Hi everyone! New to the forum -- picking up my brand spanking new EX-L in a few days.

I could sure use some help figuring out how to carry bikes on Odyssey. We have three kids -- 7, 3, and 1... which means that at the very least we have two adult bikes, two kids bikes, and either a child seat or a trailer for the little one. So... how do I carry all that stuff?

I can get the cross bars and two bike attachments for the roof (~$450) and try to fit the rest in the trunk. On the other hand, in a few years the kids bikes are going to get bigger, and I'll need at least one more spot on the roof.

The other option is a trailer hitch carrier... but that seems too expensive (because the trailer hitch option at Honda is over $800 plus the hitch rack... ~ $1000).

I suspect I won't be able to fit all the bikes plus three kids inside the van...

Any help/opinions/recommendations would be welcome.

The easiest way I'm sure would be to get the hitch carrier. Though it is a little more money but it is a lot easier to take the bikes off the carrier vs taking them off the roof of your van. The towing package from honda comes with a tranny cooler and a ps cooler thats why I think it is so much.

You do not need to go to honda for the hitch. You can try U-haul for the installation. Honda will sell you the whole set-up....hitch, wiring and probably a transmission cooler. If all you are going to do is haul the bikes, just get the hitch. Also, make certain that you get the 2" hitch since there are more options available to you.

http://store.uhaul.com/hitches.aspx?src=hitches

You do not need to go to honda for the hitch. You can try U-haul for the installation. Honda will sell you the whole set-up....hitch, wiring and probably a transmission cooler. If all you are going to do is haul the bikes, just get the hitch. Also, make certain that you get the 2" hitch since there are more options available to you.

http://store.uhaul.com/hitches.aspx?src=hitches


Wow, thanks!!! $154 is a lot better than $900. I also see there is one from eTrailer.com (http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2009_Honda_Odyssey.htm) for $167. That said... wouldn't it void Honda's warranty?

In a word, no. There is no reason, legal or otherwise that forces you to install the Honda package. Save yourself $700 and buy a nicer bike rack.

Let's be fair to Honda for a moment. The $900 is for the hitch, atf cooler, psf cooler, wiring harness and air deflector. Honda's hitch alone is about $250 and even though it is more expensive, right now it is the only hitch you will install where the cross bar is hidden. I searched high and low for an aftermarket hitch whose cross bar would be hidden and couldn't find it. If you want to see the cross bar underneath the bumper, you can save a few bucks. The Honda hitch is a bit more, but worth it to have it tucked under the bumper.

Let's be fair to Honda for a moment. The $900 is for the hitch, atf cooler, psf cooler, wiring harness and air deflector. Honda's hitch alone is about $250 and even though it is more expensive, right now it is the only hitch you will install where the cross bar is hidden. I searched high and low for an aftermarket hitch whose cross bar would be hidden and couldn't find it. If you want to see the cross bar underneath the bumper, you can save a few bucks. The Honda hitch is a bit more, but worth it to have it tucked under the bumper.

Very true. It is a complete tow package, not just a hitch. The used 2007 Touring I just bought has the hitch (used for the previous owners bike rack) but not the added goodies to make it a tow package. If I can somehow justify it I will add the rest. I do already have a 05' F-150 so I do not NEED one but it may be handy at some point. The extra coolers are nice to have on the vehicles regardless.

I just have the hitch. I am going to add coolers myself. The only real reason is that the dealer just had to replace my torque converter and not having the coolers gave them some squirming room. I dont want them to have any inthe future! BTW, the Honda coolers are crap. The aftermarket coolers such as Hayden and others are FAR superior. FWIW - I am very happy with our U Haul hitch. Best thing is it was basicly FREE. We traded an 02 for our 07. Beforehand, I found out that the hitches are 100% interchangable from the Gen 2 to Gen3. This might help you with pricing while you are looking. it took me alll of about 10 minutes to take it off the old one and about 30 minutes to put it on the new one. Cant beat it.