# 1
Thule Hitching Post Pro Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches
Works wonderful! Shipped quickly and prompt.
This is a very strong and secure Bike Rack. But the modeled rubber saddles are too big and the kid's smaller frame bikes will not fill over them. I ended up cutting off the lower attaching posts on each of the 8 saddles to get the bike frames over the saddles. Smaller saddles would make it easier to load and unload the bikes.
# 2
Swagman XC2 Bike Rack for 2 bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
This bike rack has exceptional design! It's very stable and easy to use. We would highly recommend this!
Bought this to carry two mountain bikes on the back of my XV Crosstrek. The unit is simple to install, and very sturdy once installed. Had a few small challenges during installation. Some of the nut plates internal to the square tube were not well aligned with the holes, so needed a small rubber mallet and screwdriver to knock the nut plates into alignment so bolts could be threaded in. Also, when first mounting the bicycles, found I had the vertical locking bars incorrectly installed. It is important to put the locking bar with the lock arm on below (install first), and the shorter arm locking arm above for most installations where the two bikes are approximately the same size.
# 3
Swagman XTC2 Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
After ordering I contacted the company to determine when product would be shipped. Staff were friendly and helpful. The rack shipped quick and was easy to install. I would highly recommend etrailer.
Works great! Easy to set up and get on the road.
# 4
Kuat Beta Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Tilting
Really happy with how quickly it arrived. Very easy to install and get my bike on right away.
Solid rack. Straps do a nice job keeping both bikes in place. I use additional bungee cords to leave no doubt. This is a great bike rack and I do recommend it even without the use of additional straps. Fits great into the hitch and the tightener works amazing.
# 5
Swagman Chinook Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
First off I got tired of putting my bike in the back end of my 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek! So, birthday present to myself. I bought the Curt 1 1/4" class 1 receiver hitch from Etrailer of course (posted install). Then I ordered the Swagman Chinook platform bike carrier! Best bike rack purchase ever! I did a lot of online comparisons, always been a Thule fan? But hands down the Swagman Chinook was the best bang for the buck @ $$$ and change from Etrailer! It took me @ 15 minutes to put together straight out of the box, and waited til yesterday to put it on my car. As you can see from photos attached it works awsome! Now it's going to be a lot easier to travel to the BMX races!
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.
# 6
Yakima FullSwing Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Swing Away
Installation today was pretty straight forward. We had no problems. It may require two people to install the bike rack onto the hitch because it is pretty heavy. But, as a 41 yo woman I was able to attach the bike rack to the hitch by myself. We haven't used it yet to transport our bikes, but I imagine that will be seamless too.
I bought this hitch carrier to bring 4 bikes on a 1200 mile round trip for a 2 week vacation. I used to spend more to rent bikes than the cost of the hitch. I purchased this during a Labor Day sale last year thinking if I used it once it would pay for itself. I spent the xtra $$ on the swing feature and am glad I did as it allowed me to load bikes whenever I needed and get to the rear of our SUV at any time. Works flawlessly! I have a THULE roof carrier (love it) but when I went to Dicks to check out the THULE ‘s securing rubber ties, I realized they were pretty hard to secure whereas the Yakima zip ties are easy. Hitch lock was easy and built in bike lock made made everything secure. Would buy again, recommend to anyone!
# 7
SportRack Ridge Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Swing Away
Solid rack for half the price of the name brands. Don’t waste your money! Thanks to the extensive reviews on etrailer and a free shipping promotion I took a chance and ordered this along with the three of their crossbars, anti rattle hitch pin and cable lock. All for well less than the name brand rack alone. Shipping was painful. Etrailer said it was in stock but then due to a delay with the manufacturer it took 35 days from order to arrival. I wasn’t in a hurry so I waited patiently, and etrailer reps emailed often to lmk they hadn’t forgotten. I thought some kind of reward for my extreme patience was in order- discount, gift card, free bag of chips- but they politely declined. Oh well. In the end it arrived when they (eventually) said it would, all in one box, in great shape. The rack was super easy to assemble. You’ll need a ratchet or two and you’ll need to crank those bolts to assemble- they don’t just “insert.” But otherwise it’s only a few steps; I had mine hanging on my truck in probably 15 minutes. Swings away and locks smoothly and requires no effort to do so. Everything feels quite sturdy and well made. No rattle on initial test drive either. This will be a once in a while rack at best for our family of four. We have two SUVs so I needed a rack that could get out of the way of the rear hatch WITH bikes on it. This will do that. And now I don’t need to stuff four dirty bikes into the back of my truck, getting them all tangled and scratched!
