# 1
Yakima HoldUp Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount
Been a Yakima user for some time. Last bike rack was the Doubledown 4. Great rack but with the newer bike frames having top bars in different shapes and sizes, putting bikes on the Doubledown was a challenge. Had to go to a platform rack. Holdup was the fit. Carries 2 kids bikes without issues as well as my 29” and 27.5”. It is big and heavy but is solid and stable. Just makes it so much easier to carry 4 bikes. Just did a 500 mile round trip drive with them and no issues. Built in security cables is a nice feature. I did change out the two SKS cores to match up with the others. I’ll need to replace the stabilizer pin’s holder. It’s make out of plastic and broke right when I pulled out the pin so the cable is just hanging now. If I had to do it again, I’d buy it again. etrailer has quick shipping and great customer service.
The bike rack works extremely well and fairly easy to get two adult bikes and two kids bike. The rack can be a bit heavy if lifting all in one piece. I would recommend installing the base, then the add on. Bikes are stable and secured. The locking cable is just long enough to go throught the frame, but don't expect both tires to be locked. The only issue I had is the stablizer bold for the add on did not fit through the base rack. I called supprot and I am going to make the hole slightly larger so it will fit. Support was very knowledge and had heard of one other issue like mine so they noted my account. etrailer is great in customer support and deliver.
# 2
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.
# 3
Yakima RidgeBack Bike Rack for 5 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Tilting
Rack is very easy to install and remove, and fits well with no rattle in the 2" receiver. Loading bikes is easy and it will, indeed, hold 5 bikes with relatively little effort. The only negatives I have are 1) Unless I use Yakima's custom locking cable for this rack, there is no good way to lock bicycles to the rack 2) It wasn't clear to me that I would need adapter bars (8002531) for kids bikes. I've always managed to get them on my older racks, but not the Yakima. I suspect that most modern racks would need these bars. Overall, very satisfied.
Yakima fits our family of four bikes well. You can definitely get a fifth bike on but it would be tight. The locking system works well and the clasps are easy to use. So much happier with this rack than my last on. I don't curse nearly as much when putting bikes on the car! Personally, I'm a big fan of Etrailer in general. They are thorough, friendly and knowledgeable. Great price and value.
# 4
Saris Freedom Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Frame Mount - Tilting
Great rack. I got a used unit from etrailer that was in like-new condition except for the packaging. It’s heavy-ish but manageable. The only issue is that the hitch tite insert will slide into the rack if you don’t keep it level when lifting into the hitch receiver. I’m using the freedom 4 on my Lexus GX 460, which has a swing out lift gate. Access is minimal with the rack level and the bike in place. It opens about 75% of the way with the bike removed and the rack level. I haven’t actually need to use the tilt function, but it’s nice to have in case need full access is ever needed.
WOW WOW WOW That is what I just kept saying after installing this Saris bike rack. I have been looking for a bike rack for almost 3-4 months now. Thule and Yakima didn't have what I was looking for. Their solution for a 4-5 bike rack is too complicated, not efficient, and it would be a nightmare to manage on a regular basis. So I couldn't get myself to pull a trigger on any of those and I kept searching. Finally, I came to eTrailer and found out about Saris. That is where the love starts :) We are a family of 5 (3 kids and 2 grown-ups). I needed something that will help me load bikes fast, unload them and still be able to have access to the back of my Toyota Sequoia. Saris delivered in every way. Assemble of the item is straight forward. Instructions are clear and to the point. They even give you a yellow strip that helps you mark where the hitch needs to be in order to align hole openings for easier installation after you install it the first time ;) The back-up camera is still usable but not 100%. Tilting down the rack with the bikes on it is simple as 1-2-3. There is plenty of room left between the trunk door and the bike as you can see on the pictures. One HUGE benefit is that you do not need any extra parts for kids bikes. Not like with other brands. Saris delivers tremendously on this part too. No shaking, rattling, or anything that would make you notice that you have this amazing product on the back of your SUV/truck. I can't recommend it more. I am just surprised that this product has not been more advertised and represented compared to other products.
