# 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.
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!
# 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
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!
# 4
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.
# 5
Rhino-Rack Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Tilting
I purchased this bike rack a year ago and I use it A LOT. I had to buy and install a stabilizer because without it, the unit would sway back and forth even without a bike on it (very noisy). This makes removal more cumbersome but since I keep the hitch on year round it doesn't matter to me. The tilting function is fabulous allowing easy use of my RAV4 hatchback. I can even tilt it down with a bike on it. I got the 2 bike hitch. Plenty of room for two bikes to fit without rubbing. Lastly, the hitch has a sizable through-hole on the bottom to thread a good sized cable so I can lock my bike up. Sturdy. I highly recommend.
The unit ‘s simplicity is a real plus. It takes less than 3 minutes to put the rack on the vehicle. It is well built and very durable and has a nice feature that allows you to open the rear hatch for SUV owners without removing the rack.
# 6
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.
# 7
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.
# 8
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.
# 9
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.
# 10
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.
I had a 1 1/4" hitch installed on my 2016 toyota camry (the only size offered on the camry). I was very pleased with the ride. I expected to hear alot of noise like experienced when towing a trailer, but I heard almost nothing accept when going over speed bumps. I had to extend the tire supports to their widest position because having mountain bikes with a step through angled bar, they were more secure the closer i could get the upper and lower support arms to the seat post. The bikes were mounted in opposite directions and only stuck out maybe 6 inches or so. One locking barrel on the lower support arm was malfunctioning and gave me trouble but i called etrailer and they sent a replacement as soon as they were in stock. It comes with a anti rattle hitch pin but I highly recommend purchasing an anti rattle hitch pin with a lock on the end instead of just a clip for more security when unattended. After a few times mounting the bikes and figuring out the best way they should be positioned (pedals positions, direction of bike, and that my wife's smaller bike fit better going on first with my larger bike on the outside) I can mount the rack and bikes and be ready to go in just 5 minutes. (70 pounds on a torque wrench recommended for the hitch pin) I am overall pleased with my purchase i would recommend this product.
# 11
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.
# 12
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.
# 13
Kuat Trio Roof Bike Rack - Fork Mount - Clamp On - Aluminum - Black and Polished Chrome
Installed all products after having watched videos and read through pdf instructions. The Yakima JetStream roof rack system is outstanding (with one exception) - instructions and videos facilitated the installation. The Yakima system is the only one I could find for my car (Mercedes E450 Coupe), as the car's panorama roof glass extends to the edges near the fixed mounts. The Yakima system is quiet, thanks to the ability to modify the crossbar pitch angles, and has a high-quality appearance that complements my car. And it is rock solid. The Kuat Trio bike tray is an outstanding low-cost, simple solution - well-designed and well-executed and installs to the Yakima JetStream bars flawlessly. I would recommend that Kuat include a 12mm x 100mm thru-axle in the Trio kit, as I had to purchase that part separately. Only disappointment is in the Yakima Landing Pad Covers that ship with the Landing Pad 22 (LP 22) kit. The covers do not snap tightly into place, and appear as if they were designed for a different Landing Pad. In summary, my Yakima/Kuat bicycle roof rack system exceeds expectations (except for the LP 22 Covers), operates flawlessly, looks great, and stores easily. It has given me high confidence in Yakima, in Kuat and in etrailer.com. Well done.
Great rack easy to install, light weight and well made.
# 14
Yakima FrontLoader Wheel Mount Bike Carrier - Roof Mount
Overall I am happy with these bike carriers. They mount to the racks over the bed of my Tundra TRD Pro. Installation is simple. I think they could be just a bit sturdier because there is just a bit of wobbling when driving on bumpy roads but I'm not too worried about them coming dislodged. Take note that although they come with a cable lock to attach the bike to the carrier, the key is sold separately.
Very good product. It holds the bike securely on the roof without contacting the frame. It is easy to adjust from my road bike to my 29er mountain bike. Our drives are all relatively short, so I like that I do not need to remove the front wheel to lock in the bike. It's also nice that the SKS locking system allows me to use the same key for this rack that I use for my Yakima roof box and hitch rack. This is my first roof rack and I chose this route for a couple reasons. Some of the roads we travel to get to our trail heads are a bit rough and with a roof rack I don't have to worry about bottoming out a hitch rack hanging off the back of the vehicle. Also, it takes up less room in the garage. Our vehicle is a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee with an additional 4 inches of ground clearance. That makes it a bit of a reach for my 5'4" wife, so we take our two-step along to help her. This is my third time purchasing from etrailer, and each experience has been very good. They are a very customer service oriented company. I really appreciate all the additional information they provide on their products, especially all the videos they produce to aid in reviews, assembly, and use.
