How to Build a Bicycle Roof Rack for Your Vehicle

The roof of your car is an ideal place to transport your bike or other large items. Rather than strapping your bike to the roof with rope and duct tape, consider building a bike rack. Making your own bike rack is cheaper and more fulfilling than buying one at a fitness equipment store. Your car will need to have side rails (most come with these) in order for the bike rack to fit securely. Build a standard bike rack that will hold most bikes, including hybrids, road bikes and mountain bikes.

Preparation

• 1

  Wash your car thoroughly and clean the roof of any debris, garbage or other items. Remove any loose rope or ties. You cannot build a rack on a dirty or cluttered roof.

• 2

  Visit local equipment stores to see the types of bike racks available. Remember you are not purchasing a bike rack, but getting an idea of what is available and how you might modify a rack to fit your transport needs.

• 3

  Measure the dimensions of your car's roof to determine where to place your roof rack. The length and width of your roof will also help you determine the size of your bicycle roof rack.

Crafting the Crossbars

• 1

  Lay the PVC pipe crossbars on your carpentry table and drill a hole 3 to 5 inches from each end. If you drill one hole 5 inches from one side, make sure you do the exact same on the other side.

• 2

  String the suction cups through each end of the holes and hold in place with a bolt. Ensure the suction cups face the same direction. You are building what is known as the cradles, which hold the rack's frame to your car's roof.

• 3

  Drill a hole for the eye hooks on each end of the crossbar. Screw the eye hooks into each hole. Tighten with a wrench. Repeat with the other crossbar. These two poles can now fit onto your vehicle's roof.

• 4

  Place the cradles (as crafted in Steps 1-3) across the crossbars to make the shape of a box. The cradles should be equally spaced apart. Drill a hole where the cradles and crossbars connect. Attach with the nuts and bolts.

Assembling the Bicycle Rack

• 1

  Use your electric or hand-held saw to cut the smaller of the PVC pipes (the 3-inch one) down the middle. This fashions two small spaces for the bike tires. Lay the crossbars parallel on your workbench, approximately 3 feet apart, with the suction pads facing downward.

• 2

  Retain your bike rack's square shape by attaching the angle bar diagonally across the bike rack. Secure this with the bolts and nuts.

• 3

  Create a U-shaped structure where your bicycle's tires will rest. Bend each pipe in the center using a pipe bender or U-shaped bender. Make the U-shape wide enough to fit the width of most bike tires.

Placing Bike Rack on Car

• 1

  Open all your car doors and place your assembled bike rack on top of the car. Hold your rack in place by connecting the strap or rope to one of the two front eye hooks. String the rope or strap through the car to the other eye hook. Repeat process with the other crossbar. Secure across the inside of the top of the car with additional rope if needed.

• 2

  Test your bike rack. Place your bike on top of the car, securing the front tire inside the U-shaped hole. Make sure your car is off!

• 3

  Check that your front bike tire rests inside the U-shaped hole in the middle of the crossbars. Secure your bike to your bike rack with a small U-shaped lock.