# 1
Swagman Chinook Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
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.
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.
# 2
Yakima HighRoad Roof Bike Rack - Wheel Mount - Clamp On
1. One star ding for price. Fairly expensive for a single bike, especially after adding a lock core. 2. The rack works exceptionally well and I'm not disappointed with the purchase. Installation is fairly simple. It does take a bit of fiddling to get the tension down on the rack clamps (connecting it to car) but it is a simple affair, and I'm able to move it between an aero rack and a round rack with out adjusting the tension. The sliding tray in the rear is a bit sticky, so if you carry bikes of different wheelbases, you may need to add some lubrication to the tract. Front wheel locks into place (I've used 700x25 and 29x2.3) simply, and the clutch in the tension wheel is a nice addition. It would be nice if there was a quick release button (like in times past) but it spins fairly quickly to unload. The locking whip is a nice addition. I have been able to rout it over the chainstay on both bikes. However, it is too short to route around chainstay and wheel. I'd prefer to include my rear wheel inside the lock. Overall, I'm very happy with the product.
I bought two of these, they work great, good the bikes very solid and I'm confident using them over hundreds of miles. etrailer.com is my go-to for tracks and accessories
# 3
Swagman XC2 Bike Rack for 2 bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
Quality bike rack at an affordable price. Easy to setup and adjust, yet sturdy enough to trust. Like others may have mentioned, be sure to strap a piece of foam to your frame. The adjustable hook will scratch the finish. Easy enough of a fix though, virtually a non-issue. I've taken the rack on two separate trips, 6 weeks and 2 weeks in length respectively, with no issues.
Thank you Etrailer for replacing my first bike rack that was either defective, or damaged in transit. This bike rack is great! Very light, unlike other platform bike racks. I have arthritis and I can handle this one. I would not bother with a hitch pin lock because it's so easy to use a wrench and steal the rack or bikes. I recommend a cable lock, through the hitch welded ring. With a few uses, you'll see how quick and easy it is to use. I'm satisfied, and good price. I have it on a 2014 Ford Fiesta.
# 4
SportRack Ridge Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Swing Away
The hitch is great. It swing out of the way for our Subaru just fine. When I use it on my Ford Transit the swing arm is a little short. Which does not allow me to open the door all the way. I also wish there was an option to swing it to the driver's side.
Unit doesn't fit a Jeep Rubicon with a spare tire. I tried 4 times and contacted etrailer.com that the unit doesn't work as sold and they offered to sell me a 7 3/4 extension and reduce the load capacity 50%. The length of the 2" hitch needs to be 3" longer for a standard Rubicon to get past the spare. You not going to want to take your spare tire off for the hitch to work. It defeats the purpose. Customer service was excellent, however the product is a flawed design. Can't recommend this hitch. Its also heavy.
# 5
Thule UpRide Roof Bike Rack - Wheel Mount - Clamp On or Channel Mount - Aluminum
Very easy to use (once you do it a couple of times). I have ebikes and they handled the weight (48lbs each). The biggest issue I have with this racking system is wishing there was a left and right models of it...unless I didn't see one when ordering.
Basically, bolt it to your rack and you're ready to go. Easy to use once you do it a few times. My only complaint is for $200 they could throw in a lock core. Also, this etrailer response is incorrect, it is actually pretty simple to swap the operation of the rack to work on the driver's side (without having your bike face the wrong direction). Two plastic locks hold the main assembly together, unlock, take the hook out and put in the other way. The loop thing at the front is held in by one allen bolt on the bottom; take it out, swap the direction. Finally, the rear tire strap slides out the back; reverse it and slide it on. It takes longer to put the carrier on /off your rack than to swap the direction (not more than 10 minutes).
# 6
Swagman XC-Extended Bike Rack for 2 Recumbent Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
I have bad shoulders and could no longer lift my long wheelbase recumbent bike up to my Thule rack. The new rack solved the problem and made it much easier to load the bike. Very happy I got the new Swagman rack.
Thank you again for such excellent customer service. I am including two pics from today showing the bikes mounted on my 2009 Honda Fit with the bike rack we purchased from you. Please feel free to use them in any of your publications, print or web.
# 7
Swagman XTC2 Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
I bought this one for my camper, I had the 4 bike rack all ready. I purchased this one because these racks are the best, period! If you want a solid rack, and one that doesn't make your bike move while in transit to potentially get scratched from another bike, then get this one or the 4 bike one. I will abuse my bikes while riding, but not by transporting.
