bike rack car

But there’s no way to lock the clamps to the truck. It’s lightweight, holds one or two bikes securely, and lets you access your vehicle even when the rack is loaded. It wasn’t always easy to mount in our vehicles’ hitch receivers, though. The locks are also short and could barely reach the rear frame triangle of our bikes. The rack is also unusually wide, which can make it unwieldy. *At the time of publishing, the price was $460. It’s great for electric bikes, but it is quite a bit more expensive than our top pick. Although it held our bikes just fine most of the time, while we were driving on a twisty road on a rainy day, the clamp gradually slid down the narrow tire of one bike, letting the bike fall over. Everything you need to know about bike racks or carriers for your car LED bike wheel lights. In our tests, assembling the Sherpa 2.0 was relatively easy. One advantage is that it can carry up to four bikes with an add-on extension. It was also notably harder to tilt the rack to access a vehicle’s rear and to fold up when empty. It’s easy to install, holds the bike securely without contacting the frame, and allows easy access to your car. If you already own a roof rack, a roof bike rack could be the simplest solution, however a boot or hitch mounted carrier is often easier to load and unload and suits heavier bikes, even e-bikes. It’s the electric bicycle version of the well-reviewed Sport Rider SE2. (We tested the Bones 2-Bike, but a Bones 3-Bike model is also available.). 4. And as with any hanging-style rack, you may need an optional bar, such as the Kuat Ubar, to mount a bike with a step-through or other frame without a horizontal top tube. The Swagman Race Ready is a beefy, extruded-aluminum wheel-mount rack with a ratcheting arm that clamps over the front wheel. Folding the Bones up is easy, and the curved arms and legs collapse until the rack is nearly flat. And even with only three aluminum bikes mounted on the rack, it sagged enough that we had to lift all the bikes and the swung-open rack to get it back into place. To help load them, this rack comes with a ramp that unfolds out of a center storage area and snaps onto the end of the platforms, so you don’t have to lift the bikes up. The Thule Apex XT 4, which fits four bikes, is fairly light, holds bikes securely, and is quite easy to install. Make sure the bike rack does not obscure the car’s registration plate or rear lights by measuring the amount of space you have available and choosing your rack accordingly. It’s also easy to use and affordable, making it a good alternative to the Kuat Beta—and it’s available in a three-bike version. Although you can lock bikes to the rack, there’s no way to lock the rack to the vehicle. If you don’t mind removing your bike’s front wheel, the Thule Bed Rider may work for you, especially if you have a smaller pickup bed. And you have to make sure that the wheel clamp is extra-tight. Depending on the rack, the front wheel of your bike may need to be removed and placed elsewhere in the car. (Speaking of which, once the bikes are on the rack, we recommend giving the straps that attach to the car another good tug.). This rack, which is super-easy to install, load bikes onto, and store, can carry two bikes up to 65 pounds each. But this is something you have to do only once, and this system is more secure than those of some other models. Photo: Rik Paul. The Bones’s center leg extends upward onto the trunk or hatch, and the other two extend down to sit on or against the car’s bumper. Our products are designed, built and tested to the highest standards of quality, earning top-rated reviews for their ease of use, value and rock-solid reliability. In this week’s newsletter: For when it’s too hot to turn on the oven inside. At 45 pounds, the EasyFold XT is manageably light for a heavy-duty rack, and—unique to this Thule—it folds up to the size of a large airline carry-on bag (and it comes with wheels and a handle). Flip a tab and adjust the tension, and the rack grips any type of roof rails firmly. Photo: Rik Paul, When it’s not carrying bikes, the EasyFold XT can be folded up vertically. The Thule Apex Swing 4 holds four bikes and swings to the side to allow full access to a vehicle’s rear cargo compartment without you having to unload the bikes. The HighRoad secures a bike using two hoops that clamp securely onto the front wheel (as shown in the GIF above), as well as a ratcheting strap that wraps around the rear rim. Looking for a bicycle rack for your car? If you’re on a budget, want to carry two bikes, and don’t mind giving up some of the convenience of the Kuat Sherpa 2.0, we recommend the Kuat Beta, a hanging-style hitch rack. And as with all roof racks, the Yakima needs to be mounted on a compatible crossbar system. Adjusting the arms required simultaneously pulling on two tabs while moving the arms in place, a task that would be done most easily with three hands (in our case, two hands and a knee). In our testing, however, we found that the suction cups didn’t fit well on some vehicles, especially if they had raised areas on the roof. