Wednesday, December 25, 2024
HomeIce ClimbingThe Greatest Hitch Bike Racks of 2024

The Greatest Hitch Bike Racks of 2024

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Hitch bike racks are among the best methods to move your bikes safely to any vacation spot. The very best hitch racks are straightforward to make use of, steady, and may carry a variety of motorbike sizes and kinds securely and with little fuss.

Selecting a hitch bike rack, nonetheless, isn’t that easy. There are such a lot of fashions available on the market that discovering the best one isn’t as easy appropriately. Elements like bike compatibility, weight limits, bike attachment type, and the variety of bikes they’ll carry all play a task to find the best rack that fits your wants and meets your price range.

That’s the place we are available in. Our staff of hitch bike rack testers use bike racks day by day and have been testing and reviewing them for years. From outings with the household, day by day journeys to trailheads, and frequent weekend getaways, we’ve put these racks by their paces whereas analyzing the efficiency traits and options that matter most.

After months, and typically years, of testing the racks included right here, we’ve chosen our favorites and highlighted others that stand out for particular causes. So, whether or not you’ll want to carry one bike or 4, we’ve received suggestions throughout all hitch bike rack kinds.

Editor’s Notice: We up to date our hitch bike rack purchaser’s information on December 23, 2024, with the addition of the brand new Hollywood Racks CrossTrack 2-Bike.

The Greatest Hitch Bike Racks of 2024
Senior Editor Morgan Tilton testing hitch bike racks in Colorado; (picture/Eric Phillips)

How We Examined Hitch Bike Racks

After researching one of the best hitch bike racks available on the market, we selected the fashions included on this information to place by real-world testing. We aren’t simply involved with specs. Somewhat, we put them by an prolonged interval of rigorous testing to see how they really carry out. From day by day journeys round to native using spots to weekend adventures with the entire crew, we use every of those racks as any client would.

We assemble the racks ourselves, set up and take away them from our automobiles, and cargo and unload our bikes numerous instances. Whereas testing, we study bike compatibility, bike attachment methods, ease of loading/unloading, rack stability, bike stability, and security measures. From highways to tough gravel roads and sizzling summer time days to chilly, wet, and snowy circumstances, these racks have seen all of it with the objective of exposing their strengths and weaknesses.

Lots of the racks featured right here have been with us for a few years. Even after common publicity to the weather and plenty of miles of tough roads, they’re nonetheless going sturdy. Whether or not you’re pedaling a mountain bike, electrical bike, or commuter, we’re assured you’ll discover a rack to assist transport your steed. As new racks roll out sooner or later, we’ll you’ll want to check them, too, and replace our listing to mirror the most recent and best fashions available on the market.
Testing the Kuat Piston Pro X hitch bike rackTesting the Kuat Piston Pro X hitch bike rack

Testing the top-of-the-line Kuat Piston Professional X hitch bike rack; (picture/Berne Broudy)

Purchaser’s Information: Tips on how to Select a Hitch Bike Rack

There’s so much to contemplate when looking for the best hitch bike rack to fit your wants. The totally different kinds of hitch bike racks all have their professionals and cons, however you’ll additionally wish to take into account the kind of bikes you’ve got, how a lot they weigh, and what number of bikes you’ll want to carry.

These components ought to allow you to slender down the selection to search out one of the best rack for you. For those who’re in search of other ways to move your bikes, take a look at our complete information to the greatest roof bike racks.

Forms of Hitch Bike Racks

Nowadays, hitch bike racks are available in three fundamental kinds. Platform racks are the most typical, holding the bikes horizontally and supporting them from the underside on a “platform” or tray. Hanging racks carry the bikes horizontally, however because the title suggests, they hold the bikes from a assist arm by the highest tube of the body.

Vertical racks are a bit newer on the scene, however this type hangs the bikes vertically from both the entrance wheel, fork, or handlebar. We’ll clarify the various kinds of racks in additional element under.

Platform

Platform-style racks use a platform, or tray, on which the bike rests. In comparison with different kinds of hitch racks, platform racks sometimes have the bottom loading peak, making it pretty straightforward to carry bikes into place. The bikes are held in place utilizing numerous strategies, the most typical of which is the entrance wheel clamp/hook.

