Easy to Use Hitch Bike Rack Recommendation for Use on 2014 Mazda CX-5
Updated 06/17/2014 | Published 06/15/2014
Question:
I have a 2014 Mazda CX5. Im looking for a hitch bike rack that is 1. stable, 2. easy to load, 3. can move either down or to the side with bikes loaded to have access to back/trunk of car. I am a female so ease to do the above is important. I have read where some of the racks are heavy, others where you need strength to lift rack after loading etc. some comments mentioned hydraulic assistance, but I can only assume cost and weight would be extreme. Right now Im looking at the Softride Dura Parallelogram 4 Bike Rack would prefer 2 bike rack and the Yakima - StickUp Hitch Bike Rack. Can you provide some advice please? Thank you.
asked by: Phyllis V
Expert Reply:
Your 2014 Mazda CX-5 can be equipped with either a 1-1/4-inch Class II or a 2-inch Class III hitch. Although there are plenty of racks like the Yakima HighLite 2 Bike Carrier # Y02438 that will fit both sizes, it may benefit you to use a platform-style hitch carrier since these do not require you to lift your bikes as high. Generally the platform type racks are a bit heavier than hanging racks like the HighLite, but you can decide if the easier loading of your bikes offsets the greater weight of the platform rack. The frequency with which you will install and remove the carrier may be the deciding factor.
I suggest as a starting point review of the linked article on hitch bike racks. This may help you consider your options and preferences. Sometimes the nature of the bikes themselves may help you decide on the best rack option. For example, a beach cruiser type bike with its very wide handlebars may benefit from a rack that provides extra clearance at the rear of the vehicle. Customers even sometimes choose a rack with higher bike-carrying capacity than they need in order to have extra room between the bikes.
I have filtered our bike rack options to narrow them down to 2-bike tilting racks that will fit both hitch sizes. You still have the option to select between hanging style or platform style and between the type of bike mount - either frame-mount or wheel mount. Again, your bikes themselves may guide you here; if you have a bike with a delicate carbon fiber frame, a wheel mount rack may be preferred to avoid contact with the frame. Some racks come with locks (for the rack itself, the bikes, or both) and you can use the filters in the left margin to sort products based on the attributes you prefer.
If you like, you can let me know your hitch size and something about the bikes themselves and I can then offer you more specific suggestions.
