# 1
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.
# 2
Swagman XC2 Bike Rack for 2 bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
I like the overall design of this rack, but unfortunately after hauling a couple bikes around for a while the point where the crossbar connects has apparently rounded off so the rack swings back and forth. I've used rope to tie the ends of the rack to the car to stop this from getting worse, but it's inconvenient. Note: the hitch connection itself is good and solid, but the point where the crossbar connects to the bar coming from the hitch has gotten loose and there's no way that I can see to tighten it.
It works great! Easy, quick, you know. One needs to screw in the hitch bolt, for some reason, before latching it. Other than that, it makes going bike riding way easier.
# 3
Swagman XTC2 Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
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.
The Swagman XTC-2 platform bike carrier arrived very quickly from etrailer and in good shape, the actual carrier box is inside another shipper box, which I'm sure helped with its condition. Assembly was relatively quick and painless, even though the instructions could be a little more thorough. Installing the carrier on the back of our Jeep Patriot also was quick, it helps to have an extra ratchet & 3/4" socket laying around for just this purpose. Installing the bikes takes a little patience and trial and error the first time you try and put them on the carrier. It's easy enough to adjust the wheel holders to fit the wheelbase of your bikes, but for us at least, the challenge was trying to swing the vertical support bar up into position after putting on the first bike (closest to the Jeep). We couldn't angle the bike enough toward the Jeep to have the bar clear the bike. We learned that the easiest way to secure the first bike was to remove the ratcheting frame hooks altogether, put the bike in the carrier, swing up the vertical support bar, put in the pin, and then slide one of the frame hooks down on the bar. The outside bike is much easier because you can set the bike in the carrier at whatever angle you need, not being limited by the back of the vehicle. One thing we did to protect the bike frames was to use some foam pipe insulation as cushion between the frame hook and the frame (see pictures). Once you get a system for installing the bikes, it is very quick to load/unload them. The rack seems to be well made and doesn't wiggle excessively when traveling. All in all a good product for a good price, would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a platform bike carrier.
# 4
Thule Passage Trunk Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - Hanging Style
Excellent and prompt customer service! When I first ordered my product it wasn’t in stock— staff were quick to let me know and offered me comparable products. I ended up waiting for my original order and shipping quick and they stayed in touch with ideas! Thule: The instructions could be a little more detailed. I ended up watching YouTube videos to help me instal. Overall it was easy, and this was the first rack I’ve ever installed and I did it by myself! I was surprised to learn the bike rack is in no way secured inside your vehicle, so.. I store it in my garage when it’s on.
Positive: The product is well thought out and works for a wide range of automotive vehicles. It comes with interesting dampers that i think work. Instructions seem to be translated from another language, but are quite good, accompanying pictures make installation straightforward. A test drive over speed bumps shows that the rack will support the bike for all travel needs. It can be disassembled , collapsed and stored in the trunk. Downside: The rack is made for the classic triangular shaped frame: horizontal cross bar, "male" bike. For bikes without the horizontal bar, mounting is a little less satisfactory. Such a bike can only be mounted on the outside mounts. Cannot use the damper on one side. Picture shows the mounting. as to a design solution, maybe brackets could be replaced with smaller profile, some adjustability? however, as it is, vibration control is good and adjustability with smaller profile would have vibration concerns.
# 5
Saris Bones 2 Bike Rack - Trunk Mount - Adjustable Arms
Seemingly well-constructed and supported bike rack. It fits my 2018 Toyota Camry SE just fine and I haven't had any issues with sway or even feeling my bike while driving. I've only carried one bike on it and have used it a limited number of times, so I cannot speak on durability and longevity. Although you shouldn't open your trunk while the rack is attached, I have been able to do so with no issue (without the bike attached).
