# 1
Yakima RidgeBack Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Tilting
Check out my other review on the hidden hitch for a 2015 BMW 4 Series for the majority of the review, but this thing is great. Easy setup and install, does all the things it's supposed to do. Mounting and removing bikes is a snap with the included clips (big difference from some of the cheaper variants with nylon ratchet straps). Fits very snugly in my 2" receiver, and pretty solid on the highway and over bumpy roads.
The rack itself is fantastic. Not too heavy, easy to attach to hitch, and very easy setup. The only real downside is if your bicycles don't have a standard frame, you'll need to buy the Yakima Tube Top Bike Adapter Bars (~$50 each) in order to be able to mount them on the rack. I will say that smaller bikes (for my 9 year old) can be a challenge to mount with larger bikes as you'll need to finagle the handle bars and such to get them to line up but once you do it a few times you figure it out.
# 2
Thule Hitching Post Pro Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches
Rubber straps are easy to use and very strong.
The good: I like the way the bikes are held in and the ability to add the upright adapters to the bike frame holders. The straps are quality too. For a jeep with a spare tire, this is the perfect length to clear it. This rack is 5 stars from the bike holders to the base of it. The bad: the 2"receiver adapter and bolt are insufficient. I wish they made this in a solid 2" hitch. The entire setup is held into the receiver by a very short bolt. It only goes about half way into the receiver tube. So your hitch is only "secured" on one side. A hitch pin or bolt should go through the receiver tube completely imo so it can be secured on the other end with a retaining clip or nut. Because this only goes in the one side, the entire weight of the rack plus bikes are held tight to one side of the receiver by the undersized bolt and washer. A few bumps down the road and that bolt loosens. Now instead of distibuting the weight of the rack and bikes on the receiver and post, it's completely up to the bolt to keep you from losing the rack. The bolt threads get damaged too. I took this down a dirt road and nearly lost everything. I had to buy my own bolt with hd fender washers and lock washers to correct this. Thule should've provided this from the start. The current short bolt design where only one side of the receiver secures the rack is unacceptable. This rack is 1 star at best for the connection to the receiver.
# 3
Swagman XTC4 Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
So far I’ve just assembled it and took a quick test drive around the block. My initial thought is this thing is perfect. It’s super sturdy and easy to use. My only gripe and it’s not fault of the rack, but it’s heavy…
If you've done any research or read any of the other comments on either this rack, or this seller...rest assured they really are as good as everyone says! I ordered my rack on around 4pm est on a Friday afternoon and within an hour I received an email that said they have shipped my product AND upgraded to priority shipping. Can't say enough positive things about the customer service! When the rack arrived, it took me a little over half an hour to get it set up. Probably would e been faster if I were even slightly mechanically inclined (or if didn't I didn't have to borrow a socket wrench from my neighbor). We finally had an opportunity to load up the bikes and head out for a ride today. As others have said, the first time you load up your bikes, it's kind of like a puzzle to get them situated. Took about 15 minutes. This rack is awesome! Very sturdy and the bikes were very secure. Only racks I have had in the past were rooftop fork mount racks. This is so much easier! On e we got to the trail (over an hour drive) getting the bikes off was a piece of cake. Afterwards, it was time to load them back up and it was less than 5 minutes to get them all on and ready to hit the road. There were other 4-bike racks on the website, but this one had enough great reviews that I felt comfortable making the purchase. After the fact, I'm very glad I did! I can't imagine the $800 rack can be that much better than this, and I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a 4-bike platform rack. I will definitely recommend this rack and etrailer.com to everyone I know.
# 4
Swagman XC2 Bike Rack for 2 bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
Received the bike rack on time and in perfect shape. Assembled it and it works great! The only improvement that Swagman could make would be somewhat better assembly instructions, but anyone mechanically inclined should be able to figure it out. Mated it to the etrailer hitch receiver recommended by your consultant and voila! Ready to roll the first good weather day we get!! Thanks!
Delivered on time. Product was as described -only used once but it workded well. No concerns!