2017 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and 2017 Toyota Tacoma - Having heavily researched this and other products for a 4 bike rack for our Rubicon and Tacoma, I decided on the SR2415. The Rubicon was the concern with finding a rack that would work for both vehicles. We have an after market Class III hitch on the Rubicon that is almost flush with the rear bumper (protrudes about 1" or less). This rack came very close to touching the tire at the top when the Bike Holder Bar is in the stored position (about 1/2" of clearance). We have BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM LT255-75-R17. Purchased a Locking Hitch pin with this, but the rack comes with a threaded ping and the racks pin hole is also threaded on the right side. Was not able to use the locking bolt but the bolt that came with it holds it very tight. Only concern it being stolen. The Tacoma wasn't a concern but having the swing feature is extremely helpful for needing to access the bed/tailgate.Swings out and away from the Jeep with a little more effort than expected. Overall we are very happy and excited to start using this and will report back any updates. Hitch: Smittybilt JH45 Receiver Hitch Read Tire: BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM LT255-75-R17 Vehicles: 2017 Jeep Rubicon and 2017 Toyota Tacoma Dimensions: Tire to Closest Part to Rack: ~1/2in or less (Top of Rack when folded down - Folded out for use is 3-4 inches) Next Closest Point of Contact: Hand Tightening Bolt is 1-2 in from the tire, makes it a little difficult to tighten.
# 8
Yakima HoldUp Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount
Excellent heavy duty (for an e-bike and traditional bikes) and HEAVY rack. Thank goodness you can install it in two pieces. It works great!! I love it.
Stop "researching" now. Just buy this. You'll be happy. Strong and sturdy. Easy to put together. FAST delivery. All as advertised!
# 9
Yakima HoldUp Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount
Our Yakima rack arrived very quickly, actually faster than we could get a hitch installed on our van. Assembly was very easy, only one place where the instructions were incorrect - told us to insert the pin on the right side of the hitch when it needed to be inserted on the left. Mounting our bikes with step-thru frames (the reason we selected this particular rack) took just a few minutes, took for a test drive and they were very stable. Very happy with our choice of racks and grateful for all the information provided on the etrailer.com website that led us to this choice.
Extremely well made hitch rack. Fantastic service from etrailer.com
# 10
Rola Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Tilting
Decent 4-bike rack for the price. Stable side-to-side with the screw-in hitch pin (2 inch receiver version). Gets some fore-aft rocking over bumps at speed (inherent to the tilting design). Bikes need bungee cords to keep them from swinging (typical for this style of rack). I used this with two bikes, and really struggle to see how four full-size bikes could be added. Maybe if seats were removed? I added bumpers and some padding for the vertical post, and will probably relocate the retainer pin lanyard so the rack can be completely collapsed for storage. A few design improvements for 5 star rating would be: 1 - Add some bumpers for the fully lowered position, 2 -Add some padding on the vertical post for bike contact or accidental vehicle hatch lifting when in the raised position, 3 - Mount the retainer pin lanyard to one of the through-bolts or move the lanyard hole - collapsing this rack chews up the retaining lanyard. etrailer.com service was great - well packaged, and quickly shipped!
Excellent service and fast shipping by etrailer. Bike rack itself was easy to put together and install. It came in with a few scratches. It works well with large bikes. Slight problems started with the smaller bikes. The rack's arms are wide enough to accommodate the bikes, but the slides are not designed for smaller frames. If you have smaller bikes you might have to purchase the bike frame adapter bar for each bike. It's not a huge problem for us since the kids are growing up fast and soon they will have to graduate to the large frame bikes. In the mean time I will have to use extra straps to hold them together.