While getting a bike rack for a sports car isn't ideal, I really wanted to transfer my bike with my own car instead of borrowing my friend's pickup truck. After hours of trying to find a bike rack that would be good for my 07 Mustang, I decided to give this one a try and I gotta say, it has been pretty good so far. It fits very well over the factory spoiler. One of my biggest concerns I was worried about when ordering a rack for my Mustang was ruining the paint, but the feet on the legs haven't left one scratch. I have used this to transfer my bike at freeway speeds (up to 80 mph) on car rides that typically last an hour and my bike was perfectly secure throughout each ride. For extra security, I wrapped both bike wheels with a ratchet strap so the wheels and pedals wouldn't shift in transit. So far, I am very pleased with this bike rack for the price and quality. I would highly recommend this if you want a rack that is affordable and durable.
# 6
Yakima HoldUp Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount
Works well for transporting two 29" wheeled mountain bikes. However, after one year it's starting to rust in several areas (see attached photos), and the front wheel arms are becoming increasingly difficult to raise and lower. Finally the locking cable is extremely rusty as you can see in the attached photo. I'm not sure how durable this rack will be long term.
We have had this bike rack for one year and use it every week-end. My wife has a Trek e-bike (52 lbs) and I have a regular Trek hybrid (23 lbs). The rack is very sturdy and I have no issues driving at highway speeds, there is no movement of the bikes. Very easy to load and unload.
# 7
Kuat NV 2.0 Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount - Gunmetal Gray
This thing is built like a tank! It is of the best fit and funtion I have seen in a bike rack! Solid as can be, fits my bikes perfectly and looks awesome! Plus it folds completely out of the way to access the rear liftgate on my 2022 Rav4!
Great service from etrailer and the rack arrived as expected. Fairly easy assembly. OK video on Kuat’s site, but didn’t cover the foot pedal. Really glad we got the 2” hitch. It tightened up and we’re impressed with the quality and the stability of the rack. We haven’t done a road test yet, but look forward to putting it to the test. We have a Ford F-150 and it works great. The bikes were fairly easy to load with the batteries out and two people. We do need the strap extenders for our RadMini Step Thru’s. The tires are too big for the ones that come with. Only one set of extenders came with the bike and one adapter for a smaller tire. It’s okay, but since it’s a two bike unit, would have been nice to have both extenders. Otherwise, we are really liking the look and stability.
# 8
Yakima RidgeBack Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Tilting
This two bike rack has been great for the occasional bike ride outside of our home area. I like the sturdy construction, but beware that it is a little heavier than it looks (I’m retired and a bit older so maybe not as strong). Easy to fit into the factory trailer hitch on our 5 passenger SUV and no problem securing the bikes for transport. My only complaint is, the stick on Yakima Graphic started coming apart the day we got it. Sorry, no free advertising for Yakima.
I used this product twice to go back and forth on a 700 mile trip (1400 miles total). My initial impression was that it was sturdy because it was larger than most 2 bike carriers I've seen. The strapping system is convenient and the locking system worked great. The only flaw so far is that one of the locking mechanisms actually broke off. After closer inspection, I realized that the parts are plastic. I'm not sure what actually caused it to break other than the force of hitting a pothole causing the bike to bounce on the rack. Those types of forces should be expected with normal driving however and I expected the locking mechanism to hold up. I was fairly disappointed that it happened given the asking price and the reviews I read prior to my purchase. Other than the locking mechanism on the actual bike rack, I wouldn't put to much faith in the red handled locking pin that inserts into the trailer hitch and insertion bar portion of the bike rack. It is understood that the pin does not go all the way through the insertion bar as the locking mechanism is inside and prevents further advancement. Yakima could probably improve this aspect of the product. I will be contacting Yakima to see if they will replace the broken part. One thing I did notice was that the broken bracket is screwed in and can be removed/replaced fairly easily. I have included pics of the broken bracket and working bracket for comparison. Hope this helps in your decision!
# 9
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!
