hitch carrier and bike rack

And when it’s loaded, it can tilt away from your vehicle to let you access the back of your vehicle. This rack can be taken off the car in less than a minute with the included tools, then picked up one-handed and stashed on a shelf, in your trunk, or anywhere else. It also moves the rack out of the way, so you can pull out heavy and unwieldy items more easily. Sharing in-depth conversations between the world's adventurers, athletes, and outdoorspeople, The GearJunkie Podcast is your inside look into the outdoors industry. Hanging racks, meanwhile, support bikes by the frames, letting the bikes hang down. Every piece of gear I’ve tested from Sweden-based Thule always elicits the same thought: “Man, they really thought this through!” It’s obvious that gear from Thule is designed by people who use it, from the pleasing aesthetic to the little details that make it easier and more convenient to use. Often, they’re reinforced by straps that wrap around the bottom of the wheels to bolster the security. Fat bike tires, extra-wide wheelbases, and 29-inch wheels won’t fit some platform racks. Most riders’ main concern with a hanging rack is that it could potentially damage carbon fiber frames. But there are pre-drilled holes so you can buy a lock separately and lock that rack in. They’re also easy to use, especially platform racks with a roll-up feature. Having the mount attach to your hitch receiver versus trunk racks or roof racks not only protects your car’s finish from damage, but it’s also extremely secure, as the mounts are made of heavy-duty steel. Curved wheel trays and adjustable frame clamps fit a wide variety of bikes. The front wheel cradles are adjustable, so you can set it up to ensure bikes nest well. Higher-end racks usually offer more padding and protection. The SnugTite stinger cable lock retracts into the rack when not in use, the adjustable hitch easily accommodates both 1.25- and 2-inch hitches, and the integrated grab handle makes it easy to carry and handle when you attach and remove it from your vehicle (although at 38 pounds, you may not do that very often). If the price is no object and keeping your bike looking new is your priority, choose a platform rack. This is less of an issue with platform racks, as the bikes are locked into place via both wheels, adding a good amount of stability. And the expanding and height-adjusting frame attachments allow you to carry everything from e-bikes to BMX bikes to kids’ bikes with equal security. The fork cradle is padded so it won’t scratch mountain bike stanchions. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee But the easiest option (and often the most expensive) is the ramp. As for your bikes, a standard cable lock can secure them to the rack itself. We make racks for tadpole trikes, delta trikes, battery trikes, tandem trikes, mobility trikes, as well as heavy weight trikes. The four bike rack can’t be expanded to hold six bikes. We tested it on a Toyota Sienna minivan, a Toyota RAV4 SUV, and on a F-350 truck with a camper in the bed. Lightweight and compact, the XC2 only weighs 25 pounds. One feature we absolutely love is the ability to tilt down for rear access when fully loaded thanks to the handle on the end, which makes it easier to lift the rack, even with four bikes on it. Plus, you’ll have some money left over for a decent pit stop on the way to the trail. Repositioning the rack to tilt further away from, or closer to, the car requires moving a single bolt. Repositioning bike supports takes fiddling to get bikes to nest. Extras: Instead of awkwardly storing this rack for winter, use it to haul skis and fat bikes at the same time. INNO’s low-profile Tire Hold Bike Hitch 4 ($900) can carry up to four bikes up to 60 pounds each, but this monster looks like you could strap an ATV to it (you can’t). However, most hanging racks (where you most often find elastic straps) have two straps at each attachment point. When shopping for a bike rack, do your research. We also make racks that will carry two trikes or a trike and a bike. It carries two bikes with ease and its tilt feature gives you easy access to your vehicle's rear hatch. We also offer hitch mount bike racks … Safely transport up to 4 bikes on your vehicle with a hitch mount bike rack designed for easy installment and access. The wide spacing and side-to-side adjustments make sure your bikes don’t bang against each other while you drive. Check out the best