# 5
Swagman Trailhead Bike Rack for 3 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Tilting
Draw-tite Sportframe Trailer Hitch Receiver Class I - 1-1/4 Swagman Trailhead 3 Bike Rack - Tilting The Draw-tite Sportframe class 1 trailer hitch and Swagman Trailhead 3 bike rack were ordered for a 2017 Honda Fit. The online order and shipping went just as expected. The trailer hitch and bike rack are very heavy duty. I recommend watching the trailer hitch install video before installing, whereas the video is very helpful. The bike rack has triangles that you can rotate to find the best fit for your bicycle's frame. The rubber straps are thick and secure the bicycles when you pull them tight. This bike rack will stay on the vehicle for 6 months each year. The tilt feature and folding arm feature are must haves for a smaller hatchback. I am pleased with this purchase, it appears to be good quality and good value.
My previous bike rack was a hitch mounted Yakima. It was sturdy but not well suited for my low Subaru Impreza. It stuck out too far and hung too low so that I had to inch my way down the driveway or over speed bumps for fear of it bottoming out. A roof rack or a rear window mounted rack was not suitable since I wanted to be able to also carry two kayaks. First, I tried to modify my rack by shortening the part that sticks out of the hitch. I tried to saw off about 6 inches so it wouldn't stick out so far but the steel was much too hard. I ended up ruining several metal-cutting blades on my power saw before I gave up. I looked for other rack options. There weren't many out there. But eventually, I found something that met my needs. I purchased the "Swagman Trailhead 3 Bike Fold Down Bicycle Hitch Rack" in 2013 from eTrailer.com. The part that enters the hitch curves up to increase clearance from the ground. It is sturdy and sticks out far enough so I can still open my trunk hatch without having to lower the main vertical bar on the hitch (though I could if I wanted to). It isn't often I am really excited about a piece of gear but this hitch rack has made me worry-free when I transport my bicycle(s) via car. The only thing I don't like is that it is advertised as being a 3 bike carrier but it only fits 2 hybrid bikes. Maybe it will fit 3 skinny racing bikes but for the average rider, don't expect to fit on more than 2. But my experience is that is the case for all bicycle racks.
# 6
Thule Apex Swing XT Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Swing Away
This rack is working great. I love the swing away arm. Makes very easy to get luggage in and out or more often the dogs in and out the back of my SUV when on the road.
Received the product in good condition and install was quite straightforward. The rack is solid and the fact that all critical points allow for adjustment and tightening via knob vs needing tools is indeed a plus. It fits snugly in my receiver and tightens down for zero movement on our Subaru Ascent. I’ve yet to load bikes but I can already tell its much better than our previous Saris rack. There was only one install issue - make certain you place the right locking mechanism into the proper lock. I don’t know why but it uses two separate keys - and the single key lock is the one that goes into the hitch receiver knob - and the instructions were slightly ambiguous on cautioning for that. Overall it’s heavy duty and should last year’s.
# 7
Saris Bones EX 3 Bike Rack - Trunk Mount - Adjustable Arms
Great product so far! Easy to install and adjust. A little tricky to load 2 large handlebar mountain bikes and a third smaller bike, but we just turned them sideways with the front wheels taken off. We had racks on bikes which were probably the impediment. We got them on though! Love how it folds up easy for quick storage. Works great on 2014 Subaru Outback.
Fits great on my Lexus NX but I’m worried about the bottom legs. Instructions doesn’t say if the bottom feet should be on the rear bumper or trunklid. I placed it on the top rear bumper but because of the limited space, the feet is not fully set in. I didn’t place it on the trunklid because I didn’t feel like the trunklid was strong enough to withhold the rack and bikes without possibly making a dent. Also, I searched everywhere but my saris came missing one of the bottom hooks. Had to use side hooks instead because I had to get the huggers for the top and side straps.
# 8
Curt Bike Rack for 5 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Tilting
This bike rack is for 5 bikes, but have not been able to get 5 bikes on it so far. Most can get on is 4 bikes. from all the reviews of this rack and other brands, it was the longest and also had the highest weight capacity. I think if you have like 2 adult bikes and 3 kids bikes, then 5 is possible. We have bikes, 2 cruisers, and 3 regular all more than 24in size. So we use to carry 4 bikes on it, and need to put 1 in the trunk, in van. For the rack it self, it is straight forward to assemble and hook up to van hitch. Also got a Curt 2in hitch installed on van from uhaul. The little pin to tighten the vertical portion of the bike rack lost its threading after like 4 - 5 uses and so it is not useful. They need to redesign so that is it firm and there is no play in it. I called etrailer and they said nothing they can do from their side. I will try local hardware for another screw to see if that will help. The overall order and service from etrailer, was good, i placed order on a Saturday and they also matched another online price and i received my order on Wednesday the following week. To fold down need to unpin, as compared to some other brands that have a 1 pull handle to perform same operation.
