Frequently Asked Questions

Lariat

Does the Lariat lock to the crossbar?
We use a security torx bolt to secure it to the crossbar. It keeps the honest guy honest.

I have a Noose, can I make it into a Lariat?
Yes, you will need to buy the Noose to Lariat Conversion. It comes with a pin that must be pressed into the head, a new underbar plate, the bar clip for the back, and new mounting bolts. This is available under the Replacement Parts page of our Online Store for $14.95.

Does the Lariat fit on my elliptical shaped factory crossbars?
No, only the Noose will fit.

Will Thule Clamp-ons ® or Yakima ® Mity Mounts work with RockyMounts?
No

I have an older Nomad (with the plastic head). Can I purchase a Lariat Head?
Yes you can, but we changed the hole pattern in the tray. You will need to drill two 1/4" holes at the end of the tray to bolt on the new head. Your old quick release will work.

Disc Adapter

Do I need the Disc Adapter?
A few disc brakes require it, most do not. If you do have disc brakes, the caliper (the part bolted to the fork leg) can hit the tray and not allow the dropouts to reach the quick release.. If you own disc brake bikes and want to make your life a little easier, it's worth the $16.95.

Can I use the Disc Adapter on older RockyMounts or other bike racks?
No, unless you own a machine shop and have plenty of spare time on your hands.

Does the Disc Adapter add any length?
Yes, it is 4" long and will make the tray extend another 4" back. If you have a hatchback or wagon, we recommend measuring from the middle of your front crossbar back to your open hatchback. If this is less than 48", you'll either need to mount your trays outboard the towers enough to clear your hatchback on either side, or flip your trays around.

Noose

Will the Noose fit my car?
Most likely, the only cars we are aware of that the Noose doesn't fit out of the box and that require adapters are listed on the Noose page.

Do I need anything extra for the Noose to work?
Most times, no, but check the Noose page of the website. Unless noted, all the appropriate mounting hardware will be included in the box. A Disc Adapter may be needed for bikes with disc brakes, and locks are optional.

Why does the Noose have that big plate up front?
Factory installed crossbars are usually made from a thin wall aluminum. With a bike mounted, there are large loads transferred to this bar. This plate distributes the load over a broad area as to not crush the bar!

I have a Nomad, can I upgrade to a Noose?
Yes, you can, but with all the replacement parts required, it's about the same price as buying a new Noose.

My crossbars are not flat, will the bike sit at an angle?
Yes, it will. When you mount the bike it will slope at a max of 5 degrees outboard. This will not affect the way the car handles or the solidity of the rack, it's purely cosmetic.

I have a Lariat, can I make it a Noose?
Yes you can. You need to purchase the Lariat to Noose Conversion Kit for $34.95.

Will the Noose make noise?
No, we build mini fairings into the front to keep it quiet.

Will the Noose fit Thule ® and Yakima ® Bars?
Yes, it will. It is not specifically designed for this application. And although it doesn't look as nice it will fit and hold the bike just fine.

Does the Noose lock to the car? No, it is bolted on with an enclosed allen wrench. The lock cores lock the quick release down only.

Tandem Mount R4

Why is it so much cooler and less expensive than everybody else's?
We are all about supplying good products at affordable prices, so it just goes with our whole program.

Do I need the Offset Bracket?
On some vehicles, the front chainring can hit the door or window of the car. The Offset Bracket allows the Tandem Mount to be positioned a little farther out for adequate clearance. There are too many variables between car, tandem and rack set-up to have a master list. If you have 5" of crossbar extending past your tower, you do not need it.

Is my car too tall?
Our pivoting axle is the lowest of the major brands, and your tandem wheelbase if fixed. Measure your Tandem from the end of the back tire to the fork dropouts. This distance must be at least 8" taller than the top of your crossbar for you to load the tandem on the ground. If not, The R4 will still work, but you will need to lift the bike on at one time.

Does it lock?
No, for technical reasons, our Locking Quick Release does not work properly on the R4. It comes with an over-sized 9mm QR, and we recommend the use of a cable lock for added security.

Does it make noise?
No. The R4 is the only tandem mount that incorporates oval tubing, so it's quiet.

Why can't you just use a Lariat or Noose with a really long tray?
The front quick release must be elevated. If not, the front bottom bracket of the Tandem will hit the tray. Also, Tandem Mounts must have a burlier construction than their half bike cohorts.

Clutch

Can I mount it on a floor or wall?
Yes, on the floor is easiest because wall mounts make it difficult to load and unload the bike. _Will it work with Disc Brakes? Yes, no problem.
_Is the Locking Clutch easier to use the 9mm Clutch? Yes, it has a larger adjustment knob, and loading and unloading the bike is much faster.

Clutch SD

Does it lock to the track system of my Nissan or Toyota truck?
No, however we use Torx bolts for added security. _Will it work with Disc Brakes? Yes, no problem. _Will this work with my 20mm thru axle? No, you would need to buy the FlyTrap and the SD Hardware as a spare part to mount it into your Toyota or Nissan truck rails.

Lock Cores

Will Thule or Yakima lock cores work with Rocky Mounts or vice versa?
No, sorry. Each manufacturers' lock cores are specific to their own brands.

Do the Lock Cores come out?

Yes, our new Lock Cores, available since 2007 are easily removable.

Earlier generation Lock Cores were non removable

Can I buy matching Lock Cores later?
Yep. One of our dealers can order them for you (just read the 3 digit code on the key) or when you need a specific core from us, just put that code in the message area when ordering locks or a product that includes a lock..

Does RockyMounts or any other manufacture insure my bike against theft?
No. Unfortunately, leaving a bike on top of a car is like leaving it parked outside the supermarket. Thieves are unfortunately a part of our world. If you want more security, loop a cable lock through the frame and under your crossbars as well.

Maverick Adapter

Why can't I lock my Maverick Fork?
The Maverick Forks have a QR built into the fork leg, rendering any locking fork mount unlockable. You can still lock the Maverick Adapter to the rack, but someone could undo the fork quick releases and walk away with your ride.

FlyTrap

Can I mount the FlyTrap to the rails in my Toyota Tacoma, Tundra or Nissan Frontier? Yes, but you will need to purchase the SD mounting hardware ($14.95). It is availalable under ShopOnline.

International Shipping

RockyMounts cannot ship to consumers in Canada, Mexico, outside the USA or to APO/FPO Boxes. If you would like to order our products for shipments to these, please visit www.excelsports.com as an international exporter, they can gladly handle your request of select items.

General FAQ's

Where can I purchase RockyMounts?
Check out our dealer locater for stocking dealers, or stop in at your favorite bike or rack shop and tell them you need some Rocky Mounts and they can order directly from us or one of our great distributors. You may also order them through our online store. Just click on Shop Online in the right corner of the web page.

I ran my bike into the garage, is my rack safe to use? That's a tough call for us to make without actually seeing it. The best course of action is to remove the rack from the car, clean it, inspect it, and re-install it. Do all the parts still function the same as before the accident? If not, replace at least those components.

Does RockyMounts make a complete rack?
No, sorry, we only make the accessories shown here on the website, but thanks for asking!

Replacement Parts

I lost a part, where can I get a replacement?
Most of our dealers do not have a deep inventory of replacement parts. Head to our Online Store for detailed photos and lists of common replacement parts. We only list the more commonly sought items, so if you do not see what you need, please call us at 800/873-1871 and we can probably help you find what you need.

Warranty

We offer a one year warranty on our car racks. If you feel after this time something is not up to your standards, shoot us an email with a description of the problem, and we should be able to help. If there is a problem, we like to know!