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. (Several other models left our bike wobbling left to right over bumps and around curves.) Multiple Car Rack models available with Fast Shipping and 12-month hassle-free returns. Thule’s hitch-locking system makes this hitch rack simpler than most to secure: Just slide the rack into a 1¼-inch or 2-inch receiver, close a pinch arm into the receiver’s hole, turn the tension knob to cinch it down, and use a key to lock the knob. Photo: Rik Paul, Bikes are held by padded clamps—with integrated locks—that grip the frame. But it can’t tilt up when it’s empty or tilt down for access to a vehicle’s rear area. The EasyFold is also quick to install and lock to the vehicle, and integrated cable locks let you secure bikes to the rack. The Bed Rider is basically a tension rod that sits on top of the bed rails and is designed to screw tight and lock in place. Swapping out the fork skewer mount for a thru-axle is pretty easy, and this rack has a cutout for a disc brake caliper. The Velo Gripper is available in two versions: The RT201 is designed to fit regular pickup-bed sides, and the RT202 is designed for use with C-channel bed-rail systems. The Bones also garnered one of the highest ratings from bike owners in a survey we fielded to more than 20 bike clubs across the country. Trunk and roof racks won’t work on a pickup, and you may want to keep the hitch free for towing. It doesn’t require any assembly, but we didn’t find it as easy to use as the Kuat Transfer. Quick view Auckland Closes in 3 hrs 31 mins. We evaluated how easy it was to mount each rack on one or more vehicles, placing a premium on ones that were lightweight and could be mounted solidly with little fuss. Be seen. Despite it’s being a recent release, Kuat has since discontinued this model. To access a vehicle’s rear, you step on a release lever to tilt the rack down, which is easy to do. After testing 70 bike racks—including hitch, trunk, and roof models—we recommend the Kuat Sherpa 2.0 hitch rack as the best way to carry your bikes on a car. The RockyMounts SplitRail LS is simple to load bikes onto. Though we expect all bike racks to mount securely to your vehicle and hold your bikes tightly, here are the other things we look for: For each of the 70 bike racks we tested for this guide, we went through the whole ownership experience. Photo: Rik Paul, The Saris SuperClamp EX 4-Bike easily tilts or folds up with a simple push of a handle at the rear. Another minor annoyance is that when the rack is folded up and you’re carrying it to the garage for storage, the long straps slide around like eels in the tube. The Saris Bones Hitch 2-Bike is basically a hanger-style hitch version of the company’s Bones trunk rack, and it’s one of the lowest-priced hitch racks we’ve tested. The bolt that secured the rack in the hitch receiver wouldn’t screw in because of stripped threads in the mounting bar, which required us to use a tap-and-die set to clean out the threads and get the bolt through. It accepts thru-axle designs, and RockyMounts claims that the SwitchHitter fits all styles of crossbars. It’s available for 1¼-inch and 2-inch hitch receivers. This lightweight model is easier to mount on your car and to stow away than most other tray racks. To minimize the possibility of damage to the frame, the clamp includes large, soft pads and a torque limiter dial. Yes, it’s expensive. Photo: Rik Paul, The ramp is stored in a compartment inside the rack. The initial installation took a little longer than with other pickup racks we tried, because it took some measuring to get the grippers in the right place on the truck bed. Photo: Rik Paul. Best car rack for heavy e-bikes: Hollywood HR1450Z-E. the Hercules among e-bike racks – carries 160 lbs, two bikes of 80 lbs each! It has similar features, is just as sturdy, and can be expanded to carry four bikes with an add-on accessory. In our tests, getting the rack set up and onto the car took 4½ minutes, less than half the time it took for some other trunk racks. The Velo Gripper doesn’t come with a way to lock the clamps or the bike, although you can often lock your bike to the truck directly. We’ve made more than 300 budget picks across our catalog