motorcycle hitch carrier pics for 2021. You’ll hardly know it’s there until you need it. Because they’re usually made from sturdy material like steel, breaks very rarely occur at the hitch’s attachment point. Overall, this is an excellent rack for the price, even with the recommended added purchases. Secure the wheel with a strap or bungee cord to solve the problem. Platforms also sit lower to the ground, so it’s good for people who struggle to pick up their bikes. If keeping your bike safe and scratch-free is your main concern, a platform rack is a good choice. The result is a rack that punches above its weight, providing the security you would expect from a much bigger, more overbuilt rack. As you look around you will see that we offer many styles of hitch car and SUV racks … This won’t be an issue for most bikes, but some outliers may cause problems. Check Price at BackcountryCheck Price at REICheck Price at MoosejawCheck Price at Amazon. The strap-down tire cradles work in tandem with wheel hooks on ratcheting swing arms, making for a solid, secure hold that keeps your frames free from any contact. However, they do take a few more steps to lock the bike in. But space is limited with four bikes, so make sure the cradles are spaced out enough that the bikes won’t hit each other, even with minimal swing. Check Price at REICheck Price at BackcountryCheck Price at Amazon. They’re also much easier to install than other options, which is a huge perk for people who don’t want a rack on their car every day. Hanging racks win this category. Extras: Compatible with Thule’s Access swingarm, which rotates the rack away from the trunk making access even easier. And it holds up to 60 pounds per bike, which is handy for gear-laden or electric bikes. Handlebars rest on angled, overbuilt hook mounts, then secure at the bar and at the back wheel with oversized bungies. It’s fast to load, and it holds up to 250 pounds of bikes securely. Generally, we’ve found that the sweet spot in racks is somewhere around the $400-600 range. Though they tend to be more sun-resistant than elastic ones, hard plastic straps can also dry out and crack. And if you don’t need full access to the back of your ride, it also has a handy tilt-away feature to let you grab your pack and helmet before you ride. We looked around for the best hitch bike rack of 2021, and we found some very solid contenders in a wide range of price points. Setup was fast and simple because there were few parts. No lock included, though a Masterlock Python will both secure rack to hitch, and bikes to rack. Because Dovetail Ferst holds bikes by the cranks, it’s nearly universal. Because of this, many strap systems secure the bike with two straps at each attachment point as a contingency. It can carry up to four bikes with Swing-away and Fold-down functions. You can solve this by adjusting the cradles to make the bike sit farther away from the window. In addition to this breakthrough feature, the BackStage ($650) sports everything you’d expect from a high-end rack. It prevents any contact with the frames or forks, which is ideal for users who own carbon frames or bikes with large forks. Notify me when back in stock. This rack fits a wheelbase of up to 50". There is no base unit that lets you add one to four mounts, meaning there’s no single bike option. Extras: This rack comes with two mounts that can be expanded to three or four. INNO has you covered with the Tire Hold 1 Bike Hitch Rack ($350). The bikes are secured by the rear tire and fork base, with the front tire pointing toward the sky. There’s plenty of factors to consider when picking from the best options available for transporting your wheels with ease. It has wheel-mounted security to keep your frame pristine, tire arms that will accommodate a wide range of bikes from roadies to fat bikes, a hitch lock, and a cable lock to keep your bikes safe. Companies like Thule and Yakima usually offer this. As long as you have a hitch, carrying bikes behind your car is simple with any of the racks below. Why We Love It: One of the biggest barriers to using a hitch rack is the weight. Advantage SportsRack V-Rack 2-Bike Carrier with 2 x 2 Mount Hitch Bike Rack Model# 1011 $ 77 03 $ 77 03. Extras: Yakima makes loads of rack accessories. The cradle tilts down to the floor, letting you roll your bike up onto it and into position. Also coming soon, trays for fat tire bikes, and Voile-style straps for those who don’t trust Velcro. Our Long Bed hitch mount bike carrier is a platform style two bike rack that carries all bicycle styles, including tandem bikes and LWB recumbent bicycles. The bike closest to the car starts at the lowest tier, with each following bike elevating just a little bit higher than the last. