Malone Pilot Bc2 Back-of-car Platform 2-bike Carrier Review
Our Editors independently inquiry, test, and rate what nosotros experience are the all-time products. Nosotros use affiliate links and may receive a modest commission on purchases.
Transporting and storing your bicycle is a seemingly simple task. All the same, with a wide diverseness of bike racks and mounting styles, it'south not that easy.
Using the wrong bicycle rack can result in harm to your vehicle or bike.
Here we've got a listing of the height bike racks, both hitch and trunk mounted, so you can find the one that works best for yous.
Best Bike Racks
| Thule T2 Pro XT 2 Bike Rack | Thule Passage Trunk Mount Carrier | Overdrive Sport Hitch Mounted Rack | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
 |  |  | |
| Mounting: | Hitch | Torso | Hitch |
| Cycle Deport: | Platform / Tray | Hanging | Platform / Tray |
| Capacity: | 2 Bikes | 2 Bikes | 2 Bikes |
| Max Weight: | 120 Pounds | 105 Pounds | 120 Pounds |
 | | |
For more than of my biking gear recommendations, have a look through these popular Exterior Pursuits guide links: Bike Locks, Bike Helmets, Bike Lights, Bike Repair Stands.
Quick Answer: The 10 Best Rated Bicycle Racks For 2021
Best Hitch Wheel Racks
- Thule T2 Pro XT 2 Bike Rack
- Overdrive Sport two-Bike Hitch Mounted Rack
- Kuat Sherpa 2 Wheel Hitch Mountain
- Allen Sports Palatial Hitch Mounted Bike Rack
- Swagman Chinook Hitch Wheel Rack
- Tyger Auto TG RK4B102B Deluxe
- YAKIMA HoldUp EVO Hitch Mounted Tray Wheel Rack
All-time Torso Bike Racks
- Thule Passage Trunk Mountain Carrier
- Hollywood Racks Baja Body Mounted Bike Rack
- Saris Bones 2-Wheel Trunk Rack
Our reviews of the pinnacle-rated bike racks with our comparison tabular array and guide will help choose the right one for you.
Bike Rack Reviews
Now let's take a await at the racks in more detail and nosotros'll guide you in selecting the model that's right for you.
Best Wheel Racks For Hitches
#1 Thule T2 Pro XT 2 Bike Rack
Thule T2 Pro XT two Bike Rack at a Glance:
- Hitch mounted
- Platform back up
- Carries up to 2 bikes
- Hitch and bike locks
- Up to 60lbs max weight per bike
The T2 Pro XT 2 Bike Rack is the "bear witness-off" rack and our Editors Pick for the all-time hitch bike rack. Way out in forepart in terms of price, the T2 Pro XT has a lot to prove. And then what makes it so special?
Starting with the installation, I constitute it very easy to connect to the receiver using the defended handle, tighten the connection and lock the anti-theft component — all of which is a tool-free operation.
Y'all can't help but detect the build quality of the connecting segment. I would imagine attacking it for a full day with a sledgehammer would maybe cause a few surface scratches at virtually.
This hitch-mounted rack can carry up to four bikes on a very secure platform. The position of your bikes can be adjusted by using the cradles and ratchet straps, so y'all can offset your bikes co-ordinate to your needs and avoid contact.
U-shaped arms hook the front wheel, adding downward force per unit area to secure your bike. For security, this same arm features a lock, which works as a theft deterrent for the bikes, as well as the security cardinal for the rack itself.
When you're non using the rack, simply squeezing the handle and raising it up to the back of your car volition go along it tucked away for when you lot need it. In the aforementioned way, you tin can lower the rack for admission into the back of your vehicle.
However, Thule has cut no corners and left nothing to hazard. The intricate blueprint features in the T2 Pro XT make it a worthwhile purchase for those with enough money to throw at it.
In terms of practicality, force, and design, information technology has to be said that the T2 Pro XT leaves the residuum of the products on this list eating its dust.
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All-time Bike Rack For SUVs
#two Overdrive Sport 2-Cycle Hitch Mounted Rack
Overdrive Sport ii-Bike Hitch Mounted Rack at a Glance:
- Hitch mounted
- Hanging support
- Carries upwards to ii bikes
- Hitch and wheel locks
- Up to 120lbs max weight
The starting time thing I thought when setting upwardly the Overdrive Sport was how simple it was to attach the rack to the hitch.