It was going to cost $50 to rent bikes for the week in Florida, per bike, that's $150 for the week, which i was going to spend so we could ride bikes for the week. After doing some research, i decided to just buy a rack, and take our own bikes. I got this rack for like $$$. I couldn't be happier. Now i have this rack to take our bikes anywhere we want to go!! We had such a great trip and got to take our own bikes and didn't have to worry about renting some. This rack is very solid and was great for the 15 hour drive each way from Illinois to Florida and back. I only took 3 bikes on this 5 bike rack, but I believe could have easily put on 2 more. I do have 2 more small children that didn't take this trip with us, but will be traveling with me in the future, which is why i got the 5 bike rack. It is really convenient how the kids bikes fit on the narrower part. I purchased the SR0901 locking pin to go with this after researching and finding the review that said it would work. [link] it worked perfectly and gave me piece of mind my rack was secured. i also purchased this cable, RKY3850 and just used a lock i had at home to secure the bikes to the rack. I would say this rack would be better if it had the lock and cable already in it, like some of the more expensive racks. It would also be better if the tilting points were simple handles like some of the more expensive racks. The pin and clips can be a bit of a pain and take some getting used to, but they aren't that hard to work. It would just be more convenient to have handles to tilt the rack to get into the trunk, etc. The convenience of having the handles and built in cable and lock is definitely not worth an extra $150-$200 more in price in my opinion. There is also a screw handle that you have to tighten up to get the rack solid and not wiggle, you will see on the video reviews. I found that after a few hours of travel, this screw began to wiggle loose, and needed tightened. I simply checked this, and re-tightened every time we stopped for gas. not a huge issue, but i definitely think this is a design flaw. it didn't need re-tightened every time we stopped, but it usually did, about 75% of the time. Lastly, the kids bikes did not fit on very good, so i had to purchase 2 of these bike adapter bars. I bought them on [site] All in all, i think i made a very solid and affordable purchase. instead of just throwing away $150 to a rental place, now i have this rack to use anytime we want to go out of town. It is certainly not the most expensive rack and doesn't have all the fancy features that the more expensive ones do, but for me and my family, it is perfect. We are not avid bike riders and won't use it every single weekend. If you are looking for one to use every weekend, you may want a more expensive fancier Thule or such. If you are looking for one that you may use a few times per summer, etc, this is a great choice. The rack is also very solid and feels very nice. It is not flimsy. It certainly doesn't feel cheap. Curt has really made a nice product here. It looks really nice as well. It looks pretty fancy and expensive. If would definitely recommend this Curt bike rack and make this purchase again.
# 9
SportRack Ridge Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Swing Away
Unit doesn't fit a Jeep Rubicon with a spare tire. I tried 4 times and contacted etrailer.com that the unit doesn't work as sold and they offered to sell me a 7 3/4 extension and reduce the load capacity 50%. The length of the 2" hitch needs to be 3" longer for a standard Rubicon to get past the spare. You not going to want to take your spare tire off for the hitch to work. It defeats the purpose. Customer service was excellent, however the product is a flawed design. Can't recommend this hitch. Its also heavy.
Solid rack for half the price of the name brands. Don’t waste your money! Thanks to the extensive reviews on etrailer and a free shipping promotion I took a chance and ordered this along with the three of their crossbars, anti rattle hitch pin and cable lock. All for well less than the name brand rack alone. Shipping was painful. Etrailer said it was in stock but then due to a delay with the manufacturer it took 35 days from order to arrival. I wasn’t in a hurry so I waited patiently, and etrailer reps emailed often to lmk they hadn’t forgotten. I thought some kind of reward for my extreme patience was in order- discount, gift card, free bag of chips- but they politely declined. Oh well. In the end it arrived when they (eventually) said it would, all in one box, in great shape. The rack was super easy to assemble. You’ll need a ratchet or two and you’ll need to crank those bolts to assemble- they don’t just “insert.” But otherwise it’s only a few steps; I had mine hanging on my truck in probably 15 minutes. Swings away and locks smoothly and requires no effort to do so. Everything feels quite sturdy and well made. No rattle on initial test drive either. This will be a once in a while rack at best for our family of four. We have two SUVs so I needed a rack that could get out of the way of the rear hatch WITH bikes on it. This will do that. And now I don’t need to stuff four dirty bikes into the back of my truck, getting them all tangled and scratched!