Platform racks are extremely fashionable for his or her versatility and ease of use; (picture/Eric Phillips)

Most platform racks take pleasure in not touching the bike body in any respect — they solely contact the tires or wheels. This makes them very best for individuals who don’t wish to danger damaging their bike frames. Plus, the trays can usually be adjusted to keep away from or decrease bike-on-bike interference. This additionally permits platform racks to suit all types of bikes no matter total dimension, suspension type, or wheel dimension.

This mixture of versatility and ease of use makes platform-style racks very fashionable amongst severe cyclists. The downsides are that they’re sometimes costlier than hanging-style racks, and they’re usually heavy and fairly cumbersome. In addition they normally solely carry two bikes at a time, however usually have the choice to extend capability with add-ons for an extra price.

Hanging

Hanging racks sometimes have two assist arms that maintain bikes by the frames, letting the bikes hold down. The benefit right here is that many of those racks can maintain as much as 4 bikes with out added {hardware}, and they’re sometimes inexpensive than platform racks. Hanging racks are normally lighter weight as effectively, making them simpler to put in, take away, and retailer when not in use.

We discovered that hanging bike racks aren’t very best for a number of mountain bikes and are higher for leaner street or gravel bikes; (picture/Eric Phillips)

The primary drawback is that contact with the body can result in abrasion and, in some circumstances, injury. This can be a big consideration when carrying a motorbike with a carbon fiber body. Hanging racks additionally could not accommodate bikes with uncommon frames (like step-through bikes) or full-suspension mountain bikes.

You might also wish to safe the entrance tires to the body with a bungee wire or a strap. This helps forestall the wheels from rotating and bumping into different bikes.

Vertical

Testing the Lolo Rack 6-Bike with different styles and sizes of bikesTesting the Lolo Rack 6-Bike with different styles and sizes of bikes
Vertical racks can carry numerous bikes, and the Lolo rack works with many various shapes and sizes of bikes with no points; (picture/Chelsey Magness)

Vertical racks are a more moderen type that originally happened as a option to carry quite a few mountain bikes for shuttle runs. By hanging the bikes vertically, it’s potential to move as many as six bikes at a time. Whereas the early fashions held bikes by the crown of suspension forks and have been restricted to carrying mountain bikes solely, more moderen designs carry bikes by the entrance wheel or handlebar and are appropriate with different varieties of bikes too. Vertical racks are a stable alternative for households, individuals who experience with numerous pals, and mountain bike shuttles.

The primary advantage of vertical racks is with the ability to transport greater than 4 bikes at a time. The drawbacks are that they’re heavy, cumbersome and troublesome to retailer, and they’re usually fairly costly. That stated, they find yourself being inexpensive than many platform racks with add-ons.

Platform vs. Hanging vs. Vertical: Which Is Greatest?

Selecting between the rack kinds actually comes right down to contemplating the sort and variety of bikes you’ll want to carry. For those who’re an rare rack person and also you merely want to move some older bikes to and from a trip residence a few instances a summer time, then a reasonable hanging rack could fit your wants simply tremendous.

If conserving your bikes steady, safe, and in pristine situation is necessary to you, platform racks are very best. Most platform racks safe the bikes by way of the tires and/or wheels, avoiding body contact solely. They’re additionally straightforward to load and use, particularly platform racks with a roll-up function (or these appropriate with aftermarket ramps). That is very best for individuals transporting heavier bikes like cruisers or e-bikes.

Platform racks additionally win out should you transport bikes with distinctive frames (like a step-through bike) or full-suspension mountain bikes. You gained’t need to discover a option to weave any hanging arms by the frames.

In some designs, the entrance bike tires relaxation in an angled tray whereas the again tire is secured with an adjustable ratchet strap; (picture/Eric Phillips)

Typically talking, platform racks as an entire sometimes include greater worth tags than hanging racks. And, if you wish to carry greater than two bikes at a time, you’ll must think about the price of add-ons too. If the worth is not any object and conserving your bike wanting new is your precedence, select a platform rack. If you wish to get monetary savings and aren’t involved about put on, a dangling rack is a good alternative.

Vertical racks are sometimes your best option for individuals who want to move a bigger variety of bikes. Whereas the upfront price could seem excessive, they price lower than many platform racks with add-ons and are sometimes the one possibility for carrying greater than 4 bikes at a time (apart from tailgate pads).

And, whereas they was extra restricted by way of bike match, among the newer fashions that maintain bikes by the wheels or handlebars (just like the Lolo Racks) will work with most bikes, together with youngsters, street, gravel, and so forth. Keep in mind that they’re much bigger and can dominate the again of your car a bit, so they might look a bit misplaced on smaller automobiles.