# 10
Swagman Trailhead Bike Rack for 3 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Tilting
Draw-tite Sportframe Trailer Hitch Receiver Class I - 1-1/4 Swagman Trailhead 3 Bike Rack - Tilting The Draw-tite Sportframe class 1 trailer hitch and Swagman Trailhead 3 bike rack were ordered for a 2017 Honda Fit. The online order and shipping went just as expected. The trailer hitch and bike rack are very heavy duty. I recommend watching the trailer hitch install video before installing, whereas the video is very helpful. The bike rack has triangles that you can rotate to find the best fit for your bicycle's frame. The rubber straps are thick and secure the bicycles when you pull them tight. This bike rack will stay on the vehicle for 6 months each year. The tilt feature and folding arm feature are must haves for a smaller hatchback. I am pleased with this purchase, it appears to be good quality and good value.
My previous bike rack was a hitch mounted Yakima. It was sturdy but not well suited for my low Subaru Impreza. It stuck out too far and hung too low so that I had to inch my way down the driveway or over speed bumps for fear of it bottoming out. A roof rack or a rear window mounted rack was not suitable since I wanted to be able to also carry two kayaks. First, I tried to modify my rack by shortening the part that sticks out of the hitch. I tried to saw off about 6 inches so it wouldn't stick out so far but the steel was much too hard. I ended up ruining several metal-cutting blades on my power saw before I gave up. I looked for other rack options. There weren't many out there. But eventually, I found something that met my needs. I purchased the "Swagman Trailhead 3 Bike Fold Down Bicycle Hitch Rack" in 2013 from eTrailer.com. The part that enters the hitch curves up to increase clearance from the ground. It is sturdy and sticks out far enough so I can still open my trunk hatch without having to lower the main vertical bar on the hitch (though I could if I wanted to). It isn't often I am really excited about a piece of gear but this hitch rack has made me worry-free when I transport my bicycle(s) via car. The only thing I don't like is that it is advertised as being a 3 bike carrier but it only fits 2 hybrid bikes. Maybe it will fit 3 skinny racing bikes but for the average rider, don't expect to fit on more than 2. But my experience is that is the case for all bicycle racks.
# 11
Kuat Beta Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Tilting
I did a lot of research and decided this was the rack for me. I was totally correct. First, it has all the most important features but only weighs about 14 lbs. I was concerned as a senior lady with arthritis issues. I can use it well and it performed perfectly with an adapter bar for my Electra Townie. I have had compliments from several seasoned riders and a bike shop owner here at the beach who said it was great quality and I got a great price. Also purchased a locking trailer hitch pin with bike cable from etrailer. All over satisfaction with products and etrailer who provided enough videos to help me.
This product is exactly what I wanted. The 2" post fits in the reciever perfectly, and no wiggle. I did tighten the mounting screw, but didn't have to change the hardware I have already (locks). There are two more screws to reduce the wiggles at each pivot point, and there was little to begin with. I tend to test way beyond the breaking point, and did some aggressive driving with every bump across town to the first ride. All good and I won't worry while driving with the bike attached moving forward. Only thing I wish it had was a locking mechanism, but I used a wire cable and lock. The other comparable ones with a lock were 2X the price. I can use the additional lock if I have other plans than just a trail. Service has been outstanding and I will look for any future purchases of this kind to be through etrailer.