# 10
Thule Hitching Post Pro Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches
This is a very strong and secure Bike Rack. But the modeled rubber saddles are too big and the kid's smaller frame bikes will not fill over them. I ended up cutting off the lower attaching posts on each of the 8 saddles to get the bike frames over the saddles. Smaller saddles would make it easier to load and unload the bikes.
Great price for the 934XTR and the straps really hold the bikes well. Assembly is not great. Once you align the lower mounting holes between the receiver piece, the LOWER holes for the safety pin DO NOT line up. I truly know the tilt function is useful - but away from home I won’t be able to use it because there’s no way I’ll be able to re-insert the pin to support the daily use. ALSO: Please help - I did NOT receive the Thule Snug Tite Hitch Lock (THSTL2) ordered at the same time. Online, the 2-item order shows delivered. (Thank you!)
# 11
Swagman Upright Bike Rack for 1 Bike - Roof Rack Crossbars - Frame Mount
As always with products I buy from e-Trailer, this item is exactly as advertised and works perfectly. Easy assembly, I bought 2 but only installed one until I check the fit with my rooftop carrier.
We have used the Swagman Roof Rack a number of times when we have needed the additional bike carrying capacity. It took a couple attempts to get the initial spacing of the bike rack properly balanced on the van’s roof rack as recommended by the instructions. But it was easy to do and once set was very easy and quick to put on and take off. The rack works great, the bike is easy to put into place and secure. The bike and rack are very stable and quiet and haven’t required any mid-trip adjustments. We always put the cheapest bike on the roof (lol) but do use a bit of duct tape to protect the finish just Incase. We are very satisfied with the rack and consider it quite a deal for the money.
# 12
Hollywood Racks Road Runner Bike Rack for 5 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Tilting
So, one year in, this works well for the price. I have successfully hauled around 5 bikes a couple times now including a couple vacations. Bikes got there securely despite 4+ hours of driving at interstate speeds, including one harrowing stretch on bumpy roads with 70 mph speed limits (wow Texas, seriously?) where the car got significant amounts of "air" at random intervals. Getting the bikes on and off is still a major pain. I had to buy the adapter for 3 womens/children's bikes. My own full size mountain bike barely fits on, too, the pitch between the bars seems a bit challenging and requires me to contort the bike dramatically to get it on and off. If you are trying to actually get 5 bikes on here, figuring out the bike handle tetris game is not easy. Will take you a bit. It still takes me ~15 min to load 5 bikes up every time. On short trips I sometimes skip the tiedown through all the bike wheels and it's fine, although I wouldn't do it for long trips. My biggest regret here is not buying one where the rack will pivot out to allow access to the rear minivan hitch with the bikes attached -- this means this is the last thing to pack in the car and the first thing you unpack, every time on vacation. It requires planning and forethought. The rack does fold down nicely which we used extensively on vacation once the bikes were unpacked, just don't drive around that way. On my Honda minivan the bottom of this sags a bit when fully loaded with bikes, to the extent I scrape hard every time exiting my slightly inclined driveway. We found a few other low spots along our way, from restaurants to other businesses, that resulted in similar cringe-inducing moments. We drove it on the beach quite a bit, after a healthy wash with the pressure washer there is some mild rusting where the handles rotate, but the rack is otherwise in good shape.
Bought several bike racks and trailer hitches from etrailer. They followed up to make sure all was good. I would highly recommend buying from them. Good people and they care about the customer!
# 13
Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE2 Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
Easy to use and mount on my Outback and feels very solid. The hold-down bars slide easily, Velcro straps simple to engage and I love the fact that it folds up. I can put the garage door down while the rack is attached to the car. It is rather heavy, but manageable. I also love the screw device at the bottom that tightens the tongue in the car hitch.
