# 1
Thule Hitching Post Pro Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches
built solid, easy to install .just received bike rack have not used yet.
Super easy to order. Arrived in a few days. Installed in 10 minutes. Appreciate the email updates.
# 2
Swagman XC2 Bike Rack for 2 bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
We are happy with our Swagman XC 2-Bike Rack; it has performed above average on highways and dirt roads and is a breeze to attach to our truck, thank you for a great product.
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.
# 3
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.
# 4
Hollywood Racks Destination Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
Used it twice so far, it meets my expectations based on other reviews. It's easy to load the bikes (8 minutes or so for 4 bikes) and to move up or down. Glad I bought this "lighter" platform rack rather than the swagman because while it's not hard to get into the hitch, neither is it "light". Anything heavier would definitely be a pain. Hopefully straps etc are durable over the long haul. No problem getting 2 adult and 2 kids bikes on. Glad I went with a platform rack over a bar. My sister has the bar rack and says it's impossible to get 4 bikes on.
Ok so I I was going to buy a safari rack which ended up being about $100 more once you tacked on taxes and shipping from another website. This was on sale and had really good reviews. I bought this and have used it long enough to leave an honest review. It’s a really good rack, quality built, and If anything should break on the rack etrailer has all the replacement parts for very cheap prices. I have used this racks for shuttle duties and held 4 big enduros bikes several times. You don’t need to use the extra red straps sent with the rack for the bikes to be very secure. As someone stated before in the reviews long wheelbase bikes like size L or XL frame enduro or DH bikes might only be able to strap one wheel and frame attachment (the one wheel will be too long to get a good strap on), but all you need to do is drill a hole and move the clamp outboard about 2” and you’ll be good as gold. This rack is awesome and was a heck of a deal. Would recommend and buy again if I ever needed 2 racks? Also not to mention (not that I really care), but the rack was packaged really nice and didn’t come all damaged from shipping, it was really nicely formed foam that was glued in place and not just some hack job some guy tossed in a box. 10/10 !
# 5
Thule EasyFold XT Bike Rack for 2 Electric Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
Had it for about a year and love it. I think it is the best Bike Rack for Ebikes out there. It is easy to set and load the bikes plus gives excellent security with the various locking options.
The BEST bike carrier by far!! We are both in our 7th decade and even I alone (5’2” 120 lbs) can manage to attach this in my hitch without any issues. It’s so easy to load both our hybrid and e-bike and they are super secure. We love that it folds up small and wheels away when not in use. This bike carrier is worth every penny!!
# 6
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.
# 7
Curt Clamp-On Bike Rack for 3 Bikes - 2" Ball Mounts
I bought this due to decent reviews. Shipping was rather quick, within 4 days of ordering. Loading all 3 bikes was very tight with two adult bikes and one child bike, but I made it work. As another person posted, the rack is pretty difficult to push down and secure. It takes a lot of force I don't think my wife could have done it. The first time when I tested installing, when I tried to release the rack, it released hard and hit my knuckles. The second time, the spring loaded pin broke (pictures attached) and, once again, my knuckles got hit. Caution really needs to be taken if you have this product. I am giving two stars for this due to the safety concern and the plastic handle breaking. I will be returning for a refund.
The only thing I do not like is when you use the handle to take it off. It springs and hits your hand ever single time. Other then that it is nice.
# 8
Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE Bike Rack for 2 Electric Bikes - 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
Ordered it and had it at my house within a week, instructions were clear and easy to follow, and so far it’s a perfect fit for what I needed it for!!
# 9
Curt Bike Rack for 5 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Tilting
It was obvious that we received a product that was returned by someone else when the box was overly taped shut, a support collar was broken, and most of the pieces were out of their ripped plastic bags. However, it was a great price to hold 5, 26" and/or 27" Trek bikes. I used a piece of the broken collar and went ahead and assembled the rack. Due to the weight of the 5 bikes it did not wobble that much when driving, as one of the bike tires was up against my car. I can only imagine that if we received an untampered product that this review would have been 5 stars. The picture is a little hard to see, but there are 5 Trek bikes on the rack on my 2020 Toyota Seinna.
