# 1
Softride Shuttle Pad Tailgate Pad for Mid-Size Trucks - Up to 6 Bikes - 54" Wide
Order process was easy & information was great. The order processed quickly & came on time. It looks & works greats. It was easy to put on & took only a few minutes to install. I have 2 expensive bikes & one is an extra large frame. It fits great. The only thing I had to add when transporting was a strap around the tires on my tailgate as a precaution & to prevent any movement. It would be fine without it & the product works exactly as I expected. I put in on a 2000 Toyota Tundra. Very Happy! Exactly what I have been looking for & the price was just right. Thank You!!!
Received this tailgate cover very promptly, two days ahead of scheduled delivery date, and just in time to use yesterday. Cover was dry easy to install ( no directions required) and fit my tailgate well. I particularly liked the included Velcro tie downs and access pocket, which allows you to utilize your tailgate release. As you can see from the attached photo, it easily accommodated 4 additional bikes w/ front wheels still attached, and allowed me to transport 7 total bikes of varying design. Our 4 hr drive showed no indication of movement and the cover stayed in place securely. Great product!
# 2
Swagman Truck Bed Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - Fork Mount - 9-mm Skewer
I used 2 inch square tubing cut the length of the tie down support bracket in my 2007 Honda Ridgeline and secured with a stainless bolt and wing nut, use a large enough washer to cover the diameter of the supply hole in the Honda Ridgeline bracket on the truck. A couple of notes: Be sure to use something as a cushioning gasket to insure a snug fit and to protect your truck lining. I used rubber or foam exercise mat cut to the same as the aluminum square tubing. Use a washer that a combination of hard plastic and metal to avoid the corrosive effects of dissimilar metals in contact with each other. last: My 26" full suspension bike fits, but I have swing it to one side slightly before i close the tailgate and lift the bike up and slide it down....It's a very snug fit but the suspension adds pressure to the tailgate and its works out very well. Or you could just use a tailgate extender.
Referring to special mounting instructions if you have a bed liner: (line #3). I do not have a bed liner, but I do have a molded plastic cap on my bed rails ('04 Ford F350). The first install over the plastic cap the locking pin or pin as called out in line #3 was nowhere near making contact with the metal lip of the metal bed under the plastic. What I did next on the second and final install was remove/cut away the plastic on the inside of the bed rail to allow the vertical portion of the "L" mounting bracket (Fig 4) to contact the metal bed. The locking pin is now at a position almost where it would protrude under the metal bed lip if I would remove the rest of the plastic under the horizontal portion of the "L" mounting bracket, I did not do that. After cutting a notch in the metal rail to accept the pin, the pin barely flushes out to secure the rack. A 1/4" longer pin would take care of this problem. One other thing that was not addressed in the install instructions was if you have a full size pick-up bed you are likely to attach the passenger side fork mount (Fig 2) to the right of the extension tube locking mechanism. The extension tube is a smaller diameter, so you will have resize the fork tube clamp (Fig 1) for the smaller tube. I can't explain how to do it other than it's a Chinese puzzle.
# 3
Thule GateMate Pro Tailgate Pad for Full-Size Trucks - Up to 7 Bikes - 53" Wide
Very sturdy and well made. Great for a barrier between bikes and tailgate so it is not scratched. The camera flap is a plus so the rear view camera is accessible. No issues a year after purchase. Fits a 2014 Chevy Silverado 1500 and 2022 RAM 2500 equally well.
It has 7 different areas to strap bicycles down but there is definitely not room to strap 7 bikes down from what I can tell. The straps were a little tricky to feed under the tailgate and pull up at the same time with only one person. Overall it works pretty well but it appears to only have enough room for 4 MTN bikes.
# 4
Hollywood Racks Truck Bed Bike Carrier - Fork Mount - Bolt On
The Hollywood Racks Truck Bed Bike Carrier - Fork Mount - Bolt On, is just what I was looking for to be able to build a bike rack for carrying one of my bikes on my motorcycle. It was easy to mount and it holds my bike in place while riding on bumpy dirt roads, city streets, highways and even when I hit some twisty country roads. It's really easy to load and unload my bike when I get to where I want to ride. I use a velcro strap around the quick-release and the fork arm as an added safety as well as a couple tie-downs from my bike handlebars to my motorcycle passenger pegs to help distribute the weight on my rack. If you want to build your own DIY bike rack I totally recommend the Hollywood Racks Truck Bed Bike Carrier - Fork Mount - Bolt On.