# 12
Curt 2 Bike Platform Rack - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount - Tilting
I installed this rack onto a Curt trailer hitch which is mounted onto a 2017 Honda Fit. I have been using it intermittently for several months, probably about 5 times with one bike and twice with two bikes. I give some pros and cons below and then elaborate. Pros: easy to assemble, easy to mount and dismount bikes, easy to lock and unlock, how to put the rack into different positions is intuitive Cons: inconvenient to put the rack into different positions, inconvenient to mount the rack onto the hitch, rack protrudes about 15 inches from bumper when in flipped up position (seems very vulnerable to someone backing into it in a parking lot, very inelegant looking I say the repositioning is intuitive because there is really only one way you could possibly place the pins for each position. But removing and replacing two pins is much less convenient than turning a knob or a lever, like some racks do. Also many racks fold and flip in such a way as to look very unobtrusive when in non-use mode. This one looks like kind of a monstrosity. That does not really bother me but it might bother some owners. The part that does bother me is how far it protrudes from the car. I back into parking spaces whenever possible to avoid someone bumping into the rack and damaging it (which happened to a friend). My number one suggestion for Curt is related to mounting the rack onto the hitch. Make it easier to tell when the holes are lined up so that the bolt/pin will fit and thread. As it is now, if you insert the rack as far as it can go it is way too far in. Ideally, it would be exactly lined up. Failing that, maybe some kind of click or other feedback to know at least that you are in the neighborhood. It would also be great to have an attaching device that is easier to fasten and unfasten than is the bolt/pin. Tip for mounting the rack onto the hitch: I assumed that it would be awkward to hold, what is it 46 pounds?, while trying to line up the rack probe with the receiver. If you have a garage with exposed collar ties, my solution could work well for you. I looped a cargo strap over a collar tie. Then I hooked both hooks of a bungie onto that loop. The idea is that you hook one of the bike frame holders of the rack onto the bungie, suspending the rack a few inches off the garage floor. This takes most of the weight of the rack so that you can just pull up or down and forward until you line up with the receiver. Tip for mounting bikes. Don't put the little screw into the post that prevents you from completely removing the bike frame holders. Remove both holders. Position the first bike, slide the holder into place, position the second bike, slide the holder into place. I found this makes it much easier, because you avoid parts of the bike hitting the holder as you are trying to get the wheels into place. The trick is that if you are mounting only one bike, don't forget to put the second holder back on - or maybe just stick it inside the car right away.
The rack carries the bicycle safely and securely, as advertised. However if some other method had been provided instead of pins that must be removed and reinserted to tilt the rack or fold the rack, I would have given the rack a higher rating. The pins work ok, but this feature could have been more user friendly. Also, I was concerned that I could carry my Bike Friday NWT, a bike with a very low crossbar and 20-inch wheels. I submitted the question of fit to etrailer and received a prompt assurance the the rack would work. It does, however the hoops that capture the wheels allow the wheels to settle deeper than if the bike had larger wheel (26" or more). My bike has fenders and I am planning to trim about an inch or so from the rear end of the front fender so that it doesn't hit the hoop. The technical team at etrailer are excellent. I have especially valued their installation videos when purchasing other products. etrailer gets the full 5 stars.
# 13
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.
# 14
Yakima FullBack 3 Bike Rack - Trunk Mount - Adjustable Arms
Performed perfectly on a 140 mile round-trip in my 2017 Acura MDX. It took me a few tries to position the anchors inside the top of the hatch, but I got the hang of it and the rack did not shift at all while driving 50-60 mph on the highway.
Excellent quality! Bike rack comes fully assembled. Cam locks hold the upper support and the bike arms in position and are very easy to use.fairly useless included cable lock. Will only work if you always carry 3 bikes. I just used my cable lock and had no problems transporting my bike to the trails.
Inno Roof Bike Racks Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5
Today on our 2015 Mazda CX-5, we're going to do a test fit of the INNO Fork Lock Roof Mounted Bike Carrier. Part number INXA391. Now I have a bike on our rack, and we have a rack hooked to our vehicle. Just going to show you a few features of it. This is a fork mounted bike rack, as you can see. I'm going to lift up our cover here. This is our skewer, it's engaged. To un-engage we pull out, unloosen it and tighten it on this side.
Inno Roof Bike Racks Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5 ina392
Today on our 2016 Mazda CX5 we're going to do a test fit of the INNO multi-fork lock roof bike carrier. Part number is INA392. Now we have a bike on our rack and we have our bike hooked to our vehicle. I just want to show you a few features of the rack itself. This is a fork mounted bike rack as you can see. The skewer is engaged. If we take the cover off here, unlock the lock.