Bike Attachment

Bike attachment methods function numerous methods to safe your bike to the rack. It varies relying on the type of the rack, however even then, there are sometimes a number of totally different attachment methods inside every type.

Straps

The primary and most simple is the strap system which is most typical on hanging racks. Small cradles on the assist arms assist the burden of the bike whereas a zipper strip or cam strap holds the bike down within the cradle. Whereas it’s a stable and safe system (person error is the most typical subject), straps can degrade and break. Due to this, many strap methods safe the bike with two straps at every attachment level as a contingency.

Most riders’ foremost concern with a dangling rack is that it might doubtlessly injury the bike’s end over time by contact and abrasion. We’ve heard horror tales about hanging racks carrying the paint right down to the metallic or carbon beneath on lengthy street journeys.

Whereas that’s an excessive case, slower put on over years of use isn’t. Due to this, hanging racks are inclined to function padded cradles to reduce body injury, however one of the best ways to ensure your body is protected is to remove body contact altogether.

Wheel Hooks and Clamp Arms

Platform racks, just like the Yakima StageTwo, usually have a safe arm with a entrance wheel hook that ratchets down on high of the tire; (picture/Eric Phillips)

Most platform racks use a entrance wheel clamp that can be also known as a shepherd’s hook. On these racks, a pivoting arm with an adjustable hook captures the entrance wheel and presses it down right into a cradle whereas the rear wheel is secured with a ratcheting strap that wraps over the rear rim.

This attachment system avoids body contact by utilizing the entrance tire and rear rim to safe the bike on the rack. Not solely is this method straightforward to make use of, however in our expertise, it holds bikes very regular whereas stopping them from making contact with one another (if carrying a number of bikes).

Two bike mounted in the Hollywood Racks CrossTrack 2-bike rackTwo bike mounted in the Hollywood Racks CrossTrack 2-bike rack
The Hollywood Racks CrossTrack has twin clamp arms that safe the bike by making contact with the tires solely; (picture/Jeremy Benson)

Different platform racks use opposing clamp arms that basically sandwich the bike from each ends. This type of attachment was popularized by 1UP-USA and has since been employed by most different main rack producers.

By holding bikes with contact to the tires solely, these racks gained’t even scuff up your fancy carbon rims. This technique additionally permits for an enormous vary of motorbike suits together with the flexibility to shift the bikes laterally to keep away from bike-on-bike interference.

Vertical

Vertical racks assist bikes by the fork, entrance wheel, or handlebar and sometimes have a strap or bungee that holds the rear wheel in place. No matter attachment type, vertical racks maintain bikes in such a manner that the bikes don’t contact one another.

Fork mount vertical racks, just like the Yakima HangOver, seize bikes by the crown of a suspension fork, and as such, they solely work with mountain bikes, however they’ll trigger abrasion injury to the paint on the fork crown over time.

Some vertical racks use whel cradles to support the bikesSome vertical racks use whel cradles to support the bikes
Some vertical racks hold the bikes from the entrance wheels in wheel cradles; (picture/Jeremy Benson)

Vertical racks with front-wheel cradles hold the bike by the entrance wheel and solely make contact with the tire. These are a bit extra versatile as they don’t depend on a suspension fork, to allow them to usually be used with bikes with inflexible forks (street, gravel, youngsters, and fats bikes), however you might want totally different cradles for various wheel sizes and tire widths.

Handlebar-mount vertical racks, just like the Lolo Racks, hold bikes from the handlebar and are surprisingly versatile in consequence. They’ll match all kinds of motorbike kinds no matter wheel and tire dimension, fork kind, or handlebar type.

Variety of Bikes

One of many first issues to contemplate when selecting the type of rack that can work greatest for you is what number of bikes you’ll want to transport. Racks usually carry wherever from two to 6 bikes, so you’ve got some choices. Keep in mind, you’ll be able to at all times carry fewer bikes than a rack’s capability, however by no means greater than a rack’s capability. And also you by no means know if you’re going to choose up just a few extra buddies to experience with.

Platform racks are available in various capacities, with most offering two spots for bikes (some come as single or three bike racks, too). Many platform racks will also be expanded with add-ons that may be connected to extend capability by one or two bikes to hold as much as 4.