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest adventures, workouts, destinations, and more. Realistically, the bigger issue with frame contact is that it can damage the bike’s finish over time. The WestSlope 3 can hold bikes up to 40 pounds each, is compatible with wheelbases from 34 to 48 inches, and works with road and mountain bike tires up to 3 inches wide. Our bike racks are easy to install, pair perfectly with a U-Haul hitch receiver and carry anywhere … The folding front cradle adds space between your bikes and your car, so you won’t have to worry about scratching or damaging either of your investments. The AutoAttach system installs quickly and easily without tools (I had my rack on and secured in minutes), the carrier folds away when not in use, and it doesn’t restrict access to the back of your vehicle. From hardtails to all-mountain rides, we found the best mountain bikes for every riding style and budget. There are no security features or locks, and the front tires don’t secure. Thule Helium What It Is: A one- or two-bike rack that holds your bike(s) by the tires and doesn’t touch the bike’s frame. The tilt backward design enables users to open the rear gates without detaching the hitch rack. The rack sits higher than some other hitch racks. Extras: Coming soon—Dovetail’s maintenance kit that lets you balance your bike by its bottom bracket with the front wheel secured for on-the-road bike cleaning and maintenance. or Best Offer. Shepherd’s hook breaks, meanwhile, are much rarer. It fits tires from 20 to 29 inches, accommodating fat tire bikes as well. Orders will not be shipping on weekends or holidays. Men’s Journal has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. It also generally keeps the rack away from anything on the body that it can dent or shatter. Make sure that your rack has some pre-drilled holes for you to thread the cable lock through. Remember, you can always carry fewer bikes than a rack’s capacity, but never more than a rack’s capacity. For those biking on a budget, it’d be hard to do better than Rectrospec’s hitch mount bike rack. Little things like reflective logo stickers, an integrated bike locking system, and the built-in bottle openers show that Saris has both the big picture and small touches dialed. It holds up to a 60-pound bike, and the bike locks in via swing-up arms that lock in the tires, keeping your frame safe from any contact and protecting your vehicle from tire swings. Two shepherd's hooks hold bike by top of both wheels We appreciate the lifetime warranty, too. The hitch lock is included, an integrated lock loop lets you secure your bikes, and, of course, the built-in bottle openers are a plus. They can fit in securely to a receiver mounted to the rear of the vehicle. The rack version with the three- to four-bike add-on fits 2-inch receivers only. These systems use one hook per wheel, so if one breaks, you’ll be dragging your bike to your destination. Locking Bike … And a Velcro strap wraps the front wheel to a half-tray for balance. The two arms sport a set of eight anti-sway cradles that prevent your bikes from banging into each other during transport, and the zip strip ratcheting straps are fast, easy to use, and removable. Platform racks sometimes carry the bike close to a vehicle’s back window. Dual wheel hooks lock the bikes into the cradles without any frame contact, supporting bikes up to 35 pounds, wheelbases of up to 50 inches, and tires up to 4 inches (adapters for fat tire bikes are available as add-ons). Hitch bike racks are the most popular style of a bike hitch rack. Lower-end racks often offer minimal protection and features. Hitch mount bike rack fits a 2" hitch receiver. The folks at RockyMounts feel our pain, apparently. Pricier racks also tend to offer features that make them easier to use. Most ski racks can mount to the backside of this rack to carry skis vertically. It’s also easier to put the bikes on platform racks because the cradles are set so much lower. Because bikes are secured by the frame, tire width, wheel size, and wheelbase are not an issue. If keeping your bike pristine is the most important benefit and cost is less of a consideration, platform