We received a damaged box, damaged items, no instructions, the nuts and bolts are completely stripped and not inside a bag. This was obviously used, returned, not checked for quality and sent out. We are extremely upset.
# 10
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.
# 11
Thule T2 Pro XTR Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount
Great product, great company to do business with. etrailer is the best. Friendly, helpful and they made sure the bike rack was shipped immediately and it was delivered on time.
The quality of the rack is very sturdy and well built. I needed a rack that has a 12” spacing between wheels do to the baskets on each bike, and this rack delivered that. The issues I have with this rack are: I have a GMC Yukon suv and with the rack mounted I have to lift my two Lecritc 2.0 e-bikes, at 60 pounds each up over 24” to get it mounted. It sure could use ramps, which I know it did not come with. The clamp hold down does not work with fenders on a bike. It does not clamp very well on the cross bar (male and female) type do to the width and the angle of the cross bars. When clamping in front of the front fender makes the bike very unstable, and will require additional strapping and tie downs to secure the bikes. It claims it is for e-bikes, but only if it has no fenders. Nice rack, just not for me.
# 12
Yakima OnRamp Bike Rack for 2 Electric Bikes - 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
etrailer: prompt delivery, fair price! Rack: It does fit my (2) Gazelle T10 eBikes. 1) I found I had to adjust every setting to get bikes to fit. Until you learn there are many adjustments, it does not seem like the center/vertical clamps will reach both seat posts. 2) The ramp is barely usable; my wheels are max it will fit and you must have at least 12ft of clearance on each side of car to get bike lined up with ramp. 3) My bikes have a "walk" feature, this is not usable as its too awkward to hold the walk button down and move around the rack. I found its easier to abandon the ramp and load front then rear wheel. I will rig up a wheel stop, on ends of each wheel holder so bike will not roll off while I strap it in. 4) Rack did NOT come with a lock for hitch pin; this is very disappointing as they say in manual this is an optional item. Every rack I have seen at least has a clip that would otherwise hold the hitch pin in if somehow the bolt loosened up. 5) The rack weight is the lightest I have found. 6) You must load the first bike (closest to car) from car passenger side. This will avoid you bike pedals hitting the vertical bar. That means you must load the 2nd bike manually as there is no way to get the pedals past the vertical bar. I will get used to this, I hope. 7) The rack is a few inches above the receiver (part that goes into hitch) so if you have a low hitch this might be an issue with ground clearance. With both bikes mounted up, it seems very stable and hopefully will be secure in travel.
This is a great product and works beautifully! The only issue was some sloppily made plastic turn knobs that were cross threaded on arrival. However, Yakima immediately shipped out replacements. It carries two large E bikes easily. They fasten solidly and are easy to load and unload!
# 13
Kuat NV 2.0 Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount - Gunmetal Gray
My Kuat NV 2. Bike Rack is the best bike rack I have ever owned. It is excellent for electric bikes. Very easy to load bikes and holds bikes very securely.
This bike rack is built extremely good. It is solid and the bikes are easy to put on and off the rack. The reason for the 3 stars are the following. I purchased the 4 bike rack together. It comes in two seperate boxes one for the main unit and the other for the additonal two bike add on. However, even purchasing this as one unit the two units are keyed different. If I have 4 bikes on the rack and lock the bikes I have to have two different keys to unlock the bikes. Why? The main unit came with some scratches on it. However, I know that putting bikes on and off the unit will get scratched. It is disappointing to see the amount of money this bike rack cost to come already scratched. The other major issue with having the four bike rack is the ability to have all 4 bikes on the rack and tilt the rack down to get into the hatch of the vehilce. The manufacture could provide an extention to the lever so that when the rack is setup for 4 bikes it can be tilted without the assistance of another person. Only comes with two child bike adaptors.