Hanging racks additionally are available in numerous carrying capacities, sometimes between two and 5 bikes. The Yakima Ridgeback and Allen Sports activities Deluxe can each carry as much as 4 however will also be bought for 2 bikes.

Vertical racks can sometimes deal with essentially the most bikes with the fashions we examined being supplied in four-bike and six-bike variations.

2 bikes loaded on the Kuat Piston Pro X Bike Rack2 bikes loaded on the Kuat Piston Pro X Bike Rack
Take into account each the quantity and weight of the bikes you’ll want to carry when selecting the best bike rack in your wants; (picture/Berne Broudy)

Bike Weight

Most good hitch bike racks can deal with the burden of normal, non-electric bikes with none points. Many trendy racks at the moment are rated to deal with bikes as much as round 60 kilos, which is nice information for everybody who has e-bikes, which regularly weigh upward of fifty kilos. It is rather necessary to understand how a lot your bike(s) weigh when contemplating a brand new rack and ensure that the rack you select is able to dealing with the burden.

On the whole, platform racks usually have the best weight capacities, with fashions just like the Yakima StageTwo, Kuat Piston Professional X, and the Hollywood Racks CrossTrack claiming as much as 70 kilos, 67 kilos, and 66 kilos per bike, respectively. Different racks, just like the Thule T2 Professional XTR and the RockyMounts BackStage can deal with bikes as much as 60 kilos every.

One other factor to contemplate is loading heavy bikes. There are just a few fashions designed particularly to be used with e-bikes available on the market these days. These are sometimes clunky and most safe bikes by clamping on to the body. Different racks, just like the Kuat Piston Professional X, Yakima StageTwo, Hollywood Racks CrossTrack, and the 1UP-USA Equip’D are all appropriate with aftermarket loading ramps offered by their respective producers.

Tilt and Swing-Away Options

Using the tilt feature on the Lolo 6-Bike rack for better access to the rear of the vehicleUsing the tilt feature on the Lolo 6-Bike rack for better access to the rear of the vehicle
Tilt options, like that on the Lolo 6-Bike Rack, enable for simpler entry to the rear of the car; (picture/Chelsey Magness)

The “tilt” and “swing-away” options consult with how the rack adjusts to permit entry to your car. Tilt options are tremendous widespread and permit the rack to be tilted away from the car at an angle to open a hatchback or drop down a tailgate. This makes it potential to lean in and seize a backpack or let your canine hop out. It additionally makes it potential to fold the rack up when not in use to maintain it out of the best way.

One factor to contemplate is whether or not you’ll be able to tilt the rack whereas the bikes are nonetheless on it. It may be a ache to take the bikes off when you’ll want to get into your automobile. Additionally, take into account how far it tilts away. It will make an enormous distinction should you’re pulling out one thing unwieldy, like a cooler.

Some hitch rack designs swing away from the again of your car for entry whereas the bikes are loaded; (picture/Eric Phillips)

“Swing-away” refers to racks with the flexibility to pivot away from the car to permit fully open entry to the rear of the car. This function is on the market on some platform and hanging racks, and plenty of manufacturers promote swing-away attachments that may be added to the rack of your alternative. These attachments will be costly and add to each the worth and weight of an already costly and heavy rack, however the comfort will be exhausting to beat for some customers.

Our favourite swing-away rack is the BackStage from RockyMounts. It swings a full 180 levels away out of your car — even with bikes loaded — supplying you with unobstructed entry to no matter’s again there. This can be a nice possibility for these with camper vans or who use their vehicles for tenting.

Wheel Measurement, Tire Width, and Bike Size Compatibility

Each hitch bike rack’s wheel tray has distinctive dimensions, together with the tire width and wheelbase size, so you’ll want to verify what you want; (picture/Eric Phillips)

A motorbike rack is ineffective if it will possibly’t maintain your bike, so be sure your bike will match. Essential issues to contemplate listed here are the dimensions of the wheels, the width of the tires, and the wheelbase size of your bike(s). Most platform racks match a variety of tire widths and wheel diameters, however some are extra versatile than others.

As a result of platform racks safe the bike by way of the tires, it’s necessary to ensure that your bike’s tire width, wheel dimension, and wheelbase all fall throughout the rack’s parameters. When looking for a platform rack, verify the technical specs listed on the rack model’s web site. Most corporations will listing a variety of wheelbases, tire widths, and wheel sizes that match that rack’s specs. In some circumstances, manufacturers may even promote adapters or kits to accommodate fatter tires.

