Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This rack works well. Essentially:
1.) the fork holder swings out to the side of the vehicle (can be set up to go either way: right or left).
2.) You lift the front of the tandem up and place the fork in the skewer and then clamp the skewer down.
3.) You then lift the rest of the tandem up and place the boom tube in the cradle. At the same time, the arm swings back in line with the rack.
4.) You tighten the arm locking bolt down and attach the straps that go over the boom tube and lock down in the holder.
I routinely load and unload the tandem by myself using this rack - but I prefer to have help. I am not particularly strong, but I am tall. The user has to lift the bicycle up and on to the boom tube holder while simultaneously pulling the front arm straight. If the sidewinder is mounted on the passenger side of the vehicle - you will also have to lift the tandem high enough so that the chain clears the boom tube cradle as well. I'm 6'1" and stand in the rear door sill.
Some people think that the Tandem looks ungainly perched up so high - but the sidewinder's design is very versatile and still lets you open the hatch (if you have one) a little bit when the bicycle is in place. It doesn't stick out to the back at all with no bicycle in place.
The only problem we've had with it is one of the boom tube "buckles" for the strap fell off somewhere - but Yakima shipped us a replacement immediately for free. I have seen other Sidewinders with the same missing buckle - so I wouldn't suggest that you always leave the sidewinder on the car, unless you somehow tie the buckles on to the cradle with a bungee cord or some such.
We use our Sidewinder on top of our '06 Prius and it sure makes transporting the tandem a lot easier. The rack is pretty expensive - but for us it was well worth it.
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Product Description:
Wondering how to take your tandem bike to the beach house? Look no further than the Yakima SideWinder tandem bicycle carrier, which holds a tandem far more securely than racks with wheel-tray designs. The SideWinder boasts a swing-out skewer arm for easy loading. The SKS-lockable skewer arm lets you hook the fork on first, then swing the bike easily into place on the roof. As a result, you can rifle around the cooler for some delicious beverages while your riding partner does all the work. The SideWinder's padded boom cradle and quick-release ratcheting straps, meanwhile, protect bottom-mounted cables. Perhaps most importantly, the SideWinder won't interfere with most hatchbacks or flip-up rear doors, even while dangling a tandem bike over the back edge. Other features include support for any 9 mm/100 mm tandem fork (locks are sold separately) and a handlebar strap for added stability. Compatible with round and square crossbars, the SideWinder carries a limited lifetime warranty.
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