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Is this right for you? Product Expert Matthew S says:
This durable, 2-bike rack is great for the serious cyclist as well as the occasional rider. You can tilt it down with your bikes loaded for trunk access, fold it up for storage, and secure your bikes and rack with keyed-alike locks.
Features:
Specs:
The Chinook's mast has a pair of ratcheting hooks that hold your bikes securely by the top tube. And because they move independently, you can carry bikes of different shapes and sizes. The hooks have soft padding that won't scratch or scuff your bike's paint.
The wheel cradles slide to accommodate bikes with different wheelbases. Hand knobs let you release the cradles to slide along the bike tray and adjust for your specific bike lengths. Each cradle has a ratcheting strap so you can secure your bikes' wheels during transport. If you need to carry fat bikes, there are cradles (sold separately) that let you carry bikes with tires up to 5" wide.
A spring-loaded release lever in the base of the rack lets you tilt the rack down with bikes loaded for cargo area access. You can also use that same lever to fold the rack up against your vehicle for storage. A second spring-loaded release lever lets you fold the mast down so you can fold the rack up.
The ratcheting hooks have lock cores in the release buttons so you can secure your bikes to the rack. Simply slide the hooks over your bikes' top tubes until they click and lock them in place. There is also a keyed-alike locking hitch pin that secures the rack to your vehicle. The hitch pin works with a built-in anti-wobble device in the shank to eliminate rattle in the hitch receiver during transport.
The rack has a removable aluminum sleeve that lets you convert the rack for use in 1-1/4" hitches.
California residents: click here
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (395 Customer Reviews)
This durable, 2-bike rack is great for the serious cyclist as well as the occasional rider. You can tilt it down with your bikes loaded for trunk access, fold it up for storage, and secure your bikes and rack with keyed-alike locks.
The install was super easy following along with the video. The Chinook is excellent quality. A year later and lots of local trips and two trips from PA to Florida and the rack is still in perfect condition. The key for us is IT DOESN'T RATTLE ON THE HIGHWAY! If I had to listen to 14 hours of rattling on I95 the bikes and rack would have been on the side of the highway. Exceptional value and quality!
Susan - 06/12/2022Love my new Swagman Chinook 2-bike rack! Impressive packaging to protect product for shipping. Assembled easily and transports my bike beautifully. I appreciate easy adjustments, multi-folding features, sturdy design and locks: 1) from rack to car receiver and 2) locking bike(s) onto rack.
Glenn - 04/14/2022We bought the Swagman Chinook Hitch Bike Rack a year ago for our 2017 Subaru Forester. We had to have a hitch installed and the rack attached. It was too heavy for us to do it ourselves. But we needed an easier option than lifting our bikes onto the hanging rack we had. We realized we weren't riding as much as we wanted because it was such a hassle to get the bikes up and on the rack. This platform solved that problem, and now we ride several times a week. It is so much easier to handle the bikes now. We live in a high traffic, hilly area so we aren't comfortable riding on city streets. But now we can easily load the bikes and get to greenways and trails where we can safely ride. Great solution! We have talked with other older couples who have racks similar to our old hanging rack. They express frustration. But they also say adding a hitch + this Chinook rack is "too expensive". Yes, it does cost. But hey, our health--we're in our mid-70's--is worth everything, and if this means we ride more, it's money well spent. It too awhile to learn the steps when loading and unloading but now it takes only minutes. Thanks, Swagman!
ML - 09/30/2022I 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.
Capt J - 03/21/2018Good for transporting a range of bikes with different tire widths and wheel sizes (29er mountain bike, 27.5 mountain bike, fat bike, etc.). Have now had it for 2000+ miles. It does wobble and bounce a little, especially on bumpy roads, and the mechanism to unfold the rack tray is a little sticky at times. But otherwise a good value.
George - 08/01/2022This bike rack is very sturdy, which adds to its hefty weight. Overall, it secures my bikes very well and the locking mechanism for both the hitch and bikes seems to be of good quality. The bikes would probably have to be damaged to be removed from the rack while it's locked, so that's about as much as you could ask for I guess. I bought this to enable transport of my triathlon bike with a disc wheel, which works perfect, even without the rear wheel strapped. The bike secures very snugly, so it doesn't shake around at all, although there is minimal play in the hitch...only very slight sway. For the price, quality, and utility, I'd definitely recommend this rack!
Joshua M - 01/15/2018Overall value 5/5
Overall features 4.5/5
Overall quality 4/5
Assembly instructions that do not have a parts list???
Instructions poorly (not horribly) written. Luckily it's easy to assemble. Like the overall rack. Fits modern 29" mountain bike without issue.
David I - 06/09/2021Haven’t used the rack a great deal, but have had no problems with it. We did have to purchase a bar adapter for the girls bike, as it just wasn’t stable enough without it. We have fenders on our bikes and cannot use the clamp on the tires. It’s not lightweight. It takes some strength to install it. We use it on a Toyota Tundra and a Subaru Crosstrek.
