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Ditch the fork block and keep your front wheel on - transport your bike in your truck bed with this wheel-mount bike rack. Ratcheting arm holds bike by the front wheel. Rack drops into tailgate opening and secures when tailgate closes.
Features:
Specs:
The Insta-Gater Pro is an excellent alternative to a fork block. It saves you from having to remove your bike's front wheel and from drilling into your truck bed. And if you normally use a hitch rack, but will be using your hitch to tow, this rack lets you bring your bike as well. It installs quickly in the crease of your tailgate. The wheel-mount design eliminates all frame contact, making it ideal for carbon frames and custom-painted bikes. The slim footprint allows you to mount additional Insta-Gater Pro's side by side to carry additional bikes.
Front or Rear Tire Mount
The hardest part of setting up your bike is lifting it into your truck bed. Once it's up there you can secure your bike by either wheel. If your truck bed is longer than 6', secure your bike by the front wheel. If your truck bed is shorter than 6', secure your bike by the rear wheel and turn the handlebars so that the wheel avoids bumping the front of your bed. To install by the front wheel, simply lower the arm away from your tailgate, roll your front wheel onto the cradle, raise the arm, and ratchet the hook snugly against the tire, behind the fork. To install by the rear wheel, raise the arm up, roll your rear wheel onto the cradle, and ratchet the hook snugly against the tire, above the seat stay.
Integrated Cable Lock
The rack includes an integrated cable lock to secure your bike to the rack. It has a Thule One-Key System lock cylinder that can be swapped out if you own other Thule products and want to use the same key to lock them all. The cable lock threads around your bike's frame and inserts back into the arm. It retracts into the arm when not in use. If your tailgate doesn't lock or if you are concerned that a potential thief could undo the buckles on the rack, you can use an additional cable lock (sold separately) to secure the rack to your truck.
Easy No-Drill Installation
To install the rack, simply lower your tailgate, place the straps inside the opening between the tailgate and the truck bed, and close the tailgate. Tighten the straps with the built-in ratchets to pull the bike carrier up next to the tailgate, eliminating any movement.
California residents: click here
Fast shipping, great service. Nice.
I was excited to recieve the Insta-Gater, however, when I tried it in my truck bed of my toyota tacoma it didn't fit with my bike frame, the bed of my truck was too small. Other than that I think the rack would have been fine. The only real compliant is I ordered two insta-gater truck bed racks and one box came wrapped nice but the other was completely damaged.
I've only had the insta-gator long enough to use it couple times. Bikes are held in firm with little movement during transport. I especially like that they are not hanging off the back, my biggest fear has always been getting rear ended. With this device they are much safer
This review is about service only as I have not had an opportunity to use the product yet.
Service at e.trailer is among the best I have experienced. Their communication and product knowledge is exceptional! They fill orders fast and shipments are completed very timely. Whenever the opportunity presents, I will choose them above all others.
This bed-mounted bike rack works out great to secure my ProdecoTech Phantom XRS e-bike onto the bed of my Ford F-150 Flareside. Etrailer is a good outfit, too. They quickly honored their lowest price pledge after I found an online dealer selling this product at a lower price.
Just what I was looking for. I just got a new bike and I'm real happy that this carrier won't damage the frame and I can easily and safely secure my bike. When I lock the bike in the rack and my tail gate is locked everything is locked down. It's also easy in and easy out. I'm looking forward to years of use of this bike carrier.
I was not sure this rack was right for me when I ordered it, but the Thule reputation convinced me, and I’m glad I pulled the trigger on it. This fits nicely in the bed of my truck, and secures my bike quite well. I have to drive about 25 miles via mountain roads to get to my paved trail…curvy roads with elevation changes…and I have zero worries about any calamities… For a single bike situation, it’s a great solution that keeps the bike in the bed, not on the back bumper.
Linda and I recently ordered two Aventon Pace 500 NextGen E-bikes from [bike store] in Madison, WI. Not wanting to just toss our expensive new bikes in the back of the p/u when they arrive next month we promptly ordered the Thule Instagator from etrailer.
My prior experience with etrailer came as a recommendation from a friend. I was able to do quite a bit of the research on etrailers website, the demonstration video extremely helpful and we placed an order.
The racks were in-stock, shipped promptly, etrailer providing a very nice tracking link that included pics of the staff involved in processing the order and a map of the route all the way to delivery. Absolutely 1st rate service. The racks showed up in perfect condition about two days after placing the order, exactly as promised.
We are very pleased with etrailer, will most certainly be ordering from them again and recommend this company w/o reservation. Nice job etrailer!
