I'm looking to buy an HHR, but want to know if anyone has tried to haul a mountain bike in the back with the rear seats folded? I would like to mount it standing up with the front tire removed and seat lowered. I currently have a 01' Elantra GT, but I have to lay the bike flat because where I work I can not leave it on the bike rack. I was thinking of getting an Element, but the HHR comes standard with the ECF (Extreme Coolness Factor) so that I won't be embarrassed when I hit the town.

So I'm hoping one of you HHR experts can help me out. Does anyone know what the ceiling height is with rear seats folded flat? What about the width across (door-to-door) and length from the rear lift gate to the back of the front seat? I couldn't find these dimensions on Chevy's HHR site.

Thanks!

 

I used to own a bike shop (sold it before we moved here), and can tell you that you will have problems getting your bike in the HHR. It's just not tall enough back there.
We used to get two full suspension MTB's in the wife's RAV4 no problem using 2 fork mounts on a board.

Pulling the front wheel and seatpost out will still not get you in. The HHR is destined for a rear hatch rack I'm afraid.

Look for an Allen 104A or 103D:



Available HERE at a good price.

They will fit nicely on the HHR. Just be sure to place the lower support bar directly on the bumper top - instead of resting it in the plate indent as shown. the HHR hatch metal bends easily, so only use the hooks on the hatch top and bumper bottom.

Hope it helps,

 

30 8' 2 x 4 and a air compressor.

 

Bikes can be hauled inside the HHR. I looked hard at this issue before ordering mine and actually did some trial fitting at the dealer. My daughter and I ride expensive road and mountain bikes and I didn't want them outside, especially when travelling.

The only "gotcha" that I ran into was height. My solution was to go ahead and get the HHR. I marked the seatposts with pinstripe tape and just pop 'em out. I can haul two of our road or mountain bikes no problem.

The rack is from the folks at http://www.bikeporter.com. Great people to deal with. I had cut this rack down from when I had it in my Dodge Caravan.

Here's a couple of pics of my Moots titanium road bike loaded:



and:

 

Joe, if you read his post he was asking specifically about mountain bikes. There is no way you can fit a mountain bike with it's higher stem and wide bars in the HHR without pulling the stem off - let alone two, which is what he asked...

But I sure want to know WHERE you got that cool one piece cargo carpet!

I could really use one of those.

 

Have you seen my new Sub Box?

 

Mike,

And... if you read my post again, you'll see where I said I can haul 2 mountain bikes also. Both are Cannondale full suspension. The only problem I ran into there was that I had been playing with a riser bar on mine and that would hit the opening surround moulding. I could have shifted the rack forward some, but went ahead and put my flat bar back on for now. No problem!

Granted, it was a tight fit for any of the bikes. In my Caravan, I could carry all 4.

This week I may be going on a business trip. If so, I will take both my road and mountain bikes. Some take golf clubs on business trips. Me, I take my bikes and ride. I'll be in the mountains with some fantastic single track and the Blue Ridge Parkway is very close to where I'll be.

The carpet is actually 2 pieces. The rearmost one was cut to match the factory one and the other tucks into the gap near the back seat hinge. On both I glued some anti-slip backing on to keep them from sliding around. The carpet is a HD indoor/outdoor (that can be hosed down!) from Lowe's. It was pretty cheap, too. I made mats for the rear (seldom used) footwells from the piece, too.

 

I have hauled MTB & Road, just laying down, I don't like moving seat, once set. Did pull front wheel, and laying down.

I impressed to see a bike up-right, it has to be a tight fit, but pictures show it can be done.

I did go measure, roughly from floor to roof in middle area is 33 inches, keep in mind at the door is 31 inches, bike would have to go in at angle.

I have setup mine with a hitch rack, to haul bike outside, and off vehicle. First do not want to worry about, messing up inside of interior, plus much easier, to haul outside. I know the safety & security, but with some common sense, I believe, this is best way.

Currently, my wife has a Yakima rack, for the hitch, but I soon going to get, a rack that holds bikes by fork-mount, and is hitch style. Will show-case hopefully in the near future.

 

Here's a couple of pics of my Moots titanium road bike loaded:



and:

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Joe,
Nice Bike, Like the Moots!!!

I have a Litespeed, my beater, after last year getting a Eddy Merckx Molteni Editon Steel Road Bike!!
MTB's -- Specialized Epic & Kona Single Speed Unit,
BMX Cruiser -- Free Agent

Cool several on this site are cyclists, GREAT!!!!

Mark

 

Mark, a good friend of mine has a (cross) hitch - fork mount on his Toyota "Mallrunner". I think it's a Yakima. Works good., except you can't open the back with bikes on the rack.

My biggest concern is while travelling. A few days on the road sometimes and I feel much better with them locked in the car.

Thule and Yakima have crossbars that will attach to the stock Chevy roof rails. They both also have a flat track that can be mounted about where the factory rails would be. They look to be much "cleaner" that the stock ones. I wanted to keep the roof clean, though and avoid any roof rack if at all possible.

I guess everyone's needs are different. Short day trips present a different need than I run into at times. There's a few workable solutions for everyone.

It'd be cool to do a HHR cyclists G2G here on the east coast! BS about cars and ride!