Haven't traveled with the bike rack yet, but am already happy with a few things:

1. I ordered the bike rack around 5:30 pm on Saturday. I received an email confirmation that the rack had shipped approximately 4 hours later.

2. I was nervous that I wouldn't receive the bike rack before traveling the following Saturday, so I requested 4 day shipping. I received the bike rack on Tuesday, a day early.

3. The package arrived in perfect condition, double-packed (the bike rack box within a box).

4. I just finished putting the rack together. All instructions and pieces were included and took about an hour to assemble.

I'll update this review after using the bike rack this weekend, but so far two thumbs up on the customer service and the product.849168

Great service, quick shipping an excellent videos that walk you through the install. Bought a hitch, wiring harness, and hitch mount bike rack and installed them all myself.1045032

Assembly was quick and easy. The quality of the plastic sliders and the wheel hoops has already chipped and broke (×2). The twist nobs on the wheel hoops popped and seem like poor quality. Not sure how they will last after use. Dissappointed with no lockeing system once in the stinger. Other then that the design will work well for our intended use. The price and design of the hitch are sturdy.737611

Very solid rack- My families bikes total over 160lbs and there is very little movement of the rack even on our very bumpy roads! The rack went together well except that it was necessary to file the insides of the plastic square openings of the ratcheting lock arms a little to make them able to slide up and down the post without a lot of effort. With that said- I love the way the ratcheting lock arms keep the bikes locked into the trays- the clicking noise as they ratchet down is very satisfying :) I highly recommend this product.620324

The product was shipped and received promptly via UPS. Arrived well packaged and in good condition. Assembly was easy and the bike rack is very sturdy, this being said without have taking a roadtrip with it. Allen wrench and wrench included for assembly, will need a knife to open boxes and phillips head screw driver to complete assembly. Setup and sizing for the bikes was easy and bikes feel secure when locked in place. Removing 2 bolts and this unit quickly becomes a 2-bike rack. Only negative was the weight of this unit, as a 4-bike rack this unit easily weighs 90lbs before the bikes are on and essentially requires 2 people to lower to access lift gate.821486

Finally had a chance to put this together. I'm very impressed with the quality. Good heavy-wall tubing, nice looking, quality welds and thick powder coating make this a very nice bike rack! One of the locks is a little sticky but will probably loosen up with use. I've only driven with it a few miles so far but the bikes seemed very secure. Would definitely recommend! Also was shipped very fast from etrailer. I ordered it at 3:30pm and by 7pm I got a email that it had shipped. Great service!492126

This is a very solid bike rack. It keeps the bike secure and separated. There is no fighting the rack to get the bikes loaded. The bikes are not blocking the view out the rear view mirror. I like that I can use it as a 2-bike rack and that it can handle 45 pound bikes.

The first bike rack box was delivered with a damaged box which had the hardware bag missing. Etrailer sent a new rack which was perfect. The same UPS guy, who dropped off my new rack, picked up the old rack.

The customer service is top notch. They were friendly, understanding, and willing to make sure everything was right. There were no communication barriers.903904

So, this is my one year follow-up on the Curt 4bike hauler. On a recent trip to Arkansas to ride Iron Mountain I incurred some problems. The foam rubber on the holding arm of the rack split. The foam ended up coming off, causing the arm to rub against the aluminum bike frame causing a major divot in the frame.

We also lost a bike while traveling down the road. The foam came off and allowed enough space for the bike to completely come off the rack. The bike was a complete loss (bent frame).

The bike rack is stored inside when not in use so dry rot is not an option. Disappointed to say the least, but that's my kind of luck.659078

I’ll start with my review of etrailer.com: Odelia and anyone else I spoke with were amazing. Going above and beyond with helping me. Sounds like everyone there is great! I was in a time crunch to get my bike rack to get it installed before our vacation. Odelia made it happen!! I am normally somebody that tries to buy local and my local shops didn’t have the inventory but would happily buy from these guys again!!

