Ultra-lightweight aluminum hitch bike rack offers hassle-free bike loading with fold-up anti-sway cradles and ratcheting straps. Cradles are set 7" apart so bikes won't become tangled on the rack. Includes locks for bikes and rack.
Features:
Specs:
Note: This dual-arm rack reduces the need for a bike frame adapter bar (sold separately) to mount a children's, women's, or alternative frame bicycle. However, to mount certain bikes or to keep your bike level on the rack, a bike adapter bar may be required. Most step-through bikes, dual-suspension bikes, and small children's bikes will require a bike adapter bar.
This premium, hitch-mounted bike rack lets you transport 3 bikes on the back of your vehicle. It's made of ultra-lightweight aluminum so you can install it, carry it, and move it from vehicle to vehicle with little effort. It has fold-up anti-sway cradles and ratcheting straps that make it easy to load and unload your bikes. The cradles are set 7" apart, so there's enough space between your bikes to prevent them from becoming tangled on the rack. It also has an anti-rattle hitch pin and integrated cable with keyed-alike locks that secure your bikes to the rack and the rack to your vehicle.
Folding Dual Arms with HitchSwitch Lever
The Helium Pro has dual arms that provide your bikes with excellent support and ground clearance during transport.
The upper HitchSwitch lever lets you fold the arms down when not in use.
HideAway Anti-Sway Cradles
The Helium Pro has HideAway anti-sway cradles that secure each bike twice along the top tube and once along the seat post or downtube. This reduces rocking to help eliminate bike-to-bike and bike-to-vehicle contact. The soft rubber cradles rotate around the arms to accommodate your bikes' frames. Each cradle is set 7" apart on the arms, so there is more space between your bikes when compared with many other hanging-style racks. The added space helps prevent your bikes from becoming tangled on the rack.
The cradles have grooves on the surface that prevent your brake and shifter cables from getting pinched.
Durable, dual-molded ratchet straps hold your bikes firmly in place on the cradles. You can remove the lower straps and fold the cradles up against the arms to make it easier to slide your bikes onto the rack.
Tilting Rack with HitchSwitch Lever
The rack tilts for easy access to your vehicle's rear cargo area. Just pull up on the HitchSwitch lever at the base of the rack, and lower the rack into position. When you're ready to go, lift the rack up until it snaps into place with an audible click.
The HitchSwitch lever is located right behind the base of the mast. This makes it easy to reach with one hand and steady the mast with the other.
The knob at the front of the shank lets you quickly and easily install the rack. Just slide the shank into your hitch and turn the knob until snug. The knob deploys an anti-rattle wedge in the shank to help take play out of the hitch connection. It also sets the integrated SnugTite hitch pin into place, securing the rack to your receiver.
Complete Security for Bikes and Rack
The Helium Pro includes One-Key System locks to secure your bikes to the rack and the rack to your vehicle. The integrated cable lock threads around your bikes' frames and inserts into the lock at the end of the left arm. The cable stores inside the mast when not in use.
The lock on the hand knob secures the rack to your vehicle. The hand knob will spin freely when locked so a would-be thief can't operate it to remove the rack from your hitch. The locks are keyed alike so you can use the same keys for both locks. Additional One-Key System locks (sold separately) let you make all of your Thule products keyed alike.
Hitch Compatibility
The rack works with both 1-1/4" and 2" hitches. To use it in a 1-1/4" hitch, simply remove the adapter with the included Allen key.
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (66 Customer Reviews)
Ultra-lightweight aluminum hitch bike rack offers hassle-free bike loading with fold-up anti-sway cradles and ratcheting straps. Cradles are set 7" apart so bikes won't become tangled on the rack. Includes locks for bikes and rack.I recently purchased the Thule Helium Pro 3 Bike Rack and love how simple it is to operate once put together. I've only had it for about a week and have used it twice. It is great not to worry about pins any longer.
My only beef is with the instructions to put it together. I took all the parts out of the box and started to read the instructions. The rack comes in two parts - the hitch part and the rack part. In handling the hitch part, I noticed there was tape on it and didn't think twice about removing the tape. I found out the hard way the tape was keeping a metal bar in place (where the rack can be reclined to open your tailgate). There was also tape to keep the locking mechanism in place. After I removed the tape, the parts fell out and I had one heck of time adjusting the hook to the bar. I ended up taking it to a local bike shop to fix and connect the rack piece to the hitch piece. In the end, I'm not sure if this was supposed to be like this or not. Either way, I wish instructions came with words along with the pictures and told me not to remove the tape.
super rack and great price that included shipping and bc it was shipped to DE there was no sales tax. the item was shipped promptly, arriving in 3 days time; Odelia the customer service rep in Mizzou was outstanding in helping me with the transaction.
