Hitch-mounted bike racks are straightforward to load, as a result of there’s no must hoist your experience onto your automotive’s roof, they usually carry bikes by the wheels (not the body), minimizing potential for injury in transit. There’s loads of components to think about when choosing from one of the best choices out there for transporting your wheels with ease. Right here’s 5 of one of the best new hitch-mounted bike racks in the marketplace.
Thule Helium
What It Is: A one- or two-bike rack that holds your bike(s) by the tires and doesn’t contact the bike’s body. The rack sits greater than another hitch racks. To safe a motorbike, aluminum arms fold in from both facet and press down onto tire rubber. A button on the deal with of every arm releases that facet of the rack whenever you’re able to unload. Every bike mount has an built-in theft-deterring cable lock. And, the rack is fast and straightforward to mount to the automotive.
Why We Love It: Bikes are costly, making a platform rack that doesn’t contact the body engaging. Additionally, as a result of the rack closes from each side, it makes offsetting bikes simpler than on different racks. It folds down one-handed for straightforward trunk entry. At 43 kilos, it’s additionally one of many lighter hitch racks out there, although nonetheless sturdy and suited to tough street driving. And, it’s straightforward to assemble with included instruments.
Cons: This rack matches tight to the automotive, and in some circumstances, that match would possibly was too tight with out a hitch extender. Thule has a website web page devoted to assist decide if the rack will suit your automotive. I wasn’t capable of set up it on a Toyota Sienna minivan with out an extender, however it did match on a Toyota RAV4 with the mounts tight to the bumper. The rack carries two bikes, max—there’s not presently an choice to increase it to a few or 4 bikes. The rack can’t carry bikes with wheels smaller than 26 inches. It’s additionally not rated for e-bikes. Max beneficial weight per bike is 37.5 kilos.
Extras: Suitable with Thule’s Entry swingarm, which rotates the rack away from the trunk making entry even simpler. Additionally out there in a single bike model.
[$699 (two-bike rack), thule.com]
Dovetail Ferst
What It Is: Made by an professional in lean manufacturing, this 12-pound (one bike) to 14-pound (double) rack is the lightest hitch rack you should purchase. The rack holds bikes by the crank—a motorbike carry system common with tour operators. A plastic assist on the prime of the crank boot flips to seat completely between the non-driveside crank and the body. And a plastic sleeve contained in the boot protects carbon cranks in addition to aluminum ones from scratches. With the crank contained in the boot, a twist knob secures the bike. And a Velcro strap wraps the entrance wheel to a half-tray for stability.
Why We Love It: One of many largest obstacles to utilizing a hitch rack is the load. This rack could be taken off the automotive in lower than a minute with the included instruments, then picked up one-handed and stashed on a shelf, in your trunk, or anyplace else. As a result of Dovetail Ferst holds bikes by the cranks, it’s practically common. Setup was quick and easy as a result of there have been few elements. And whereas it doesn’t fold, in a number of months of use, that wasn’t a hardship. With the rack mounted on a swing arm, I had full trunk entry.
Cons: Dovetail Ferst’s web site is in growth, and it doesn’t presently have the total vary of merchandise, so name the corporate with questions, together with which backside bracket assist (or helps) you want. The assist that got here with the rack was nice for mountain bikes, however I wanted a distinct assist for gravel bikes. Gross sales are direct-to-consumer solely, so you may’t wait in a store and take a look at this rack. No lock included, although a Masterlock Python will each safe rack to hitch, and bikes to rack.
Extras: Coming quickly—Dovetail’s upkeep package that allows you to stability your bike by its backside bracket with the entrance wheel secured for on-the-road bike cleansing and upkeep. Additionally coming quickly, trays for fats tire bikes, and Voile-style straps for individuals who don’t belief Velcro.
[$375 (two-bike rack), dovetailferst.com]
Kuat NV 2.0
What It Is: An attention grabbing, fashionable one- or two-bike rack that converts to a three- or four-bike rack with the addition of additional mounts. Every mount can assist a 60-pound bike, and the rack works for bike wheels from 20 to 29 inches (20- and 24-inch bikes require an adapter). Plus, Kuat has a effectively thought-out vary of equipment to make utilizing and storing this rack user-friendly.
Why We Love It: A variety of racks type of look the identical. This one is distinctive and instantly recognizable. As a result of bike wheels relaxation on helps, not in trays, there’s no must swap trays if you happen to resolve to hold a fats bike as an alternative of a street bike. The rack feels completely sized for each bike. And it is available in two colours, one thing different racks don’t supply. The wheel helps are adjustable, so you may set it up to ensure bikes nest effectively. Built-in locks are strong sufficient we had confidence leaving an costly bike secured solely with the rack’s cable. A foot/hand lever helps you to fold or decrease the rack one-handed. We respect the lifetime guarantee, too.