# 5
Saris Freedom Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
I had to put my electric bikes into this rack, backwards, to make them fit. Not ideal, but it works.The receiving 'trays' that are intended to provide support for holding the bikes, by being placed under the bike tires, are forced to be moved to a location that is not directly under the bottom of the bike tires. While it works in this manner, it is not ideal.For the support that attaches to the diagonal bike frame, we had to remove it from the vertical rail of the rack. We reinstalled it, upside down, because that's the only way we could make it fit, or 'grab', the bike frame. Again, we made it work, but it's not ideal. We chose to keep the rack because it was so much less expensive than the Thule rack we considered buying. The bike shop owner didn't agree with us. He observed that we are putting $3000 worth of bikes on the rack and risking that investment. So far, no problems, other than the ill-fitting installation.
With a few adjustments this rack has delivered. Needed to add additional strapping since the provide straps for securing the bikes to center bar were not long enough due to my ebike design (Velotric). My bikes are step through with a thick frame so provided straps won't fit. Simple adjustment with strapping resolved minor issue. Speed of 73 mph on the highway and some bumpy VT roads and this rack performed.
# 6
Swagman XTC2 Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
Installation was effortless. Love how it supports the bikes.
First-time rack buyer / owner / installer. The rack arrived in a timely fashion, maybe a day or 2 ahead of schedule. It was well packaged. I’m LOVING this bike rack. It was easy to put together and to mount on my new Honda Passport. Thus far, no squeaks in my 2” receiver. Hardest part of initial set-up is figuring out the best way to position two bikes. Trial & error and some patience. The directions weren’t clear as to where the 2 left-over screws went. I found the answer in another review and have posted a pic in case others have the same problem (photo with pen pointing at screw). These screws go in the underneath side of both of the folding arms. They appear to keep the wheel wells from sliding off in case in you drive with an empty, un-folded rack, and forgot to tighten down the wheel wells. The folding arm push / pull pins can be difficult at times. I coated the tips with some lube. That and a little jiggling seems to solve that issue. I guess it’s better for the pins to be snug vs popping right out. I added a small Master lock to the hitch pin (in lieu of the provided cotter pin) as a theft deterrent. I read that a 3/16 shackle lock will fit into the bike clamp down arms to also act as a deterrent. I had an old 3/16 lock that did snugly fit and appeared to be locked. HOWEVER, I yanked on the lock and it came open as there isn’t quite enough clearance for the shackle to lock. I discovered that longer 3/16 shackle locks are hard to find. Have attached a photo of the lock that actually fits and works (Ace Hardware). One lock on the upper clamp down arm will secure both arms as the lower arm can’t be removed without removing the upper arm. The clamp down arms appear to be coated to prevent damage to your bike. I’ve tried a simple rag and ultimately settled on pool noodle pieces as a precautionary measure. I CAN NOT open my tailgate (regardless of whether or not the rack is fold up and in the bike carry position). If that’s a concern for you, then spring for the more costly titling version. My back-up camera still functions.
# 7
Kuat Sherpa 2.0 Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount - Gray
Just what I needed. I have considered multiple brands and models but ended up deciding to get the Sherpa 2.0, mainly because its lightweight and easy to set up. So far no regrets about it. Took it in three road trips already to carry two 29ers and it has performed really well, no issues about bikes coming into contact with each other. Highly recommended!
Bike rack arrived promptly and undamaged. Now that it is assembled I love it. The etrailer website videos showing features and operation were much appreciated however the assembly instructions were lacking. There were unidentified parts, unlabeled parts, poor descriptions and I could not find a video to assist with assembly. It should have taken 15 minutes to assemble but took much longer because my 1st 2 attempts were unsuccessful.