As for the rack! Perfect! Was super easy to install. Held all of our bikes perfectly fine and felt very secure during our 4 hour drive each way. Once you get the wheel widths right, it only takes a few minutes to load the bikes each time. It’s heavy, so unless you can easily carry an 80+ pound rack to insert into the slot, you’ll need another person. I feel very comfortable recommending the product and extremely happy with my service too.

Only issue was that one of the arms tha My secures the bikes arrived damaged. I used a ratchet strap to secure one of the bikes in its place. I spoke with Curt manufacturing and they apologized and promised to send a new one, so expect to see that soon. But he tried to give me some options to use, and one being the ratchet strap and it was perfect.

Thanks again for an incredible buying experience 851176

We deliberated for some time whether we wanted a platform or hanging rack for our bikes. We finally settled on this rack, even though it was significantly more expensive because it seemed easier to set a bike onto a platform that muscling it onto a hanger.
We haven't had a lot of use out of this rack yet, but here are some initial observations:
1. This thing is a monster! You should view the etrailer.com videos on this rack to get a feel for it. Holding 4 bikes it sets back about 5 foot from the back of the vehicle. This could lead to the risk of backing into things if you're not careful.
a. One nice thing is that the last 2 slots are on a separate assembly, so you can unbolt it and leave that section at home and simply travel with 2 bikes. Makes maneuvering a bit less awkward.
2. Loading the rack is fairly easy but does take some forethought, as you have to be careful to align the bikes so they don't interfere. The first time you load bikes you might have to make a couple of attempts before you get them to fit well, so allow enough time.
3. The top holding clamps do a good job, but if you have a bike with a low top tube (the horizontal tube that goes from the front of the bike to the seat) the clamp might not hold well. Note that each vertical post has 2 clamps, try locating the bike in the other location to see if it works better.
4. Compared to a trunk mounted hanging rack the bikes seem to be more secure - they don't sway as you speed up or slow down, reducing the chance of rubbing and damaged paint.
5. The assembled rack is fairly heavy, and will likely require 2 people to easily install it into the hitch. Also note the unit is bolted into the hitch to prevent it from wiggling during travel. So again, allow ample time to install & remove.
Looks like a great product, I'm excited to see how it works out.825431

Overall, it was priced lower than better known brands and can carry our e-bike along with the other bikes. It is definitely built heavy duty. The only items I don't care for are the arms have left scratches / permanent marks on our bikes. Also, when folding it up, it sticks very high in the air. Other competitive models are more compact.1299789

Dan

5/20/2023

My opinion is similar to when I bought it. This is very heavy duty which is required for heavy e-bikes. We learned to wrap the bike in microfiber cloth before clamping down and that has helped reduce permanent marks from the clamp.

Platform bike racks are expensive but in return offer the possibility of ease of quickly mounting bikes for transport and de-mounting for use. Ours does that but only after working with customer service who got the manufacturer to provide a solution to sticking and jerky movement of the ratchet arms (for me) and inability to move them at all(my wife) - application of silicone spray lubricant. The 2+2 idea is good, but the first piece ended up weighing 53 pounds of the advertised total 86 pound weight so is unwieldy for my wife to install and use on her own. The rack tongue to hitch receiver connection is a good idea to eliminate rattle there, but requires 75 ft-lb torque of the threaded bolt, also unwieldy for my wife, and can't be locked like a normal hitch pin but will deter the drive-by thief.1208214

Great bike rack, weighs a ton but you need to strategically place your bikes in order. Alternating which direction they face and size of bike front to back makes for a nice haul. Great locking mechanisms and function, breaks down, bends, and stores nicely.

I am disappointed in the padded material in the J hooks that clamp
down across the bikes. Tears easily and travels, I wish they had replacements. Mine were compromised after 3-5 times usage in the first year, you can diy on a set of new ones. The wires that hold the pin clips are thin as well and broke off or were useless quickly. Makes for losing pins a lot easier.