Swagman Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2015 Ram 1500
Today on our 2015 Ram 1500 we're going to be doing a test fit of the Swagman Trailhead 4-bike rack. It's going to come with an 1-1/4" shank with a 2" sleeve, and it's going to be part number S63380. Let's go ahead and take our shank and insert that into our receiver that we have here today. Once you got it inserted go ahead and line up your pinholes so we can insert our anti-rattle bolt. Once you've gotten that anti-rattle bolt threaded in as far as you can, go ahead and tighten that down with a 3/4" socket. This anti-rattle bolt will help to eliminate a lot of the sway, rattle, or wobble that you may have remaining in your hitch as you can see there.
Softride Element Parallelogram Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2015 Ram 1500
Today on our 2015 Ram 1500 we will be doing a test fit of the Softride Element Parallelogram. This is a 4-bike rack and it comes with either your 2" and an adapter for your 1-1/4" shank. It's going to be part number SR26248. We'll go ahead and fit this on the vehicle. Insert our shank into our receiver. After we get that inserted we'll go ahead and take our bolt, line up our pinholes, and thread that in.
Swagman XTC4 Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2015 Ram 1500
Today, on our 2015 Ram 1500, we'll be doing a test fit of the Swagman XTC4. This is a platform style 4-bike rack, and it's going to be part number S64665. It has a 2-inch shank on it for 2-inch hitches only. We're going to go ahead and put that in our 2-inch receiver we have here today. We got it inserted where we want it. Let's go ahead and line up our pin holes.
Thule Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2015 Ram 1500
Today on our 2015 Ram 1500, we're going to be doing test fit of the Thule Vertex Swing. This is a 4-bike rack. It comes with a 2-inch shank. It's going to be part number TH9031XT. Let's go ahead and test fit this into our receiver. Once you get your shank into your receiver, let's go ahead and line up our pin holes.
Thule Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2015 Ram 1500 TH9029XT
Today on our 2015 Ram 1500, we're going to be a test fit of the Thule Vertex 4 Bike Rack. It's going to have an 1-1/4 inch shank with a 2-inch adapter. It's going to be part number TH9029XT. Let's go and do our test fit. Take your 2-inch adapter and put it in the 2-inch receiver that we have here today. Once you have it inserted, go ahead and line up your bolt holes or pin holes.
Saris Bike Porter Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2015 Ram 1500
Today, on our 2015, Ram 1500, we're going to be going over a test fit of this SARIS Bike Porter, 4-bike carrier. This is going to have an inch and a quarter shank, with a 2 inch sleeve on it, and your part number is going to be, SA404B. Insert your shank into our receiver. With the shank in our 2 inch receiver, let's line up our pin-holes and take our anti-rattle bolt and insert it. Once you have your anti-rattle bolt inserted, screw that in. Since we've got it tightened down as far as we can by hand, let's take our 3/4 inch ratchet and tighten it down the rest of the way. This will help eliminate a lot of the rattle, sway, or wobble we may have left in our hitch, as you can see there.
Yakima FullTilt Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2015 Ram 1500
Today on our 2015 Ram 1500, we'll be test fitting the Yakima FullTilt 4 Bike Carrier, this has got an inch and quarter shank, with a 2 inch sleeve on it. Its part number's going to be, Y02462. Let's go ahead and do the test fit. Go ahead and take your shank and insert it into your receiver. Make sure that this gray piece is down so you have an easy job inserting it. It also has an auto-locking pin so that won't come out.
SportRack Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2015 Ram 1500
Today on our 2015 Ram 1500, we're going to be going over a test fit of the SportRack Platform Style 4-Bike Rack. It's going to be part number SR2902. It comes with a 2-inch shank. I'm going to go ahead by starting off and inserting that into our 2-inch receiver. Let's go ahead and line up our pin holes. Once you've got them lined up, go ahead and take your anti-rattle bolt that's included, as you can see there, and insert that into our hole and thread it in.
Pro Series Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2015 Ram 1500
Today on our 2015 Ram 1500 we're going to be doing a test fit of the Pro Series Q-Slot. This is a 2 and 4 bike rack. It's going to be PS63138. This is for 2 inch receivers only. We'll go ahead and take our 2 inch shank and insert that into our receiver that we have here today. Go ahead and line up our pin holes. Once you have your pin holes lined up, go ahead and take your anti-rattle bolt and thread that in.