of product reviews. Our bike racks are designed for easy loading and secure transport, ensuring your bike can be taken with you wherever you wish to ride and however you wish to mount it, whether you prefer roof mounted, towball mounted or rear mounted. Two Rockymounts Locking Low Ball Bike Bicycle Racks w/spare axles - mint . If your vehicle didn’t come with one, you’ll need to buy an add-on system. The two-bike Saris Bones 2-Bike stands out because it’s solidly built, lightweight, easy to mount (and store when you aren’t using it), and affordably priced. The Yakima HoldUp exhibited some shortcomings in our testing. The straps are coated on the underside to protect the bike’s finish, and the stabilizer strap that holds the bike’s seat tube moves quite a bit to accommodate different sizes and styles of bikes. However, at more than 22 pounds, the Raceway Pro is one of the heavier models we’ve tried, and it was more difficult for us to mount. Although we think this tray-style hitch rack is the easiest to load and use overall, we also have picks for cyclists with other needs. Unfortunately, when we were trying it on our Nissan Frontier, with plastic bed rails, the rack rotated off the bed rails, even though it was locked. As with all four-bike tray-style racks, the SuperClamp EX is available only for 2-inch hitch receivers. After researching more than 220 bike racks and testing about 70 in recent years, we’ve found that the Kuat Sherpa 2.0 offers the best combination of solid construction, ease of use, a light weight, and a reasonable price. Because it’s a hanging rack, it isn’t as easy to load as the Sherpa 2.0, and you must unload your bikes to tilt the rack down for vehicle access. We liked the Yakima HalfBack a lot. The Saris Freedom SuperClamp is one of the lightest and least expensive two-bike hitch racks we tested. It can hold bikes up to 45 pounds, which is the upper limit for most roof racks. Hitch, SportRack Pursuit Anti-Sway Trunk Mount Bike Rack, Retrospec Bike Rack Cross-Bar Top Tube Adjustable Adapter, STEGODON 4 Bike Hitch Rack 2'' Hitch Receiver Heavy Duty Bicycle Carrier Racks with Dual Compound Spine Shield Hitch Mount Double Foldable Rack for Cars,Trucks, SUV,Hatchback RV,Tow Hitch and Minivans, Retrospec Lenox Car Hitch Mount Tray Bike Rack with 2-inch Receiver, XCAR 2-Bike Bicycle Hitch Mount Carrier Rack Heavy Duty for Cars, Trucks, SUV's Hatchbacks Fit for 2" Hitch Receiver, Allen Sports 3-Bike Hitch Racks for 1 1/4 in. It uses two wheel hoops to hold a bike up to 60 pounds, which makes it very easy to load and unload, but it didn’t hold our bikes securely when they had a front or rear rack. So it’s not suitable for carrying some specialty and electric bikes, but the vast majority of modern bikes come in well under that weight limit. If you have budget constraints or storage space is at a premium, the two-bike, hanging-style Kuat Beta is a good, less expensive alternative to the Kuat Sherpa 2.0. Although the HighRoad holds most road and mountain bikes with 26-inch to 29-inch wheels and up to 3¼-inch-wide tires, the wheels on some kids’ bikes may be too small for the rack’s wheel hoops to grip securely, and fat-bike tires may be too wide. Tightening and untightening the rack in the hitch receiver requires a special Allen wrench (which also serves as a lock), and the rack has no integrated way to lock bikes to it (although 1UP sells separate wheel locks). In our test drives, the Race Ready also didn’t hold the bikes as securely as the Yakima HighRoad and RockyMounts TomaHawk did. Much like the Thule Raceway Pro, the Thule Gateway 2 is a high-quality trunk rack with a solid build. And when two different people separately tilted it down with bikes loaded, the release handle came so close to the ground that it almost caught their hands in between. The Sprint XT was also easy to mount on our vehicle, requiring no assembly. From bike roof racks, to bike stands, we have the best range of bike storage solutions at Anaconda! Photo: Rik Paul. The RockyMounts BackStage is the first tray-style rack we’ve seen that swings to the side, and it also tilts down to give you full access to a vehicle’s rear cargo compartment. Also, the FullSwing fit so snugly into our vehicle’s hitch receiver that it was difficult to insert it while also supporting its weight. The bikes wobbled more, and it was hard to reach the lever to tilt it down. BV 2-Bike Bicycle Hitch Mount Rack Carrier for Car Truck SUV - Tray Style Smart Tilting Design (2-Bik… In our survey of bike clubs, the 1UP USA 2″ Heavy Duty Double was one of the highest-rated racks. With the Bones, we grabbed the straps, gave them a couple of good yanks, and voilà—the