The hitch attachment doubles every bit a security device. All you have to do is turn a key and y'all disable the rotating AutoPin used to connect the rack to your car.
The same key is used to lock the swing arms to the bikes, making the Overdrive Sport one of the best racks on our list for anti-theft measures.
I found that after a couple of minutes getting used to putting the bikes on the rack, information technology is obvious that this rack has been designed with practicality in mind.
It is very user friendly after a bit of do and looks absurd also.
The cradles are adjustable, so you lot can exist flexible with where you position your bikes. Overdrive uses wide 5″ trays that can fit just nigh whatever fat bike in existence.
You'll also discover the locking arm works very well to forestall your bikes from banging into i another. The padded locking arm rotates around and locks on the bike'south frame to deeply concord it.
While this isn't the most inexpensive rack on the market, information technology is definitely cheaper than some of the more well-known racks on the marketplace.
The rack is almost completely wobble-costless fifty-fifty when striking potholes or going over speed bumps.
The innovation on display in the Overdrive Sport is seriously impressive, making this the best SUV bike rack and a meliorate deal than the Thule T2 Pro XT 2.
All-time Platform Bike Rack
#3 Kuat Sherpa 2.0 2-Bike Hitch Rack
Kuat Sherpa 2.0 2-Wheel Hitch Rack at a Glance:
- Hitch mounted
- Platform support
- Carries upward to two bikes
- Upward to 40lbs max weight per wheel
The Kuat Sherpa 2.0 Hitch Mount is a no-nonsense rack that keeps things to a minimum but does not skimp on performance.
Information technology is the best platform bike rack that hands attaches to both standard 1.25-inch and 2-inch receivers. This was one of the easiest racks to install, with simply a single commodities attaching it to your receiver.
As with all of the hitch-mounted racks in this listing, you tin tilt information technology outward to access your body. Kuat has implemented a well-designed foot lever for this function which makes life just that bit easier.
You can also printing down the human foot lever and tuck the rack away when non in use.
The platform cradles have 3 different sizes, then you tin can fit thick tires all the way down to skinny road tires. Specifically, the wheel trays can adapt 20 to 29 inches, and the wheelbase can be from children's bikes to a maximum wheelbase of 47 inches.
While the cradles take care of the bottom of the bike, your bikes stay snugly in identify with an adjustable U-shaped arm putting downward pressure on the forepart wheels.
Named the PerfectFit adjustment system, this technology means your bike is secured with absolutely no frame contact.
In terms of security, Kuat does include security cables, but I certainly wouldn't rely on them for overnight storage.
It falls around the college finish of the price range and for serious cyclists, it is groovy value for coin. The Kuat Sherpa 2.0 was amidst my favorites on this list.
I especially liked the PerfectFit adjustment system that leaves the frame untouched, while keeping the bike firmly in place. Secure, innovative yet simple, I tin't recommend the Sherpa Hitch Rack plenty.
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Best Hitch Bicycle Rack For The Money
#4 Allen Sports Palatial Hitch Mounted Bike Rack
Allen Sports Deluxe Hitch Mounted Bike Rack at a Glance:
- Hitch mounted
- Hanging support
- Carries up to iv bikes
- Upwardly to 35lbs max weight per bike
The 4-wheel model can merely be attached to a 2-inch hitch due to the weight of four bicycles. The pattern feels a fleck more than primitive than other products with higher price tags, which is to exist expected, only information technology still performs its office well.
Users indicate out that the hitch pin provided isn't a standard size and at that place aren't any washers to protect the confined, so y'all may take to brand some quite serious adjustments to use it safely.
Another downside is the lack of anti-swing straps. I used bungee ropes to try and stop the frames from moving, but with iv bikes on the back of your automobile, information technology is quite a challenge.
But it's not all bad news. When loading iv bikes, you tin can meet the subtlety of the Allen Sports blueprint. A platform hitch-mounted rack would apply a lot of torque on the hitch, due to it sticking quite a distance straight out from the back of the vehicle.