Inno Roof Bike Racks Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5 ina391
Today on our 2015 Mazda CX5, we're going to do a test fit of the Inno Fork Lock Three Bike Carrier. That part number is INA391. We have a bike on our rack and we have our rack onto our vehicle. I wanted to show you a few features of it. The first feature I'd like to show you, this is a fork mounted bike rack. Our skewers and gauge, so let's go ahead and take off our cover, just to show you.
Inno Roof Bike Racks Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5 ina389
Today, on our 2015 Mazda CX5, we're going to a test-fit of the Inno Tire Hold Roof Bike Rack. Part number is, INA389. Now we have a bike on our rack, and we have the rack hooked to our vehicle. I'm just going to show you a few features of it. Now, this is a wheel mounted bike rack. You see that we have both wheels on.
Inno Roof Bike Racks Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5 ina387
Today on our 2015 Mazda CX-5, we're going to do a test fit of the NO Slim-Fork roof-mounted bike carrier. The part number is INA387. We have a bike on our rack, and we have our rack hooked to our vehicle. I'd like to show you a few features of it. This is a fork-mounted bike rack. We're going to lift our cover here.
Swagman XTC4 Wheel Mount Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5
Today on our 2015 Mazda CX5 we'll be test fitting Swagman XTC4 Platform Style Hitch Mounted Bike Rack part number S64665. Begin our test fit by sliding the shank of the bike rack into the opening of the hitch. At the lining of the pin holes we'll slide in our anti-rattle bolt, tighten it down with a wrench and then secure it with a lock on the other side. With the bike rack secured we'll go over a few clearance measurements to see how the two fit together. We have about ten and a half inches of ground clearance and we have a bout one and a half inch distance between the closest part of the rack to the closest part of the vehicle when the platform is pushed up as far as it can go. We've added about nine and a half inches to the overall length of our Mazda. We can now remove the silver pin and clip at the base of the bike rack and tilt the platform on the rack down.
Yakima FrontLoader Roof Bike Rack Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5
Today on our 2015 Mazda CX-5 we'll be test fitting the Yakima FrontLoader roof-mounted bike rack, part number Y021013. With the Yakima Q-Towers roof-rack system installed on the roof of our Mazda, we'll begin our test fit by placing the bike rack up onto the vehicle's crossbars. Starting at the front, we'll need to position the front and back set of brackets around the front bar, and we'll turn the black T-handle which will bring the two brackets together securing the front part of the bike rack to the front crossbar. I'll move to the rear, position the rear bracket on the underside of the rear bar, and insert the silver T-bolt into the hole of the bracket and tighten down the black wing nut. Once everything is all tightened down and secured, we're ready to load up our bike. Starting at the front, we'll need to extend the front part of the wheel hook out, and at the back we'll undo the ratcheting strap. We'll pick up our bike and place it onto the bike rack, rolling it forward to allow the back part of the wheel hook to come up and rest on the back part of the front tire. We'll then tighten down the red knob to secure the front of the bike to the bike rack, and we'll secure the back tire with the ratcheting strap. With our bike loaded up that'll complete today's test fit of the Yakima FrontLoader, part number Y02103, on our 2015 Mazda CX-5.
Hollywood Racks Traveler Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5
Today on our 2015 Mazda CX5 we'll be test-fitting the Hollywood Racks Traveler hitch-mounted 4-bike rack, part number HR8500. We'll begin our test-fit by sliding the shank of the bike rack into the opening of the hitch. After lining up the pin holes we'll thread in our anti-rattle bolt and tighten it down using a wrench, finishing off by securing the clip on the other side. With the bike rack secured we'll go over a few clearance measurements to see how the two fit together. We have about 10 and a half inches of ground clearance. Closest part of the bike rack to the closest part of the vehicle is about 3 inches away and we have added about 10 inches to the overall length of our Mazda. We can now remove the black pin at the top of the mast and swing out our dual arms.