# 11
Saris Freedom Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Frame Mount - Tilting
Great rack. I got a used unit from etrailer that was in like-new condition except for the packaging. It’s heavy-ish but manageable. The only issue is that the hitch tite insert will slide into the rack if you don’t keep it level when lifting into the hitch receiver. I’m using the freedom 4 on my Lexus GX 460, which has a swing out lift gate. Access is minimal with the rack level and the bike in place. It opens about 75% of the way with the bike removed and the rack level. I haven’t actually need to use the tilt function, but it’s nice to have in case need full access is ever needed.
WOW WOW WOW That is what I just kept saying after installing this Saris bike rack. I have been looking for a bike rack for almost 3-4 months now. Thule and Yakima didn't have what I was looking for. Their solution for a 4-5 bike rack is too complicated, not efficient, and it would be a nightmare to manage on a regular basis. So I couldn't get myself to pull a trigger on any of those and I kept searching. Finally, I came to eTrailer and found out about Saris. That is where the love starts :) We are a family of 5 (3 kids and 2 grown-ups). I needed something that will help me load bikes fast, unload them and still be able to have access to the back of my Toyota Sequoia. Saris delivered in every way. Assemble of the item is straight forward. Instructions are clear and to the point. They even give you a yellow strip that helps you mark where the hitch needs to be in order to align hole openings for easier installation after you install it the first time ;) The back-up camera is still usable but not 100%. Tilting down the rack with the bikes on it is simple as 1-2-3. There is plenty of room left between the trunk door and the bike as you can see on the pictures. One HUGE benefit is that you do not need any extra parts for kids bikes. Not like with other brands. Saris delivers tremendously on this part too. No shaking, rattling, or anything that would make you notice that you have this amazing product on the back of your SUV/truck. I can't recommend it more. I am just surprised that this product has not been more advertised and represented compared to other products.
# 12
Curt 2 Bike Platform Rack - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount - Tilting
I haven't taken this down the road yet, but it appears to be well thought out and made. It went together easyily and the instructions were easy to follow. It had a nice tight fit in the receiver. The only complaint I have is that the piece that slides into the receiver was a little too long for mine. (About 1/4 inch) I have a drawtite model 24886. I had to put a notch in the bottom of the piece that slides into the receiver because there is a spot weld inside my receiver that it hits, otherwise and the bolt hole would not line up. Other than that, so far I am happy with it.
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.
Is the Saris Freedom Bike Rack for 2 Fat Bikes Compatible with the 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek?
Today on our 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek we'll be doing a test fit on the Saris Freedom platform-style 2-bike rack for fat bikes. That's going to be part number SA4412B-FB. We've already got it loaded up on our Subaru just to give you a good idea of what it looks like and how it's going to secure our bikes. It actually secures our bikes in three spots. We have a wheel strap going over our front wheel cradle there attaching into itself. Same thing for the rear.
Will the Saris Freedom Bike Rack for 2 Bikes Fit Your 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek?
Today on our 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek we'll be doing a test fit on the Saris Freedom platform-style 2-bike rack. That's part number SA4412B. I've already got it loaded up on the Crosstrek just to give you a good idea of what it looks like and how it's going to secure our bikes. It actually secures our bikes in three spots. We have wheel straps for the front cradle and the back cradle here. We have, for our down tube, a cradle going over that and keeping our bike in place.
Kuat Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek
Today on our 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek. We'll be doing a test fit on the Kuat Transfer 2-bike rack and 3-bike rack. That's part number TS02G for the 2-bike rack, and part number TS03G for the 3-bike rack. Now the only difference between the 2-bike rack and the 3-bike rack is of course the extra cradles and about 10". Just keep that in mind when making your selection. I've already got it loaded up on the Subaru just to give you a good idea of what it looks like and how it secures our bikes. It actually secures our bikes in two spots.