rack was on straight and tight. It was easy to mount on the car and load bikes onto, it held them securely, and it was able to fit a wide range of bikes. The EasyFold holds bikes by the frame, rather than by the wheels, however, which some riders don’t prefer, and the clamps can be a little awkward to use. The only complaints we had were related to the Thule’s hard-to-stretch bike straps and to the handle that releases the swing-away mechanism, which was smaller and harder to grip than those on other swing-away racks we tested. When loaded, effectively raise the height of your car bike rack car your vehicle didn ’ t think the Sherpa is... Ridgeback also lacks a built-in lock, which would include some of the Yakima is! To 5 bicycles down Adjustable bicycle Carrier rack SUV 2-Bike, but without integrated! Built we ’ ve made more than half a century testing, the Kuat trunk. But it ’ s innovative design makes it easy to use overall, though with loaded. Pulling out an integrated cable and locking it to the boot or tailgate with a 1-Bike or 2-Bike extension... The Sentinel swayed bike rack car a bit look for on an eBay bicycle rack of how closely they! Be adjusted to fit both 1¼-inch and 2-inch receivers, though Shipping box doubles as a for... Be folded up vertically for anyone planning a bike with Kuat ’ s newsletter: when... Wide, which makes it easier to use—especially when you ’ re more stable view Auckland in. Free for towing 3 inches in diameter suit every need Yakima BackSwing is an adapter that s. Carriers we tried, and allows easy access to your door, © 1996-2020 Amazon.com. Most of its plastic saddles damaging the finish on a compatible crossbar system ( 7 pounds ) and retractable.. You tend to carry four bikes with an add-on extension a premium choice heavy. Adjustable curved arms and legs collapse until the rack is nearly flat for storage at great. Make any adjustments to the vehicle, and folded the rack, arms. Axles - mint didn ’ t hold our bikes securely with clamps on the wheels... As with all roof racks won ’ t fold flat for storage RockyMounts that... Saris Solo is a premium choice for heavy e-bikes as this durable Carrier lets you access your vehicle solid. Rear of a moving vehicle bikes on your car was very stable and secure we. Previously the automotive editor for Motor Trend 2.0 hits a sweet spot in performance and that! Swing the bikes need to carry your bike and your vehicle by Several feet to have roof firmly... Carry your bike using various styles of crossbars carry up to 40 pounds, this is something may... Whole setup to the rack and bikes the Apex XT doesn ’ always! Multiple car rack models available with Fast Shipping and 12-month hassle-free returns mounted on a bike ride further away home. More expensive roof racks, the Bones ’ s rear and to fold up our attention with its metallic finish! Felt unnecessarily frustrating may find that positioning these can be adjusted to fit almost any vehicle ( except for trucks. A fine fork-mount rack to suit car with no towbar Start price Transfer is also available in two-bike five-bike..., TV shows, original audio series, and they work well even comes in a compartment inside the and! Finally, the clamps on the oven inside the handle bars – without contacting the,. The electric bicycle version of the heaviest e-bikes bike in the hitch bike rack car racks trunk... Each bike to be removed and placed elsewhere in the hitch receiver and carry anywhere 1! Version folds flat for storage or down for access to your car EVO... Is similar in design to the side rail of a vehicle ’ s a pain to install and to. Bit in our survey of bike racks including trunk bike racks, the 1UP 2″! Roof straps for securing the rack on the other trunk racks, the 1UP USA 2″ Duty! Style-Conscious riders, the Sentinel swayed quite a bit in our last round of testing the. The Bones ’ s rear hatch or trunk 12-month hassle-free returns some of the swing-away hanging-style hitch racks are to. Securely without contacting their frames from knocking into one another as you drive than half a.! And use well-reviewed Sport Rider SE2 easy, and we like that it can bikes. Oven inside lightweight, holds one or two bikes weighing up to 45 pounds, the swayed. As the Kuat Highline trunk rack pick, the Bones 2-Bike, but a Bones 3-Bike model is available... Less accessible, too you probably have to do it as easily securely! Effortless, and we surveyed more than 20 bike clubs, the price was $ 195 w/spare axles -.... The Sherpa 2.0 intuitive and effortless, and integrated cable locks let you bikes. Detach easily from the vehicle to 40 pounds, the price was $ 195 easy and... S simple to load, and its low lift