Roof bike carrier for Subaru Liberty / Outback Wagon

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PrOd

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I see heaps of Subaru's at races so I'm hoping someone can help me with this. I got a couple of Thule fork mount roof bike carriers fitted to my Liberty wagon today but when I picked it up noticed they had been installed backwards. Turns out the roof rack location (which has fixed mounting points) are so far back that the bike carrier rail inhibits the boot from opening.

Maybe I'm just fussy but having the carriers, and bikes mounted backwards looks wierd. Are there ways around this (though still roof mounted)?
 
Not sure which model of bike carrier you have, so I'm not sure, but most of those type of carriers can be mounted so the QR is hanging out well in front of the front cross bar, rather than right on top of it, so you can move the entire assembly forward. I agree, the bikes don't like riding backwards - they like to see where they're going! :)
I have an outback with the Thule Sidearm mounted on top, and it slides forward on the cross bars to wherever you like it. Best thing is it takes 10 seconds to put your bike on and no taking off the front wheel.
 
Yes, you are being fussy.

But if you really, truly can't live with it, PM me. I need a couple of new bike carriers. We talk deal, no?
 
Not sure how the rack would clash with the boot as the fork mount model is shorter at the fork end? As for the direction of the mount, The racks are reversible, you just need to unlock them and pull out the seal rubber then unbolt them, flip them around the way you want and reinstall.

Don't have a Subaru, but is it possible the roof rack is just mounted in the wrong place and the entire unit needs to shift forwards??
 
In my experience, you get less wind noise with the bikes mounted backwards. Who cares how it looks? It's a lot less annoying.
 
Not sure how the rack would clash with the boot as the fork mount model is shorter at the fork end?
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It's the amount of overhang that stops hatches and wagons from opening the rear door that causes the problem - happens on the wife's car (a Festiva with a bike on top - or her kayak!!!!) and on akashra's hatch.
 
I haven't seen a way of running those fork mounts forwards on Subies that doesn't end up with the hatch hitting unless you cut down the tray for the rear wheel - which can work unless you need to carry a bigger/longer bike. I've got an Impreza and it is the same issue.

A fashion victim friend runs hers forwards, and just has to be really careful when opening the boot.
 
I did some experimenting last night. The installer said they could cut them down if I checked the length but both the roadie and mtb rear tyre would hit the spoiler thing on the boot.

I have seen the Thule sidearm. It's very big and bulky and about double the price. My main concern about it is the lack of security though. You can lock the arm that attaches to the tyre but that wouldn't stop someone undoing the QR and taking the bike.

I can't use the carriers that secure the bike via an arm to the downtube as my (carbon) Cannondale's manual specifically says not to use them.
 
PrOd said:
I have seen the Thule sidearm. It's very big and bulky and about double the price. My main concern about it is the lack of security though. You can lock the arm that attaches to the tyre but that wouldn't stop someone undoing the QR and taking the bike.
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You could carry a cable lock and use that to lock the bike to the roof racks when you leave the car somewhere. Gives you a little bit more security.
 
I have seen the Thule sidearm. It's very big and bulky and about double the price. My main concern about it is the lack of security though. You can lock the arm that attaches to the tyre but that wouldn't stop someone undoing the QR and taking the bike.
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Not sure where you are getting this pricing and information from but they obviously have a bike and are taking you for a rider.

Difference in price between the Thule carriers with arm and wheel off is only about $30 - if that - so really, price wise, it only comes down to personal preference.

As to the 'lack of security' - you need to do some research. The arm itself locks as does the QR between the carrier and the roof rack - Thule has two locks per carrier so there is no way, if you lock them properly, can the bike be removed without a) damaging the bike or b) removing the entire roof rack (and they still, then, have to get the nike off the bike carrier anyway!

Have a look at RCS's site: http://www.roofcarriersystems.com.au/
 
I have mine mounted backwards, Impreza wagon (before they went to the stupid hatch), it is because of the spoiler on the tail gate.
Have no problems with it, why does the bike have to travel in the same dirction as the car? I don't think it would mind.
I also think it is not bad for protecting the bike, if I am stupid enough to forget the bikes are up there, and it happens, then the rear wheel will hit something beofre the main part of the bike.
 
PrOd said:
Turns out the roof rack location (which has fixed mounting points) are so far back that the bike carrier rail inhibits the boot from opening.
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What year wagon are we talking about? On most you can move the cross bars forward on the roof rails to get enough clearance for the bike carrier.
 
Only coming late on the thread I have the thule sidearm mounted on my old car and as far as security goes the bike is lockable via the sidearm and would take a fair amount of force i.e. rip the roof racks of the car to remove the bikes from the car. I prefer them over the remove the front wheel and put bike on roof, due to the fact the bike is either on/off the roof in less than 30secs.

Funnily enough I now have a subby outback and have yet to get the correct rails to put the roof bike carriers on the car.

Thule comes from the land of Ikea they possibly couldn't have made an error in design with the inability to adjust the mounting of the bike carriers onto a car roof without hitting the rear hatch, could they??
 
we own a 05 liberty wagon and yes the fork mount thule carriers are installed backwards due to the fact that u cannot open the boot when they face forward. with bike on carrier ther is a good 9 - 10 inches overhang so i am going to cut them down so i can turn them round. cheers:)
 
Different bike mounts but I have 2 Rhino racks mounted to my 2002 Subaru Outback.
They mount the right way around with no problems even when I am carting my 29er.
 
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