Thule Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2015 Ram 1500 TH9030XT
Today on our 2015 Ram 1500 we're going to be doing the test fit of the Thule Vertex 5-bike rack. It's got a 2" shank on it for 2" hitches only and the part number is going to be TH9030XT. Let's go ahead and take the shank and insert that into our hitch. Once you get it inserted let's go ahead and line up our pinholes. Once you have those pinholes lined up, go ahead and thread in the bolt. Once you have that threaded in as far as you can get it with your hand, go ahead and use a 3/4" socket to tighten it the rest of the way.
Saris Freedom Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2015 Ram 1500
Today on our 2015 Ram 1500 Series Crew Cab, we'll be test fitting the Saris Freedom Platform Style Tilting 4 Bike Rack, that's part number SA4414B. This is for 2 inch hitches, we've got a 2 inch receiver here today. We can go ahead and begin by inserting our shank into our receiver. Next thing I'm going to do is we'll line up our pin holes. Once that is lined up we'll take our included anti rattle bolt and thread that through and we'll take our socket wrench and tighten that the rest of the way down. Nice thing about this anti rattle bolt it is going to help reduce the play and rattle within our hitch and our bike rack.
Saris Thelma Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2015 Ram 1500
Today on our 2015 Ram 1500 series crew cab we will be test fitting the Saris Thelma platform-style 3-bike rack. That's part number SA4239B. This can be used for either 1-1/4" or 2" hitches. We've got our adapter on our shank down there for our 2" receiver here today. We can go ahead and begin by inserting that into our receiver. Next thing we want to do is line up our pinholes.
Saris Freedom SuperClamp Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2015 Ram 1500
Today on our 2015 Ram 1500 series Crew Cab, we will be test fitting the Saris Freedom Super Clamp platform style 2 bike rack. That's part number SA4025. This can be used for either 1 and 3/4 or 2 inch hitches. We have got a 2 inch hitch here today. We can go ahead and begin by inserting our shank into our receiver.Line up our pin holes. When we get those lined up, we will take our included anti-rattle bolt and lockand thread that through.
Saris Axis Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2015 Ram 1500
Today on our 2015 Ram 1500 series crew cab we will be test fitting the Saris Axis tilting 2-bike rack. That's part number SA832. This can be used for either 1-1/4" or 2" hitches. We've got our adapter here for our 2" receiver. We can go ahead and begin by inserting our shank into our receiver. Next thing we'll do is we'll line up our pinholes.
Hollywood Racks Traveler Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2015 Ram 1500
Today on our 2015 Ram 1500, we'll be doing a test fit of the Hollywood Racks traveler 5-bike carrier. This is going to come with your 2" shank for your 2" hitches only. This is going to be part number HR9200. Let's go ahead and take our shank and insert that into the receiver. Once you've lined up your pin holes, you'll go ahead and take your anti-rattle bolt and thread that in as far as you can. Once you're unable to get it any further by hand, go and use a 3/4" socket to put it the rest of the way in. This anti-rattle bolt will help to eliminate a lot of the sway, rattle, and/or wobble that you may still have in your hitch.
Hollywood Racks Traveler Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2015 Ram 1500 hr8500
Today on our 2015 Ram 100 we're going to be doing a test fit of the Hollywood Racks Traveler 4-bike carrier. It's got a 1-1/4" shank with a 2" sleeve. Part number is going to be HR8500. Let's go ahead and take this shank and insert it into our receiver. Once you've got it inserted, let's go ahead and line up our pin holes. With our pin holes lined up, go ahead and insert your anti-rattle bolt, and thread that in as far as you can by hand. Now tightening this anti-rattle bolt will help to reduce a lot of your sway, rattle, or wobble that you may still have left in your hitch.
What our customers are saying:
"A couple months ago, I ordered a hitch & bike rack for my new 2005 Saturn VUE. Everything about the order was fast and easy. When my father bought a 2006 VUE, he wanted the same hitch, but it was not listed on the site. I contacted customer service and quickly received a response informing me that they were waiting for details on the new model. The next day I had another email saying it was available, less than an hour later, my order was placed and I had a "shipped" email. Outstanding service!"