Cons: You both begin with a two-bike rack and add one further mount or two. There isn’t any base unit that allows you to add one to 4 mounts, that means there’s no single bike choice. The NV 2.Zero is a beast at 56 kilos for the two-bike rack and 91 kilos for the 4 bike rack. Repositioning bike helps takes fiddling to get bikes to nest. The rack matches 2-inch receivers solely.
Extras: This rack comes with two mounts that may be expanded to a few or 4. The rack is offered with or with out an built-in bike stand. Kuat additionally sells the RackDock, a wall-mounted receiver that holds your rack for storage. Kuat’s HiLow Professional has an up to date hitch cam and redesigned lock. And Kuat’s swing away is one other method to get your self house to get into your trunk.
[$689 (two-bike rack), kuatracks.com]
Yakima HangOver
What It Is: A vertical hitch rack that hangs as much as six bikes in about the identical house {that a} two bike tray rack takes up in your bumper. The rack is available in four- and six-bike configurations. Bikes dangle by the crown of their suspension forks. They’re secured with a strap on the prime and a strap across the again wheel
Why We Love It: Huge households and pals who wish to shuttle will respect this rack. A foot-tilt lever helps you to angle it away from the automotive for loading and for trunk entry. The rack has two mast heights, permitting you to regulate it so the rear tires of the bikes on the rack keep clear the bottom, which is usually a difficulty with this fashion of rack. Few racks carry six bikes. So, if you happen to’re touring with a much bigger crew, this rack is without doubt one of the greatest choices on the market. A hitch lock is included. The fork cradle is padded so it gained’t scratch mountain bike stanchions. And the rack can deal with suspension bikes of most any wheelbase.
Cons: We discovered it tough to load, even with the rack lowered. It’s a cumbersome 77.65 kilos, so laborious to handle off the automotive. The HangOver is for suspension fork bikes solely. The 4 bike rack can’t be expanded to carry six bikes. No cable locks are included.
Extras: Yakima makes a great deal of rack equipment. The 4 bike HangOver is suitable with the corporate’s BackSwing.
[$599 (four-bike rack), yakima.com]
Lolo Racks Lolo Rack
What It Is: A heavy-duty, vertical rack that matches practically any car with a 2-inch hitch receiver, this Portland, OR-made rack holds bikes by their handlebars. It carried as much as 220 kilos of bikes together with six mountain bikes, 4 street bikes, youngsters bikes and extra. And, it’s so burly, it feels prefer it’ll final a lifetime. The handlebar-holding hooks are straightforward to maneuver with a ratchet and a wrench, so altering the configuration as wanted is a no brainer.
Why We Love It: Should you’re the man who at all times volunteers to drive your pals to the trailhead, or who shuttles your crew to a descent, this rack is for you. It’s quick to load, and it holds as much as 250 kilos of bikes securely. Additionally, if you happen to’re the man who seems like different racks are flimsy, you’ve met your new bike service. Handlebars relaxation on angled, overbuilt hook mounts, then safe on the bar and on the again wheel with outsized bungies. Lolo Rack is manufactured from heavy-duty metal, and it felt extra secure than every other rack we examined. With the rack in your car, there are a number of choices for the way you place it, so this rack match vehicles that different racks didn’t. We examined it on a Toyota Sienna minivan, a Toyota RAV4 SUV, and on a F-350 truck with a camper within the mattress. Repositioning the rack to tilt additional away from, or nearer to, the automotive requires shifting a single bolt. And, even with bikes loaded, the rack folded down and out of the way in which for trunk entry. With a ratchet and a drill, it takes seconds to maneuver handlebar mounts to accommodate bikes effectively. Lolo Racks are designed and made by Oregon riders. And so they do a powerful job boxing the rack compactly for delivery.
Cons: It was extra difficult to assemble this rack than others we examined, and meeting required a mess of instruments. It matches a 2-inch hitch receiver solely. A 1.25-inch receiver can’t deal with the load. And in case your automotive rides low, a vertical rack might not be your best option—bike wheels can typically bump the bottom.
Extras: As an alternative of awkwardly storing this rack for winter, use it to haul skis and fats bikes on the similar time. Most ski racks can mount to the bottom of this rack to hold skis vertically. Should you don’t bike or ski in winter, think about mounting this rack to your storage wall and storing bikes on the rack to cut back storage litter. Lolo Rack sells DH-specific handlebar hooks for transporting twin crown fork bikes.
[$740, loloracks.com]
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