Availability of System Like Yakima EXO Allowing Easy Loading of E-Bikes

Updated 03/14/2025 | Published 03/09/2025

Products Featured in This Question

Yakima EXO Swing Away 2 Bike Rack w/ Cargo Carrier - 2" Hitches

(36)

$2295.80

Yakima BackSwing Swing Away Hitch Extender for Bike Racks - 2" Hitches

(102)

$378.95

Loading Ramp for Yakima StageTwo Bike Rack

(13)

$118.95

Yakima StageTwo Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount - Black

(18)

$948.95

Yakima SkyBox NX 16 Rooftop Cargo Box - 16 cu ft - Black Nano-Texture

(34)

$767.02

Question:

we are looking for an E-bike trailer hitch rack for the back of a pickup or Travato like the Yakima EXO swing away 2 bike rack. Do you have anything that would work that we dont have to lift two heavy bikes up so high? Thank you very much

asked by: Dave R

Expert Reply:

Hey Dave; what features of the Yakima EXO do you want to have? If you want the EXO for its other configurations you could still get the # Y54ZR. The TopShelf is removable so you could mount the bike rack on the lower part of the carrier when you need it and use the other attachments depending on your needs.

If you're wanting to use this as is with the bike rack sitting up top there is no way around lifting the bikes up there. Also, it has a capacity of 40 lbs per bike on the TopShelf and 50 lbs per bike on the SwingBase. That may not be enough for your e-bikes.

If you're only interested in the swing-away feature I recommend getting the Yakima StageTwo Bike Rack for 2 Bikes # Y78QD. This has a capacity of 70 lbs per bike (60 lbs on your Travato) and can be used with the Yakima BackSwing # Y02483. The hitch extender will reduce the capacity of your hitch by 50% but that probably won't be a problem on your truck or Travato. To make loading easy you can use the Loading Ramp for Yakima StageTwo Bike Rack # Y39VR.

expert reply by: Robin H

Yakima StageTwo Bike Rack
(click to enlarge)

David R.

3/13/2025

Thank you for your reply. What we are looking for is an E-bike carrier (that swings away if possible) that has a rack or platform/cargo carrier to carry things on for camping especially. -dave

Robin H.

3/14/2025

@DavidR the EXO design is really the only thing that will allow you to carry both on the rear. Since the bikes are going to stick up the only way to configure it with the cargo carrier is with the bike rack on top. I would say try the bike rack configuration with the BackSwing and use a roof box like the SkyBox NX # Y95AV but that would only potentially work with your truck and not the Travato. I'm sure you would rather not spend more than you have to but you could look into the storage boxes that are out there for the Sprinter/ProMaster that mount on the rear door if you have space. The roof box would work when you're using the truck and the storage box would solve this issue on the Travato plus your bike rack on the hitch. That adds in a whole other piece but it is a possible option. Outside of that the only thing I can think of would be to tow a small trailer to hold the bikes and whatever else you need.