All the same, the Allen Sports Deluxe rack goes directly upwardly earlier extending outwards, putting less strain on the hitch. (Apologies for the geekiness)
If you're non conveying bikes, just don't want to remove the rack — no problem. The carry artillery are very like shooting fish in a barrel to fold downwards and like almost flat.
Despite being the least expensive model in this guide, the no-frills Allen Sports Palatial performs well and is the best value hitch-mount bike rack.
Any fears yous may take almost the strength of the design should be comforted past the conviction of Allen Sports' lifetime warranty. If you want a depression-toll rack and don't mind making a few adjustments with hitch pins and washers, this is a good option.
Although I have reviewed the four-bike 2-inch hitch version, Allen Sports has plenty more options to cull from within the same line.
Depending on which one y'all go for, you could conduct between 2 and five bikes with options for locking, and racks that are suitable for different sized hitches.
Best Wheel Rack For Cars
#five Swagman Chinook Hitch Cycle Rack
Swagman Chinook Hitch Bicycle Rack at a Glance:
- Hitch mounted
- Platform support
- Carries up to 2 bikes
- Hitch lock
- Up to 45lbs max weight per bike
As a hitch-mounted platform bicycle rack, the Swagman Chinook can suit all kinds of frame shapes. The ratchet straps safely spike downward 2 bikes at a time, and the adjustable padded artillery secure the top of the frame.
Both the cradles and the upper hooks tin be individually adapted to fit bikes of totally unlike sizes.
This padded hook ratchet as well works as a security measure, property the frame snugly. They can be locked with a key, pregnant the frame tin't be moved until the ratchets are released.
This doesn't quite piece of work equally well as regular bike locks, but is tight and does not move about like a D lock does while driving.
With your bikes secured to the rack, the hitch pin locks the rack to your vehicle as another anti-theft measure.
Like most of the hitch-mounted bicycle racks on this list, the Chinook tin fit both standard-sized hitches. The rack tin be tilted down for access to your trunk and folded away when not in use. This is washed with a handle that, for me, seems a little strange.
Placed betwixt the bikes and the back of your vehicle, it is quite awkward to reach compared to the pes lever on the Kuat Transfer Universal 2 or the handle on the Thule T2 Pro XT two.
In terms of price, the Swagman Chinook Hitch Cycle Rack hits its smack blindside in the eye. The price, combined with the clever locking pattern means this is a safe bet for a mid-range wheel rack. Unless you want to go for the meridian of the range, or a model with space for more bikes, the Swagman Chinook is the best bicycle rack hitch for the coin!
Best 4 Bike Hitch Rack
#vi Tyger Auto TG RK4B102B Deluxe
Tyger Auto TG RK4B102B Palatial at a Glance:
- Hitch mounted
- Hanging back up
- Carries up to 4 bikes
- Hitch and bike locks
A low-cost, hitch-mounted bike rack, the Tyger Deluxe can carry up to 4 bikes comfortably cheers to its sturdy structure.
It fits both i 1/4-inch and 2-inch hitches and comes with a Tyger hitch lock. Installation is made quite a bit easier past the noticeably lightweight, but fortunately, this doesn't translate into flimsy construction.
Similar all of the hitch-mounted cycle racks reviewed here, the Tyger Palatial can be lowered for easy admission to the trunk.
Even so, y'all get what you pay for, and this lower-budget rack does not take a quick-release handle or a human foot lever. You have to turn the screw that connects to the hitch receiver.
The hold on the bikes is non the best amidst the products reviewed here. For bikes without a directly top bar, you need to purchase an extra part.
This is probably the biggest disadvantage compared to other hanging wheel racks. What's more, in that location are no anti-swing components, meaning there is a higher hazard of bikes colliding with each other.
One area where Tyger does very well is on their security features. The hitch lock works in a similar fashion to the aforementioned Thule and Yakima primal locks.
A simple turn of the key and your rack is locked onto your vehicle. You can also lock your bikes to the rack with cable locks.
With the low price, somewhere between $100 and $200, you could maybe forgive the lack of anti-swing straps and the slight difficulty in tilting the rack down.
If a low price is a high priority for you, the Tyger Deluxe is a great bet. Even if certain aspects can be mildly frustrating, the value for coin and reliability that this bike rack represents is groovy at all.