Love this product! I built a great bike carrying system for my F-150 using two of these fork clamps. They are easy to install and extremely well made. No more tangled bikes and lots more room in the bed for other stuff! Best way to go for a nice bike rack system. Thanks, Phil T.
# 5
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.
Hitch pin broke before I got it. Looks like a poor design for the locking pin, they might want to consider a different design. I got a 3/8 shear pin from Home Depot to replace and it works great. Bike rack is great!
# 6
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.
# 7
Kuat Beta Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Trailer 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.
# 8
Swagman Patrol Truck Bed Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - Fork Mount - 9-mm Skewer and 15-mm Thru-Axle
rack tends to work itself loose from bed walls during long trips. had to strap down with ratchet straps to keep from moving. locks only work at a specific angle -- wish the manual had said this because we couldn't lock our bikes until figuring it out.
Excellent Customer service and help for this product. Thank you Carol and Neil your the best.
# 9
Thule EasyFold XT Bike Rack for 2 Electric Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
This rack is perfect! eTrailer had it shipped and at my home in almost no time. I drove with it on the car today, and it was solid and secure. It's super easy to get on and off the hitch. I'm 5'1 and I was able to load the bike on with the ramp without a struggle. Thanks for the thorough video and comparison information. It made this purchase easy.
I purchased the rack and receiver hitch a year ago. Installation of the rack was made simple with the installation video that was specific to my vehicle (2020 Honda Accord). Literally took less than an hour start to finish. Only tool that I needed to buy was a torque wrench, which was about 20 bucks. It did require a very small cut in the plastic bumper that was accomplished easily with a keyhole saw. There was no drilling or other significant issues. The rack itself is awesome! My wife and I have two Lectric XP3 bikes. They weigh about 65 pounds each with battery. When we travel I revome the batteries to save a bit of weight. I have made two cross country trips (over 6000 miles) with this rack and have never had an issue. Literally every gas stop or hotel stop someone asks me about the rack and bikes. It really is that nice. My wife usually scolds me because we lose a 1/2 hour of travel time each stop to visit with complete strangers:) The rack is easy to install and remove on the receiver hitch. The lockout feature works great and gives a great deal of peace of mind. The bikes are easy to load. I don't use it, but there is a ramp that could make loading the bikes easier if a person couldn't lift the bike onto the rack. There are two arms the lock onto the frame of the bikes similar to the receiver hitch. Once locked down the bikes will not move. I would recommend ordering the longer ratchet staps if you have fat tires. I think they cost around 20 bucks but the longer straps allow for a little more flexibility in arranging bikes on the rack. I would strongly recommend this product and this company.
# 10
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.
# 11
SportRack Ridge Swing 4 Bike Rack - 2" Hitches - Swinging
Unit doesn't fit a Jeep Rubicon with a spare tire. I tried 4 times and contacted etrailer.com that the unit doesn't work as sold and they offered to sell me a 7 3/4 extension and reduce the load capacity 50%. The length of the 2" hitch needs to be 3" longer for a standard Rubicon to get past the spare. You not going to want to take your spare tire off for the hitch to work. It defeats the purpose. Customer service was excellent, however the product is a flawed design. Can't recommend this hitch. Its also heavy.
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!
# 12
Yakima HoldUp Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount
Been a Yakima user for some time. Last bike rack was the Doubledown 4. Great rack but with the newer bike frames having top bars in different shapes and sizes, putting bikes on the Doubledown was a challenge. Had to go to a platform rack. Holdup was the fit. Carries 2 kids bikes without issues as well as my 29” and 27.5”. It is big and heavy but is solid and stable. Just makes it so much easier to carry 4 bikes. Just did a 500 mile round trip drive with them and no issues. Built in security cables is a nice feature. I did change out the two SKS cores to match up with the others. I’ll need to replace the stabilizer pin’s holder. It’s make out of plastic and broke right when I pulled out the pin so the cable is just hanging now. If I had to do it again, I’d buy it again. etrailer has quick shipping and great customer service.
The bike rack works extremely well and fairly easy to get two adult bikes and two kids bike. The rack can be a bit heavy if lifting all in one piece. I would recommend installing the base, then the add on. Bikes are stable and secured. The locking cable is just long enough to go throught the frame, but don't expect both tires to be locked. The only issue I had is the stablizer bold for the add on did not fit through the base rack. I called supprot and I am going to make the hole slightly larger so it will fit. Support was very knowledge and had heard of one other issue like mine so they noted my account. etrailer is great in customer support and deliver.