Since 2011 this is the 3rd time I have shopped at etrailer. The reason I purchased this new Thule Helium model 9043PRObike rack is that the old Thule Helium model 971XT I bought back in 2011 broke (tightening lock knob mechanism inside the stinger assembly - 2nd time it has broken on me) and I needed a new rack quickly. etrailer.com indeed delivered swiftly! In the meantime I have put in a warrantee claim with Thule on my old rack. I’m sure this will take a while to resolve.
I have already used this new 9043PRO rack and am really please with the rack’s functionality as compared to the old one! Specifically the ease and speed to place and lock it onto the hitch itself. Also like the new design straps as well as the bike locking cable design.
Over the years I really appreciate the efficient, consistent and great customer service I have received in all my interactions etrailer!
Some confusion with the enclosed directions from Thule for setup, but once we figured it out, all was good.
Great product! Especially like the lock function so that I can enjoy the bike ride without worrying of losing my bike rack.
I love this bike rack. A woman can easily put it on and off and carry it to wherever it's stored between usage. It's easy to get bikes on and off and I love the easy tilt to open my hatchback when bikes are not on it. I studied many options before purchasing this and am very happy with the product. etrailer videos and assistance made me feel pretty certain before it arrived that it would be perfect. I have not tried to put 3 bikes on it, but purchased the 3 bike option since it was only a bit more expensive and gives plenty of room for 2 bikes and at least I have the option of getting a 3rd on there if needed.
Great product ultimately!
It took 2 of us 3-4 hours to install the hitch and the new bike rack... overall, it wasn’t complicated, but a little nerve wracking on a new car (so a lot of checking and re-checking instructions), and we had to run to the hardware store to buy a torque wrench.
Also, you have to sort of pry off the bumper from the clips. Apparently there are tools for it, but we used an old plastic spatula knife that worked well (metal will scratch the bumper).
The rack has worked fairly well for us, but it has a disturbing tendency to bounce, and at one point, one of the straps got loose and a bike came part way off on the highway, causing the kick stand to get ground down to a fine point before we noticed. We now use extra care to make sure the straps are positioned so they won't come loose, but just how to do that is not clear from the pictures-only instruction manual.
Excellent product with TERRIBLE directions. Shows only schematic pictures. Without [online], this would have been a nightmare!
This bike rack is nice. Very easy & quick to attach or remove from the vehicle. Only complaint is that the bikes sit very high, and that makes it difficult to load on rack.
I appreciate the fact that etrailer.com had a video on this product which helped me evaluate it and understand how to install it. They accurately represented the bike rack and its installation. I love it! They provided customer service way beyond the sale! A rare happening in today's world.
very light, it takes seconds to assemble. I would of given 5 stars if straps to secure bike were designed better. I have to use additional straps to secure it.
Nice rack, super easy assembly and install. Pretty lightweight too !
It performs as advertised. It is light for a 3-bike rack and is easy to install. The bikes seem secure and stable when attached.
Really well made, robust, well finished, works simply and well. Handles my three bikes easily: two road and one hybrid. Like the integrated bike lock and really like the hitch stabilizer and locking mechanism. Well designed.
Shout out to etrailer staff. Great customer service, proactive OEM contacts to confirm availability and delivery dates, and keeping me informed re delivery.
This is a great bike rack. It’s extremely easy to use and holds bikes securely!! I highly recommend it!
Great product, easy to assemble. Fits on installed hitch with ease and locks firmly. Plan on using it for family bike outings.
Lightweight and easy to use. Exactly what I was looking for! Love the locks as well so I can leave my bike on the rack overnight without worry.
I received my THULE Helium Pro 3 today and I installed it and the only disappointing part of the Bike Rack is the Weight. Thule makes its sound like it so light because it’s aluminum and it’s not.
Lightweight and pretty easy to install.
We love it — great design, easy to get bikes on and off, secure when bikes attached, rides well.
It is great. Everything works. Excellent quality.
Everything went fine.
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