The best platform bike racks like Thule T2 Pro , Kuat NV 2.0 , or Yakima HoldUp can accommodate road and mountain bikes, carbon fiber frames, suspension or fat bikes. Although more expensive than trunk-mounted racks ($150 to more than $500), hitch racks are a great option for frequent users—especially for those needing to carry more than three bikes. Per Bike ITEM # 64650 Transports up to 2 bikes Built-in anti-wobble hitch device Upright ratchet arms easily adjust to different bike frame sizes New frame grip arms with improved soft frame-friendly coating to protect bike’s finish Center arm folds down to allow access to the rear-of-vehicle without removing the rack Fits 20” – 29 wheel sizes Fat tire wheel trays sold separately (64674) Locking hitch pin 1/2″ and 10mm security cable sold separately (64031) Locking hitch pin 1/2″ (64029).
The newly designed version of the Saris Freedom SuperClamp uses front and rear wheel hooks, meaning you can lock your bike safely on the tray-style rack without worrying about bike frame contact. Allen Sports Deluxe 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack comes with twenty-two-inch long carry arms to help individually secure all bikes placed on the rack. Up-to-date pricing and reviews for platform bike racks on the market can be found at the Bike Rack Expert website.
We carry cargo boxes and racks for bikes, skis, kayaks, canoes, and more from Thule , Yakima , SportRack , Inno , Kuat , Rhino-Rack , and Arvika Our rack technicians assemble and install all sorts of unique racks at our two store locations. The style of bike rack you choose to purchase depends on how many bikes you would like to carry, the size of hitch receiver you have on your vehicle, and the style of bikes you are carrying (ie. Racks For Cars carries Canada’s best selection of hitch bike racks from brands such as Thule, Yakima, Kuat, RockyMounts, Hollywood, Swagman, SportRack and more.
Front-mounted lever lets you tilt rack with bikes loaded for rear cargo area access and fold it up for storage. Platform-style rack has ratcheting hooks and large wheel cradles to carry a variety of bike styles – no frame contact. It’s necessarily a two in one rack and a set of two conjoined platform-style racks each carrying two bikes.
Increased vehicle length, trunk access may be blocked, some bikes may require adaptors, platform-style is expensive. SUV hitch bike carriers fall into 2 major groups – Hanging and platform (tray-style) racks. Mountain bikes are very popular and you will want to get a secure and stable platform bike carrier like Thule T2 Pro XT For children’s bicycles, the hanging bike carriers are the best.
Considered best hitch mount bike racks, these platform carriers will adapt to almost any bike or vehicle, will not damage bicycles and you will safely arrive at the destination. Hitch rack for SUV can carry road and mountain bikes, carbon fiber frames, suspension or children’s bikes, non-traditional bikes like tandem, recumbent, electric, fat or trikes bikes. Hitch mount bike rack style is one of the most versatile, promotes a variety of styles and can carry up to 5 bikes at once.
Racks that secure the bikes through other means, such as wheel-mounted trays, typically offer a wide range of adjustability and the capability to accommodate a variety of wheel sizes and tire widths. Our highest scoring hitch rack in this rating metric, the Yakima Dr. Tray is the only rack we tested that earned a perfect 10. At a featherweight, for a hitch-mounted bike rack, 34 pounds it weighs only half what the RockyMounts BackStage does; testers were even able to carry it around with one hand. It also comes with a long noose-style cable lock and hitch pin that locks to secure both the rack and the bikes it carries.
The Raceway Pro is also the only trunk-mount in our test selection that comes standard with locking cables to secure the rack to the vehicle and a retractable cable lock system for the bikes. We tested all types of racks from roof-mounted to hitch-style racks on several different vehicles. Spare Tire Mount Racks Similar to a trunk mount, this quick, easy and relatively inexpensive ($50-$200) rack is a great choice for any sport-utility or off-road vehicle with a spare tire mounted on the rear of the vehicle.
Roof Mount Racks If you don’t mind lifting bikes on top of your vehicle, this type of car bike rack is an excellent choice for the serious cycling or outdoor enthusiast because of how versatile it can be. The cost, while moderate ($200 to more than $500), can get high if you start adding multiple cradles or if you need to build a whole rack system from scratch. Lastly, the design of trunk racks can make it difficult to lock bikes to your vehicle, if security is a concern. Cons: Trunk racks are often limited in their load capacity (two to three bikes is typically the max), and once mounted, they interfere with trunk access.