This bike rack does everything I need you want a bike rack to do - and at a reasonable price. It holds the biked snuggly but has rubber coating to protect the bikes. It ha locks for the bikes and where it attaches to the hitch. It is light enough and easy enough to take off. It folds up when not in use and it tilts easily to allow access to the rear lift gate. We looked for a long time but we got the right rack!
Randy K - 10/02/2022Highly recommend the Swagman Chinook Bike Rack! I have been using mine regularly during the last year and have had no issues. It's easy to attach and remove from my Honda CR-V. It's very sturdy and doesn't shift or 'bounce' around when I'm driving.
This is a decent bike rack for the price. It is sturdy and works really well with my hatchback. It doesn't take very long to install. It took me and a friend less than two hours total. The only reason I took off a star is because getting the bike into position closest to the car can be tricky and awkward. Not sure how to make this better. It does get easier the more I use it, but I have managed to smack myself in the face with my bike a few times. I have recommend this bike rack to other friends.
Renee - 10/12/2022waited a few weeks to review in order to fully use the rack as intended. First off, assembly was a breeze. I mounted this on a 2019 Subaru Outback 3.6 with a 2" receiver hitch. With 2 mountain bikes mounted up the rack showed very little to no sway while driving. The rack is very solidly built. The included wheel trays will fit up to a 3" wide tire (tested with a Specialized Fuse Comp 27.5+). The tilting feature gives plenty of room for the rear hatch to open. Levers for the tilt function and the support bar are solid and lock into place very well.
The only real negative with this is that it does block the rear view camera and back up sensors but that is to be expected with something that is mounted right in front of the bumper.
Overall, well worth the wait for it to arrive back in stock and highly recommend the Swagman Chinook over the pricier Thule Doubletrack.
Things I wanted in a platform bike rack:
-Rack that could accommodate at least a 49" wheel base
-At least 35 lbs per bike capacity, but preferably 45 lbs
-A Rack that could fold up and out of the way without hitting the bumper or interfering with the rear hatch opening.
-A rack that would have enough clearance to still open the hatch with the bikes mounted and tilted away.
-My bike (that I was concerned about fitting): 2017 Trek Fuel EX 7 29er, size XXL.
This rack hit all of those requirements! I was a bit hesitant because there was no confirmed fitment for the 2014+ Forester (beyond some measurements), but I ordered it anyway.
I'm happy to report that the rack fits perfectly. I attached pictures that show that there is plenty of clearance when the bike is mounted, bike is mounted and tilted away (to open the hatch), and when the rack is folded up (to clear bumper and open the rear hatch).
Rack itself:
-Assembly and installation was fairly easy. The directions could be somewhat confusing, but read carefully and pay attention and it will be easy.
-The cam locks that are used to tilt/fold the rack and to release the vertical arm are much more convenient than having to remove and re-insert a pin.
--there is some up and down play from the tilt/fold cam lock, but it actually does not cause excess movement when the bikes are mounted and the car is moving, hitting bumps, turning, etc.
-Very minimal movement from the rack while in motion.
-The padding on the hooks is fairly hard, so I did buy some pipe insulation to protect the top tube on my bikes.
-The rack hooks lock and there is a lock for the hitch pin. No cables necessary!
-The wheel trays are very sturdy and easy to adjust.
-The price was very reasonable, especially considering that locks are included.
Regarding etrailer.com
-awesome database of information AND the best prices that I could find.
-the support team is also very responsive and helpful.
I'm very happy with my hitch rack so far, and I'm very happy to have ditched my roof bike carriers!
I have been using this with 1 bike (not 2 yet) for about a month now, and it has worked great for me so far. Yes it is pretty heavy and still has movement going over bumps, but it seems very strong. I just took the 2nd bike tire mounts off until I need them. Everything is metal on this except the bike frame ratchet track and button mostly. I use it on a 2014 sonic hatchback with the trailer hitch I bought from here as well. I recommend this for people not wanting to risk scratching the paint on their car. The pictures make it look like it sticks way past the sides of my car, but that's not correct.
This worked well on my 2015 Chevrolet Malibu. I bought this rack to haul my two bikes 2300 plus miles from Charleston, SC to Las Vegas, NV and I am extremely pleased with it. It comes with bike and hitch locks that give you just enough security for those quick bathroom stops where your bike might be out of your sight for a few minutes. I was travelling alone so this was perfect for my needs at quick stops. The one night I stayed in a hotel, I did bring the bikes in the room with me. The mounted rack with the bikes felt solid and sturdy but did have a little wobble which is normal with hitch type bike racks. I have a Class II Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver (Item # C12115) and Curt recommends the use of stabilzer straps to be used with all non trailer loads so I used the Curt Cam Buckle Stabilizing strap (Item # 18050) and let me tell you, it works and I recommend it. It drastically reduced the wobble and kept the bike rack steady during my trip. I encountered heavy rain, snow, high winds and wind gusts and the rack withstood speeds up to 80 mph with no problems whatsoever. I love this rack and I highly recommend it. Great bang for your buck in my opinion.
