Mountain bike storage ideas

We have a 2005 Ford Escape that we tow and use a SaveALoad bar from our old pickup. We took the bar apart so it is two pieces. You can get bicycle carrier attachments that go on the bars. We take the front wheels off, lower the seat, and put one bike in forward & one backwards attached to the bars. A bungee cord and a couple of well placed pieces of Velcro keeps them upright and stable. We have wheel bags to protect the spokes of the front wheels while they are off the bikes. We have cross bikes, but also transported a friend's "comfort" bike once. This has worked for us for over 10 years. It also makes it easy to transport the bikes to the trailhead and keeps them clean & safe. You do have to temporarily give up your backseat, but well worth it for us.