Tailgate Pad Vs Bike Rack ?

Sometimes transporting more than one bike from one place to another is very difficult. There are plenty of transportation options available. Among them, two of them are the most popular. They are know Tailgate Pad and Bike rack. In this article, we will discuss Tailgate Pad vs. bike Rack and examine each method’s pros and cons. Which way will work best for you? Please read it to the end, and this article will help you to find which transportation method is more straightforward for you.

Tailgate Pad and Bike Rack can be used to shift bikes from one palace to another. The main difference between a Tailgate Pad and a Bike Rack is that a tailgate pad can only be used on vehicles that have tailgates, i.e., trucks, whereas a bike rack can be used on tailgate trucks as well as on other vehicles which do not have tailgates. Below we will briefly describe the Tailgate pad vs. Bike Rack, which means briefly comparing both.

Tailgate Pad Vs. Bike Rack

Tailgate Pad

Tailgate Pad’s name is exactly what the product is. We can understand the meaning of the tailgate pad from the title. Like tail means something large, a gate means the product can be hung on the gate or used as a gate, and a pad means something very flexible or foldable. So, simply tailgate Pads are large in size, rectangular in shape, attachable to the gate, and due to stretchy stuff, they can be easily foldable. They are pocket friendly as well.

Tailgate Pads usually are used in vehicles for shifting bikes from one place to another. In one go, or at the same time, clusters of bikes can be move-in a considerable distance traveling. Several loops of straps are fixed within the pads, meaning a flat band is used as a clip for securing two ends. These straps are used to attach pads to the vehicle’s gate and hang several bikes. Once the bikes are hung over with the places via loops of straps, they can not move nor leave their positions and do not even touch one another so hardly.

There are different models of Tailgate Pads available in the market. They all probably have the same exterior structure and texture, but the strap attachment style is separate. The Dakine DLX Pickup Pad, Race Face T2 Tailgate Pad, and the Yakima GateKeeper models have fixed bike straps that can not move. These straps can not be lost or misplaced, and they are tight enough not to get loose. The Fox Racing, Thule, and EVOC models, have moveable loops of straps. If they are not attached or fixed with the pads tightly, they might risk falling off the bikes or blowing away bikes during shifting.

Let us discuss some pros and cons of Tailgate Pads.

Pros

• Easy to load and unload.
• Relatively affordable and reasonable to buy.
• Bikes are secure.
• Six bikes can hang easily with pads.

Cons

• Easy to get theft.
• Continuous sun exposure can damage the fabric.
• The tailgate pad causes the dust to enter the pads, which has a chance of scratching the paint and can damage the bike a little.

Bike Rack

A bike Rack may also be known as a Bicycle carrier, parking rack, or Luggage carrier. This means bike racks are used to attach bikes to the vehicle for shifting cycles. There are four types of Bike Rack. These are Trunk mount, Roof mount, Hitch mount, and Spare tire mount. All these types are different in style and have other brands.

Trunk-Mount: This is one of the cheapest types of bike racks. It can be easily attached to the back of the vehicle with the help of straps. It can be used on multiple cars. It is a very lightweight and manageable rack, but the trunk mount bike rack can hold two or three bikes simultaneously.

Hitch Mount: This is a slightly expensive type of bike rack. It can carry more than three bikes, either in platform style or hanging cradle style. Platform-style racks are those where your bike’s wheels rest on the bike rack, whereas the hanging cradle rack is one in which the frame rests on the bike rack. But this type is not secured. Bikes might crash or collapse into each other while driving through mountains or rough surfaces.

Roof Mount: If someone agrees to lift bikes on top of the vehicle roof. Then they can choose a roof mount bike rack. The cost of a roof mount can be high for those vehicles that do not have built-in mounting points for attaching bike racks, and its price can go down for those with built-in mounting points.

Spare Tire mount: This is an inexpensive bike rack like a trunk mount. A spare tire is mounted on the back of the vehicle, and in some vehicles, it’s mounted on top. Spare tire mount racks carry a max of two bikes.

Pros

• Trunk mount and spare tire mount are the cheapest bike rack.
• Hitch mount can hold more than three bikes.
• Spare tire mount bike racks are quick and easy to install.
• Roof mount racks are a secure option
• Racks that attach to the bike’s frame are the most stable type of rack.
• The bike rack is eye-catchy and attracts many users.

Cons

• Trunk mount and spare tire mount bike rack can block the view for the driver.
• Hitch mount bike racks are difficult to load.

Conclusion

Over the year, I have used both transportation methods via Tailgate Pads and Bike Racks. In this article, I have discussed Tailgate Pad vs. Bike Rack in detail based on my experience. Now I will tell you which one I prefer among both. For me, tailgate Pads are number one because they are pocket friendly and much easier to use.

There is a low risk of bikes moving and crashing into one another. I have learned that this is the most preferred method, but unfortunately, Tailgate Pad only applies to people with pickup trucks. Apart from my experience, the bike rack is also very demanding and popular among people. They found it more beneficial than the tailgate.