I absolutely love this bike rack! My wife and I have used a Thule trunk mounted bike rack for the past couple of years and we dreaded using it every time because the bikes would either rub together while in transit or the bikes would beat up the back of the car! (Thus we had to use about a dozen bungee straps to secure them!) The Swagman XTC-2 is the best! Both of our mountain bikes fit beautifully, and the anti-sway bolt that secures the rack to the hitch is great! I can't give enough kudos to the person who invented this bike rack! This is a worthwhile investment to anyone who is looking into a hitch mounted bike rack.
# 8
Thule Hitching Post Pro Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches
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.
I bought this bike rack back in April but wanted to make sure I used it to give the best review. First I want to say I did a lot of research on bike racks and found this one to be the best one to fit my needs. The best price I found was on etrailer.com, at the time it was When I called the customer service to place my order, I spoke to Dan. He was very pleasant on the phone and took the time and listened to what I needed and understood my concerns. I ordered the bike rack and also ordered the Thule Snug Tite Hitch Lock and Anti-Rattle Device and the Thule Cable Lock w/ One Key System Lock. Dan suggested I also get the Thule Bike Adapter Bar, which I never even thought of getting. Delivery was in about two business days, which was really fast and at the time of order they were running a special free delivery over $99. When I went to put it together I noticed I was missing the flat cap screw M6 x 16mm, part number #853-5787-02. I emailed Dan and within 24 hours received an email that the part was sent out and also in the email their was a link to track the order. After I received the part I did notice that the flat cap screw was actually in the 2 inch adaptor sleeve. The instructions were very easy to read, and it took me about 20 minutes to put together. I did have an issue when I positioned the stinger into the cradle, with the 8mm locking nut, it was not staying tight and when I took it off I noticed the threads inside were gone, so I ended up going out to Lowes and buying a new one and its holds perfectly fine. I also had a question about that part because it is not a locking part and was worried someone would try to steal the rack. I contacted etrailer.com to find if they make a locking device for this and they said no but I can contact Thule to double check, I'm still waiting for an answer back from Thule. The weather finally broke and we installed the rack onto my hitch, tightened it and it doesn't rattle. When I finally used the rack and put my bike on, it did sway a little but at 50 mph I was very happy with it. The trailer comes out just enough away from my car that I do not have to fold completely out and I can open my trunk with no issues. I am very happy with my purchase and had a great customer experience with Dan. Would highly recommend ordering from them to anyone.
# 9
Swagman Enforcer Roof Bike Rack - Fork Mount - Clamp On - Aluminum
Pros: That model of roof bike rack allows fork mount to be moved back and forth as other models seems to only offer "fixed" position directly above cross bar. Price is reasonable. Con: Outside diameter of the adapter used with 9 mm skewer is way smaller, that inside diameter of the holder it goes into, resulting in significant wobbling of bike even when skewer is tight. Fixed the problem wrapping piece of aluminum flashing around adapter to make it fit much tighter and that stoped wobbling. Expect to have adapter and holder to match each other way better.
Overall we were very pleased with this bike roof rack. The install was easy and we can take it on/off quickly when we have to accommodate other items on the crossbars. I especially like the integrated wheel holder, it’s very stable and I don’t have to worry about locating a Velcro strap. Price point was more affordable than other brands and no loss in quality. Would buy again if we had a need!
# 10
RockyMounts HotRod Truck Bed Bike Carrier - Thru-Axle Mount - Bolt On - Black
This is not the first bolt-on 12mm thru-axle fork mount I've attempted to use, but it IS the only one I've ever actually been able to use properly. I'm always please with RockyMounts quality and this is no different!
This is my second RockyMounts Thru-Axle Mount. Attached easily to the old rack in the bed of my pickup. The bicycle's thru-axle fits snugly, making transport safe and secure.
# 11
Swagman Trailhead Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Tilting
etrailer has the best pre- and post-sales customer service I've ever seen! I started out not knowing anything about hitch-mounted racks. So I wrote to etrailer telling them about my car and type of hitch I was about to have installed. Samuel wrote back with lots of great information tailored specifically to my car. He even included a photo that looked just like my 2017 white VW GTI with a hitch and rack installed. Okay something of a coincidence. But the rest of the assistance I got from the crew at etrailer was just as prophetic. I went into this a novice and came out knowing lots more about hitches and racks and finding the rack best suited to my situation. I have a small car, a class 1 hitch and a heavy mountain bike. I got exactly what I needed. As to the Swagman rack itself, it works fine. If I had a different situation I would probably buy a platform rack as they are easier to load. There's no reason to buy a bike rack anywhere else.