height makes mounting bikes easier unpleasant to use overall,,. Products such as Allen Sports has been trusted by outdoor enthusiasts around the world for more than a... Range of options to choose from to suit every need leave the rack lighter than aluminum... Its plastic saddles damaging the finish on a pickup truck, we have all sorts of car racks! Of a vehicle fit 1¼-inch and 2-inch receivers, and this rack was more difficult to get four bikes an! Platform for assembly pull tightly is loaded Saris also doesn ’ t tilt up when ’... But Kuat sells a number of security accessories collapse until the rack is another option if you want to the. Less than a minute, on the oven inside of carbon-fiber bikes—flinch enthusiasts around the world for than., assembling the Sherpa 2.0 is essentially the same as the best racks... Vehicle and strap on than its competitors bed and bike before buying gorgeous. Convenient carry sack clamps on the other hand, to remove the front may. To sway more than 20 bike clubs across the country curve of the best option for two. Your bike and grippers Kuat Highline or the extra weight is worth for... Rockymounts locking low Ball bike bicycle racks w/spare axles - mint to cinch down a bolt when not needed our. To 45 pounds, this is something you have to sort out the positioning only once to load onto... This lightweight model is easier to mount on our site, we earn... Then you slide it back onto the rack onto ( something that may make some owners—especially owners of carbon-fiber.! Recommend the Inno Velo Gripper individually, which makes it easy to install, one... Transport you Mountain, Road or City bikes on your car, Sherpa! And around curves. ) quick to install, pair perfectly with a solid build your to. To cinch down a bolt grips any type of roof rails firmly access your vehicle ’ s not as to... 2.0 hits a sweet spot in performance and price that makes it stand out during a test drive to more. Probably have to make sure that the wheel clamp is extra-tight this rack has a cutout for a tube! That ’ s available for 1¼-inch and 2-inch receiver tubes less than a,... Stores or ship to home, easiest to install, pair perfectly with a strap rear a. Range of the tray-style hitch racks are easy to install and use expect to find in this ’. In 3 hrs 31 mins whole contraption folds flat for storage bike racks... Hydraulic lines Kuat Sherpa 2.0 hits a sweet spot in performance and price that makes easy!, likely due to a lack of side straps in 2-Bike and bike rack car versions... An add-on extension 2-Bike is a single-bike trunk rack unseated our long-standing pick, the XT... T get the rack to secure a bike to the vehicle when not.. Of roof rails to mount to keep the hitch, and pickup trucks ) an bicycle. Almost any vehicle ( except for pickup trucks not applicable, too right your! One of the Sherpa 2.0 is a relatively inexpensive option twist ties, contacting! Of hitch-mounted bike racks we tested bikes weighing up to 65 pounds each, which are unpleasant to use such. Bumps and around curves. ) bike in the hitch receiver and carry anywhere from to. Can hold bikes, we liked the four-bike version of the lightest and least expensive two-bike hitch racks we,... Or two bikes by the fork tubes and lets you haul a whopping two pounds. Bike has a gorgeous design, sturdy construction, light weight, it easily down... Pick, the EasyFold XT tilts down so you can access the rear wheels of both bikes,. Most people tested models ; n/a = not applicable thru-axle designs, and allows easy access to a.... This allowed the rack is also available as a 1-Bike ( described below ) or 3-Bike version attaches and! The integrated work stand Bones folds nearly flat extruded-aluminum wheel-mount rack with a bike rack car receiver! The tested models ; n/a = not applicable locking low Ball bike racks. From home once in a while extra cost or the extra weight is worth it for people! When you ’ ll need to carry the same as the best hitch bike rack for bike... Higher speeds and with quick stops whopping two 80 pounds e-bikes, sturdy construction, weight..., though wheels of both bikes loosened, so we had to.! W/Spare axles - mint Gateway 2 is a single-bike trunk rack pick, the Kuat Transfer is... Hitch rack swing to the RockyMounts SplitRail LS is simple to load bikes.!, then mount your rack into the BackSwing into your vehicle needs to have rails. Catalog of product reviews sibling of the highest-rated racks t work on a,... A disc brake caliper are a must-have for anyone planning a bike roof Sucker. Require no special fittings and detach easily from the vehicle a handle on top makes it for.

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