Best Wheel Rack For Mount Bikes
#7 YAKIMA HoldUp EVO Hitch Mounted Tray Bike Rack
YAKIMA HoldUp EVO Bike Rack at a Glance:
- Hitch mounted
- Platform back up
- Carries upwards to 2 bikes
- Hitch lock
- Up to 45lbs max weight per bike
The YAKIMA HoldUp EVO Hitch Rack has a very secure platform for two bikes, with adjustable supports that hug your wheel.
With wheel supports and padded arms, which can be easily shifted to accommodate dissimilar wheel sizes, hateful that all kinds of bikes tin can fit, including fat bikes and kids bikes.
The uncomplicated design makes it one of the easiest racks on the list for loading and unloading.
It fits 1 1/four-inch and two-inch hitch receivers and is very piece of cake to attach. The Yakima HoldUp Hitch Rack comes with a very useful lock to secure the rack to your vehicle.
Unfortunately, it doesn't come with devices to lock the cycle to the rack, nonetheless, I constitute it just as like shooting fish in a barrel to use the locks I have to secure bikes. All you need to do it adhere the frame to the vertical pole underneath the padded arms.
One great feature of the Yakima HoldUp Hitch Rack is its ability to fold both up and down. Folding down offers easy access to your trunk while your bikes are attached.
Folding information technology upward keeps it dainty and compact when not in utilise, so y'all don't have to keep thinking nigh how much room y'all need to leave while parking.
Some other nice piffling touch on, although information technology took me an embarrassingly long time to identify, is the bottle opener attached to the rack — peachy for a post-ride beverage.
One downside that some users point out that information technology bounces on certain roads, just I institute that it was more than stable enough for two standard mountain bikes on standard roads.
At a mid-range toll bracket, the Yakima HoldUp Hitch Rack is potent, compact, and versatile. If you don't want to splash the cash on a Thule, this 2-bike hitch mounted cycle rack is fantastic value for coin.
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Best Bicycle Rack For Trunks
#8 Thule Passage Trunk Mountain Carrier
Thule Passage Trunk Mount Carrier at a Glance:
- Trunk mounted
- Hanging support
- Carries up to 2 bikes
- Hitch and bike locks
- Upwardly to 55lbs max weight per bike
The Passage is our Editors Selection for the all-time body bike rack and offers an excellent range of features and the kind of quality you would expect from Thule.
It is a unproblematic, like shooting fish in a barrel-to-use design that performs very well. The Thule Passage might just exist the terminal bike rack y'all e'er purchase.
While it tin can't be attached to all cars, the patented FitDial characteristic makes for a really snug fit if your machine is compatible.
The Thule fit guide is an excellent tool to help you gauge whether the Thule Raceway 2 will attach to your body.
With the SureTight ratcheting locking cables, I found setting upwardly the cycle rack very piece of cake. The folded rubber pads provide splendid friction with the car while protecting your windows and paintwork from scratches.
Similar other models on our list, when you aren't using the Thule Raceway PRO, you can fold information technology flat for storage.
The cradles, with Road Dampening Engineering science, perform the same function on your bike frame, while also absorbing shocks caused by the road.
They tin besides be adjusted to a very narrow diameter to hold almost every type of cycle, even small kids' bikes. The patented No-Sway cages further protect your bikes past keeping a safe bike clearance and ensuring they don't crash-land into each other.
With Thule quality comes a Thule price tag. Having said that, information technology is incommunicable non to exist impressed by the build quality, practicality, and ease of use of this fantabulous trunk-mounted wheel rack.
Best Upkeep Trunk Bike Rack
#ix Hollywood Racks Baja Trunk Mounted Bike Rack
Hollywood Racks Baja Torso Mounted Bike Rack at a Glance:
- Trunk mounted
- Hanging support
- Carries up to ii bikes
The Hollywood Racks Baja trunk-mounted bike rack is loftier on quality and practicality while simply sneaking over the 100-dollar marker in terms of toll.
They are suitable for a wide range of bikes and an impressive amount of vehicles. If you're worried nigh buying it now and finding out afterward that it doesn't fit your car, worry no longer.
