When it comes to packing up your mountain bikes and hauling them to the trail, your number one priority is making sure your bikes arrive at your destination in the same condition they started in.Mountain bikes present their own unique challenges when it comes to finding the perfect bike rack to transport your gear. Common mountain bike features like full suspension and thru axles can limit rack options. Not to mention, mountain bikes are typically heavier than road bikes, their tires are beefier, and their handlebar spreads are often wider. It's even more challenging if you add in alternative bike frames or smaller kids' bikes.We all know that there are different aspects to your bike rack decision that can make it much more personalized. Some people want an affordable rack, some want the sturdiest ride, and others are specifically looking for features or the ability to load up a variety of bikes easily. Check out the button below to browse our selection of bike racks, or read further to hear our opinions of the best bike rack for you and your bike. Our team tested all of the bike racks we could find. These are our suggestions for the best-in-class (as well as a few honorable mentions if you're one of those folks that likes options).
What Type of Bike Rack Do I Need for My Mountain Bike?
The safest way to carry your mountain bike is with a hitch-mounted platform-style carrier. There are several reasons mountain bike enthusiasts prefer hitch-mounted platform-style racks over other types.Hitch-mounted platform racks:
Carry bikes by wheels with little or no frame contact
Don't allow bikes to sway behind vehicle (unlike hanging racks)
Swagman XTC2 TiltThe Swagman XTC2 Tilt makes many of the sacrifices that you would expect from a budget bike rack. However, where it stands out is price point. Having a tilting feature is generally reserved for bike racks at a higher price tier, but this rack, being one of the most budget-friendly ones we've tested, should be commended for including it. The features absolutely make it feel like the more expensive racks out there at a price point that stands head and shoulders above the rest (or knees and toes below the rest? I don't know, it's affordable, let's leave it at that.). My favorite part of this bike rack was how it folded up. Seriously this thing could fit in a broom closet with ease. I honestly believe that if you live in an apartment, and have limited space, but still want to get out onto the trail, this is not only a budget-friendly option, but a space-friendly one too.There is also the titular tilting feature, which, like previously mentioned, is rare to see at this price point. While the tilting feature isn't as easy to use as higher-end racks, the fact that it's even here is extremely noteworthy. If you're looking for a bike rack that won't put you back too far, but will allow you full access to the hatch of your vehicle, this is a solid option.
The Swagman XTC2 Tilt is tiny when it's completely folded up. Making it a perfect addition to the casual biker's broom closet.
Honorable Mention - Benton Shifts&GrinsThe Benton Shifts&Grins is the youngest competitor to throw their hat in the “hitch bike rack” ring, but they are really making some serious waves. My first positive “eyebrow raise” came when I compared the features list to the price point. The 2-bike version of this rack sports some serious convenience and sturdiness at a price that competes with racks nowhere near its usability. The entire time we tested this bike rack, we kept saying to ourselves “wait it costs how much?”. We had some serious trouble not subconsciously comparing it to bike racks that were twice its price.
When we tested all of these bike racks, we absolutely determined that you do, in fact, get what you pay for. But this late addition to the party throws that entire system out of balance. Seriously high end bike rack manufacturers now have to compete with a bike rack that matches their features 1 for 1, at half of the price. I don’t know if this marks a shift toward accessibility in the bike rack industry, but we were grinning the whole time we used this bike rack (you have to love it when something like this comes together).
It’s also worth noting before we move on that the Shifts&Grins comes with a 2-bike add-on. Buying these two as a bundle will land it more in the price range you’d expect, but with the two extra trays this guy still stands head and shoulders above the competition in value. All in all, this is an absolute hidden gem of a bike rack that will serve you and your riding crew for years to come, and punches well above it's weight class in value.
Even when the 2-bike add-on is attached, the tilt feature gives you plenty of clearance both from the hatch, and the ground.