Hitch racks are great because they put the bike in a vary secure space, mounted to your car’s hitch and not rubbing on the hatch or drunk. At the same time, you want your rack to be one that can fold up into a compact unit when in storage, and if you go the route of a hitch rack, it is nice to have the ability for the carrier to either fold down or swing to the side when mounted, so you can still access the trunk or hatch of the vehicle. The last thing you want is a trunk carrier that moves around and leaves marks on your car, or a hitch-based rack that wobbles from side-to-side, swaying your bikes with it. If you are getting a hitch-mounted rack, be sure it uses a threaded bolt to attach to your hitch.
Safely carry 2 to 4 bikes as the rack securely mounts onto the 2-inch hitch. The Swagman XTC Cross-Country 2-Bike Hitch Mount Rack is designed for vehicles that have 1.25 and 2-inch receivers and can accommodate up to 2 bikes at a time with 20 to 29-inch wheels. Swing-style racks like the RockyMounts BackStage allow you to access the trunk without removing bikes.
Some racks feature integrated cable locks to secure bikes to racks, and locking hitch pins to secure racks to cars. They also largely keep the bike out of the vehicle airflow, helping minimize the impact on your fuel consumption The negative is they can affect your rearview when driving, they can make trunk access difficult or even impossible and you must remember you have the rack mounted when you are reversing! Carrying capacity of up to 4 bikes is very generous and, most impressive, it includes a hinge joint (like the Thule Bike Rake) that allows it to tilt forward for easy access to the trunk.
Another hitch mounted style of a car-bike rack; this model is slightly different from the previous two models we looked at above from Thule and Swagman. Platform Style Trailer Hitch Mount Bike Racks Bicycle Carriers. Northshore style not an option because I’m often carrying boats on the roof rack so stuck with platform hitch mount.
If a roof rack or a hitch-mount bike rack won’t work with your vehicle, budget, or significant other, Thule’s Raceway Platform Pro 2 is the next best option. The major difference between the Raceway and other trunk racks is the wheel tray platform, which is more similar to hitch-mounted racks. Whether you choose a hitch-mounted bike rack, or a bike carrier that mounts around your spare tire, these systems allow you to safely take from 1-5 bikes along for the ride wherever you go. Many employ soft rubber straps or foam padding to snugly store the bikes for travel, while hitch racks use anti-wobble pins to prevent excess movement.
Hanging wheel-only-mount racks hold bikes level regardless of frame type. The largest hanging style racks can carry 5 bikes. Standard-frame bikes work well with all types of hitch-mounted racks.
Not only are their quite a few manufacturers of quality bike racks, it also depends on they type of rack whether it be trunk, roof or hitch mounted. A: If you have a truck mounted bike rack the answer is no. If you need to open your truck with the bikes on your car I would suggest a hitch mounted bike rack that will give you full access. Maybe the most popular style of bike rack is the trunk mount.” A trunk mount is a convenient option for carrying multiple bikes , and can be easily stored when not in use.
I can understand worries of damage to the paintwork, but as long as you are not careless, the trunk mounted bike racks in this list will be just as good to your car as hitch mounted ones. The Thule Raceway 2, which uses metal rods instead of straps, secures the rack far better than other trunk mounted racks, but still doesn’t quite match the hitch mounted options. The Yakima TwoTimer Hitch Rack has a very secure platform for two bikes, with adjustable supports that hug your wheel.
A low-cost, hitch mounted bike rack, the Tyger Deluxe can carry up to four bikes comfortably thanks to its sturdy construction. Hitch-mounted bike rack weights vary widely, from the 13-pound Kuat Beta to the burly 85-pound Recon Racks Gen2 R6. Our favorite platform-style models are in the 45 to 52-pound range, which can make installing and removing them a challenge. Hanging hitch racks are a popular way to transport road or lightweight bikes without the need to lift them overhead and onto the roof of your vehicle.
