Trailer Hitch

[Edoel]

My kids are now grown and have their own cars so my new R8 will replace my 2001 Honda Odyssy as my daily driver. I'm anticipating that I wont be giving up much in performance but I have to figure out how I'm going to take my bicycles around. I'm really gonnna miss that car. I mountain bike several times per week and need to drive to the best locations. The best bicycle racks are mounted on the trailer hitch. Hmmm, as I sit here typing this question in my garage i look around and it seems my collection of bicycles cost nearly the same as my R8.

Is a trailer hitch possible? Anybody done it?

[wolfie]

Well Travis McGee had a Rolls Royce pickup so I see no reason why you cannot add a hitch to your R8. I would think that a roof mounted rack would be less difficult though. Either way post photos when you are done.

[Rob A]

Thinking about how the R8 frame is built I would venture that you would have to drill through the aluminum (not a good idea) to bolt a steel hitch onto it, which would more than likely cause corrosion since 2 different metals connecting corrode as a natural chemical reaction.

My educated guess is that a roof rack would work a lot better.

I stand to be corrected that said. I'm a lawyer who hasn't done chemistry or engineering since many years. Any engineers reading this?

[R8RUNNER]

I purchased an A4 Avant just for that reason... somehow Edoel's "thread" seems hard to believe. Oh, just one more thing. I think a Thule bike rack may work. I have one of those and used it on the back of my old C5 Vette once... when I only had one car. But it was holding two very light road bikes.

[Rob A]

I know that Audi has a ski rack for the R8, so I'm guessing that they also have adapters that will convert that into a bicycle rack, and if not it should be an easy conversion.

That way you're certain that it will fit properly.

[Mainy]

I purchased an A4 Avant just for that reason... somehow Edoel's "thread" seems hard to believe.

Just what I was thinking. I have a Nissan truck for my daily driver / expedition vehicle. To use an R8 as a mode of bike transport just doesn't seem right

Next someone will be posting up about fitting mudflaps

[Edoel]

Just what I was thinking. I have a Nissan truck for my daily driver / expedition vehicle. To use an R8 as a mode of bike transport just doesn't seem right

Next someone will be posting up about fitting mudflaps

That mudflaps comment is pretty funny. My Rivendell has leather mudflaps!

I needed a new car and decided on an R8. Its gonna be my daily driver and I need to bike around so i stay in shape and enjoy this life - younger next year. Therfore my R8 will need to transport my bike to the hills. No big deal.

Good thought from Rob A that we need to buffer the steel from aluminum to avoid corrosion - use rubber bushings on my sailboat.

[Bodhii]

I would go with the ski rack option. Many porsche's have bikes on them with this setup... And I agree completely that we use the R8 to fit our full and athletic lifestyle.The R8 is not some sacred cow. Its just a very good sports car. Overweight old men may not respect the rack. But healthy, good looking women will understand your choice completely.

[Mainy]

That mudflaps comment is pretty funny. My Rivendell has leather mudflaps!

I needed a new car and decided on an R8. Its gonna be my daily driver and I need to bike around so i stay in shape and enjoy this life - younger next year. Therfore my R8 will need to transport my bike to the hills. No big deal.

Good thought from Rob A that we need to buffer the steel from aluminum to avoid corrosion - use rubber bushings on my sailboat.

Glad you saw the funny side of it Edoel Sometimes Scottish humour doesnt translate all that good in the US

I'm into my biking as well and take my hat off to you for using your R8 as a daily driver Would you not be better off driving a beater for your bike trips ? I know the mess the paint of my truck gets into with bikes being loaded onto the back etc surely you don't want to risk wrecking the R8 when putting your bike on board ?

[Rob A]

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Good thought from Rob A that we need to buffer the steel from aluminum to avoid corrosion - use rubber bushings on my sailboat.

Rubber bushings would diminish but not eliminate the problem. You would still have bolts connecting steel and aluminum.