# 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
Kuat NV 2.0 Base Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount - Matte Black
I've taken this rack all over New England on the front of my Dodge Ram 3500 pick up truck with a truck camper. I had no idea it was possible to love a bike rack so much. After one drive I didn't ever worry about it again. So nice that it locks up when I am camping or taking a quick stop for food on the road. So glad I bought it from etrailer. They totally help me pick the perfect rack for my challenging set up.
Still very new, but what an awesome bike rack! Assembly was a snap and the rack is rock-solid when you secure it to the hitch receiver. etrailer was amazing too - excellent communication, price and fast, free delivery. Overall I am extremely happy with the rack and service!
# 15
RockyMounts HotRod Truck Bed Bike Carrier - Thru-Axle Mount - Bolt On - Black
This is not the first bolt-on 12mm thru-axle fork mount I've attempted to use, but it IS the only one I've ever actually been able to use properly. I'm always please with RockyMounts quality and this is no different!
This is my second RockyMounts Thru-Axle Mount. Attached easily to the old rack in the bed of my pickup. The bicycle's thru-axle fits snugly, making transport safe and secure.
# 16
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.
# 17
Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE Bike Rack for 2 Electric Bikes - 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
This bike rack works great for our 2 Lectric 2.0 e-bikes. We mount it on our 2019 Honda Ridgeline. It folds up nicely when it’s on the truck and we are using our bikes. The locking mechanisms work well also. I contacted support for a smaller hook arm to clamp B over the bike frame. They knew exactly what I needed and shipped it - no problem.
I've been using this bike rack alongside a trailer hitch I got here for my small car (chevy bolt ev) and it was exactly what I was looking to get to haul around my fat tire mountain bike bike. Sometimes I throw two bikes on there (either an e-bike, slightly heavier at 60 lbs, or a 2nd mountain bike) and it's perfect.
# 18
Kuat Sherpa 2.0 Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount - Gray
So after much research into bike racks, I decided on pulling the plug on the Kuat Sherpa 2.0. I've looked into the Kuat NV and other brands, but they were just too much for my needs. If you've got "regular" bikes and not the heavier eBikes, then this rack is perfect. I wanted a hitch rack that was user friendly and not overly complicated. I have a mixed bag of bikes and this rack can handle them all, from mountain bikes, street bikes, and BMX bikes. I like that this rack comes with an adapter piece for 20"-24" wheels. Assembly of the Kuat Sherpa 2.0 is really a no-brainer. I think it's only 4-5 bolts really. Everything else is ready to go. The anti-rattle hitch ball mechanism is simple to use with just a twist of the dial, easy. The tilt pedal/lever is also easy to access should you need to open your hatch, a solid "click" assures it's in place. So far, loving this rack. Fit and finish is superb. Thanks to Jerred and etrailer for answering my questions, always helpful.
OMG!! I have been researching and pricing bike racks for a month. Every time I thought I was ready to pull the trigger, I have a question or review that through me off the trail. I was ready to purchase the rack from outdoor retail store and drive 2 hours to pick it up from store to save the $75 shipping, when I thought about etrailer that I had used when I had a travel trailer. Checked them out, they had the exact rack I decided to buy, with $[XX] discount and free shipping. Life doesn’t get any better. It was delivered right on time and in great shape. BTW etrailers website description and videos were better than the racks manufacturer site. You are Rock Stars in my book. Overall, start to finish was above and beyond expectations.
# 19
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!
# 20
Kuat Dirtbag Bike Rack - Fork Mount - Bolt On - 15 mm Thru-Axle Skewer
Cheap alternative compared to having to buy a 9mm thru axle mount for the utili-track in my Nissan Frontier AND THEN having to buy an adapter for that! For under $10 I bought some parts from a local hardware store and made this mount fit the track. It's sturdy, and high quality.
Disappointed. The Kuat Dirtbag works, and feels relatively solid once installed, but is about 2-3 mm shorter than my hub. That means while loading and unloading the fork doesn't sit nicely on the rack and inserting/removing the thru-axle can be quite challenging. I'd heard great things about Kuat's products, and all I can say is I'm glad this one isn't as overpriced as the rest of their lineup.
Curt Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2019 Honda Ridgeline
Hi everyone, it's Evangeline here at etrailer, and today we'll be taking a look at the CURT premium hanging-style bike rack, right here on our 2019 Honda Ridgeline. So the CURT premium bike rack is great if you want something that's affordable, it can carry a lot of bikes and has the unique feature to make it easier to carry those bikes of different shapes and sizes like your children's bikes or your women's bikes. So we'll talk about that later in this video, but we are gonna focus on our Honda Ridgeline here today. That way you can see how it works with the truck, and then make the best fit for you, your different types of bikes, and your vehicle. So this has a weight capacity of 180 pounds for the four-bike version and 225 pounds for the five-bike version. So this uses three straps to hold your bike down to the cradles.