Feature-Rich Racks for Bikers who Love Their Bells and Whistles RockyMounts BackstageHave you ever eaten a cake, and the cake was perfectly fine, nothing groundbreaking, it did what it was supposed to do, but the most memorable part of the cake was the absolutely delicious icing? That's the RockyMounts Backstage. You just ate a bike rack.The Backstage is a perfectly functional bike rack on the surface. It holds the bikes effectively, is a good sturdy ride, and is easy to use. But the icing really makes the cake here, and the features are what turns this bike rack up to 11 in our book. Not only does the RockyMounts Backstage tilt away like many bike racks at this price point, but it is unique in its ability to fold outward so offer unparalleled access to your tailgate or hatch. Not to mention loading multiple bikes on this rack is made significantly easier when a rider can load their bike on either side simultaneously.
The RockyMounts Backstage is able to fold out and allow complete access to the tailgate
Don't Believe us? Check out this review from Delaware Dave, a proud RockyMounts Backstage owner!
"Fairly easy install. And now that we have tested it out on a few trips we can honestly say we really like this product. The platform style keeps the bikes from touching/damaging each other. The design is solid and simple to use. Easy to load and unload. The only downside is the lock is a deterrent but not bombproof so we will probably add our own locks when needed. Other then that great product, great service from etrailer as always. Highly recommend this RockyMount hitch."
5/5 Stars
-Delaware Dave
Versatile Racks for the Biker who Hauls a Variety of Bikes Thule T2 Pro XTRHow are you at Pictionary? If your answer was anything north of "I'm alright I guess" then you could probably see the value in the Thule T2 Pro XTR. This bike rack checks all the boxes we tested. It was sturdy, it was easy to use once it was installed, and it felt like a good solid connection with some bulk behind it. The only hangup we had with this bike rack was the setup process. The good folks at Thule decided to go with the bold artistic choice of making their entire assembly instructions in picture form. So unless you can decipher what a drawing of a bicep means, get ready to guess!Setup aside, we really liked this bike rack, but the real icing on the cake would have to be the versatility. The mechanisms for holding the bicycles are in no way connected, and there is a healthy amount of space in between both trays. So you can load a large mountain bike in the first tray, and a child's bike in the second with no issues for when you're off the trail and hitting the park. This bike rack is an easy recommendation for those who are potentially loading multiple types of bikes, and want to be sure that their bike rack can handle whatever is thrown at it.
The Thule T2 Pro has two trays that allow multiple bikes to be loaded easily, and an available adapter that can hold two additional bikes
Honorable Mention- Saris FreedomThe Saris Freedom has a number of the same strengths of the Thule T2 Pro. The mechanisms that hold the bikes into place are completely independent of one another, and this freedom (see what I did there?) allows you to load multiple bikes of varying size with ease. There are a few other drawbacks to this rack though that aren't present in the T2, namely the center post. Loading your bikes onto this rack, while not prohibitively difficult, is harder to do because you must load the bikes around the center post, which provides the stability for the bicycle. We also felt like the plastic knobs for tightening the bike rack felt fragile to us, although they did their job just fine, we questioned how long they would hold up year after year. However, with these headaches does come a somewhat significant decrease in price. The Saris Freedom allows you to own a perfectly serviceable and versatile bike rack, and still have the freedom (seriously I can't stop) to not worry about the price tag while you do so.
The Saris Freedom uses tool-less plastic knobs for adjustment (the yellow bits). And while we never saw them fail, we suspect they may as time goes on
Easiest Rack to Use for the Biker Who Focuses on the Trail Ahead Kuat Piston ProBiking is a demanding hobby, there is no denying that. But that doesn't mean ease of use shouldn't be considered when you pick out a bike rack. In this aspect, the Kuat Piston Pro is easily the top of the line. If you are riding the roughest of trails, and you know you are gonna leave it all out there, having a bike rack that doesn't demand much of you is important. It doesn't get much easier to use than the Piston Pro. With a squeeze of the release handle, the supporting arm releases on its own with a satisfying "decompression" sound. I do feel like this comes with a few caveats though. First and foremost, let's talk price. This one is easily one of the most expensive racks on the market, easily double or even triple the price of some of our more budget-friendly entries. And this is made all the worse by the second point, other than the cool pistons (and make no mistake, they're really cool), this bike rack doesn't really do much to justify the price tag in our opinion. The lever that controls the tilt-away function was underneath the bikes, so it was awkward to get to. And while the ride was fine, you could easily be just as stable (spoiler alert: or even more stable) for half the price. There are a few drawbacks that we have listed, but all in all, this is a solid rack that knows it's niche, ease-of-use. If that's your primary concern, then there is literally nothing better out there. Just be prepared to pay a bit more for the convenience.
