Which Swing Away for Bike Racks Would You Say is Beefier in Design the Kuat or Swagman?

Updated 05/19/2025 | Published 04/26/2025

Products Featured in This Question

Swagman Swivel Hitch Extender - 2" Hitches - Dual Side - Swing-Away Hitch Adapter

(11)

$479.00

Kuat Pivot 2 Swing Away Hitch Extender for Bike Racks - 2" Hitches - Driver's Side

(219)

$498.00

Question:

Hello Im planning a cross country mountain bike trip with my family. We will be bringing our four bikes on our existing oneup bike rack, but since we will be sleeping in the back of our truck, need to swing the bikes out of the way to have access at night. Which swing away hitch adapter that you carry is the strongest? Ive looked at the kuat pivot 2 and the swagman swivel. On paper, the swagman seems to be the beefier unit. I am looking for the strongest unit available since we will likely be going off road at times with roughly 250 pounds of rack and bike weight hanging off the hitch adapter. Thank you for your time.

asked by: Andrew M

Expert Reply:

Hello Andrew,

Well that sounds like quite the fun trip, what state or states will you be traveling through?

You're asking a really important question, especially since you're planning a cross-country trip with about 250 pounds of bikes and rack weight, and some off-road driving involved. Between the Kuat Pivot v2 and the Swagman Swivel, both are rated for around 250 pounds, but there are some key differences worth considering. The Kuat Pivot v2 # PVD20B is extremely well-built, with tight machining, high-quality materials, and a premium finish. It's a very refined piece of equipment that performs smoothly and fits precisely. However, Kuat does not officially recommend it for heavy off-road use, it’s intended more for highway driving and mild gravel or dirt roads.

The Swagman Swivel # S86SR, on the other hand, is noticeably heavier in construction. It uses thicker steel and has a bulkier, "farm-tough" feel compared to the Kuat. On paper and in real-world handling, the Swagman feels more rugged and may be better suited to occasional rougher roads simply because of its beefier materials. That said, like the Kuat, Swagman does not officially market the Swivel for aggressive off-road use. Both options will work well if you're sticking mostly to pavement and light dirt roads, but if you expect regular, rough off-road conditions, it’s important to know that neither was specifically engineered for that kind of stress.

If it were me, I would go with the Swagman Swivel # S86SR, the bracket with the pin and the clamp down (please look at picture I attached) make it more secure when all locked up.

expert reply by: Kate F

Andrew M.

4/29/2025

Thank you for your detailed response Kate, it's much appreciated. Based on your information, I have already placed an order for the swagman swivel on e-trailer. Thanks again for having great customer service!

Kate F.

5/12/2025

@AndrewM My pleasure Andrew! If you ever have any questions in the future, you know where to find us!

Ron F.

5/19/2025

Kate I recently purchased the Swagman swivel, I noticed it has a threaded hitch pin hole. What size pin do you recommend, or should I use a nut & bolt that fits the thread size, and if so do you know that thread size?

Kate F.

5/19/2025

@RonF You want to use the Replacement Threaded Hitch Pin and Clip for 2" Shanks on Swagman Bike Carriers # P5901, which is a 5/8" threaded hitch pin bolt with the lock washer.