I love this rack though it breaks down into a two bike hauler and is super steady.1298475

Love it! So much easier to use that the trunk type we had before. Customer service at etrailer is top notch, extremely helpful. After we got the rack adjusted for the bikes all we have to do is load and go, couldn’t be easier! Had an issue with a part that needed replacing and etrailer got in touch with Curt and they sent a replacement right out. Also bought the locking hitch pin. I would definitely recommend this carrier. Thank you etrailer!1580613

Good value for the price. It works very well for holding 4 bikes. The only thing to consider is the weight, the amount of time to change the rack between up/down position, and getting 4 bikes to fit.

The rack is heavy, so I don't remove it from the car often once I get it installed on the hitch.

To move the rack from up to down position and vice-versa, you have to pull and place 3 pins. It is fine but it does take more time than some other racks.

The top tube holders on the rack are stacked on top of each other. So getting all the bikes arranged so they are held down securely takes a bit of tetris play. It is not a problem once you get things configured for the 4 bikes. It becomes a problem again when you transport other bikes when you take a few friends. Then it is a new puzzle again.

But overall, those are just slight inconveniences. The rack works well and is solidly built.1213754

We took this rack on a trip through Michigan's Upper Peninsula,over 1000 miles round trip with 4 bikes. The rack did fine in all driving conditions, even going top speed + on the highway. Very sturdy, and when attached to our Subaru the unit has a slight upward pitch so no need to worry about bottoming out on a curb, cement stoppers in parking lots etc. With a little practice we're able to take all 4 bikes out in about two mins with putting them back on the rack a little longer. The locking, padded hooks used to anchor the bike to the rack are highly adjustable too. Only drawback is weight should you have 4 bikes on and need to lower the rack to get into the back of your vehicle, that one is definitely for two people!1097912

It works. But, I wish had made a different purchase. I went with this for cost reasons, but really don't think the value exchange was worth it. I wish I had paid more for a better rack. My biggest complaints are just how heavy this thing is. really heavy. and clunky. and adjustments are mostly pretty manual, unscrewing and rescrewing vs. a quick release format (with exception being the u shaped frame holders). Adding in the additional 2 bike holders requires are wrench. I'd happily have paid an extra $2-300 for one with quick releases, less weight and simpler mechanics all around.1299745

Jenny N.

5/20/2022

I do have an alternate bike rack to offer. It is part # KU77FR which weights approximately 81 pounds. It has easy to use cradles to install the bike. You can also view the video link below.

Helpful Links

tv-install-kuat-transfer-v2-bike-rack-2021-subaru-outback-wagon-ku74fr.aspx

This is my second Curt 4 bike tray style rack. My other one is about 5 years old and will now be used mostly by my son at college. I wanted the new one because the arms that hold the bike ratchet down, which is a new design compared to the old one. The old one simply clamped onto the mast and over the years the clamp gradually loosens. So I'm expecting the ratcheting clamp to be more secure. The only thing about the new one I don't like is the pins to pivot the trays now have a safety clip instead of the keyed pin on the old one. This matters to me because I store it with the trays folded up and it's easier to use with the keyed pin than the safety clip. Haven't used the new one yet but we have a road trip this weekend.811178

Lee

6/22/2021

Still doing well after 1 year.

Great bike rack with the ability to fit a variety of bikes. Sometimes you have to get creative with how you load them, but being able to lower the rear post helps. Being able to carry two or four is a plus. The only real complaint is that the locking mechanism can slip a little. Always recommend strapping down the bikes in addition to locking down the the securing arms.1094851

Alex

7/16/2022

After a year of light use, I can say this bike rack is still a really great product. Trying to configure or stack bikes of different sizes and configurations can be a little challenging sometimes, but we have always been able to fit two 26”, one 24” and one 20”. However, I can see where it would be easier to fit four bikes closer in size. Durability has been great and the ability to make it a 2 or 4 bike rack is really useful.