The sleek form factor of this bike rack is one of the many things we did like about the Kuat Piston Pro
Squeezing the release lever was all it took for the arms to raise and your rack to be ready to load up
We loved the fact that every moving component had a slick blue finish. It wasn't much, but it made this one stand out aesthetically
If you just finished reading the section about the Kuat Piston Pro above, and were a bit turned off by the list of cons, then oh boy, do I have a surprise for you. The RockyMounts GuideRail is also extremely simple to use (although lacking the pistons the aforementioned pro is named after), and handles all of those issues. The ride was stable, the tilt-away lever was in a much more accessible position, and all of this comes in at a much more reasonable price. The GuideRail takes the silver medal in the ease-of-use category because it lacks the pistons that almost automate the Kuat, but for my money, I would probably still go with the GuideRail over the Piston Pro. To me, the added convenience of the piston-operated holding arms and the inconvenience of the tilting feature come out in the wash, so adding the extra weight to the price tag makes this "second place rack", number one in my heart, even if it isn't necessarily as easy to use as the Piston Pro. This bike rack also sports a "tiered" platform design, which makes the tilt-away feature easier to use, increases ground clearance, and makes bike-to-bike contact that much less likely when you're traveling down the road. All in all, many bike racks felt very "over-engineered" and complicated. The RockyMounts GuideRail was a simple to use, easy to understand product that had all the features I wanted, and none of the fluff. It's a great bike rack for any rider who happens to find it within their budget.
Sturdiest Bike Rack for Bikers who Want to Protect Their Investment Hollywood Racks RV Rider When we were testing bike racks, we tended to notice some patterns when it came to price vs. quality. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for when buying a bike rack. There are some notable exceptions, some bike racks seem a bit overpriced for what they offer, and some of the budget racks seem to be a bit sturdier or user-friendly than their price tag would suggest. But with some minor exceptions they generally tended to follow that pattern.The Hollywood Racks RV Rider threw that entire balance on its head. This rack comes in very middle-of-the-road with its cost. It's definitely an investment, but nothing that compares to the super-high-end entries. However, despite that reasonable cost, this bike rack outperformed literally everything else that we tested. BIke racks that cost literally twice as much as this one wobble more in the hitch on our test course.There were some annoyances that we have come to expect with Hollywood Racks, namely that they tend to require an entire hardware store's worth of pins, bolts, and screws to assemble and adjust. There is also the center post that you have to load your bikes around which can be a hurdle for some users. But if you are only hauling a specific load of bikes repeatedly and not having to adjust the rack often, and don't mind loading around the center mast, this thing is punching well above its weight in value. If securely mounting your bikes is your prime concern, and you don't mind a few minor inconveniences to do so, there is literally no rack that comes close to the stability and security of the Hollywood Racks RV Rider. I think our opinion of it is summed up best by Amber, one of our writers who participated in this bike rack test.
"I was so impressed with how sturdy this thing was. Like, forget the e-bike, I’d ride on this thing."-Amber
The RV Rider looks as complicated as it is. But once all of those knobs and screws and doo-dads are in place, there's no tighter hold on the market
The frame mount is adjustable, so carbon fiber frames might want to steer clear, but step-through bikes and abnormal frames will be just fine here
Our Final Thoughts
I think the biggest thing to remember about choosing a bike rack, is that they are all very different from one another, and they all have different pros and cons. What may be a perfect bike rack for one biker, may be completely out of the question for another. And those specific needs have to be taken into account when making that choice. Hopefully this guide was as helpful to read as it was fun to make! Now that you know what bike rack is right for you, it's time to decide which trail to conquer first...Related Products
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