Yakima GateKeeper Tailgate Pad Review - 2019 Honda Ridgeline
Hi, everyone. It's Evangeline here at etrailer. And today, we'll be taking a look at the Yakima GateKeeper for your midsize trucks right here on our 2019 Honda Ridgeline. You do have different color options for the Yakima GateKeeper. What I have here is the GateKeeper in blue. So, we're gonna focus today on how this works on our Ridgeline.
Hollywood Racks Destination E Bike Rack Review - 2019 Honda Ridgeline
Hi everyone. It's Evangeline here at etrailer. And today we'll be taking a look at the Hollywood Racks Destination E two bike platform rack for extra heavy electric bikes. Right here on our 2019 Honda Ridgeline. So the Hollywood Racks Destination E is actually a pretty impressive bike rack. We have a lot of weight capacity for those extra heavy bikes.
Yakima Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2019 Honda Ridgeline
Hi everyone, it's Evangeline here at etrailer, and today we'll be taking a look at the Yakima StageTwo 2 Bike Platform Rack right here on our 2019 Honda Ridgeline. So the Yakima StageTwo is a great all-around bike rack. You can expand this so you can carry more bikes, you have integrated locks, you have really cool clamps that go around your wheels and your front wheel. So we'll talk about those features, but we are gonna focus on our Honda Ridgeline here today that way we can see how it works for the truck and what makes for a better fit for you, your different types of bikes, and your vehicle. Now, the very first feature we'll take a look at is the tilt-away feature. We have this handle here, I recommend using both hands in order to pull that lever as we lift up on the rack.
Hollywood Racks Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2019 Honda Ridgeline
Hey guys, today we have a 2019 Honda Ridgeline and we're going to do a test of the Hollywood Racks Destination 4 Bike Platform Rack. Now, this platform rack is going to mount to your 2 inch by 2 inch receiver on your Ridgeline. It's going to be able to carry up to 4 bikes to and from the trails, or wherever else you want to take them.Now, hold your bike in 3 different points. We're going to have 2 straps on each wheel, or one strap on each wheel, excuse me, and we see the back wheel right here, we go up and see the front one. Now, each strap is going to have that nice rubber pad on it to help protect your bike frame and wheels from any type of scratches or abrasions. The third point of contact, is a little bit different compared to a lot of platform racks, because most platform racks, because most platform racks have a hook that puts down with force on top of your bike frame.
RockyMounts Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2019 Honda Ridgeline
Today we have 2019 Honda Ridge Line and we're going to be doing a test fit on the RockyMounts BackStage 2 Bike Platform Rack, which is part number RKY100002. Now right away, one of the features that you might have liked about your Ridge Lines is that the tailgate can swing away from the side rather than opening from the top. So, if I show you the tilt away feature of this bike rack, which is just pulling on this latch, we can tilt it away like so. We do have access to open up our tailgate all the way without it making contact. You can see it comes close, but it doesn't quite make contact with the bike rack. But if we try to use this feature right here where our tail gate can swing away, it's going to make contact right there, and you have a good amount of space to try to get in and grab stuff, but you don't have full access to the bed of your truck.So, this bike rack can accommodate for that.
Kuat Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2018 Honda Ridgeline
Hey guys. Today, we have a 2018 Honda Ridgeline and we're going to do a test of the Kuat NV 2.0 two-bike platform rack. Now, this rack mounts to your two inch by two inch hitch receiver. It allows you to carry up to two bikes to and from the trails. Now, it's going to secure our bike at two different points. We have a strap on the back wheel right here, securing it onto the platform.
Thule Vertex 4 Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2013 Honda Ridgeline
Today on this 2013 Honda Ridgeline well be test fitting the Thule Vertex four bike carrier, part number TH9029. To begin our test fit well slide the shank of the carrier into the opening of the hitch, align up our threaded pin holes, thread our anti-rattle bolt through the threaded pin holes and tighten with a wrench. Now lets go over some clearance measurements to see how the bike carrier and this vehicle fit together. Theres about 16 inches of ground clearance. The closest part of the vehicle to the closest part of the carrier is about four inches. Weve added about 13 inches to the overall length of the vehicle.
