The Finest Hitch Bike Racks of 2025

Hitch bike racks are among the finest methods to move your bikes safely to any vacation spot. One of the best hitch racks are simple to make use of, secure, and may carry a spread of motorbike sizes and types 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 proper one isn’t as easy appropriately. Components like bike compatibility, weight limits, bike attachment type, and the variety of bikes they will carry all play a task find the proper rack that fits your wants and meets your finances.

That’s the place we are available. Our crew 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 that you must carry one bike or 4, we’ve bought suggestions throughout all hitch bike rack types.

Editor’s Word: We up to date our hitch bike rack purchaser’s information on January 31, 2025, with the addition of the versatile and sturdy 1Up-USA Tremendous Obligation.

The Finest Hitch Bike Racks of 2025

Better of the Relaxation

Hitch Bike Racks Comparability Chart

Why You Ought to Belief Us

The oldsters at GearJunkie spend a whole lot of time within the saddle. From day by day workplace commutes to singletrack joyrides, bikes play a serious function in our lives. Like most cyclists, we frequently use our automobiles to haul bikes round. We plug our hitch-mounted bike racks into sedans, SUVs, and all the things in between. Although it’s all the time good to start out pedaling proper out of the entrance door, such as you, we frequently need to drive earlier than we are able to trip.

Our crew has been testing all types of out of doors gear for years, placing merchandise by their paces to see how they carry out in the actual world and examine to one another. Whereas testing new gear is undoubtedly enjoyable, we do it with the objective of offering sincere and reliable product suggestions to tell our readers to allow them to make higher buy choices.

Two of our testers, Senior Editor Morgan Tilton {and professional} photographer and kit author Eric Phillips, reside in Crested Butte, Colo., the place greater than 750 miles of mountain bike trails exist within the Gunnison Valley and surrounding space.

Additionally they drive to different path programs within the Southwest, racking up a whole lot of miles on every hitch rack per highway journey. The pair has examined many of the racks you see on this information prior to now few years, and in doing so, they’ve developed a eager sense of what units the most effective racks other than the remaining.

Chelsey Magness additionally contributed to this purchaser’s information. Chelsey is an expert journey racer, mum or dad, and occasion organizer who travels incessantly with bikes to trailheads, races, and weekend getaways with household and associates.

She’s been utilizing and abusing hitch bike racks for a few years — even earlier than testing and reviewing them for GearJunkie — and is aware of the significance of getting the proper rack to make transporting bikes simple and stress-free.

GearJunkie Editor Jeremy Benson additionally lends some expertise and experience to this evaluate. Jeremy has been professionally testing bikes, equipment, and associated gear for 8 years and has personally examined over 20 totally different hitch bike racks in that point.

He’s continually utilizing bike racks to move his costly bikes to native trailheads, gravel and mountain bike races, and on weekend getaways to mountain bike locations throughout the west. Having examined just about each bike rack at present available on the market, he is aware of precisely how they carry out, examine, and their greatest functions.

How We Examined Hitch Bike Racks

After researching the most effective 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. Quite, 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 driving 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 look at bike compatibility, bike attachment programs, ease of loading/unloading, rack stability, bike stability, and safety features.

From highways to tough gravel roads and scorching 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 make sure to check them, too, and replace our record to mirror the most recent and best fashions available on the market.

Purchaser’s Information: Easy methods to Select a Hitch Bike Rack

There’s quite a bit to think about when trying to find the proper hitch bike rack to fit your wants. The totally different types of hitch bike racks all have their execs and cons, however you’ll additionally need to contemplate the kind of bikes you’ve gotten, how a lot they weigh, and what number of bikes that you must carry.

These elements ought to enable you slender down the selection to seek out the most effective rack for you. Should you’re in search of alternative routes to move your bikes, try our complete information to the greatest roof bike racks.

Kinds of Hitch Bike Racks

Lately, hitch bike racks are available three primary types. Platform racks are the commonest, 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 types of hitch racks, platform racks usually have the bottom loading peak, making it pretty simple to carry bikes into place. The bikes are held in place utilizing numerous strategies, the commonest of which is the entrance wheel clamp/hook.

