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# 1
Swagman XC2 Bike Rack for 2 bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
Well packaged, simple assembly, easy operation. Just what I needed to carry two bikes on the back of my Kia Sorento SUV without impacting the spoiler. Had to install a hitch (e98843) for it but it was worth it. The whole installation was easily completed by me alone in about an hour and a half, but I work slow since I'm old!
I bought this bike rack a few weeks ago and I am very pleased with it. I can install it onto my vehicle and put two bikes on it in about 5 minutes. It uninstalls just as quickly and folds up for easy storage.
# 2
Swagman XTC2 Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
I ordered the Swagman XTC-2 bike carrier along with Hidden Hitch class III hitch for my 2012 Kia Sorento. Both came in 5 business days and with no problems. I assembled the carrier on my garage floor in less than 15 minutes. It's well designed and fits good in my new hitch though it seems to wobble a bit - even with the 2" adaptor. Can't wait to try it out with our bikes!
Sturdy, easy to use and gets my bikes where they need to go and at a great price
# 3
Swagman XTC4 Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
Well built product
Stable and easy to use. Great price for the product.
# 4
Swagman Trailhead Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Tilting
I bought a bike rack and this hitch receiver yesterday and installed them both. The hitch is definitely going to be easier to install with 2 people, as lifting it into place is awkward with this hefty thing. The install will also definitely be easier with a raised vehicle. Of course, I did this without raising the car, and I did it all on my own haha. Obviously, this took me longer as a result. I've very little experience working on cars, so I made a conscious effort not to be daunted by lowering the exhaust- I had never even lowered/removed the spare tire before this. Huge props to etrailer for the install video. It helped SO MUCH. The product's printed instructions for this install were so terrible I would have removed a star, but the vids answered all the questions I had. If you're concerned about tools: I removed the rubber hangers for the exhaust with my hands for the most part, though the one closest the rear of the vehicle, I employed a screwdriver then wrench to pry it off. I'm convinced I could have done this with my fingers as well. The WD-40 was a nice tip. I think it helped slip those off easier. I ended up having to jack up the car to re-hang the exhaust, as the newly installed tow rig reduced wiggle room under the car, but this wasn't a big deal. I'm going over all this stuff for those of you looking to do your own installation. To sum up: Love the hitch. Looks great, and is definitely sturdy. 5 stars for sure, because the cons are vastly outshone by the pros.
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.
# 5
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.
# 6
Swagman Trailhead Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Tilting
I bought a bike rack and this hitch receiver yesterday and installed them both. The hitch is definitely going to be easier to install with 2 people, as lifting it into place is awkward with this hefty thing. The install will also definitely be easier with a raised vehicle. Of course, I did this without raising the car, and I did it all on my own haha. Obviously, this took me longer as a result. I've very little experience working on cars, so I made a conscious effort not to be daunted by lowering the exhaust- I had never even lowered/removed the spare tire before this. Huge props to etrailer for the install video. It helped SO MUCH. The product's printed instructions for this install were so terrible I would have removed a star, but the vids answered all the questions I had. If you're concerned about tools: I removed the rubber hangers for the exhaust with my hands for the most part, though the one closest the rear of the vehicle, I employed a screwdriver then wrench to pry it off. I'm convinced I could have done this with my fingers as well. The WD-40 was a nice tip. I think it helped slip those off easier. I ended up having to jack up the car to re-hang the exhaust, as the newly installed tow rig reduced wiggle room under the car, but this wasn't a big deal. I'm going over all this stuff for those of you looking to do your own installation. To sum up: Love the hitch. Looks great, and is definitely sturdy. 5 stars for sure, because the cons are vastly outshone by the pros.
Quick and reliable shipping and was able to take to my mechanic to get it installed and it works perfectly with my bike rack!
# 7
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.
What our customers are saying:
"I really liked the way my bike rack was packaged. It arrived in supper great time and the rack had no scratches or dings thanks to the great packaging. Keep up the good work and thanks for a great product."