Thule Helium Aero Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5
Today on our 2015 Mazda CX5, well be test fitting the Thule Helium Aero Hitch Mounted Hanging Two Bike Rack, part number TH9042. Well begin our test fit by sliding the shank of the bike rack into the opening of the hitch. After lining up the pin holes, well allow the integrated hitch pin to fall into place and well turn the black knob to engage the anti-rattle device. If the bike rack secured, well go over a few clearance of measurements to see how the two fit together. We have about 14 inches of ground clearance. The closest part of the bike rack to the closest part of the vehicle is about 2-1/2 inches away.
Thule Big Mouth Roof Bike Rack Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5
Today on our 2015 Mazda CX5, we'll be test fitting the Thule Big Mouth roof-mounted bike rack, part number TH599XTR. With the Thule Traverse roof rack system installed on the roof of our CX5, we'll begin our test fit by placing the bike rack up onto the vehicle's load bars. Starting at the back, I'll need to remove one of the wing nuts so that I can position the bracket on the underside of the rear bar. I'll insert the bolt into the hole of the bracket, and reinstall the wingnut. I'll move to the front, position the two L brackets around the front and bottom side of the front bar. I'll insert the T bolt into the slots of the brackets, and then turn the black knobs to tighten them down. Once everything is all tightened and secured, we're ready to load up our bike. We'll need to undo the two cam bumper 00:00:44 straps at the front and back of the bike rack. We'll then pull back on the lever, which will open up the frame clamp.
Swagman Upright Roof Mounted Bike Rack Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5
Today on our 2015 Mazda CX5, well be test fitting the Swagman Upright Roof Mounted Bike Rack, part number S64720. With the Thule rapid traverse roof rack system on our roof, well begin our test fit by placing the bike rack up onto the vehicles crossbars. Here at the front, well take the silver U-bolts to go around the underside of the front bar up to the predrilled holes of the head of the bike rack. Well then take the black wing nuts to thread down onto the silver U-bolts. Once thats done, well move to the rear, where this time when will take the silver U-bolts to go down through the predrilled holes of the bike rack, well take the black plate and insert one into the U-bolt into the hole of the black plate and install our wing nut. Well flip the bracket around the underside of the bar, insert the other end of the U-bolt into the other hole of the plate and then install the wing nut. Once thats done and everything is all tightened up, were ready to go.
Swagman Titan Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5
Today on our 2015 Mazda CX5 we'll be test fitting the Swagman Titan Hitch Mounted Hanging 4-Bike Rack, part number S63410. We'll begin our test fit by sliding the shank of the bike rack into the opening of the hitch. After lining up the pin holes, we'll thread in our anti-rattle bolt and tighten it down using a wrench. With the bike rack secured we'll go over a few clearance measurements to see how the two fit together. We have about 13" of ground clearance. The closest part of the bike rack to the closest part of the vehicle is about 9" away and we have added about 22" to the overall length of our Mazda. We can lift up on the black lever at the top of the mast to swing out our cradle arms.
Swagman Fork Down Roof Bike Rack Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5
Today on our 2014 Mazda CX-5 were going to be test fitting the Swagman fork down, a fork mount rook bike rack, part number S64710. With our Thule Rapid Traverse roof rack system already installed on the Mazda well begin our test fit by placing our bike rack directly onto our load bars. Here at the front were going to bring one of the silver U bolts around the underside of our load bar, fit it up through the head of the carrier and turn on two wing nuts to hold it in place. Well then take a second U bolt and repeat that same process. We can now tighten down all four of the wing nuts located here at the front to secure the front of the rack to our vehicle.With the front secure well move to the rear. This time the U bolts going to go down through the rack and well make sure that we have a threaded portion coming out on both sides of our bar.
SportRack 3 Bike Rack Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5
Today on our 2015 Mazda CX5, we will be test fitting the Sport Rack hitch mounted hanging three bike rack part number SR2403. We'll begin our test fit by sliding the shank of the bike rack into the opening of the hitch. After lining up the pinholes we'll thread in our anti rattle bolt tightening it down with the wrench and then securing it with the clip on the other side. With the bike rack secured we'll go over a few clearance measurements to see how the two fit together. We have about eleven inches of ground clearance. Closest part of the bike rack to the closest part of the vehicle is about five inches away and we've added about twelve and a half inches to the overall length of our CX5. We can now remove the black pin at the top of the mast and swing the cradle arms out. With the cradle arms out we've added about thirty inches to the overall length of our Mazda. To access the cargo area we can remove the black pin and clip at the base of the bike rack and tilt the mast down.