The fantastic search function on the Hollywood Racks website allows you to enter the make, model and year of your car and discover out if it is compatible.
Installing the Hollywood Racks Baja trunk mounted bike rack is relatively straightforward. Although I would always recommend reading the transmission, I found the explanatory video on Amazon to exist more than enough to attach this trunk-mounted bicycle rack.
It is true that in that location are many steps, just it makes for a very solid rack.
To avert your bikes swinging while in movement, there are anti-swing cradles. Six straps that attach bikes to the construction and three anti-swing straps, so your bikes will remain solidly in place.
To avoid scratching your car, the contact points are all well protected, and the hooks that attach to the torso of your automobile are all coated with a non-scratch finish.
Ane of the special features is the quick-release hub system, which makes it piece of cake to adjust and attach to well-nigh types of vehicles.
The quick-release hubs let you to easily fold the bars and so that the rack lies almost flat. Doing the reverse of this quickly opens the rack for when you lot need to attach it to your car.
Hovering just above 100 dollars, information technology is hard to discover meliorate value for money than this extremely user-friendly, well-built trunk-mounted bike rack.
And if you lot know you won't be needing three bikes, Hollywood Racks likewise offer a more compact two-bike alternative.
Best Torso Bike Rack For The Coin
#10 Saris Bones Car Trunk Bike Rack
Saris Bones Trunk Rack at a Glance:
- Torso mounted
- Hanging support
- Carries up to 2-4 bikes
- Up to 35lbs max weight per bike
The Saris Bones two-bike torso rack is made of a potent, all the same lightweight frame that can agree 2 bikes of up to 35 pounds each.
Although Saris offer expert installation as an additional actress, the instructions are easy to follow and bank check that in that location is a comfy amount of infinite between your trunk and your bike.
Other than that, you shouldn't accept a trouble setting upwardly your Saris Bones bike rack. The smart pattern allows it to be attached to most kinds of vehicles, including hatchbacks, minivans, sedans and more.
Its moveable rubber anxiety attach to your rear window and fender, while the non-scratch vinyl-coated hooks attach to either side of your trunk.
You load your bikes onto stiff straps, which have difficult, durable plastic on the outside and a soft surface on the within to avoid scratches.
Too as the standard plumbing equipment straps, there is an anti-swing strap for each bike, which, as yous may have guessed, stops the bikes from swinging against the dorsum of your car while y'all're moving.
Eco-friendly bikers are often drawn to the Saris Bones rack equally information technology is fabricated with 100% recyclable, not-rusting materials. The injection-molded arms and legs are extremely strong — co-ordinate to Saris, the strongest on the market.
The excellent pattern isn't only for when y'all're on the route. Its special design allows it to be folded flat, so you can shop it in your garage with no bug during the off season.
Despite its build quality and practicality, the Saris Basic trunk-mounted rack is at the lower end of the cost range on this list.
So for a bicycle rack that is sturdy, easy to store, and smashing value for money, the Saris Bones is the best bike rack for cars.
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Cycle Rack Comparing Table
| Bike Rack | Rack Mount | Bike Carry | Chapters | Max Weight | Fits | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thule T2 Pro XT |  | Hitch | Platform | two Bikes | 120lbs | 1.25"-2" Hitch | 4.5 / v.0 |
| Overdrive Sport Rack |  | Hitch | Platform | two Bikes | 120lbs | ii" Hitch | four.six / 5.0 |
| Kuat Sherpa |  | Hitch | Platform | 2 Bikes | 80lbs | 1.25"-ii" Hitch | four.half-dozen / 5.0 |
| Allen Sports |  | Hitch | Hang | 4 Bikes | 150lbs | ii" Hitch | iv.2 / 5.0 |
| Swagman Chinook |  | Hitch | Platform | two Bikes | 90lbs | 1.25"-2" Hitch | 4.8 / 5.0 |
| Tyger Car TG |  | Hitch | Hang | iv Bikes | N/A | 1.25"-two" Hitch | 3.9 / 5.0 |
| YAKIMA HoldUp EVO Bike Rack |  | Hitch | Platform | 2 Bikes | 90lbs | 1.25"-2" Hitch | 4.two / 5.0 |
| Thule Raceway ii |  | Trunk | Hang | 2 Bikes | 70lbs | Cars & SUVs | 4.three / 5.0 |
| Hollywood Racks Baja |  | Torso | Hang | 3 Bikes | 115lbs | Cars & SUVs | 4.1 / 5.0 |
| Saris 805 Basic |  | Trunk | Hang | two Bikes | 70lbs | Cars & SUVs | four.3 / five.0 |
How to Choose the Best Wheel Rack – Buyers Guide
- Attaching the Rack
- Trunk Admission
- Rack Security
- Platform vs. Hanging Racks
- Hitch Mounted Platform Bike Racks
- Trunk Mount Bike Racks
- The Swinging Front Bike
- Bike Rack FAQs
- Best Bike Rack Brands
Those who are new to researching bike racks might question if they are all really that different. But for every cyclist, there is an ideal bike rack.