I have a Specialized Turbo Como, which is an Electric assist bike, so a bit heavier and bulkier than a standard bike. I ordered the Swagman Chinook because I wanted support for the wheels as opposed to hanging by the frame.
It works perfectly.
I added a picture of the through bolt that is designed draw the 2" rack insert tight to the receiver to minimize sway, which it does. The problem is that the locking feature won't work because it extends too far and interferes with the tow package connections. If this bolt was 1 1/2" shorter it would work fine. I don't know why it is as long as it is for a 2" receiver, but it makes the lock unusable. My vehicle is a GMC Denali, but this would probably be true for all GMC and Chevy vehicles for the past ten years. That would be a great fix.
Chose this Swagman Chinook rack to haul our two new ebikes on our Honda Fit. The platform rack made loading the heaver bikes easier then a hanging rack that we had for the family van. Our ebikes did not have a top bar (step through) so the wheel straps and the top bar retaining arm holding the the down bar held each bike securely.
Joe O - 01/27/2022So, I remember wanting to write a review when I bought bike rack and receiver. The experience was awesome. I spoke to a real person. I gave her my VIN number and I sent her a pic of my bike. She told me exactly what I needed. She even gave me a direct dial so that I could contact her - that's right the same person that helped me with the order - if I had any problems. I was almost in tears as I am not sure I have ever dealt with an internet company that assigned 1 person to take care of me. It was awesome. The product worked as advertised, the experience was great and I would highly, highly, recommend etrailer.
Initially this rack was back ordered. But eTrailer kept me up to date and informed me when it shipped. Today I put the rack together~~instructions were easy to follow and all parts were delivered. I’m a 65+ year old female and I had no problems. Can’t wait to attach to my car and hit some trails.
Marilyn - 08/22/2022Works wonderfully on my Chevy Malibu. Only complaint is if you have shift/brake cables running across the top tube of your bike the clamping mechanic will cause those cables to scratch your bike bad. Just something to keep in mind as it’s more of I bought the wrong style bike rack rather then a issue with the bike rack.
Jakob - 02/15/2022I'll be using this rack for a Trek Remedy 29er. Overall, the fit/finish of this rack is fine, and the added wheel protection on the ratcheting loops is a nice touch. The arm(s) that touch the bike frame could be softer, but I might just use a towel or something to cover the frame.
I am, however, less than impressed with the locking hitch pin. I've never seen one that needlessly long before. Would be extremely easy to snip off. I don't know if Swagman makes a shorter one, but it's certainly needed.
I give 4 stars for the rack build quality, and 1 star for the threaded locking hitch pin.
I purchased this rack for my 2014 Subaru Forester. I originally bought a used Thule rack that hung the bikes from the top tube (or the top tube adapter, in the case of my mountain bikes), but my bike hung too low. After much research into various racks, I selected this Swagman Chinook. The ratings were good, the price was right, and it had all the features of a much more expensive rack. The rack was very easy to put together upon arrival, and it took me just a few minutes to adjust it to my mountain bike's size. I really like the fact that the rack locks to the car and also locks the bikes down to the rack. The rack tilts in easily to the vehicle when not in use. It's easy to put the rack on and take off of my car as well. I found the easiest way to load my bike (Niner RIP 9) is to raise the top hook to the tallest height and then lower the top tube hook rack. After I put the bike wheels in the tray and ratchet them down with the padded straps, I swing the top tube rack up and lock it down. If I attempted to load the bike with the top tube rack up, I had to really maneuver the bike around it while trying to get the wheels seated, and worried I'd scratch my car. I took it on a trip up north on a very windy day, and there was no sway. So many great features at a price that can't be beat.
Theresa - 06/21/2019Used our Swagman Chinook 2 bike platform for the first time today. My wife and I really like it. Drove about 60 miles to a rail trail at a state park. Easy to load and unload, travels well on the highway and secondary roads. Love the ability to tilt the rack with the bikes on for easy access to the rear door of our Subaru Outback. It appears to be a very well made carrier. It does weigh almost 50 lbs, and that is our only complaint.
Howard - 07/05/2018This is a good durable bike rack and easy to use
Very easy to install by one person. Easy to put bikes on. My 38lb electric bike ride without much wiggle/wobble. I did put a piece of insulating tubing on my bikes cross bar to double protect the paint. Very happy with this bike rack. Have told my friends they should consider the Swagman Bike Rack for their lighter weight ebikes or non ebikes.
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