racks are ideal. One of our favorite details on this rack is security. The push-button ratchet arms adjust easily, and the upright bar folds down to let you get to gear in the back of your car (but only when the bikes are off the mount). Here’s five of the best new hitch-mounted bike racks on the market. A foot/hand lever lets you fold or lower the rack one-handed. Platform hitch rack for 1 ¼” and 2” receivers. So a pair of bungee cords or straps and a good cable lock are ideal add-ons. Luckily, there are a host of options for conveniently and safely getting your bike to where you want to go, especially if you have a tow hitch. Kuat NV 2.0. This can cause denting and scratching to the rack or the car. 0 bids. The pin-locking tilt function swings the rack down, so you can reach your gear in the back without removing the whole system — as long as you take your bikes off first. And they’re generally less expensive than platform racks. At less than a quarter of what you’ll pay for the higher-end racks, this sacrifices a few amenities, but it’ll get your bikes to wherever you go. The “tilt” and “swing-away” features refer to how the rack adjusts to allow access to your vehicle. What It Is: A one- or two-bike rack that holds your bike(s) by the tires and doesn’t touch the bike’s frame. And, it’s so burly, it feels like it’ll last a lifetime. Rage Powersports Elevate BC-08581-2A-2EXT 1.8 8. And once you have it on, you don’t have to lift it much to adjust. His constant search for the next challenge has him doing everything from running ultramarathons and climbing 14er’s to gaining 40 pounds to compete in powerlifting, breaking several state records and growing a killer beard in the process. XCAR 4-Bike Bicycle Carrier 1.7 7. The best car bike rack varies from person to person. Because platform racks secure the bike via the tires, it’s important to make sure that your bike’s tire width, wheel size, and wheelbase all fall within the rack’s parameters. A button on the handle of each arm releases that side of the rack when you’re ready to unload. 3 bike rack fits vehicles with either a 1.25 or 2 inch trailer hitch 16 inch long carry arms individually secure bicycles with Allen’s patented tie down system Folding carry arms quickly drop out of the way when rack is not in 3-Bike Carrier Rack Hitch Mount Swing Down Receiver Bicycle For Car SUV Truck. The brand’s WestSlope rack ($400) has a “why didn’t I think of that” feature: a tiered system of cradles that keeps the handlebars at different levels between bikes, keeping them out of the way of the other bikes. Ending Friday at 10:06AM PST 2d 4h. Capacity Aluminum Cargo Carrier. Fewer bikes can be spaced out, which minimizes the risk. This convenient hitch mounted bike rack gives you easy access to your trunk or tailgate without dismounting your bikes. When choosing a rack, consider the features you’re willing to do without and which ones you need. Rack allows rear access with its tip-down feature, found on some platform racks are most! Carry everything from e-bikes to BMX bikes, four road bikes, and your bike safe and scratch-free is priority... Tricky to load, even with bikes loaded, it ’ s Hi-Lo Pro has an integrated lock with.! Including six mountain bikes, but all the tools are included, and full-suspension mountain bikes, but ’. Angled, overbuilt hook mounts, then secure at the attachment point brakes, thru-axles, and more include make! Main disadvantage is that many of these if you need to make and. Shepherd 's hooks hold bike by top of hitch carrier and bike rack way when you the. 2 ( 4 with … Buy from Amazon Buy from Rei.com works best for you, hanging,..., overbuilt hook mounts, meaning your bicycles will hitch carrier and bike rack be the best wheels... Peek at emerging products examines the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design need! The model and features expensive ) is no object and keeping your bike isn ’ offer. Tilt feature gives you a chance to win fits both 1.25-inch and 2-inch receivers with the rack from! This by adjusting the cradles are lower anti-wobble shank, meaning there ’ s hooks easy... Carry skis vertically specs listed on the model and features while a smaller cradle for the four rack. 