Since hanging racks assist bikes by the body, their tire width, wheel dimension, and wheelbase usually are not a problem. The larger concern with hanging racks is exclusive body sorts like BMX bikes, step-through frames, and full-suspension mountain bikes. These can show a ache (or unimaginable) to hold on a dangling rack.

Thankfully, a number of of the racks we point out will work with fats tires and lengthy wheelbases. Peruse our listing and ensure that the one you’re contemplating will work together with your bike.

Hitch Receiver Measurement

Hitch receivers on passenger automobiles can be both 1.25″ or 2″ sizing. It’s necessary that you simply confirm which dimension your car has prior to buying a motorbike rack. The 2 sizes are visually very totally different, so it’s pretty apparent which is which. If doubtful, measure!

The bigger, 2-inch hitch receiver is usually most popular as a result of it will possibly deal with heavier masses, which is nice should you plan to hold a number of heavy e-bikes. It’s additionally value noting that some racks include an adjustable system to suit both dimension.

Don’t have a hitch receiver? They are often ordered on-line to suit most automobiles and be put in at residence should you’re prepared or capable of do it your self. In any other case, take a look at an area U-haul or car mechanic who will in all probability be capable to handle it for you.

Safety

Some bike racks embrace an built-in bike lock system that’s lengthy sufficient to safe at the very least a part of the bike just like the entrance tire; (picture/Eric Phillips)

Bike racks have two details of vulnerability on the subject of theft: the bikes will be stolen off the rack, and the rack itself will be eliminated. This isn’t simply a problem if bikes are on it; the racks themselves will be coveted gadgets for potential thieves.

Keep in mind, if it’s important to head right into a retailer otherwise you’re spending the evening away from residence, it solely takes just a few seconds for a thief to drag your bike off the rack and pedal off with it. In the event that they’re ready with instruments (or not, for mounts with hand-tightening hitch mounts), somebody can take your total rack. This could be a big subject should you don’t have a storage to park in, significantly should you don’t wish to placed on or take off your rack each time you experience.

Thankfully, many racks include a locking hitch mount, which makes it unimaginable to unscrew when engaged. In case your rack doesn’t include one, many corporations promote mount locks individually. There are additionally loads of aftermarket hitch locks out there for buy.

As in your bikes, built-in or included locks are a pleasant function to have and are sometimes discovered on higher-end racks — corporations like Thule, Kuat, and Yakima normally supply this. The lock is built-in into the rack itself, retracting into the rack when not in use. While you want it, merely pull it out and thread it by the bikes. It then locks to a different a part of the rack, so you’ll be able to lock and unlock your bikes in seconds.

Even when a rack has built-in locks, they’re nonetheless little greater than a theft deterrent, so we at all times suggest including an aftermarket lock as one other layer of safety.

Some designs embrace an built-in lock loop, so you’ll be able to add your personal extra locks, which we suggest; (picture/Eric Phillips)

Ease of Use

For those who’ve ever needed to wrestle a full-suspension mountain bike onto a dangling rack or discover a option to Tetris 4 bikes onto a poorly designed rack, you realize that ease of use is a large think about selecting the best bike rack.

For a historically formed body — triangular in form — hanging racks present a easy possibility. Carry the bike, slide it onto the rack, strap it down, bungee the entrance wheel, and also you’re good to go. (Plus, it offers you an opportunity to get some bicep curls in earlier than your experience).

Nonetheless, should you’ve received a heavier bike or one with a novel body type, a platform rack would be the higher possibility for mounting bikes. As a result of it has a decrease loading peak, you don’t need to carry the bike as far. And upon getting it on, you don’t need to carry it a lot to regulate. Hanging racks can take a little bit of fiddling to get the bike into the cradle.

It’s additionally necessary to contemplate different components like tilt-release and swing-away options which will influence your expertise, in addition to the bike attachment methods themselves.

Many bike hitch rack designs supply add-on choices to extend the load capability, however be sure the extensions match your hitch dimension; (picture/Eric Phillips)

Sturdiness

Sturdiness is a large consideration on the subject of hitch racks. The one attachment level places a whole lot of stress on racks as they carry masses over tough roads. As a result of they’re normally constructed from sturdy materials like metal, breaks very hardly ever happen on the hitch’s attachment level.

Points normally happen on the attachment level of the bike — the shepherd’s hook or the straps. Thankfully, the most typical failure is the least disastrous and best to repair — the straps. Elastic straps are inclined to dry out, particularly if uncovered to the solar, which ends up in cracking and finally snapping.

