Pickup trucks and mountain bikes go perfectly together. Normally, you can just throw your bike into the back of an open truck bed and drive to the trails. But when you install a truck canopy, things get a little tricky.
Because the canopy has a roof and a glass door, you cannot use a simple tailgate pad anymore. So, where do the bikes go?
If you want to protect your expensive mountain bikes (and your new truck cap), here are the three best ways to transport them.
1. On the Roof (The Roof Rack Method)
Putting your bikes on the roof of your canopy keeps them out of the way. This leaves your entire truck bed open for camping gear, coolers, and tools.
To do this, you need crossbars on your canopy roof and a standard bike roof rack. However, you must be careful! Bicycles catch a lot of wind on the highway, which pulls on the canopy roof. A cheap fiberglass canopy might crack.
If you want to carry bikes on top, you need a heavy-duty steel or aluminum shell. If you want to know exactly how much weight a strong canopy can handle, read our guide on the 500kg roof load explained to make sure your setup is safe.
2. Behind the Truck (The Hitch Mount Rack)
Lifting a heavy 50-pound e-bike onto the roof of a tall truck is very hard. For heavy bikes, a "hitch mount rack" is the absolute best choice.
This is a metal rack that plugs directly into the square tow hitch under your rear bumper. The bikes sit securely behind your truck, close to the ground.
Pro Tip: Make sure you buy a hitch rack that can "tilt" or swing away! If the rack does not tilt down, the bikes will block your tailgate, and you won't be able to open your canopy door.
3. Inside the Bed (The Safe Fork Mount Method)
If you are worried about your bikes getting stolen at a gas station, the safest place for them is locked inside the truck canopy.
Because a mountain bike is tall, it might not fit standing up perfectly. The secret is to take off the front wheel of the bike. You can screw a small, cheap metal piece called a "fork mount" into a piece of wood on your truck floor. You attach the front forks of the bike to this mount, and the bike stands up perfectly inside the shell!
Before you try this, you need to know how much room you have inside. Check our simple guide on how to measure your truck bed accurately to make sure your bikes will fit with the tailgate closed.
4. Why Tailgate Pads Don't Work
You might see many trucks using a soft pad over the tailgate, with the front wheel of the bike hanging out.
If you have a canopy, do not do this. The bike will stick up too high, and you will not be able to close your canopy's rear glass door. Driving with the glass door flapping open in the wind will break the hinges and shatter the glass! To understand the different door styles, you can review the different types of truck canopies available today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I store my mountain bike inside to prevent theft? Yes! Storing your bike inside a locked canopy is the best way to stop thieves. Heavy-duty metal canopies are much safer than soft covers. Learn more about keeping your expensive gear safe in our guide: Are Truck Canopies Theft-Proof?.
Will bikes on the roof hit low bridges or drive-thrus? Yes, this is a huge danger. A truck with a canopy is already tall. If you put a bike on the roof, your truck might be over 9 feet tall! You will not be able to go into most parking garages or fast-food drive-thrus. Always remember your new height.
Can I carry an e-bike on my canopy roof? It is not recommended. E-bikes have heavy batteries and can weigh over 60 pounds. Lifting them above your head is dangerous, and they put too much stress on roof racks. Use a heavy-duty hitch rack for e-bikes instead.