Compared to hanging racks, platform designs are compatible with a much wider range of bike styles, sit lower to the ground for easier access, and are excellent in terms of stability. Furthermore, the BackStage comes with many features you’d expect from a premium hitch rack: a cable lock (although not integrated), the ability to carry various types of bikes and wheel sizes, sturdy ratcheting arms, and quality materials and construction overall. It was one of the first platform racks to incorporate a side-swinging mechanism into the design (think of an arm that swings away from your vehicle to allow for total access to the rear of your car).
The user-friendly tilt feature is best in class, providing quick and easy access to the rear of the vehicle, and its versatile carrying system accommodates everything from fat bikes to 20-inch kids’ models. With platform racks, the bikes rest on a platform with the point of contact being the bike wheels, while hanging racks suspend the bikes via their frames in such a way that they hang”. Unlike the Thule and Yakima alternatives, the Hollywood Racks HR1400 Sport Rider is able to carry 4 bikes without an expensive add-on.
Thule offer a range of trailer hitch mount bike racks but this platform carrier is one of their most rated. The Vertex XT hitch mount bike rack is Thule’s most popular hanging type of carrier and is slightly cheaper than the Yakima alternative. They are available as hanging or platform mounted racks that are able to hold up to 5 bikes at a time.
Features include ratcheting arms with an integrated cable lock to help secure the bike along with a hitch switch level that conveniently tilts the rack away from your vehicle for instant trunk or tailgate access. Some of the most popular types of bike racks include roof, trunk, and hitch-mounted units. Thule raceway platform pro car bike rack holds two bikes and comes with locks Go to the web site to see how good it is Only for cars with a trunk.
Bike Rack – Brand New, Still in Box CCM 2-Bike Hitch Platform Bike Carrier is easy to load and unload with a low deck height and is the most safe and secure option for serious cyclists Mount up to.. In the end, whether you choose a platform style, hanging style, or platform/wheel style rack, each of the options we’ve listed above gives you the ability to safely and securely transport your bike(s) anywhere you want to go. They’re excellent for families heading out for their annual vacation and eager to bring their bikes along, but work equally well for camping trips, or just a weekend away with the bikes. No Need to Break Down Bikes: Several different bike rack styles on the market require you to take at least the front wheel of the bike off in order to secure it within the rack (we’re looking at you, roof racks).
Keep Your Vehicle Clearance the Same: Roof racks allow you to carry two bikes, but they are required to be in an upright position. The most basic racks allow you to carry your bike with you securely, but may prevent access to the tailgate or truck of the vehicle. The rack tilts down to provide access to the rear of the vehicle, and folds up when you are not using it. The hooks that secure the wheels simply fold down and lock in place for easy installation, and the rack also features reflectors for better visibility in low light driving situations.
Before choosing a hitch mount rack, consider the type of bike, how many you want to carry, your car design, and whether you will experience restrictions on the tailgate access. As long as you have a hitch, carrying bikes behind your car is simple with any of the racks below. Vehicle Hitch Mounted Bike Racks are the easiest way to get multiple bicycles on your vehicle.
I had a hitch rack for my mountain bike and I had to keep the Jeep on the easy trails in Colorado because I had no place to secure my bikes. I’ve had one of the spare tire mounted Yakima units, and they grab the bikes by the frame, which I do not want with a carbon fibre road bike. The Thule Sprint XT was by far the easiest fork-mount rack to secure a bike on. In the front, a tightening knob clicks when you’ve reached the right pressure for securing the forks, and the rear section slides out to fit the rear wheel. Be sure to visit the bike rack expert website for the top bike racks on the market to buy.
If you want the advantages of a fork-mount roof rack—less weight to lift up once you’ve removed the bike’s front wheel, and a lower profile for better aerodynamics—we recommend the RockyMounts SwitchHitter It accepts thru-axle designs, and RockyMounts claims that the SwitchHitter fits all styles of crossbars. The Thule Raceway Pro is the most expensive trunk rack we’ve tested, but it’s also a step above the other models in quality and features: It has a better ratcheting system and mounting straps, and it’s the only one that lets you lock your bike to the rack and lock the rack to the car. The Thule Apex Swing 4 holds four bikes and swings to the side to allow full access to a vehicle’s rear cargo compartment without you having to unload the bikes.
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