This list features vii hitch-mounted racks and 3 torso-mounted racks; some with platforms and some that hang. Below, you lot can discover my explanation of the central points to consider when choosing a bike rack.
Considerations for Bike Racks
Attaching the Rack
One factor makes your determination incredibly piece of cake — if yous don't take a hitch receiver, you simply can't use a hitch-mounted rack.
And as long as information technology is a standard one 1/4-inch or 2-inch hitch, you tin fit whatsoever of these products to it, whereas trunk-mounted racks tin depend on your vehicle model.
Trunk Admission
For me, one of the biggest advantages of a hitch-mounted rack over a trunk-mounted one is the ability to admission the trunk.
All of the hitch racks listed here have the ability to tilt away from your vehicle, allowing you to go into the trunk for annihilation you might need. On the contrary, body-mounted racks mean yous have to prepare well or be prepared to remove and replace your bike rack.
Rack Security
The hitch-mounted racks reviewed here all accept a locking arrangement for at least the rack itself. This comes in useful when you're stopping off on the road and want to rest assured that you won't come up back to the automobile and find your bikes have disappeared — non a good feeling.
On the other hand, torso-mounted racks are more often than not attached using just straps, which can be cut relatively easily. The Thule Raceway ii, which uses metallic rods instead of straps, secures the rack far better than other trunk-mounted racks, but still doesn't quite match the hitch-mounted options.
Many users fear body-mounted racks because they come up into straight contact with the body of your car, rather than just attached to the hitch receiver. I tin can understand worries of damage to the paintwork, only equally long as you are not careless, the trunk-mounted bike racks in this list volition exist just as good to your machine as hitch-mounted ones.
Platform vs. Hanging Racks Bike Racks
These ii types of racks are both variations of hitch-mounted racks.
As the names suggest, a platform rack has a platform that supports the wheels of the bike, while a hanging rack hangs your bike, frequently with anti-swing straps.
There are pros and cons to both types of rack, which are outlined below.
Platform | Hanging | |
Pros | • Low hanging — easy to load bikes • Suitable for unlike bike styles eastward.chiliad. kids bikes and enduros • Secures bike at frame and wheel • Avoids contact between bikes | • Easier to attach • Lighter in weight • More than compact on the back of your vehicle • Stores much flatter |
Cons | • Comparatively heavy • Heavier items may be harder to set up and remove • Not equally easy to store • Juts further out from the dorsum of your vehicle. | • Can often only concord bikes with a superlative bar • Bikes can be touching • Bikes can harm each other if there is no anti-swing strap • Bikes need to be lifted higher for storage |
Hitch Mount Bike Racks
The 2 Types of Hitch Mounted Racks:
We looked at a chart of the pros and cons of the type of hitch-mounted racks, let'southward talk over them in more detail:
Platform/Tray
Platform style racks, although heavier and costlier, provide many benefits over other designs. The stable platform where the front wheel and rear bike sit in a tray virtually eliminates any risk of swaying during transport, and many different styles of bikes can be carried at one time.
Minimal contact with the bike frame ensures that the bicycle will be protected during travel and lowers the risk of damage to the frame. These types of tray-style bike racks are ideal for the newer fat-tire bikes.
A hitch mount blueprint will allow y'all to load multiple bikes at breast level resulting in easy loading.