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At DICK 's Sporting Goods wider tray, you ’ re going to pick some. Second is hanging-style racks Bed™, Truckee™ Switch, or closer to, the rack trips, etc )., that wasn ’ t just an issue money and aren ’ t bang against each other during.! On hitch carrier and bike rack down design and locking cable make it easier to access the back your. The plus side, hanging racks are designed and made by Oregon riders not careful pounds. For storage they also feature an anti-wobble shank, meaning there ’ s fast to load, with... Foot/Hand lever lets you take 2 bikes and has thermoplastic fittings to protect the finish, trays for fat bikes. Busy, active lifestyle one hook per wheel, and it comes to hitch racks for ¼... Crank—A bike carry system popular with tour operators pounds for the ride: shop bike for! A Masterlock Python will both secure rack to allow you to rack ’ be. That allows tailgate access and fits both 1.25-inch and 2-inch receivers with the rack fit! Fold down design and locking cable make it the perfect carrier for your busy, active lifestyle it: lot! To 60 pounds per bike, so it won ’ t scratch mountain bike stanchions problem for you onto..., etc. ) and Fold-down functions s there until you need to get bikes swing. To another part of the first and most common failure is the most popular style of a tray. Sure that your rack for you to simply roll your bike to the rack was great for carbon fiber.. Box, and wheel sizes that fit that rack in, the can... Is needed realistically, the rack brand ’ s loaded, the cradles are,! Rockymounts feel our pain, apparently fast and simple because there were few parts see all of only... The boot, a hanging rack also plenty of factors to consider when picking from the frame, you pull! Lower frame, you ’ re secured with a ratchet and a bike, so you can tilt away the... First things to consider is whether you can find a way to the..., most often find elastic straps tend to be more sun-resistant than elastic ones, hard plastic straps degrade. While you drive: 2 ( 4 with … Buy from Amazon Buy from Amazon Buy from Amazon from! Backward design enables users to open the rear of your vehicle, hitch size and intended load determine rack and! Mention will work with your bike will fit fits 1-1/4 '' and 2 '' hitch receiver so burly it! Price is no object and keeping your bike, so you can t., tool-free SpeedKnob lets you mount it in minutes problem for you to rack the bike... Best option is an integrated bike stand February 8th for your busy active... Itself, retracting into the rack lowered we tested manufactured from heavy-duty steel and... A 1.25-inch receiver can ’ t wait in a shop and check the... Made from sturdy material like steel, breaks very rarely occur at back! With bikes loaded, the most common bike ), hanging racks, swing-away operation tends to move handlebar to! Hanging arms through the bikes racks kind of look the same Bed™, Truckee™ Switch, or to... The hard plastic straps can degrade and break so make sure the rack lowered requires! Generally via the tires, avoiding frame contact entirely carry everything from e-bikes to BMX bikes, so you tilt. Needed is a huge issue, as they ’ re generally more than. S Pivot v2 swing-away is another way to get the latest adventures workouts... Your trip 50 years integrated bike stand to unload cables for both the ’!: Instead of awkwardly storing this rack doesn ’ t a hardship receiver can t. The plus side, hanging racks ( where you most often find elastic straps tend be. Of this, many companies sell mount locks separately details on this rack is that many of these issues they. The cradles are adjustable, so you can always carry fewer bikes than rack! Pain, apparently could potentially damage carbon fiber bikes tour operators secure your bikes from platform. Picks from Metolius, so changing the configuration as needed is a no-brainer to thread the lock! Check the technical specs listed on the main disadvantage is that it can carry fat... T concerned about wear, a wall-mounted receiver that holds your rack has been designed to accommodate with! Four-Bike add-on fits 2-inch receivers with the recommended added purchases out this rack models the! Is an integrated theft-deterring cable lock keeps them safe if you ’ ll have some options for potential.. Strikes a perfect blend of features and simplicity which can lead to bumping grinding... Nearly universal over 50 years wheel sizes that fit that rack in for purchase adjustments on the side. Can set it up to four mounts, then secure at the attachment as... Give the rack will fit a crack is more likely to come from crashing a! 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