Softride Dura Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5
Today on our 2015 Mazda CX5, we'll be test fitting the Soft Ride Dura-Parallelogram hitch mounted hanging four bike rack part number SR26247. We'll begin our test fit by sliding the shank of the bike rack into the opening of the hitch. After lining up the pin holes we'll thread in our anti rattle bolt, tighten it down using a wrench and then secure it with the lock. With the bike rack secured we'll go over a few clearance measurements to see how the two fit together. We have about ten and a half inches of ground clearance. Closest part of the bike rack to the closest part of the vehicle is about four inches away and we've added about thirty four inches to the overall length of our Mazda CX5. Cool feature of this rack is that the arms have the ability to be removed by sliding back on the black levers in the back of the mast. With the arms removed we have reduced the added length to the vehicle to about twelve inches. To load up a bike, we'll need to replace the arms. With the arms locked in place, we'll then undo the rubber cradle straps, place our bike into the frame cradles and the secure it with the rubber straps.
Saris Porter 4 Bike Rack Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5
Today on our 2015 Mazda CX5, well be test fitting the Saris Bike Porter Hitch Mounted Hanging Four Bike Rack, part number SA404B. Well begin our test fit by sliding the shank of the bike rack into the opening of the hitch. After lining up the pin holes, well thread in our anti-rattle bolt, tighten it down using a wrench and secure it with the clip on the other side. If the bike rack secured, well go over a few clearance of measurements to see how the two fit together. We have about 10-1/2 inches of ground clearance. The closest part of the bike rack to the closest part of the vehicle is about 8 inches away.
Rhino-Rack 4 Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5
Today on our 2015 Mazda CX5, well be test fitting the Rhino Rack Hitch Mounted Hanging Four Bike Rack, part number RBC038. Well begin our test fit by sliding the shank of the bike rack into the opening of the hitch. After lining up the pin holes, well thread in our anti-rattle bolt, tighten it down using a wrench and secure it with the lock. If the bike rack secured, well go over a few clearance of measurements to see how the two fit together. We have about 12 inches of ground clearance. The closest part of the bike rack to the closest part of the vehicle is about 3-1/2 inches away.
Kuat TRIO Roof Bike Rack Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5
Today on our 2015 Mazda CX5, were going to be test fitting the Kuat Trio, a fork mount roof bike rack, part number RU01. With our Thule rapid traverse roof rack system already installed on the Mazda, well begin our test fit by placing the bike rack directly onto our crossbars. Here at the front, were going to bring one of the black rubber coated metal U-bolts around the underside of our crossbar. Fit it up through the head of the carrier and thread on two of the cylinder nuts. Well then repeat that same process for the second U-bolt here at the front. Then take our included Allen tool and tighten all four of those cylinder nuts down.
Hollywood Racks Traveler Tow n Go Bike Rack Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5
Today on our 2015 Mazda CX5, we'll be test fitting the Hollywood Racks Traveler Tow N Go hitch mounted hanging three bike rack part number HR135. This bike rack allows you to carry three bikes while towing a small boat or trailer. For today's test fit we'll be using the draw type ball mount with an extra long shank part number 80232. We'll begin our test fit by sliding the shank of the ball mount into the opening of the hitch. After lining up the pin holes, we'll then secure it with the standard five inch hitch pin and clip. Keep in mind the ball mount, hitch ball and pin and clip are sold separately. Now you'll notice that after securing it, there is some wiggle within the hitch. You can purchase an anti rattle device found right here at etrailer.com.
