rack again as mine is a three bike rack, but there's no way you'd get three decent bikes on it. Maybe two adult and one kids hardtail.

The issue I see for you is probably more around the car, it's going to be much easier to get a traditional tow bar on a Jazz/Fit so I'd probably be letting that dictate the choice of rack. I'm not a huge fan of roof racks, mainly as I've hardly used them and I'm paranoid about driving into things, even the tow bar mounted rack is worth about 1L/100km in drag. But I do like barely having to lift them on, and it tilts out of the way of the hatch. 

Depends on the bike I guess but if it's a mountainbike it will get scratched, but you can always put frame protection on as well. 

I ain't too worried about scratching the bike as I've definitely scratched my carbon bike up in a few places. Although I would like to avoid unnecessary scratches if possible.

Your concern with the hold up rack is theft? I can understand that, although all racks are going to have that problem. I would never leave it somewhere out of sight anyway. I do admit, our current setup with putting our bikes in the boot of our old Honda Fit is really nice for the fact that it doesn't affect fuel consumption and it's nicely locked in the car. Just a bloody pain. Maybe I should just get a Wagon and make it less of a pain but still secure!

Yea the platform racks are so convenient. Will easy for my wife to use as well if she wants to ride with some friends without me helping her load the bike.

So all the custom towbar fitters Rupuhus linked replied with no EXCEPT Akcer Bilt.
They are quoting $782.00inc GST to have one installed. Not too bad, more expensive than a towball, but at least it's more versatile.

Will have to think about it now. Certainly cheaper than getting another car.

Forgot to update this.

So I managed to a get 2 inch hitch receiver installed by Acker Bilt on my Honda Fit! And they did a great job! Only negative is the welding seam was on the bottom-inside of the hitch, which was interfering with my bike rack a bit. Just needed to file it down and it's fine now.

This rack with the hitch has been amazing for a year now!

Bung: From the look of the towball you never use that. On our car the end of the receiver is flush with the bumper cut out and has a plastic end cap. The towball lives in the boot out of reach of your shins.

Nice work. Tow bars are extremely useful. Sure you might not tow a boat with the car but you can use a trailer to move a couch or something. 

The install looks really neat. I don't think I mentioned but when Toyota put the hitch on, they made a fairly agricultural cut in the bumper to fit it. Your one is much neater. Plus the tow ball extension on mine rocks, so I had them glue it in. 

mudguard:

 

Nice work. Tow bars are extremely useful. Sure you might not tow a boat with the car but you can use a trailer to move a couch or something. 

 

The install looks really neat. I don't think I mentioned but when Toyota put the hitch on, they made a fairly agricultural cut in the bumper to fit it. Your one is much neater. Plus the tow ball extension on mine rocks, so I had them glue it in. 

 

Bung:

AlDrag: But yea I assume shipping it here and getting it certified would be really expensive.

Certication of towbars is only an issue for Passenger Service Vehicles subject to a COF.

Googling shows that you have been chasing this for some time 😀. If you can't get a removable hitch it is possible to get an adapter that bolts on in place of a tow ball.

That's a cunning idea, and any engineering workshop ought to be able to job one up, although a towbar workshop would have the right stock sitting around.