Conference noted::bicycle

    Nasbar sells a basic bike rack for trucks that hold 2 bikes and front
    tires for $50. It goes across on top of the truck body. On my small
    pickup it sticks out a bit on either side but on a full size I bet it
    would fit inside your cap. To find out if your bike will fit measure
    from the end of your fork to the top of your handle bar, add 3 or 4
    inches, then check how high  your cap is above your truck side wall. I 
    will measure how wide this bar is and post it here. It might fit inside 
    your truck on the floor, you could always attach it to a 2/4 and put it 
    on the floor, the only thing would be noplace to hold the front wheels.
    
    Alan 

    I went out and measured it and it is 5' 2". I also measured a full size
    pickup in the parking lot and it was over 5' 2" so it looks like an
    option would be to mount it on a 2/4. A friend that has a Toyota
    Four runner puts the back seat down, rolls the bike in backwards and
    has a rack something like this one on a 2x4. Works good for him.
    
    
    Alan

I use a Cannondale pickup bed mount bike rack that I modified slightly.  It
was designed to mount at the top of the bed between the bed rails.  I cut some
2"x2" blocks of wood, drilled holes in the rack ends and mounted the whole thing
to the floor of the truck bed.  Now the bikes fork mount down low in the bed and 
fit just fine inside of the cap on my GMS S-15 Sonoma.

Mark

    I use a Bike Tite glider board. Hold three bikes (I've carried 5 at one
    time) It doesn't need to be bolted down.
    
    Paul

    Take a look at the BIKE TIGHT bike carrier. It is basically just a fork
    mount deal, a quick release lever, that has two mounting holes in it.
    It can be bolted to anything, like a 2x4 or a wall of the bed of a
    truck. I have mine bolted to my factory roof rack on a Mercury  Sable
    station wagon. I can then put my bike on the roof of the car and strap
    the rear will to the back rack.
    
    Ron

    I mounted my Thule rack on 2 2x4's with U-bolts.  I have a 1/2 ton with
    a cap as well.  It's kind of like having a bicycle garage on wheels ;')
    
    ...Ed
    

    Thanks for the info on the pickup bike racks. Any suggestions on where
    to see and purchase some of these racks?
    
    Bob

    
    Bob,
    
    I use a couple of Bile Tites mounted on a board that I can remove from
    the rear of my P/U whenever I want.  I'm in Salem so if you want to
    take a look, stop by.  dtn 5-3398.
    
    Jim
    

    I have an F150 with a cap and a rubber bed mat, and I just toss the
    bike in on its side... it stays put despite Massachusetts backroads
    and the truck's bouncy heavy duty payload suspension.  The rubber
    bed mat was $99 at JC Whitney.

    I use the Bike tites mounted on a 2X4. Works very well. An inexpensive
    way to carry bikes in a pickup.
    
                                  Bill

     Can anyone tell me where I can find the BIKE TITE carrier mentioned
    in the previous replies. Any cost info would be appreciated also.
    
    cheers,
    	Bob

    Try Belmont Wheel Works in Waverly Square (Trapelo Road). I bought my
    holders there and mounted them on a 2X4. 
    
                                       Bill

     Thanks Bill. Do you remember the cost per holder? 
    
    cheers,
    	Bob

     I was in the Cycle Loft yesterday and found the Bike Tite there.
    They were $29.99 ea.
     I've decided to try building my own version of these. Can't be
    too hard. Need some axels/skewers to start with.
    
    cheers,
    	Bob

	I built my own Bike-Tight style rack to put 2 bikes in the back of 
	our Cherokee. This isn't the prettiest solution, but it was almost 
	free and it works well. I use motorcycle straps to secure the bikes 
	to tie-down hooks in the Jeep.  

	Materials:
		one 2x4 (need about 5 ft)
		brass tubing, I.D. just a bit larger than the skewer axle.
		A couple washers just larger than the O.D. of the tubing.
		Skewers	


	Here's what I did:
	
	1. Cut off pieces of 2x4 that are about the width of the bike's 
	   front hub.
	2. drill a hole through the 2x4 and slide in the brass tubing.
	3. Cut the brass tubing so about 3/8" sticks out the ends of the 2x4.
	4. Epoxy the washers to to the ends of the 2x4's to provide something
	   solid for the fork to rest against.
	4. File down the wood where necessary for clearance.
	5. Screw these to a longer 2x4 and install the skewers.

	/ken

    RE .13 - I think the cost per holder is around $10 to $15, but I am
    really not sure. Give them a call at (617)489-3577.
    
                           Bill

    
     Called them, they said that they are "in the $30-$40 range" and 
    that they have other similar bike ty-downs that are in the same price
    range. That cost is per unit.
     I need four and have a pretty good idea of how to fab something on
    my own. I just need three more axels/skewers. Managed to get one set
    from my local bike shop, gratis.
    
    thanks again for the replys.
    Bob
    

    
    I've been looking around for the cheapest possible skewers available.
    I even went to the local hardware store (they have a row of cheap
    bicycle stuff, but no bikes) and Sears (had less cheap bicycle stuff 
    than the hardware store).  No luck at either place.
    
    The best I've done so far is about $6.99, which is the amount that
    bike shops seem to have for their cheap skewers.
    
    Jim