# 15
RockyMounts BackStage Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount
We love our RockyMounts BackStage Bike Rack. The fact that it can hold our two e-bikes and swings out for rear door access makes it perfect for vanlife. Service and communication from etrailer is outstanading!
etrailer.com asked me for a review about 1 week after it arrived. A better review would be in about 6-12 months after delivery to allow me time to use and experience the rack. Disclosure: my review is just for the assembly and install. Assembly is not easy. I needed to go to the internet and look at photos. The instructions lack detail. So only 4 stars for assembly instructions. It seems like a good design. The included locks seem cheap - like why bother including. The hitch pin design seems to tighten down the rack so there should be minimal rattle and movement. The rack sits up relatively high, so it would be safer to lift heavier e-bikes with two people or use some type of field engineered ramp. Wish it was made in the US and I wish the country of original was fully disclosed in the etrailer.com description. Perhaps it is disclosed but I learned it was from china after it was delivered.
# 16
Swagman Upright Bike Rack for 1 Bike - Roof Rack Crossbars - Frame Mount
Planning on bringing bikes while camping. I mounted 2 of the Swagman bike racks to my new Sportrack on my pop-up camper. The bikes fit perfectly. The racks seem sturdy enough. Not heavy duty, but for my needs they should be fine. Assembly was relatively fast and easy.
We have used the Swagman Roof Rack a number of times when we have needed the additional bike carrying capacity. It took a couple attempts to get the initial spacing of the bike rack properly balanced on the van’s roof rack as recommended by the instructions. But it was easy to do and once set was very easy and quick to put on and take off. The rack works great, the bike is easy to put into place and secure. The bike and rack are very stable and quiet and haven’t required any mid-trip adjustments. We always put the cheapest bike on the roof (lol) but do use a bit of duct tape to protect the finish just Incase. We are very satisfied with the rack and consider it quite a deal for the money.
# 17
Thule Passage 3 Bike Carrier - Trunk Mount
Ford EdgeFits perfectly on our Lexus CT200h. Only on the old LS400, the side straps have to be fastened to the wheel arch edge, since the upper trunklid gap is to narrow for inserting the strap hooks. Mounting of two bikes is (with some routine) quickly done, and they stay safe even for longer and faster routes. For transporting three (mountain) bikes, though, the design doesn't seem big and robust enough. Nevertheless, the price-benefit-fun ratios are way better than reasonable.
We are very pleased with the quality and ease of use for our like-new purchase. From the online shopping experience with etrailer.com through multiple outings already, this bike carrier more than meets our needs. Thank you!
# 18
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.
# 19
Kuat NV 2.0 Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount - Metallic Black
EVERY BRAND HAS ITS PROS AND CONS. THE PROS ON THIS RACK IS THE HIGH QUALITY OF MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION AND THE INNOVATIVE FEATURES. THE RACK IS EASY TO USE AND EASY TO INSTALL. I ESPECIALLY LIKE THE INTEGRATED BIKE STAND. IT IS EASY TO USE, UNOBTRUSIVE, AND COMES IN VERY HANDY WHEN YOU WANT TO MAKE A TWEEK ON YOUR BIKE WHILE AT THE TRAIL HEAD OR IN THE PARKING LOT. I KNOW THERE MUST BE A NEGATIVE TO THIS RACK, BUT AFTER A YEAR OF USE I HAVEN’T FOUND IT YET. IT IS A BIT PRICEY, AND IF YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT DURABILITY, QUALITY OF CONSTRUCTION, OR ADDED FEATURES, THEN A LESS EXPENSIVE BRAND MAY WORK FOR YOU AND YOU WILL SAVE A FEW BUCKS. ALSO, IT IS A BIT HEAVIER THAN SOME OTHER RACKS, BUT I AM IN MY 70’S AND I CAN HANDLE IT FINE.
This is rack’s construction is a rock, heavy hitch tube and the scissor extension swing is solid due to the ball barring lock feature in the mounting tube. The ease of mounting bikes with tire saddles, installing and construction quality excellent. Purchased the wide tire kit adds flexibility to my use of road to fatter tire bikes. Being able to install the bike service bracket is a breeze for airing up, lubing. Use it on my Hylander to my truck camper
# 20
RockyMounts MonoRail Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount
At age 75, I have purchased many bike racks over the years…..this one has no equal in loading and unloading…
This rack is really, good. The only thing i add to make it better is small strap that holds the front wheel to the front wheel bracket. I never had a problem with it, but i like to make sure it is secure. It is a solid bike rack and worth every penny. I would buy this over the Kuat version any day.
Kuat NV 2-0 Base 2-Bike Platform Rack Review - 2023 Subaru Crosstrek
Hi. Matt with etrailer, and today we're gonna be talking about the Kuat NV 2.0 Base Bike Rack on the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek. This rack's gonna be a great option if you're looking to accommodate a lot of different style bikes, such as e-bikes, carbon frame bikes, or your standard bike as well. Now, let's take a look at some of the features of this bike rack. Now, we're gonna test out the tilt away feature. So I just go down here, you see there's this lever.
Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE 2 Electric Bike Platform Rack Review - 2023 Subaru Crosstrek
Hi, Matt with etrailer. And today we're gonna be talking about the Hollywood Racks SE Sports Rider bike rack on the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek. And since this can hold up to 80 pounds per bike it's even gonna be able to accommodate your heavier E-bikes too. Now let's take a look at some of the features of our bike rack. The first one is this tilt away feature. Now the tilted away, we're gonna have to come down here and pull this safety clip out of this pin.
Kuat Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2021 Subaru Crosstrek BA22B
Hello, everybody. Clayton here at etrailer.com. Today, we're gonna be taking a look at the Kuat NV 2.0 Two-Bike Platform Rack on our 2021 Subaru Crosstrek. Today, we are looking at the gunmetal variation and the two inch hitch receiver. Now, in the two inch hitches, you can get it in this gunmetal color or matte black in the base model or a gloss black. And all these three options are gonna be available in an inch and a quarter receiver tube as well.
Kuat Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2019 Subaru Crosstrek
Zach: Hey guys. Zach here at etrailer.com and today we're going to be taking a look at the Kuat NV 2.0 on our 2019 Subaru Crosstrek. This is going to be a nice versatile bike rack that not only holds a lot of different bikes but it just looks good and it functions well. When I say it's very versatile, it holds a lot of different bikes especially because it's wheel not a design so I can put my carbon bike on here.Frame mounted bike racks aren't ideal for carbon bikes because it puts too much stress going down the road on those frames. It has a 60 pound capacity per bike so you can get a lot of those e-Bikes and some fat bikes on there. If you are carrying an e-Bike though, please take the battery off.
Rola Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2019 Subaru Crosstrek
Colin: Hey everyone, it's Colin here at etrailer. Today we got a 2019 Subaru Crosstrek. We've been test fitting some different hitch-mounted accessories on it, and right now we have the Rola TX-102 bike rack loaded up. Now this is a two-bike hanging-style rack. We'll be able to get two bikes loaded and carry them to and from your destination.Now, how each bike is secured, you can see we've got two rubber straps on our top tube making sure they stay in place in the cradles. It's going to have a third point of contact for each bike.
Kuat Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2019 Subaru Crosstrek ts02g
Adam: Hi everyone, Adam at etrailer.com. Today, we're going to be taking a look at the Kuat Transfer on our 2019 Subaru Crosstrek.So this is the gunmetal gray version, but we do have two different types and we are going to have black and metallic black as well. So go online and pick the one that's right for you. But this is going to be able to hold two different bikes.The cool thing about this bike rack, it doesn't have any frame contact. We are going to clamp down on our wheel here. So that's going to be great for your carbon fiber bikes, just so you don't do any damage or make any contact with that frame.One of the best features of this bike rack, it does allow you to tilt it with the bikes installed and what this is going to be good for, maybe you left something in the back hatch.
Thule Hitching Post Pro Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2019 Subaru Crosstrek
Hey guys, today we have 2019 Subaru Crosstrek. We're going to do a test fit of a Thule Hitching Post Pro Four Bike Rack. This is a hanging style bike rack. It's going to allow you to transport up to four bikes to and from your destination. A really cool feature about this bike rack is that it is RV approved so you can use it for your motorhome and that that'll be a nice and easy way to get your bikes loaded up and to your destination. Then when you get there, you can switch it back to your vehicle, and then haul them wherever you need them.Now our bike is connected at three different points.
Saris Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2019 Subaru Crosstrek
Hey guys, this is Colin here at etrailer. Today we have a 2019 Subaru Crosstrek. We're going to do a test fit of the Saris Glide EX 5 Bike Rack. This is going to be a hanging style bike rack that allows you to carry up to five bikes to and from your destination. Now if five bikes is a little bit too much capacity for you, this is also offered in a four bike version. It's going to be the exact same construction and design.
Thule Hitching Post Pro Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2018 Subaru Crosstrek
Hey everyone, Charles here at etrailer and today we're taking a look at the Thule Hitching Post Pro on our 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. This is gonna be a great way of hauling four bikes to and from your destination as long as you have a class II hitch or above. If you have an inch and a quarter class I hitch like we have today, then we can only carry up to two bikes and it's gonna be 35 pounds per bike, just keeping that in mind. And it does have a tilt away feature which is awesome for getting stuff out of your hatch but you have to take the bikes off to do that, so I'll show you that in just a bit. Right here we have three points of contact, two over the top tube and then an anti-sway strap right here. It's just gonna reduce the amount of movement it has and it's gonna help your bikes not collide with each other as much cuz if I took it off, notice we have a lot more movement.