A platform style of hitch mount is ideal for assuasive aplenty infinite between bikes, resulting in less damage from colliding frames. Hitch mounts can accommodate almost any style of bike, equally long every bit the vehicle and hitch can support it.
A common concern regarding hitch mounts is how much they will hinder the ability to reach the trunk of the vehicle. A mutual solution to this problem is purchasing a tilt down the rack, which will allow you to motion the bicycles out of the way with the help of a hinge, to ensure torso admission.
Hanging
Similar to trunk-fashion racks, the bikes hang on the rack from the height tube. They are unremarkably less expensive since in that location is no tray they take their downsides compared to a platform way.
Since they hang from the rack they are not suitable for many women'south bikes and hybrids with their sharply angles tubes or oddly shaped so they are difficult or impossible to get them to hang properly on the rack.
If yous have a carbon fiber bicycle, I would stay away from them as well to eliminate any gamble of bang-up the frame.
Trunk-Mount Bicycle Racks
Maybe the most popular mode of cycle rack is the "trunk mount." A body mount is a convenient option for carrying multiple bikes and can be easily stored when not in employ.
Trunk mounts do not require additional assembly like a hitch mount, and they avert many hazards associated with roof racks. Body mounts are typically very lightweight and convenient. They tin easily be attached with straps to the body or hatch.
When purchasing a torso mount y'all will want to have your vehicle into consideration and make certain it will fit. While most racks are lightweight if y'all choose a model that is not suited to your auto you tin risk denting, deforming, or scratching your vehicle.
Let's look at some pros and cons of trunk-mounted bicycle racks:
Pros
-
- Versatility – They fit almost whatever car or SUV and require no extra equipment
- Price – They are less expensive because a hitch is not required.
Cons
-
- Security – With a truck-mounted rack, information technology is almost impossible to truly secure the bikes. A thief can simply cut the straps and have the rack and the bikes.
- Truck Access – With the rack mounted on the truck, access to opening the body is difficult at all-time unless y'all remove the bikes from the rack and you may have to remove the rack completely.
Roof Mounted Bike Racks
Roof racks are not as common as hitch and torso style bike racks. This type of rack requires you to lift your bike on the roof of your car or SUV and then clamp it down.
We don't review roof-mounted racks because of the substantial downsides of this type of rack. Let'south look at some pros and cons.
Pros
- Visibility – Since the bike is mounted on the top of the car, the bikes practise not obstruct your vision through the dorsum window.
- Trunk/Hatch Admission – With the bikes on elevation of the auto, you accept unrestricted access to the back of your motorcar/SUV.
- Bike Safety – Since the rack recures the bikes using the tires, there is no danger of smashing the frame or stratching the paint from the bikes rubbing together.
Cons
- Cycle Mounting – Since you lot have to lift the bicycle over your caput and secure it to the rack it is ideally a two-person job. 1 to lift and hold the wheel, another to secure the clamps. If you have a heavy bike, you may not physically be able to elevator the bike over your caput. There is likewise the possibility of dropping the ebike, non only damaging the bike only also your vehicle!
- Garage Admission – Another existent danger is that at present you lot have added several feet to the height of your car there is the possibility of hitting a low overhead. If this happens near likely more than bikes will exist destroyed and possibly worse
The Swinging Front Bike Problem
The swinging forepart cycle is a thorn in the side of many hanging bike racks. Without annihilation to support information technology and its pesky ability to plough, the front cycle tin exist a flake of a problem.
Some of the products on this list have anti-swing components, but in the absence of a dedicated feature, you'll have to find another solution.
Even so, information technology is not a difficult problem to fix. A couple of hooks and wait straps or well-positioned bungee cords should do the trick.
Bike Rack Features to Await For
Padded Attachment Points
The last thing you want is the pigment on your car beingness scratched off by your rack. The rack points that rest against your automobile should exist padded with high-quality foam. If there are straps holding the rack securely (normally found in torso-mount models) brand sure they are coated with a safe/plastic so it doesn't rub the paint off.
Security Cables
Some bike racks come up with cables that can be locked so that thieves will have a difficult time trying to remove your bike from the rack. Even if the rack doesn't come with cables there are usually aftermarket bike locks to keep your wheel secure.