# 8
Swagman Chinook Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
Truly grooving on my wife's new Swagman Chinook bike rack. She wanted to be able to transport her nice road bike easily without throwing it in the back of her car, and since a roof rack is out of the question, this Swagman model fit the bill perfectly. It arrived quickly on the anticipated date. Kudos to etrailer.com for the email updates to keep me informed of my purchase. Within one hour, it was installed on my wife's 2014 Mazda3 hatchback. The Swagman is heavy and solid, which is reassuring as it makes me feel confident that it will keep the bikes secure. It also makes me feel like I got my money's worth. A ratchet wrench and Phillip's head screwdriver were the only tools required for the easy install. I did my research before purchasing the Chinook model as I was also eyeballing a very similar Thule rack that was slightly more expensive. I spoke with an etrailer.com expert who gave me the lowdown on both models. Ultimately, the Swagman won out because it has a smaller 'footprint' while extended or folded up ... and also can tilt away from the car for easy access to the hatchback area. Very convenient! FYI: Mazda doesn't make a trailer hitch for the Mazda3 as it's a small car with a small engine and has no business towing anything. Thankfully, the Curt company makes an aftermarket frame and trailer hitch that fits the Mazda3 hatchback perfectly with no drilling. Stupidly, I purchased it from another online company thinking I was getting a good deal. Turns out etrailer.com had it for less with FREE shipping. Oh well ... live and learn. Now I know that etrailer.com is one-stop shopping for bike racks AND trailer hitches. (Full disclosure: I had the garage down the street install the frame as it's easier with a lift) Only snafu: the shipment contained an extra set of keys that I assumed was for the hitch bolt lock (there was also a set of keys on the bolt itself). I spent 15 minutes using those keys trying to figure out how to remove the lock from the bolt to install it on the hitch. The keys just wouldn't turn in the lock. I called etrailer.com and Kevin told me to try the other set of keys ... and they worked. So an extra set of keys came with it that did absolutely nothing ... weird! Obviously, I can't speak to the longevity and durability of the Swagman Chinook 2 Bike Platform Rack as I just installed it. What I can speak to is the sturdiness of it, the ease of the installation and my complete satisfaction with the good folks at etrailer.com.
I ordered the Swagman Chinook 2 Bike Platform Rack on line from etrailer and so far have been very satisfied. The bike rack was delivered in less than a week. Unpacking the rack and assembly was fairly straightforward. I have read some reviews that complained the assembly instructions were a bit vague. I didn't have a problem but can see where others without a mechanical background get confused. The rack is very sturdy, but there is some side to side play in the tilt mechanism. I'm not sure this can be avoided with a rack that folds down. Installing the Curt trunk stabilizing strap takes most of the sway out of the rack. Installation is fairly easy and quick. It takes me 6 - 7 minutes to install the back on my hitch, and to install the bike and be ready to drive away. That seems reasonable to me. So far I've only loaded 1 bike. I've included pictures of my installation on a 2014 Mercedes Benz E350 sedan. Clearance between the bikes, the rack and the car are good. With the bike loaded in the inside, most forward position, I have 6" clearance between the pedal and the bumper. With the bike removed, the center support folded flat and the rack folded up in the storage position, I have 4" clearance between the closest part of the bike rack (the fold down hinge assembly) and the back bumper of the car. I am able to open the trunk of the car without removing the bikes or using the tilt feature, but I do have to remove the stabilizing strap first. Overall, I'm very pleased with the bike rack and think it will serve me much better than my old strap on rack. Since the weather has been cool since getting the bike carrier, I haven't taken any long trips to give it a real workout.
# 9
Kuat Sherpa 2.0 Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount - Pearl
Bike rack arrived promptly and undamaged. Now that it is assembled I love it. The etrailer website videos showing features and operation were much appreciated however the assembly instructions were lacking. There were unidentified parts, unlabeled parts, poor descriptions and I could not find a video to assist with assembly. It should have taken 15 minutes to assemble but took much longer because my 1st 2 attempts were unsuccessful.
Just what I needed. I have considered multiple brands and models but ended up deciding to get the Sherpa 2.0, mainly because its lightweight and easy to set up. So far no regrets about it. Took it in three road trips already to carry two 29ers and it has performed really well, no issues about bikes coming into contact with each other. Highly recommended!