This is the best bike rack system I have used so far. I tried roof racks, truck bed tension racks, and tail gate pad. We used this for the first time today, and I am very pleased. Our bikes were very secure and the system is easy to use. Two thumbs up!
Robert
6/21/2021
Still 5 Stars, after a year!
Installed in my Ford Ranger. With the dealer installed drop in bed liner on my truck, my bikes are too long to mount the front tire in the rack as I have less than 60 inches by a couple. So I mount with rear tire and the front tire at an angle in the front corner of the truck bed. Loading is a little awkward. I can’t secure the carriers (I have two) by closing the tail gate as my E-bikes are too heavy at about 50 lbs. each to lift over the closed tailgate. So I have to mount them with the tailgate open, then position the racks where I can close the tail gate with a good fit and then ratchet up the slack of the holding straps. With the bricks mounted this way the security chain built into the carrier is not long enough to go around the main part of the frame in fron of the seat. It has to go on/over the rear part of the frame. With the short trips I’ve taken so far the bikes seem reasonably secure. There is some sway from the front tires, but on long trips I will probably secure some how with a strap. Unloading is also not the easiest, mainly due to the weight of the bikes. Two people makes it much easier. Finally, the carriers could be easily stolen by simply pulling out the ratchet straps or cutting them. Recommend a security chain lock be attached to the carrier and also maybe the bike.
Great product, excellent supplier
Fast shipping. Easy setup within minutes. I’m able to quickly load and unload the bike.
Kind of pricey but the quality is good so I expect this to last for many years.
It actually works well. I have a short bed so I have to put the bike in with the front tire at the tailgate because of my basket platform. I do use a ratchet strap to add additional security to the tire closest to the cab. It’s a little tricky getting the rack itself set up with the straps that secure it between the tailgate and the bed for good closure of the tailgate. Since it doesn’t fold, it should be placed inside the truck if you travel with it. I’m planning to do some camping with a small fiberglass camper next fall. This is my only option for taking the bike that I feel comfortable about. I will update when I try this. I hate just laying my bike down in the bed so I’m hoping this works for camping.
Fits perfectly in truck bed and the bike easily sets in rack. Realy like how when you lock your truck my tailgate also locks and secures rack in truck. I use it to transport my bikes across country.
Fits a 93 Ford Ranger w/Truck box! Just have to strap front tire down. This is what I was looking for. Thanks!!
William
8/29/2022
It has been awesome! Still going great after 1 year! This rack has been a game changer for me! Over the past year, I have used the gater on my Ranger with no fail. If you have a small truck, this is your solution!
Great customer service. The experience felt personal because the updates showed pictures of the employees working on your order. The shipping was long. I expected it and was notified we I purchased the bike racks. This is as due to the COVID-19 delays.
I bought two of these racks and was very pleased. They have cable locks built in so our bikes were safe when we go in a restaurant, grocery store, etc. I highly recommend this product as well as the people at etrailer that helped me choose them.
Fits GMC well with standard (not long) bed well. Still a mystery how I can truly get the bike locked in. I feel like even with truck bed locked, someone could wrestle this thing out. Feel like frame of bike will still need to be locked to frame of truck. However, easy to set up and holds bike securely and does exactly what I needed it to do.
Awesome quality and it makes mounting and dismountaing bikes so easy. I should have gotten the double bike rack….
I bought two racks to transport my ebikes. The tires do not fit in the rack. the cradle that holds the tire require to be wider. I need to return them. please assist me in this matter. thank you
Jenny N.
4/6/2023
Well shoot, as long as the width of your tire is not more than 5 inches and the diameter is not more than 29 inches, this rack should work just fine for you. It is past our 60 day return policy however I do see that Customer Service is working with Thule to see what may be going on.
Terry L.
4/4/2024
dont use it. It doesnt fit
Product works as advertised. Light and very portable. Small enough that it is easy to store . Great for my wants and needs.
This is a great piece of equipment. Smartly designed and compact for storage when not in use. Shipping was super fast. Another great purchase from etrailer.com
These things are great!! I was skeptical at first. I needed something to hold my Lectric bike in place. It does that and does it well!. Not hard to set up either!
Another great product from etrailer.
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Scott R.
4/26/2023
The Thule Instagator pickup bed rack has worked out perfectly. Weve used it just about continuously for a year now including a 8500 mile Snowbirding trip from Illinois to Alabama, across the southern border to Arizona and back to Illinois. The two racks support and secure a Addmotor M-340 3 wheel trike and a 2 wheel electric bike. Absolutely no issues at all. When we return to Arizona this winter our bikes will be safely secured in the bed of the pickup with our Thule racks from etrailer. Thanks etrailer, you guys are our goto source for all our trailering accessories