First, the bicycle. This rack was purchased of r the specific purpose of hauling two Cannondale EQ DLX Remixte bicycle equipped with a basket on the handlebar. You’ll also notice that the bicycles are step-through, thus requiring the use of a crossbar of the Now, to the rack. It arrived on the day specified on the order’s confirmation and was very well packed… double-boxed even. Opening the boxes revealed the sturdy, wellfinished rack parts arranged neatly and isolated from one another with separate boxes and foam material. I immediately began the assembly, my review of which follows. The instructions are clear but I immediately formulated a difference of opinion on step one which instructs that the hitch tube should be inserted into the trailer hitch. The instructions then lead you to build the rack while mounted on the vehicle. This may be acceptable if you’re a teenager willing to squat on the ground or sit on a low stool for 30 to 40 minutes but, given my age, this was definitely not my cup of tea. So, after making sure that the hitch tube fit the trailer hitch properly, I proceeded to complete the assembly on a workbench. One item that I had to change is the position of the ratcheting frame hooks. To accommodate the crossbar on each bike, I placed the short hook facing the car and the long hook facing the rear. All the required tools are provided, the rack is super easy to assemble and requires only a bit of time. The fit on my 2018 Hyudai Santa Fe is perfect. So why did I chose this particular rack? As you can see from the picture above, the bicycles each have a basket on the front handlebar. All the hitch racks that I saw had fixed wheel trays, the trays were too close together, or the rack did not come across as being very sturdy. The wheel holders on this rack are adjustable so that I can stagger the bikes’ positions (one further left and one further right) to avoid the baskets coming into contact with the other. The spacing between the two bikes is also generous. Also important for me were all the locks and the ability to tighten the hitch tube inside the trailer hitch by turning a crank and not have to deal with nuts and bolts to remove a hitch clamp each time I want to install or remove the rack from the car. The folded rack fits nicely on the back of my 2018 Santa Fe The trunk opens with room to spare when the rack is tilted. Note the crossbars on the bike, short hook facing car, long hook facing away. The front and rear wheel holders are staggered to make room for the baskets.
# 14
Swagman XP Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Tilting
I love the bike rack itself, I only have 1 problem the first lock that fastens down with the key does not work. It’s really hard to grab and spin, my father worked on it for quite some time and was frustrated. I was wondering can you send me a regular twist down handle like the other 3? I don’t need the key lock, or send me a new one with the key lock since this one is defective? Other than that its great, we just got it on my vehicle last night but I cannot use the very first bike clamp. My sister in law is asking how I like it because she wants to get one too, no worries I will tell her its awesome, I understands there are flaws and I know you will hook me up with a new clamp. I will post a great review once I get my new clamp.
I truly appreciate the follow up. To make it plain and simple, my family is incredibly excited to own this product. Your team did an incredible job walking through the right product as I could not find a custom hitch for my BMW X6 cross over SUV and you guys nailed it! From the hitch, to the bumper I had to get replaced, it works like a charm! I have been and will continue to recommend your company and staff! Top notch professionals if you ask me!
# 15
Hollywood Racks Destination Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
One year in and it is great. I have a 2021 Subaru accent and it is perfect. We carry 4 adult bikes and while it is a tight fit it works great. The rack is VERY solid and does not move when tightened up. Over the past year we have used it 3-4 times with no issues so far. It is easy to use and one person can easily load and unload the bikes. The tilt up feature is nice and when the rack is down and there are no bikes we can open the back hatch without an issue and there is plenty of clearance. We have been very happy with the performance and the price.
This bike rack is awesome! It’s fast and easy, well made and I have confidence that we’ll get to our destination without any problems!
# 16
Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE Bike Rack for 2 Electric Bikes - 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
This bike rack works great for our 2 Lectric 2.0 e-bikes. We mount it on our 2019 Honda Ridgeline. It folds up nicely when it’s on the truck and we are using our bikes. The locking mechanisms work well also. I contacted support for a smaller hook arm to clamp B over the bike frame. They knew exactly what I needed and shipped it - no problem.
Rack is sturdy and rides steady. I like the anti rattle design. I have been hauling a conventional hybrid bike and just bought my first e-bike. The racks adjustability is great and it looks like I will be able to haul both bikes easily. I have used it on a class c RV. The only problem has been the lock on the cable that comes with the rack. I have had to cut the cable, but Hollywood sent replacements promptly twice.