Thule Hitching Post Pro Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2013 Honda Ridgeline
Today on this 2013 Honda Ridgeline well be test fitting the Thule Hitching Post Pro, part number TH934XTR. To begin our test fit well slide the shank of the carrier into the opening of the hitch tube, align up our threaded pin holes, thread our anti-rattle bolt through the threaded pin holes and tighten with a wrench. Now lets go over some clearance measurements to see how the bike carrier and this vehicle fit together. Theres about 16 inches of ground clearance. The closest part of the carrier to the closest part of the vehicle is about seven inches. Weve added about 17 inches of overall length to the vehicle.
Thule Echelon Roof Bike Rack Review - 2013 Honda Ridgeline
Today on this 2013 Honda Ridgeline well be test fitting the Thule Echelon roof mounted bike carrier, part number TH518. To begin our test fit well go ahead and sit the carrier onto the crossbars, take the brackets and put them on the other side of the crossbars and tighten them down. Youll need to make sure that your carrier is exactly perpendicular to the crossbars so that your carrier can fit snug on the crossbars. Once you get the carrier tightened down youre ready to load the bike. Before we load the bike well first need to loosen up the skewer and undo the tray strap. Well sit the bike onto the skewer, tighten down the skewer, and secure it with the tray strap.
Thule Doubletrack Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2013 Honda Ridgeline
Today on this 2013 Honda Ridgeline well be test fitting the Thule Doubletrack platform style two bike carrier, part number TH990XT. To begin our test fit well slide the shank of the carrier into the opening of the hitch tube, align up our threaded pin holes. Well then thread our anti-rattle bolt through the threaded pin hole and tighten with a wrench. Now lets go over some clearance measurements to see how the bike carrier and this vehicle fit together. Theres about 16 inches of ground clearance. The closest part of the vehicle to the closest part of the carrier is about three inches.
Thule Domestique Roof Bike Rack Review - 2013 Honda Ridgeline
Today on this 2013 Honda Ridgeline well be test fitting the Thule Domestique fork-mount bike carrier, part number TH513. To begin our test fit well loosen up the brackets of the carrier and slide them onto the cross bars. Youll want to get the carrier perpendicular to the cross bars. Once you have fitted the carrier perpendicular to the cross bars, tighten up the brackets. To load the bike insert the skewer to the front of the carrier and undo the tray strap. Set the bike onto the carrier and set the forks onto the skewer.
Thule Apex 4 Swing Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2013 Honda Ridgeline
Today on this 2013 Honda Ridgeline well be test fitting the Thule Apex Swing four bike carrier, part number TH9027. To begin our test fit well slide the shank of the carrier into the opening on the hitch, line up our pin hole, insert our spring loaded security pin and turn the black knob locate at the base of the carrier to engage our anti-rattle device. Now lets go over some clearance measurements to see how the bike carrier and this vehicle fit together. Theres about 18 inches of ground clearance. The closest part of the vehicle to the closest part of the carrier is about one and a half inches. Weve added about 13 inches to the overall length of the vehicle.
Thule Apex 4 Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2013 Honda Ridgeline
Today on this 2013 Hone Ridgeline well be test fitting the Thule Apex four bike carrier, part number TH9025. To begin our test fit well slide the shank of the carrier into the opening of the hitch tube, align up our pin hole, insert the spring loaded safety pin and turn the black knob located at the base of the carrier to engage our anti-rattle device. Now lets go over some clearance measurements to see how this bike carrier and the vehicle fit together. Theres about 17 inches of ground clearance. The closest part of the vehicle to the closest part of the carrier is about 1 inches. Weve added about 12 inches to the overall length of the vehicle.
Swagman Titan Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2013 Honda Ridgeline
Today on our 2013 Honda Ridgeline well be test fitting the Swagman Titan four bike carrier, part number S63410. To begin our test fit well slide the shank of the carrier into the opening of the hitch, align our threaded pin holes, thread our anti-rattle bolt through the threaded pin holes and tighten with a wrench. Now lets go over some clearance measurements to see how the bike carrier and this vehicle fit together. Theres about 17 inches of ground clearance. The closest part of the vehicle to the closest part of the carrier is about 9 inches. Weve added about 22 inches to the overall length of the vehicle.