Hollywood Racks Traveler 5 Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5
Today on our 2015 Mazda CX-5, we'll be test fitting the Hollywood Racks Traveler Hitch Mounted Hanging 5 Bike Rack, part number HR9200.We begin our test fit by sliding the shank of the bike rack into the opening of the hitch. After lining up the pin holes, we'll thread in our anti-rattle bolt; tighten it down using a wrench, and then secure it with a clip on the other side.With the bike rack secured, we'll go over a few clearance measurements to see how the two fit together. We have about 10-1/2 inches of ground clearance. The closest part of the bike rack to the closest part of the vehicle is about 9 inches away, and we've added about 19 inches to the overall length of our Mazda.We can now loosen up the black knobs in the upper left and right hand corner of the mast, which allows us to pull the cradle arms out and swing them upward. With the cradle arm secured in place, we'll go ahead and get a measurement from the back of the car to the end of the arms; and we'll get a measurement of about 41 inches.To access the cargo area, we'll remove the black pin and clip at the base of the bike rack and tilt the mast of the rack down. As you can see, we can easily gain access to the rear hatch.To load up a bike, we'll need to make sure that the mast of the rack is in its upright position.
SportRack Super EZ Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5
Today on our 2015 Mazda CX-5, we are going to be test fitting the SportRack Super EZ. This is a platform style 2 bike rack for both 1-1/4 and 2 inch hitches, part number SR2901LR. To begin our test fit, we are going to slide the shank of the rack into the receiver tube of our hitch. As we do this, we want to look through the hole to see when our pinholes line up. With our holes lined up, we will take our anti-rattle bolt and thread it in and then use our wrench to tighten it down. With our bolt tight, I am going to take the provided lock and put them on to secure it. With our rack in this position, we are going to have about 13-1/2 inches worth of ground clearance.
Yakima StickUp 2 Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5
Today on our 2015 Mazda CX-5, we're going to be test fitting the Yakima StickUp. This is a platform-style, tilting 2-bike rack with both 1-1/4-inch and 2-inch hitches, part number Y02420. Now to begin our test fit, we'll slide the shank of the bike rack into the receiver tube of our hitch. As we do this, we'll want to keep an eye through the window there to see when our pin holes get lined up. With the holes lined up, we're going to take our anti-rattle bolt, thread it through, and then we'll tighten it down with our wrench. With that tight, we'll take the provided lock, clip it on the side here to secure it. In this position, our rack is going to offer us about 11-1/2 inches worth of ground clearance. The closest point of the rack to the back of the vehicle will be here, and you can see that's about 3-1/2 inches there. Overall, we've added about 13 inches to our total length. Pulling the red knob located here on the left side will allow us to tilt the rack away from our vehicle into its platform position.
Thule Vertex 4 Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5
Today on our 2015 Mazda CX-5, we're going to be test fitting the Thule Vertex. This is a folding and titling 4-bike rack for both 1-1/4 and 2 inch hitches, part number TH9029. To begin our test fit, we'll slide the shank of the bike rack into the receiver tube of our hitch. We'll look through the window. It will help us determine whether we have our pin holes lined up. Here we go. We're then going to take our anti-rattle bolt and thread it in.
Thule Hitching Post Pro Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2015 Mazda CX-5
Today on our 2015 Mazda CX-5, we're going to be test fitting the Thule Hitching Post Pro. This is a folding and tilting 4 bike rack for both 1-1/4" and 2" hitches, part number TH934XTR. To begin our test fit, we're going to slide the shank of the bike rack into the receiver tube of our hitch. As we do this, we want to look through the window there and see when we have our pin holes lined up. With those lined up, we're going to thread in our anti-rattle bolt, then we'll tighten it down with our wrench. With that nice and secure, let's go over a couple measurements. Looks like we're going to have about 10-1/2" worth of ground clearance. Closest point of the rack to the back of our vehicle is right here, and that's about 7-1/2".
What our customers are saying:
"great experience!!! I've been looking for a hitch. With the experience I just had with the bike rack, I;kk definitely come back and order the hitch when I have a little more $$$. delivery was quick! the product was awesome!!! Frank"