# 17
Swagman Fork Down Roof Mounted Bike Carrier - Fork Mount
Goes together quickly, appears that it will fit my needs in terms of being cross-compatible on a variety of vehicles. Fit on a Subaru Outback factory crossbar and transported bike locally with no issues when I got it out to set up and test (not quite warm enough to ride much yet where I live). Instructions are not super, but the assembly is pretty straightforward so that is not a problem. At the price point, if this rack indeed holds up to swapping onto multiple vehicles and lasts me a few years, I'll be thrilled with the purchase.
I purchased two of these racks, along with another rack that is meant to hold bikes with both tires still installed. I am extremely happy with all three of them. This rack specifically is very sturdy. Installation was sort of a pain, but that was mostly due to me installing it on the top of my 2004 GMC Yukon XL...it is so high that it was a little hard to install. But now that it's installed, it's actually very simple to take the bikes on and off. I've made one round trip with these racks, so I've put the bikes up there and removed them twice. Both trips (about 100 miles each way) they bikes were super sturdy and I had no concerns about them falling off or anything like that. I would definitely recommend this rack if you're looking for a fork down roof mounted bike carrier. In fact, I will very likely get another one when we add another bike to the family. I think I'll be able to fit four racks on the top of my Yukon easily. One last note - I was initially concerned about the height of my vehicle when bikes were on top of them. I brushed a couple of tree limbs when pulling into my camping spot, but it was no big deal. I think the total height of my load was about 10 feet, which was lower than the camper that I was pulling.
# 18
Yakima FullTilt Bike Rack for 5 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Tilting
So far so good. Easy to install on my 2in hitch, looks great and feels secure. I will need to but a few adapter bars for the family bikes but I'd recommend this one for sure. The adjustable locks are very convenient and the removable straps make it easy to slide bikes on and off the rack.
Just an all around great bike rack. I have loaded four bikes and driven a decent amount of miles with no issues at all. I didn't even find it necessary to use the accessory cross bar that can be purchased separately. I did buy a couple of them just in case. I don't find it an issue if the bikes are not level with the ground when loaded. They are all well above the ground. I only wish I had purchased this from etrailer sooner.
# 19
Yakima FrontLoader Wheel Mount Bike Carrier - Roof Mount
It's a fantastic roof rack, which I use above my truck bed. I recently bought a second one so I can take my road bike and gravel bike with me on my camping trips.
Very good product. It holds the bike securely on the roof without contacting the frame. It is easy to adjust from my road bike to my 29er mountain bike. Our drives are all relatively short, so I like that I do not need to remove the front wheel to lock in the bike. It's also nice that the SKS locking system allows me to use the same key for this rack that I use for my Yakima roof box and hitch rack. This is my first roof rack and I chose this route for a couple reasons. Some of the roads we travel to get to our trail heads are a bit rough and with a roof rack I don't have to worry about bottoming out a hitch rack hanging off the back of the vehicle. Also, it takes up less room in the garage. Our vehicle is a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee with an additional 4 inches of ground clearance. That makes it a bit of a reach for my 5'4" wife, so we take our two-step along to help her. This is my third time purchasing from etrailer, and each experience has been very good. They are a very customer service oriented company. I really appreciate all the additional information they provide on their products, especially all the videos they produce to aid in reviews, assembly, and use.
# 20
Curt Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Tilting
This rack has worked well for us. I fits the Curt hitch perfectly. It is easy to attach bicycles securely. We can get three adult bicycles on this hitch (see photo). There are sufficient means to protect against sway.
After less than one year, and only 5 or 6 uses, the threaded stabilizer--the one just below the spring-loaded, T-shaped handle used for tilting the mast--stripped out the hole it passes through in the body of the rack. Now my rack wobbles like crazy. I'm still within the warranty period, but in order to get it fixed, I have to return the entire bike rack and cover the return shipping . I'll just keep the broken rack and find a way to deal with the issue. Hopefully you have a better experience than me.
What our customers are saying:
"Just to let you know I was very satisfied with my orders for a hitch, wiring harness, bike rack and extension. I have a 1995 Dodge Ram van and some of the parts are hard to get elsewhere. I received all my orders proptly and will recommend you to others. The pricing can't be beat. Thank you. Sincerely, Frank"