Kuat Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek TS03B
Today on our 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek we'll be doing a test fit on the Kuat Transfer 3-bike rack. That's part number TS03G. Now I've already got it loaded up just to give you a good idea of what it looks like and how it's going to hold our bikes. It actually secures our bike in two spots. We have this large wheel hook going over our front wheel in front of our brakes, or our fork, whatever comes first, putting down pressure into our front wheel cradle. Then in the back we just have a wheel strap going over and back into itself, and ratcheting down and keeping that in place. One of the greatest features about this bike rack is it has the ability to tilt away so we can gain better access to our rear hatch.
Kuat Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek TS03B-FB
Today on our 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek we'll be doing a test fit on the Kuat Transfer 3-bike rack for fat bikes. That's part number TS03G-FB. Now it's also available in a 2-bike rack version for fat bikes; that's part number TS02G-FB. I've already got it loaded up on the XV Crosstrek just to give you a good idea of what it looks like and how it's going to secure our fat bikes. It actually secures our fat bikes in three spots. We have this large wheel hook going over our front wheel, putting down pressure into our wheel cradle here.
Fit Verified: Swagman XC2 Bike Rack for 2 bikes on a 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek
Today on our 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek we've got the Swagman XC2 out. We're going to test fit it and see how it fits on the back of the vehicle here. Now this is a 2-bike platform-style rack. It's been designed so you can use it with 1-1/4" or with 2" hitches. Part number on it is S64650. Now this is going to use three points of contact to hold our bike in place, our three areas. We've got our front wheel cradle and our rear wheel cradle.
Thule Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek
Today on our 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek we're test fitting the Thule Vertex Swing. This is a hanging-style 4-bike rack designed to swing away from your vehicle even when you have your bikes loaded up. Part number on it is TH9031XT. Now one of the new things about the 9031XT is going to be an integrated cable lock. Fits right down in the mast. It's going to come back over our bikes and secures into the back of the arm here using one of the Thule One Key style tumblers.
Fit Verified: SportRack Ridge Bike Rack for 4 Bikes on a 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek
Today on our 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek, we've got the Sportrack ridge swing that we're going to test fit for you. This is a swing-away 4 bike rack. It's been designed for use in two-inch hitches. Part number is SR2415. Now, first things first, the swing-away feature is very easy to operate. We've got the black lever here, sorry, not a black lever but a black T-handle bolt. You're going to un-thread that. And lift up on our black T-handle and let that come open just slightly. We'll then we lift the T-handle pin under the first fold there and move it to our second, then begin to swing it on out.
Thule Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek TH9029XT
Today on our 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek, we're test fitting the Thule Vertex. This is the fold-away, tilting 4-bike rack. It's been designed for with 1 1/4 or with 2 inch hitches. Part number on it is TH9029XT. There is a neat integrated cable lock here coming right out of the mast, hooks into the back of one of dual cradle arms. Uses the Thule one-key lock system so you can switch that out if you want to for a tumbler you already have or you can start to match that. We've got three cradles that are going to hold our bike in position on this rack.
Fit Verified: Saris Freedom Bike Rack for 4 Bikes on a 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek
Today on our 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek we're doing a test fit on the Saris Freedom. This is a platform-style 4-bike rack. It's been designed for use in 2" hitches. Part number on it is SA4414B. Really neat thing about the Freedom to start off with is that if we pull the clip and pin located right down here at the bottom and then push the gray handle here on the back, that rack is going to tilt right out and away from our vehicle even if we had the four bikes loaded. It goes down further than a lot of the ones that we have and it allows really good access.
Swagman Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek S64684
Today on our 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek we're test fitting the Swagman Dispatch. This is an RV-approved platform-style 2-bike rack. It's been designed for use in 2" hitches. Part number on it is S64684. Now the Dispatch does a great job of holding our bike in place. It's really very, very solid and also a very quiet rack to have behind your vehicle.
What our customers are saying:
"I ordered a bike rack for my trailer hitch. It is a great product, very reasonably priced on April 10th. I installed it on my car on the 14th in time for the weekend. How can you go wrong?"