First off, thanks to Jason T. or "Troop". The exemplary customer service he provided is rare these days. Troop made several calls to the various manufacturers to ascertain which bike rack would afford me the most ground clearance as my new VW Golf sits low to the ground and my old bike rack frequently scraped the ground when I went up even a slight up hill grade. His efforts paid off as he found me the best bike rack for my car, the Swagman Trailhead 2 Bike Carrier. It sits up off the ground just high enough that it doesn't scrape on my driveway. It is also sturdy and holds my bikes securely. And, the delivery was amazingly fast. I had my rack in about 2 days! Note to Troop, see my Pittsburgh Pirates Logo on my bumper in the attached pictures? Pirate Fans persevere! The Bucco's will be coming after your Cardinals this year! Thanks again Troop!
# 12
Inno Fork Lock III Roof Bike Rack - Fork Mount - Clamp On - Aluminum
The NA391 roof bike rack is sleek and stylish looking. It's light and seems to be pretty aerodynamic. At the same time, it appears to be pretty sturdy. Once clamped to my INNO roof rack system, I can grab the track of the roof bike rack and pull back and forth enough to rock the whole car without it moving on the roof rack system. I would give it 5 stars but for what I believe is a design flaw that INNO seems to have overlooked. Due to the curvature of the roof on the Tucson that the Inno rack system is mounted on, the front clamp of the bike rack does not sit flat on the INNO crossbars. The bike rack comes with a spacer to use under the rear clamp to level the rack. But the bolts on the clamp knobs are too short to use the spacer. I don't understand how INNO could miss this design flaw in their own product. Even with just the thin strips of rubber spacers on the bottom of the rack on top of the rear crossbar is almost too much for the bolts on the knobs. INNO needs to look into this flaw and correct it.
I like the bike racks…I ordered two for my INNO roof rack load bars…good quality and reasonably easy to install. I did not realize etrailer also carried the same type of bike carrier that will slide directly into the T-Slot track, otherwise I would’ve gotten those instead…Oh well, that’s the way it goes sometimes.
# 13
Swagman Upright Bike Rack for 1 Bike - Roof Rack Crossbars - Frame Mount
Planning on bringing bikes while camping. I mounted 2 of the Swagman bike racks to my new Sportrack on my pop-up camper. The bikes fit perfectly. The racks seem sturdy enough. Not heavy duty, but for my needs they should be fine. Assembly was relatively fast and easy.
Highly recommend - durable, easy and fast to install and remove!
# 14
Thule Elite Van XT 2 Bike Rack for Sprinter Rear Door
The Thule Elite Van XT2 Bike Rack is just what I expected but the install instructions leave something to be desired. Nothing but pictures trying to describe the install. Even a few poorly worded sentences would have been helpful in some places. I have seen this noted in other reviews and [online]. Otherwise a quality product and I have been able to integrate it with my Kuat swing arm and bike rack that we were already using. I wanted to be able to add a 3rd bike to our setup without extending the length and still be able to open the rear doors without removing a bike. This all worked out with just a little modification. I did move the Thule bike rail install point 1.5" above the center install position to allow clearance over my wife's ebike. See photos.
The bike rack arrived within 2 business days as promised by Melissa. Install was straight forward. We drove with two bikes 4000 miles and had absolutely no issues. We used the adhesive recommended in the instructions and had absolutely no problems with dispensing the adhesive (as sometimes mentioned in the reviews).
# 15
Hollywood Racks Truck Bed Bike Carrier - Fork Mount - Bolt On
The Hollywood Racks Truck Bed Bike Carrier - Fork Mount - Bolt On, is just what I was looking for to be able to build a bike rack for carrying one of my bikes on my motorcycle. It was easy to mount and it holds my bike in place while riding on bumpy dirt roads, city streets, highways and even when I hit some twisty country roads. It's really easy to load and unload my bike when I get to where I want to ride. I use a velcro strap around the quick-release and the fork arm as an added safety as well as a couple tie-downs from my bike handlebars to my motorcycle passenger pegs to help distribute the weight on my rack. If you want to build your own DIY bike rack I totally recommend the Hollywood Racks Truck Bed Bike Carrier - Fork Mount - Bolt On.
Love this product! I built a great bike carrying system for my F-150 using two of these fork clamps. They are easy to install and extremely well made. No more tangled bikes and lots more room in the bed for other stuff! Best way to go for a nice bike rack system. Thanks, Phil T.
