tcesni Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 I see that C-Max owners are already looking for racks to fit a C-Max but has anyone tried to see if they can fit a bicycle inside the vehicle by lowering the rear seats and removing the front wheel? I own two Escapes and they are great for hauling road bikes. By removing the front wheel the bike will stand upright inside the cargo area and you can easily fit two bikes plus some luggage. If you don't need the back seat this is a nice alternative to hauling on the roof (and reducing gas mileage) or on a hitch rack where the bikes can get a lot of road grit on them. I hope to take some measurements soon but the C-Max is still a rare find in my area. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-MaxJaxon Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 I can fit a road bike laying down with the front wheel turned sideways. I had to take the front wheel off to fit a 29er mountain bike. One of the main reasons I wanted a vehicle with a large hatch was so I could fit bikes inside instead of using a trunk rack that is a hassle and lowers my gas mileage significantly on the highway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNCGeek Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 I've only been able to get mine in by laying them flat, but I did get 2 in that way (with front wheels removed). Mine are all MTB's with one 29er which I have yet to try. They may go in upright, but I did not attempt it, did not seem likely and I didn't want to mar the interior trying. I think I saw an accessory to load bikes inside (upright) for the European C-max with the lower load floor, so that may be something to check out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMSDPS Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 I put my cyclocross bike in there on a fork mount mounted to a 2x4, but I had to lower the seat post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNCGeek Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 I put my cyclocross bike in there on a fork mount mounted to a 2x4, but I had to lower the seat post.Gotta pic, I can't seem to visualize what you are referring to (seat post). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBGrad Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 (edited) Gotta pic, I can't seem to visualize what you are referring to (seat post). Look here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/18842924@N03/8155099947/in/set-72157631928100903 I have a quick release clamp on the seat post, the bike doesn't fit inside with the seat at its normal (riding) position. I undo the quick release, drop the seat down 4-5" down the seat tube, and then it fits inside and upright. Edited January 27, 2013 by SBGrad CNCGeek and HotPotato 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtberman Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 (edited) I do a lot of biking and one of my top criteria for a car is that a mountain bike must fit inside without a lot of hassle. In other words, I want to be able to just put it in, close the door, and get going without a lot of finagling. My Yeti mountain bike fits in the back with the wheel removed, no problem. I turn it sideways and slide it in. Bam. Done. This was no surprise because I'd measured the C Max cargo area before I bought the car, just to be sure. The C Max is near identical in interior size to my previous car, an Audi Q5. I haven't yet tried to stand it up. If that works, two bikes would probably fit side-by-side. Based on SBGrad's pictures of his antique ( ;) ) mountain bike in the back of his car, I don't think the area is quite long enough for two but I could be wrong. Edited January 25, 2013 by mtberman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBGrad Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 (edited) I haven't yet tried to stand it up. If that works, two bikes would probably fit side-by-side. Based on SBGrad's pictures of his antique ( ;) ) mountain bike in the back of his car, I don't think the area is quite long enough for two but I could be wrong. You mean my CLASSIC hardtail... The road bike won't stand up under any cicumstances, so I can't really try to get 2 side by side. The next thing I want to try is to see if I can stand up the mtn bike and leave one car seat up as well. That means I could take 3 people and 1 bike. Edited January 27, 2013 by SBGrad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNCGeek Posted January 27, 2013 Report Share Posted January 27, 2013 Look here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/18842924@N03/8155099947/in/set-72157631928100903 I have a quick release clamp on the seat post, the bike doesn't fit inside with the seat at its normal (riding) position. I undo the quick release, drop the seat down 4-5" down the seat tube, and then it fits inside and upright.Thanks, it looks much more organized than the last time I had my bike in the back of the C-max. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackson Posted January 27, 2013 Report Share Posted January 27, 2013 Unfortunately the cMax won't work for me. I love my '95 AWD SC/LE Previa which I purchased new and now has 240,000 mi, as with the 2 rear seats folded up, I can easily put two mountain bikes in with both wheels on both bikes, and still have 4 seats (although with two bikes only 3 seats are useable on a long drive as one of the bike handlebars has to take up a little of the head space of one of the two middle seats). Someday though I'll have to buy something new and I'd like to find something soon that gets excellent gas mileage and has AWD. I won't want to take off the front wheel, and I won't want a rack (various reasons, such as winter salt on roads, fear of being rear-ended with a $9K bike, and a roof rack's both a hassle for me at 5'-8" and also adds major drag). Maybe Chrysler's upcoming minivan will be the ticket. I saw a Mitsubishi Delica in Arizona last month - unavailable in the US - but I'd love to have one - the one I saw was 4WD & diesel with right side steering and BC license - looks like a squat and tall minivan... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNCGeek Posted January 27, 2013 Report Share Posted January 27, 2013 (edited) Unfortunately the cMax won't work for me. I love my '95 AWD SC/LE Previa which I purchased new and now has 240,000 mi, as with the 2 rear seats folded up, I can easily put two mountain bikes in with both wheels on both bikes, and still have 4 seats (although with two bikes only 3 seats are useable on a long drive as one of the bike handlebars has to take up a little of the head space of one of the two middle seats). Someday though I'll have to buy something new and I'd like to find something soon that gets excellent gas mileage and has AWD. I won't want to take off the front wheel, and I won't want a rack (various reasons, such as winter salt on roads, fear of being rear-ended with a $9K bike, and a roof rack's both a hassle for me at 5'-8" and also adds major drag). Maybe Chrysler's upcoming minivan will be the ticket. I saw a Mitsubishi Delica in Arizona last month - unavailable in the US - but I'd love to have one - the one I saw was 4WD & diesel with right side steering and BC license - looks like a squat and tall minivan...The C-max has enough cargo room for me, but I admit that it won't be carrying bikes in the way you describe. The Prius V may be worth a look (or second look) - I think I heard an echo when I had the seats down at the dealer, I'm sure a couple bikes would fit, though the front wheels would probably have to be removed. Edited January 27, 2013 by CNCGeek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackson Posted January 28, 2013 Report Share Posted January 28, 2013 The Prius V won't work either.. it's not tall enough inside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackson Posted January 28, 2013 Report Share Posted January 28, 2013 just found this! http://www.viamotors.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNCGeek Posted February 10, 2013 Report Share Posted February 10, 2013 just found this! http://www.viamotors.com/Ouch, they say the price should be $79k in volume. Could probably do better for the money with a Highlander. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colea Posted February 23, 2013 Report Share Posted February 23, 2013 When it's just me, I'll plan to carry my bike inside my C-Max (still on order). But on occasion, it would be good to carry multiple bikes, and I wonder if anyone here has had any experience with the Torklift "ecohitch" for a trailer-hitch mounted rack. It's shown here:http://torkliftcentral.com/ecohitch_cmax.php I already have a Thule trailer-hitch rack for the car that's being traded in, and would still like to be able to use it. Alan hreppert 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptjones Posted February 23, 2013 Report Share Posted February 23, 2013 I have a SARIS , three bike rack on the back of my CMAX and it works fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DR61 Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 I have a SARIS , three bike rack on the back of my CMAX and it works fine.Which model Saris? Picture?Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptjones Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 (edited) Which model Saris?Picture?Thanks BONES 3-Bike, I'll work on picture later. Top pads at top of window and bottom pads license plate area. Edited February 26, 2013 by ptjones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hreppert Posted February 26, 2013 Report Share Posted February 26, 2013 Torklift ecohitch with Thule Helium 3-bike rack is a sweet combination on my C-Max Hybrid. The Thule rack has a tilt feature that swings the bikes back allowing access to the hatch. Helium rack with 3 bikes weighs in well under the 200 lb limit of the class I hitch. Without the bike rack, the 1-1/4 inch receiver is barely visible under the rear bumper skirt. Ford even anticipated this kind of add-on with an option to disable the back-up alarm when bikes are on the back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macmic6 Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 How hard was the Torklift to attach and do you think it's sturdy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcesni Posted March 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2013 Look here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/18842924@N03/8155099947/in/set-72157631928100903 I have a quick release clamp on the seat post, the bike doesn't fit inside with the seat at its normal (riding) position. I undo the quick release, drop the seat down 4-5" down the seat tube, and then it fits inside and upright.Thanks for the pic. I am pretty sure my wife's road bike would fit. She is only 5' 3" and I think her road bike is a pretty small frame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArizonaEnergi Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 How hard was the Torklift to attach and do you think it's sturdy?I found it relatively easy with no drilling and use of the 6 threaded bolt points. Very strudy. See the thread I did on it for more info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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