Swagman Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2018 Subaru Crosstrek
Hey everyone, Charles here at etrailer, and today we're taking a look at the Swagman Chinook bike rack on a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. This is gonna be a great choice for transporting your bikes of up to 45 pounds per bike. Since it is a frame mount, if you have a custom paint job or a carbon frame style bike, this might not be the one for you, but we do have a cool tilt away feature, and that's gonna allow us to keep our bike on the rack and still have access to our hatch, and when you fold it back up, you're gonna hear an audible click letting you know that it is secure. We have three attachment points, a strap for each tire, and the frame mount. To take the bike off, we're gonna start with the straps and just swing them out of the way, and then keeping one hand on the frame so it doesn't fall on your vehicle, we can then push on these buttons and swing them up, and I like to just take the hooks off 'cause it makes it easier for me to take the bike off. And I also like to lower this center mass down by lifting up on this lever.
Hollywood Racks Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2018 Subaru Crosstrek
Hey everyone, Charles here at etrailer and today we're taking a look at the Hollywood Destination Bike Rack on a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. This is a good entry level bike rack 35 pounds per bike. And since it is a frame mount, if you had a custom paint job or your carbon frame style bikes, this might not be the one for you. But it's gonna be made out of steel, so it will be very durable, last a long time. and it's finished with a black powder coat making it rust resistant. We're gonna have three points of contact, keeping the bike on the frame, and that is a strap on each wheel and then this center frame mount.
Swagman Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2018 Subaru Crosstrek S64650
Hey everyone, Charles here at etrailer. And today, we're taking a look at the Swagman XC2 bike rack on our 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. This is a good entry-level bike rack that's gonna allow you to carry up to 35 pounds per bike. We do just have the one contact point, and it's a center frame mount. So, if you had a custom paint job, or your carbon frame style bikes, this might not be the one for you. Very simple features.
Kuat Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2018 Subaru Crosstrek
Colin: Hey everyone. It's Colin here at etrailer. And today we have a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. We've been test fitting some bike racks on it. Right now we have the Kuat NV 2.0 installed.This is going to be available in three colors. Right now we have the gunmetal gray installed.
Thule Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2017 Subaru Crosstrek
How's it going Ryan here at etrader.com. Today on our 2017 Subaru Cross Crosstrek we're going to be taking a look at the Thule Helium Pro 2 bike rack. Obviously with the rack in this position, you wouldn't have much luck getting in and out of the hatch. What we can do is come down here, flip this lever, and tilt the rack out of the way, then we'll have more than enough room to get all of our gear in and out of our hatch.Now this rack can hold up to two bikes, however if you need to carry an extra one, there is a three bike version available as well. Now the bike is held down at three points. We're going to have two straps here on the top two, and one strap down here.
Swagman Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2016 Subaru Crosstrek
Today on our 2016 Subaru Crosstrek we're doing a test fit of the Swagman XC2 platform-style bike rack. That part number is S64650. Now we already have our bike secured down. We first going to show you how we do that. We have two wheel cradles in place with a frame hook in the middle here. This is what's really going to hold our bike down into our cradles.
Thule Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2016 Subaru Crosstrek
Today on our 2016 Subaru Crosstrek we're doing a test fit of the Thule T2 Pro Platform-style two bike rack. That part number is TH9034. We already have our bike secured down. We're going to go over one of the main features of this platform-style rack. We're going to come down here to the back and grab onto the handle and squeeze the gray portion towards ourselves. We're going to be able to tilt this away from our vehicle and gain access into the back hatch area.
Thule Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2016 Subaru Crosstrek TH912XTR
Today on our 2016 Subaru Crosstrek we're doing a test fit of the Thule Roadway Hanging Style 2 Bike Rack. That part number is TH912XTR. We already have our bike secured down. We're first going to show you how we do that. We have two cradles in place with three straps, two on our frame and one as our anti-sway in the back. We're going to start by releasing those and we can pull our bike off and set it off to the side.
Thule Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2016 Subaru Crosstrek TH9029XT
Today on our 2016 Subaru Crosstrek we're taking a look at the Thule Vertex 4 Bike Rack, that part number is TH9029XT. Now, we already have our bike secured down. We're first going to show you how we do that and then we'll go over some features. We have two cradles in place with three straps, two on our frame and one as our anti-sway in the back. We'll start by pulling those out and releasing them. Then we can pull our bike off and set it off to the side. Now, in the center of the mass portion you'll see a bike lock here.
What our customers are saying:
"I received my Hidden Hitch and now its installed. Since you have such great service and great prices, I thought I'd ask if you could get a hitch bike rack at a similar low cost. I'm looking for a hitch mounted bike rack that will hold 5 (five) bikes. Thank you. -Michael"