The identical goes for the exhausting plastic straps on ratcheting methods. Although they are usually extra sun-resistant than elastic ones, exhausting plastic straps may dry out and crack. Once more, it’s not normally an enormous subject, as they’re cheap and straightforward to switch.

Shepherd’s hook breaks, in the meantime, are very uncommon. These methods use one hook per wheel, so if one breaks, you’ll be dragging your bike to your vacation spot. Substitute shepherd’s hooks are rather more costly and extra difficult to switch. They’re additionally a lot greater than a strap, so it’s not going you’ll have a spare sitting in your automobile.

Essentially the most sturdy racks sometimes have extra metallic of their building. Racks made by 1UP-USA are famend for his or her sturdiness, largely because of their all-metal constructions. And, if one thing ought to break, they promote each half you can ever want to switch it.

When looking for a motorbike rack, do your analysis. Try the person critiques or speak to your native store professional to see what experiences others have had.

The entrance wheel hooks are sometimes user-friendly, with a click-in button that permits the arm to slip up or down; (picture/Eric Phillips)

Worth & Worth

The value of motorbike racks varies from lower than $100 to greater than $1,000, relying on the mannequin and options. The pattern we’ve seen is that the costlier the rack, the simpler it’s to make use of, the extra sturdy it’s, and the safer it’ll maintain your bikes.

Finances

Within the hitch bike rack market, something beneath round $400 is within the price range class. Sometimes, these are hanging-style racks that assist bikes by the highest tube of the body. Whereas they’re a bit much less refined, they’re completely useful for rare customers and even frequent customers, assuming you aren’t too involved about your bike body contacting the rack or the bikes doubtlessly coming into contact with one another.

The least costly rack we’ve examined is the Allen Sports activities Deluxe Hitch Bike Rack ($130) which might carry 4 bikes as much as 35 kilos every. For those who’re on a good price range, there’s no extra inexpensive rack to move 4 bikes that we’ve seen.

Equally, the Swagman XC2 ($150) is a fraction of the price of different tray-style hitch racks. Once more, it isn’t essentially the most refined and the clamps make contact with the highest tube of the body, however in any other case, it carries two bikes, works effectively, and is simple to load.

Mid-Tier

Between $400 and $800 is the candy spot for many customers. The rack high quality and ease of use are significantly enhanced in comparison with the price range choices. These are largely tray-style or platform racks which can be straightforward to load, have a variety of motorbike match, and safe the bikes with no body contact.

On this worth vary, the Kuat Switch V2 ($489) strikes us as among the best values on the market. It might carry the whole lot from street and mountain bikes or e-bikes as much as 60 kilos, and the rack itself solely weighs 37 kilos.

As we climb the worth ladder, racks with particular options just like the swing-away functionality of the Rocky Mounts BackStage ($770) can add severe comfort by offering wide-open entry to the again of your car. Or, within the case of the Thule T2 Professional XTR ($750), the rack will not be solely straightforward to make use of, however it has wheels to roll it and a tool-free system for set up and elimination.

Premium

As you strategy and transcend the $1,000 mark, we get into premium bike rack territory. Most high-end racks both present a extra user-friendly expertise, have extra options, or carry extra bikes. Most vertical hanging racks fall into this worth bracket just like the Lolo 6-Bike Rack with Foot Activated Tilt ($1,185). Whereas the worth appears very excessive, you’d be hard-pressed to move that many bikes without delay some other manner.

The per-bike price is definitely fairly affordable, and it will possibly carry just about any bike you might need. The most costly hitch rack we’ve ever tried is the Kuat Piston Professional X ($1,389), which solely carries two bikes. Thankfully, the end of the rack, options, and ease of use are additionally higher than some other rack we’ve examined. That doesn’t imply everybody ought to exit and purchase it, however should you’re prepared and capable of afford it, we extremely doubt you’ll be upset.

Whereas many instruments are intuitive, we encourage you to learn the instructions in your hitch rack to ensure you accurately assemble each bit and accurately mount the rack; (picture/Eric Phillips)

Steadily Requested Questions

The very best hitch bike rack varies from individual to individual. With so many variables between every rider, it’s almost unimaginable to decide on one bike rack for each state of affairs.