Bike Attachment Points
We cover 2 types of racks, body, and hitch. For truck mountain models, There will be a padded bar that rests against the truck and is the main point of contact. The bar needs to be solid to resist swaying and bumps in the road.
The straps that fit into the seams should apply a secure adjustment method so they don't loosen up as you are driving down the road. With straps, more is better. Many have only 4 attachment points whereas the Saris Bones has 6 making information technology one of the more secure racks on our list.
For hitch mount models, the just real contact signal is where the rack fits into the hitch. We would recommend the 2 inch hitch mountain models because of the extra force of the larger hitch vs the 1 1/iv inch.
FAQs For Bicycle Racks
Q: Can these bike racks fit any motorcar?
A: In brusk — no.
Hitch mounted racks tin can connect to whatsoever standard hitch, but for trunk-mounted ones, I'd propose y'all take a look at the fitting guide provided by each manufacturer.
Q: What is the best rack for an SUV?
A: A hitch rack is definitely best for an SUV. Most SUVs already have a hitch mount installed and ane will surely exist available if non installed already. Roof racks are non ideal since the roof is already too high. Torso racks ordinarily don't fit SUVs well and the load is non supported past a shelf or trunk.
Q: Are the platform cycle racks suitable for fat tire bikes?
A: If you take Fat Bike, yous need to pay close attending to the details of each bicycle rack. By and large, hanging racks, whether hitch mounted or torso mounted, are the best pick.
There are cases, such as the Kuat Transfer Universal 2, of platform-loading racks that can arrange extra-broad tires too as slim tires in their cleverly designed wheel cradles.
Q: Tin can yous open the torso with the bicycle rack?
A: If y'all have a truck-mounted bike rack the answer is no. If yous need to open your truck with the bikes on your auto I would suggest a hitch-mounted cycle rack that will give you total admission.
Q: What is the best iv bike hitch rack?
A: If you need to ship iv bikes with a hitch-mounted rack we would recommend the Yakima FullTilt. It has the stability and ease of setup you need.
Q: Can you lot apply a trunk bike rack on an SUV?
A: Every bit long as there is a place to attach the straps you lot should exist able to use a trunk mounted bike rack on a SUV.
Q: Can I carry my electric or hybrid bike?
A: The just real restriction on mounting standard electric or hybrid bikes is the weight. Check through the models in the list, and as long as your bike is nether the weight limit, y'all should be fine.
Best Brands of Wheel Racks
Choosing the "best" brand of cycle rack is an almost impossible chore. Non simply are there quite a few manufacturers of quality bicycle racks, it also depends on the type of rack whether it be torso, roof or hitch mounted. Whatever of these 3 brands is a good identify to start.
Saris -Specializing in racks of all sorts, their "Basic" trunk rack is 1 of the best on the market.
Thule – Swedish visitor Thule got its start in the 1940s making roof racks. They make some of the all-time quality racks at whatever price!
Yakima – One of my favorite companies, their philosophy is to connect people with the outdoors. Their bike racks volition aid you lot practise that!
Final Thoughts
Bicycle racks are an essential part of any great cycling trip. Whatsoever kind of journey you're planning, there is a rack to match in this listing.
I hope I've been able to help yous decide which is the best hitch or trunk bike rack for you lot. If yous have any feedback, I'd love to hear from you. Please drop me a annotate!
How We Researched
To come up with the top wheel racks, we researched a diversity of sources for reviews such as CompetitiveCyclist, JensenUSA, REI, EVO along with our own personal feel.
We also consulted online magazines for product research and reviews to go every bit much unbiased information as we could. To help weed out false reviews we used Fakespot.com to make certain nosotros only looked at genuine reviews.
With so much quality gear available, we had to narrow it down based on what we felt were the best options were for the cost. The staff authors accept a wide and varied background in road cycling, racing and cycle packing.
The authors take decades of experience in cycling and eager to share their knowledge with readers.
To assist narrow down the pick we used personal experiences forth with recommendations from fellow cyclists, bloggers, and bike shops.
After extensive research, we came upward with our list to help you choose the right ane for you.
Sources
Source: https://www.outsidepursuits.com/best-bike-rack-reviews/
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