# 16
Hollywood Racks Destination Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
Sturdy, affordable and good ground clearance. Easily fits large size mountain bikes. Quick assembly and not that heavy at all. Folds up nicely. Only used it twice so far but very happy with this product.
Great personalized serve Outstanding delivery and free shipping Easy to assemble Well thought out and will be a cinch to use Rock solid on my Jeep Grand Cherokee Outstanding value!!! Thanks 1000k!
# 17
Thule Elite Van XT 2 Bike Rack for Ram ProMaster Rear Door
2017 Ram ProMaster 2500Expensive, but worth the cost! Easy to install with clear instructions. Folds away cleanly when not in use, you can use the shorter bike latch to secure the folded rack in place more easily than the included strap. The only problem I've had is that if you're about 6' tall, with the rack in the highest position it's just above your sightline but squarely in "crack you in the forehead" range, so keep that in mind when deciding which height to use.
Great product, poor sales and delivery execution. The good: This bike rack appears to be of typical Thule high quality However, at the time of this writing, I had not installed the rack on my 2021 Promaster. The rack arrived on time with decent tracking data. The bad: The installation process for this rack is far (FAR!) more involved than installing a roof rack or hitch mount. ETrailer made no mention of needing specialty adhesive in order to install per Thule’s requirements. Neither Thule nor etrailer provided this adhesive, and it’s very hard to find in bricks and mortar stores. I suggest ordering the required Sikaflex 252 on Amazon immediately after ordering the rack so the adhesive will arrives before the rack. It appears etrailer sold me a returned item, because the rack appeared to be thrown in the delivery box with loose parts and no protective packing materials; $XXX bike rack and that’s how much etrailer cares! UPS sucks; there’s no reason to candy-coat the performance of their deliveries (yay for union protected job apathy). Every (yes, literally every) box I receive from UPS arrives with varying degrees of damage which often impacts the condition of the contents of the box. I suggest buying this rack at your local bricks and mortar bike store.
# 18
Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE Bike Rack for 2 Electric Bikes - 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
I feel this bike rack is very well built and leaves you with the piece of mind that your bikes are going to be fine while in transit. Fairly easy to get the bikes on and off the rack. One downside would be the weight of the rack when installing it on the vehicle but that helps with keeping you bikes safe.
Ordered this to replace my Kuat Transit 3 since I now have 4 bikes. I could not have been more pleased. I shopped around for different brands and features and the Hollywood Sport Rider 4 checked all the boxes. The ability to convert from a 2 bike to a 4 bike rack, lockable, solid mounting system, and of course priced affordably, made this a perfect choice. Install was easy and smooth. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a convertible bike rack.
# 19
Yakima EXO Swing Away 2 Bike Rack w/ Enclosed Cargo Carrier - 2" Hitches
The lights work very well with the hitch box assembly.It is mounted on a Ford Transit camper. High visibility and easy to attach. The wire hold plastic clips have not held up after a few uses so I use some zip ties. The Transit blis system deactivates when a trailer is attached. You can use the Yakima box with lights and have blis active by setting trailer length to shortest setting in the controls. I believe it us longer than box and rack.
This is a superior product! It is very well-made and really great for extra storage. We have this on the back of our 2022 Ford Transit Campervan and while the right-side door does not fully open with cargo in the box we can get the door opened past the pivot point pin and use it to keep the door propped open. Highly recommend etrailer. They always have items in stock and are very knowledgeable and helpful. Highly recommend ordering this and if you do order it from etrailer. It arrived in two days as well so the shipping, which was free, was very fast.
# 20
Hollywood Racks Destination Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
The Destination bike rack works perfectly on my 2020 Pacifica and I have clearance going over speed bumps! I recently upgraded my bike to a Trek step through which hung too low on my old Thule rack no matter how the cross bar adapter was adjusted. Problem solved!
I realy like how it holds my bikes securly in place. I also like that (without the bikes) I can open and close the hatch on my 2014 Hyundia Santa Fe. I have a 2" receiver on my car. We went away for a long weekend from CT to VT and had no issues with it holding my bikes. Would definetly recomend.
What our customers are saying:
"A couple months ago, I ordered a hitch & bike rack for my new 2005 Saturn VUE. Everything about the order was fast and easy. When my father bought a 2006 VUE, he wanted the same hitch, but it was not listed on the site. I contacted customer service and quickly received a response informing me that they were waiting for details on the new model. The next day I had another email saying it was available, less than an hour later, my order was placed and I had a "shipped" email. Outstanding service!"