The most suitable choice is to resolve what your wants are and choose a rack that works greatest for you. In case your precedence is discovering a superb, cost-effective rack, and you may choose up your bike and transfer it round with out battle, you will get a useful hanging rack for $100-200.

If conserving your bike protected and scratch-free is your foremost concern, a platform rack is an efficient alternative. Platforms additionally sit decrease to the bottom, so it’s good for individuals who battle to choose up their bikes.

The upper you go in worth, the extra options you get. Excessive-end racks add security measures, levers, and buttons that make them simpler to make use of. They normally additionally supply methods to allow you to entry your trunk with out eradicating the bikes.

When selecting a rack, take into account the options you’re prepared to do with out and which of them you want. Steadiness these wants with how a lot you’re prepared to spend, and also you’ll discover the right rack for you.

Each hanging and platform racks have variations that may maintain 4 bikes. Hanging racks require a bit bit extra finesse to maintain your bikes protected, as they safe your bikes from the highest. This makes it potential for the bikes to swing and hit one another throughout journey.

Fewer bikes will be spaced out, which minimizes the chance. However house is restricted with 4 bikes, so make sure that the cradles are spaced out sufficient that the bikes gained’t hit one another, even with minimal swing.

That is much less of a problem with platform racks, because the bikes are locked into place by way of each wheels, including a superb quantity of stability. It’s additionally simpler to place the bikes on platform racks as a result of the cradles are set a lot decrease. That assist, they price a bit extra, however we really feel it’s normally value it.

A look at a bike rack when its folded down and not loaded with bikesA look at a bike rack when its folded down and not loaded with bikes
The arms on hanging and platform racks normally fold down or up for a svelte profile if you don’t have bikes loaded; (picture/Eric Phillips)

One of many causes that so many individuals select a hitch-mounted rack over a trunk-mounted rack is that the hitch doesn’t have any contact with the physique of the automobile. This decreases any rubbing in opposition to the paint. It additionally usually retains the rack away from something on the physique that it will possibly dent or shatter.

Nonetheless, it doesn’t matter what precautions an organization makes when designing a rack, there’s at all times the problem of person error. Opening your hatchback whereas the rack is on and upright can drive the hatch proper into the rack.

This may trigger denting and scratching to the rack or the automobile. Be sure that the rack is out of the best way if you entry the rear of your car.

Bikes may contact your car should you’re not cautious. Platform racks typically carry the bike near a car’s again window. This may improve the chances of the handlebar going by that window on an particularly bumpy street.

You’ll be able to resolve this by adjusting the cradles to make the bike sit farther away from the window. Hanging racks let the entrance tire hold free, which might result in bumping and grinding up in opposition to your automobile.

It’s not as dire a problem as breaking a window, however it will possibly injury the end over time. It’s a simple repair, although. Safe the wheel with a strap or bungee wire to unravel the issue.

Driving on a dirt road while testing the Yakima StageTwoDriving on a dirt road while testing the Yakima StageTwo
In case you are off-roading to your route, take into account getting a hitch rack that’s constructed for off-road journey; (picture/Eric Phillips)

All varieties of hitch racks have their benefits. That stated, platform-style racks are usually the best to make use of. They’ve a decrease loading peak and the attachment methods are sometimes easy, safe, and user-friendly.

General, we’ve discovered that manufacturers like Thule, Yakima, Kuat, and 1Up have a tendency to incorporate little tweaks like lever-adjustable tilting and built-in locks. Particulars like these go a great distance in making a rack simpler to make use of. Of all of the fashions we’ve examined, the Kuat Piston Professional X is the best to make use of, however it’s additionally the costliest.

In case your car has the aptitude, hitch racks are arguably the most suitable choice. Having the mount connect to your hitch receiver versus trunk racks or roof racks not solely protects your automobile’s end from injury, however it’s additionally extraordinarily safe, because the mounts are made of professional quality metal.

They’re additionally a lot simpler to put in than different choices, which is a large perk for individuals who don’t need a rack on their automobile every single day. As a result of it’s secured with a metal pin, it solely takes one step to place it on a trailer hitch when you’re going out for a experience, and one step to take away it if you’re accomplished.

Different varieties of racks require extra steps to connect them to a car and should require you to carry the bike greater to load them.


We examined seven of one of the best roof bike racks that can assist you discover the best mannequin to fulfill your wants and price range.


We examined 16 bike locks from high manufacturers like OnGuard, Kryptonite, Hiplok, Ottolock, and extra to search out one of the best.



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