# 10
Kuat NV 2.0 Base Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount - Matte Black
I've taken this rack all over New England on the front of my Dodge Ram 3500 pick up truck with a truck camper. I had no idea it was possible to love a bike rack so much. After one drive I didn't ever worry about it again. So nice that it locks up when I am camping or taking a quick stop for food on the road. So glad I bought it from etrailer. They totally help me pick the perfect rack for my challenging set up.
Still very new, but what an awesome bike rack! Assembly was a snap and the rack is rock-solid when you secure it to the hitch receiver. etrailer was amazing too - excellent communication, price and fast, free delivery. Overall I am extremely happy with the rack and service!
Softride Dura Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2009 Nissan Murano
Today on our 2009 Nissan Murano we're going to be testing fitting the Softride Dura Parallelogram. This is a tilting style 4-bike rack designed for use on both inch and a quarter and two inch hitches. Its part number is SR26247. We're going to do our test fit today in real time so you'll have a realistic idea of how long it will take you to get this installed and get your bike on the rack. To begin our test fit, we'll slide the shank of the bike rack right into the receiver tube of our hitch. Now come around here to the passenger side. We've got two sets of pinholes in the rack, one here and one here. I'm going to use the furthest set so we can get it as far away from our vehicle as possible.
Hollywood Racks Traveler Tow n Go Bike Rack Review - 2009 Nissan Murano
Today on our 2009 Nissan Murano, we're going to be test fitting the Hollywood Racks Traveler Tow N Go. This is a 3-bike rack designed to slip right on to 2-inch ball mounts. It's part number is HR135. Today we're using hidden hitch part number 80232 extra long shank ball mount. That is something that's sold separately. You can check out our website for more details on that. To begin our test fit, we're going to slide the shank of the ball mount right down into the receiver tube of our hitch.
SportRack 3 Bike Rack Review - 2009 Nissan Murano
Today on our 2009 Nissan Murano we're going to be test fitting the SportRack folding and tilting 3-Bike Rack. It's designed for use in both inch and a quarter and two inch hitches. It's part number is SR2403. We're going to do our test fit in real time so you have a realistic idea of how long it takes you to actually get your bike on your rack after it's installed. To begin our test fit, we'll slide the shank of the rack right into the receiver tube of our hitch. As we slide this in, we'll have an option of one or two holes. We're going to use the furthest one away from the rack to give us the most clearance.
Swagman Fork Down Roof Bike Rack Review - 2009 Nissan Murano
Today on our 2009 Nissan Murano, we'll be test fitting the Swagman Fork Down roof-mounted bike carrier, part number S64710. With the factory roof rack system assembled onto our vehicle, we'll place our bike rack directly onto our crossbars. We'll begin at the front by taking the U bolts around the underside of the crossbar, and feeding them up through the platform of our bike rack. Once we have them through the platform, we can then install the wing nut to tighten them in place. We'll do this for both sides of the front platform. Here at the rear, we'll drop the U bolt through the top of the carrier, making sure it goes around our crossbar.
RockyMounts TieRod Stretch Roof Bike Rack Review - 2009 Nissan Murano
Today on our 2009 Nissan Murano, we'll be test fitting the RockyMounts Tierod Stretch roof-mounted bike carrier, part number RKY1011. With the factory roof rack system assembled onto our vehicle, we'll begin our test fit by placing the Tierod Stretch directly onto our crossbars. Here at the front, we'll bring the rubber-coated straps around our front crossbar, fitting them back into the head of the carrier. We can then remove the black plastic cover and use an Allen key to tighten the Allen bolt, to tighten our straps around our crossbars. Once we have those straps tight, we can then reinstall the black plastic cover. Here at the rear, we'll loosen up the bolt so that we can fit our rear clamp around our rear bar.
What our customers are saying:
"The bike rack went together with ease. Everything was in the box, no missing parts. It was very stable on my first trip with it.Works well with womens bikes also. Delivery was prompt with no mishaps. Good job"