We purchased the 4 bike rack. It is a heavy duty construction. Once it is adjusted for our bike lengths it is fast to load. We take grandchildren on trips so it is great to have their bikes with us also. It comes with locks and keys for each bike so can leave bikes on rack overnight. I can open my hatch with some adjustment on bike rack. I remove the 2 outside bike carrier rack when I just need 2 bikes for local parks.1068229

William

6/18/2022

We like the easy loading cradles for bikes rather than hanging from handlebars. The unit is heavy duty with my handicap which I now need help installing it on SUV. I think they should offer a lighter version of this great designed carrier. I would buy again.

This platform bike rack worked really well for us. Installation instructions were written well. Be prepared to take your time - I put it together myself. I am a 122# female, I do work out, so the weight of the product was not a problem for me. I did attach to my hitch and put it together from there for convenience. Seemed silly to put it together and then install onto hitch since I was putting it together myself. I took about an hour or two trying to figure out the best configuration for our bicycles. Probably could take less time, but I am a perfectionist. Didn't want my precious bicycles rubbing together or being compromised in any way! I did take a picture so I could remember how I had put the bicycles, and also for my husband's reference. Now that I have it configured for our bikes, it's a snap getting bikes on and off. We used it on our beach vacation - four bikes, no problems, on the highway 12 hours there and 12 hours back. We did use the lock feature. The locks worked great with no problems. We chose to take the rack off to run our van through the car wash, and though my husband took it off his self, I would anticipate needing an extra hand to take it off myself, and certainly an extra hand to throw it back onto the hitch. We did purchase an inexpensive torque wrench for the anti-rattle bolt (instructions say to tighten to 75#). No rattling.
Etrailer's video helped me choose between this rack and another, and I really understood what I was buying. Shipping/delivery was great.
This review is based on ownership of less then two weeks - probably 5 rides over that span of time (so taking bikes in and out of rack that many times).858980

Jennifer

8/10/2021

still great! love it. no wear or tear at all

I love how this Hitch rides, very stable and tight. It cradles the bikes very well even with all four in place. It also how neat that it holds the bikes tightly together (even all 4) yet not one of them would touch. As much as i like the option to lock the bikes with the provided locking devices often these turn out to line up with some portion of the next bike that want always allow me to get the key in the device and turn it, i'll normally carry a cable lock in the event i can't secure with the provided device, no problem. The hitch is a bit heavy to carry around to place in storage or install but once in place its sweet! It has bee a pain to store, yet i would imagine pretty much any rack of this caliber would be. I'm very pleased. I wish i could find an adapter to allow me to us the back half on my 2" receiver on my truck, in the event i need to have a two bike set up in both locations. This would make them even more valuable to me. But this is a very well made solid bike rack, but its not for the faint at heart its a chore to lug around but once in place you'll appreciate its beefiness. I would and have recommended this rack to others, its worth the extra expense over the inexpensive devices i see on the road.803363

Allen H.

5/26/2021

Love the product, would like see a couple of changes I think would help the function a bit more, some of which is some looseness in a few of the pinning location. Thinking that might be a better way to lock these locations to take a little more of the movement out of it. Also think it might work better to hinge the upright support to the left or right instead of straight back. on our van when we lay this upright down away from the car when we fold up the rack this up right most inward bike hookholder tend to rub the back glass of the van unless i bungy it back. just a thought other than we love how it rides and haul our bikes we have hauled all four at one time.

Sierra K.

5/27/2021

Thank you for your review and suggestions.

The rack worked out perfect for our shuttle up and down the mountain. It held all 4 of our 29ers with tires that are 2.5in wide1044740

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Great bike rack and outstanding customer service. Easy installation, sturdy bike rack and when I encountered a defective support arm, customer service had a replacement part shipped to me in less than one week. Great value and great support. You cannot get better than that. 853001

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Besides taking too long to get since being ordered in July, it is a great Curt 4 bike product......Installed it today and it works great. Curt products are made from a strong quality!
My Curt hitch was installed over the Summer, ordered from etrailer and it works great also...Very happy of the outcome.
Thanks.....907020

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Pedro

11/2/2021

It is a great bike rack, I can use it with four bikes or just two. There is only problem with one of the locks, it doesnt click &amp it falls down. It is the long arm lock.