Swagman Fork Down Roof Bike Rack Review - 2013 Honda Ridgeline
Today on this 2013 Honda Ridgeline well be test fitting the Swagman fork style roof mounted bike carrier, part number S64710. To begin our test fit well go ahead and sit the carrier onto the crossbars and position the carrier perpendicular to the crossbars. Once the carriers positioned on the crossbars well go ahead and take our brackets, sit the brackets underneath the crossbars and secure them with the wing nuts. Once the carrier is tightened down and secure were ready to load our bike. To load our bike well first loosen up the skewer and undo the tray strap. Well sit the forks of the bike onto the skewer and tighten up the skewer and secure it with the tray strap.
SportRack Nomad Roof Bike Rack Review - 2013 Honda Ridgeline
Today on this 2013 Honda Ridgeline well be test fitting the Sportrack Nomad frame bike carrier, part number ABR611. To begin our test fit well sit the carrier onto the crossbars and align up the carrier perpendicular to the crossbars. Once the carrier is exactly perpendicular to the crossbars we can take the bracket, out the brackets under the crossbars, and tighten them using the wing nut. Once the carrier is tightened down were ready to load the bike. To load the bike, sit the bike onto the tray and secure the frame hook tightly against the frame. Once the frame hook is tightly in place you can secure it with the tray straps.
Kuat Sherpa Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2013 Honda Ridgeline
Today on our 2013 Honda Ridgeline well be test fitting the Kuat Sherpa aluminum bike carrier, part number S102. To begin our test fit well slide the shank of the carrier into the opening of the hitch and turn the black handle located at the base of the carrier to engage our anti-rattle device. Now lets go over some clearance measurements to see how the bike carrier and the vehicle fit together. Theres about 17 inches of ground clearance. The closest part of the vehicle to the closest part of the carrier is about 1 inches. Weve added about 13 inches to the overall length of the vehicle.
SportRack EZ Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2013 Honda Ridgeline
Today on our 2013 Honda Ridgeline, well be test fitting the SportRack 2-Bike Carrier, part #A30901. To begin our test fit, well slide the shank of the carrier into the opening of the hitch, align our threaded pinholes, thread our anti-rattle bolt, through the threaded pinholes and tighten it with the wrench. Now lets go over some clearance measurements to see how the bike carrier and this vehicle fit together. Theres about 17 inches of ground clearance. The closest part of the vehicle to the closest part of the carrier is about 9 inches. Weve added about 26 inches to the overall length of the vehicle.
SportRack Escape 3 Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2013 Honda Ridgeline
Today on this 2013 Honda Ridgeline, well be test fitting the SportRack Escape 3-Bike Carrier, part #A30403. To begin the test fit, well slide the shank of the carrier into the opening of the hitch, line up our threaded pinholes, thread our anti-rattle bolt through the threaded pinholes and tighten it with the wrench. Now lets go over some clearance measurements to see how the bike carrier and this vehicle fit together. Theres about 17 inches of ground clearance. The closest part of the vehicle to the closest part of the carrier is about 4 inches. Weve added about 13 inches to the overall length of the vehicle.
Softride Dura Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2013 Honda Ridgeline
Today on our 2013 Honda Ridgeline, well be test fitting the Softride Dura Parallelogram Tilting 4-Bike Carrier, part #SR26247. To begin our test fit, well slide the shank of the carrier into the opening of the hitch tube, line up our threaded pinholes, thread our anti-rattle bolt through the threaded pinholes and tighten with a wrench. Now lets go over some clearance measurements to see how the bike carrier and this vehicle fit together. Theres about 16-1/2 inches of ground clearance. The closest part of the vehicle to the closest part of the carrier is about 7 inches. Weve added about 36 inches to the overall length of the vehicle.
RockyMounts TieRod Roof Bike Rack Review - 2013 Honda Ridgeline
Today on our 2013 Honda Ridgeline, well be test fitting the RockyMounts TieRod Roof-Mounted Bike Carrier, part #RKY1014. To begin our test fit, well undo the bracket at the rear of the carrier and set the carrier onto the crossbars. Take off the top plastic cover and secure the rubber grips around the front crossbar then replace the cover. Well move on to the rear of the carrier. Well swing the bracket around the underneath side of the rear crossbar and use the Allen key to tighten up the bracket. To load the bike, first, well loosen up the skewer and undo the tray strap, set the bike onto the carrier, tighten up the skewer and secure it with the tray strap.
What our customers are saying:
"Sent out an e-mail to you earlier this week asking which hitch woudld be the best choice for installing on a 2000 Venture van for hauling a bike rack with two bikes. You suggested the one that would be easiest to install..received in a matter of days..installation went great ..very well thought out instructions. Everything went smooothly and the hitch is up nice and snug..doesn't stick out..looks great."