# 1
Swagman Chinook Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
Had a Yakima...wife took it so I decided to upgrade...and I did. Easy to put together and install. 10 hour road trip, very little wobble. Did have retighten screws after trip but bike was secure and liked the fact the bike was locked to the rack and the rack locked to the hitch. Definitely would recommend.
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.
# 2
Kuat NV 2.0 Base 2-Bike Platform Rack - 1-1/4" Hitches - Wheel Mount - Matte Black
Great rack! This is our third hitch rack: we had a 4-bike Thule for hanging bikes by their tubes and then a 2-bike Thule platform rack whose 100-pound rating didn't permit loading 2 e-bikes, so that was our criterion for the search that led to this purchase. Assembly was not intuitive, so we had to re-do a few steps, but the final product is excellent: very stable. Two cautions: (1) Be sure to check whether any panniers block your tail lights; (2) Always use the included lock because each bike's rear wheel sits on a relatively flat surface and a big bump might dislodge it if the back strap isn't firmly seated.
Bought a new Mazda 3 HB and decided to go with a hitch bike rack. I've had a Kuat Trasnfer bike rack. That rack did it's job, but I felt the Sherpa or NV 2.0 Base would be better in every way. I've bought hitches and Kuat from etrailer and I knew their online prices and customer service was the best in business so it was a no brainer to go back to buy another bike rack. It was a tough decision between the Sherpa and NV 2.0 Base, but I felt had all the right checks for me to go with the NV Base 2.0. Once I ordered the rack, it was shipped the same day and arrived at my doorstep a day earlier! The box was ok, but the packaging inside was excellent. The quality is top notch and the manual is easy to read. Not gonna lie, the rack is heavy. I knew it was going to be heavy after researching on it and it's not a big deal, but doing a solo assembly wasn't going to be easy. Luckily I had my son with me to assist. Assembly took 15min (with another person). Manual doesn't state NM torque, but I set it around 8-10nm to bolt down everything. Once I put it on the hitch, I turned the anti-rattle knob and it locked the bike rack down to the hitch like a vice grip. It's solid and wont budge at all! everything on this rack is sturdy and top quality. The bike and rack barely sways during the drive. I can't express how impressive this rack is! The only down side to this and it's not even the rack, it's the hitch lock pin. It feels like an after thought and it's too thin. it flops around. With the price I paid for this, I was hoping for something little better. Overall all, the Kuat NV 2.0 Base is hands down the best bike rack on the market and I'm glad I went with it.
# 3
Kuat NV 2.0 Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 1-1/4" Hitches - Wheel Mount - Metallic Black
Love this bike rack! The NV 2.0 firmly keeps my road bike and beach cruiser securely in place. The added lock is a great feature for keeping the bikes safe after a day of riding. Even on my tiny Corolla the rack looks and fits great. I never have to worry about the bikes when they're locked onto the NV 2.0
Ok at 1 year I still remember how good customer service is with etrailer.com. This rack remains awesome as well, favorite features are the locks and the flip down capability so even with bikes loaded I can open the back hatch of my SUV with no issues. Also I think it is easy to take on and off so I don't just drive around with it on, hangs easily in the garage.
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"