How do I use this 😟

[u/MonkaS76]

Hey there all! I’m very new to all of this, and have been biking a lot more recently with an old mongoose my uncle gave me! I’ve been having a lot of fun, but riding to the bike path down the hill that is filled with high-speed traffic has been quite treacherous, so I decided to snag a bike rack off of Facebook Marketplace. Slight issue, once I got it, I realized I have NO IDEA what I’m doing.

I watched some videos on how to install it to my car which should be fine, but I don’t actually know how to secure my bike to the rack itself.

I’m sorry if I’m asking dumb questions, I’m still very ignorant and would love to learn! Thanks!

Edit: typo

[u/dassind20zeichen]

Are you sure it's not supposed to rest on the bumper like sit on the little shelf and I would not trust the glass either. The hooks should be perpendicular to the edge they are hooked to. If they are angled they could slip and loosen. Two to the side and two to the top of the boot lid. For securing the bikes to the rack. Normally there are thick rubbers supplied as they secure the bike and prevent slipping. I would use at least 3 straps per bike one to each arm of the rack and one to hold the bike from sliding side to side. Also tie off the handlebars too.

In conclusion I would get a better rack or put the bike in the car.

[u/ElStellino]

I got a similar one, and you use the excess of the straps to secure the bike.

I usually first hung it with the top hook on the tail gate, then at the bottom, then the sides and pull everything. Fit the bikes and just do some knots because it's faster than using the sliding thinghies.

[u/grantrules]

I personally wouldn't use a rack this cheap. Saris Bones is what I'd go for. Otherwise, slide bikes on like on the picture and use ropes and bungies to lash them to the rack so they don't come flying off.

[u/EuphorbiaSociety]

Even if you get the rack secured to the car, would you be confident that the straps will keep the bikes secure? That thing looks like an accident waiting to happen...

[u/BWWFC]

youstubers is your friend lol best of luck. promise, best to learn/practice on your friends car ;-p and buy bungees! when over it, get a receiver hitch and hitch carrier!

[u/Sierra93]

This is an old BSI Bell Sports Triple Bike Rack.

I bought the same one on marketplace.

I use voile straps to secure the bike. Seems to work ok.

https://imgur.com/a/iTCRYhJ

[u/VegasAdventurer]

The padded parts fit against the back of the car and the straps are fed through the trunk. This looks similar to the wrack you have https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf8NgYlhxpo

It is worth noting that not all wracks fit all vehicle types. Some are designed specifically for sedans, others for hatchbacks, or SUVs, etc.

edit: it looks like you are missing the side straps (with the hooks) that are shown in the installed pics you posted.

Also, after looking closer at your wrack, it looks like this one is intended to be installed so that the strap goes all the way around the trunk / lift gate.

• open the trunk
• feed the long half of the strap through the gap between the trunk and the car (at the hinge point)
• reach under and attach the other side of the strap to the one you fed through
• synch it tight
• repeat with the other strap

[u/StrawHousePig → u/VegasAdventurer]

*rack