Most platform racks get pleasure from not touching the bike body in any respect — they solely contact the tires or wheels. This makes them best for individuals who don’t need 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 every kind of bikes no matter total dimension, suspension type, or wheel dimension.

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

Hanging

Hanging racks usually 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 usually cheaper than platform racks. Hanging racks are normally lighter weight as nicely, making them simpler to put in, take away, and retailer when not in use.

The primary drawback is that contact with the body can result in abrasion and, in some circumstances, harm. This can be a enormous consideration when carrying a motorcycle 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 may additionally need to safe the entrance tires to the body with a bungee twine or a strap. This helps forestall the wheels from rotating and bumping into different bikes.

Vertical

Vertical racks are a more moderen type that originally took place as a strategy to carry quite a few mountain bikes for shuttle runs. By hanging the bikes vertically, it’s attainable to move as many as six bikes at a time. Whereas the early fashions held bikes by the crown of suspension forks and had been restricted to carrying mountain bikes solely, more moderen designs carry bikes by the entrance wheel or handlebar and are suitable with different varieties of bikes too. Vertical racks are a strong selection for households, individuals who trip with plenty of associates, and mountain bike shuttles.

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

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

Selecting between the rack types actually comes all the way down to contemplating the sort and variety of bikes that you must carry. Should you’re an rare rack consumer and also you merely want to move some older bikes to and from a trip dwelling a few instances a summer time, then an affordable hanging rack could fit your wants simply high quality.

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

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

Typically talking, platform racks as an entire usually include larger worth tags than hanging racks. And, if you wish to carry greater than two bikes at a time, you’ll have to consider the price of add-ons too. If the worth is not any object and holding your bike trying new is your precedence, select a platform rack. If you wish to lower your expenses and aren’t involved about put on, a dangling rack is a good selection.

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 usually the one choice for carrying greater than 4 bikes at a time (aside from tailgate pads).

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

Bike Attachment

Bike attachment programs 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 programs 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 strong and safe system (consumer error is the commonest concern), straps can degrade and break. Due to this, many strap programs safe the bike with two straps at every attachment level as a contingency.

Most riders’ fundamental concern with a dangling rack is that it might probably harm the bike’s end over time by contact and abrasion. We’ve heard horror tales about hanging racks carrying the paint all the way down to the steel or carbon beneath on lengthy highway journeys.

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

Wheel Hooks and Clamp Arms

Most platform racks use a entrance wheel clamp that can be sometimes called 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 through the use of the entrance tire and rear rim to safe the bike on the rack. Not solely is this technique simple 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).

Different platform racks use opposing clamp arms that primarily 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 method 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 usually 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 will trigger abrasion harm to the paint on the fork crown over time.

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 (highway, gravel, youngsters, and fats bikes), however it’s possible you’ll 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 will match all kinds of motorbike types no matter wheel and tire dimension, fork sort, or handlebar type.

Variety of Bikes

One of many first issues to think about when selecting the type of rack that can work greatest for you is what number of bikes that you must transport. Racks usually carry wherever from two to 6 bikes, so you’ve gotten some choices. Keep in mind, you may all the time 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 once you’re going to choose up just a few extra buddies to trip with.

Platform racks are available 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 numerous carrying capacities, usually 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 usually deal with essentially the most bikes with the fashions we examined being supplied in four-bike and six-bike variations.

Bike Weight

Most good hitch bike racks can deal with the burden of normal, non-electric bikes with none points. Many fashionable racks are actually 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 vital to know the way a lot your bike(s) weigh when contemplating a brand new rack and make it possible for the rack you select is able to dealing with the burden.

On the whole, platform racks usually have the very 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 think about 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 Tremendous Obligation are all suitable with aftermarket loading ramps offered by their respective producers.

Tilt and Swing-Away Options

The “tilt” and “swing-away” options confer with how the rack adjusts to permit entry to your car. Tilt options are tremendous frequent 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 attainable to lean in and seize a backpack or let your canine hop out. It additionally makes it attainable to fold the rack up when not in use to maintain it out of the way in which.

One factor to think about is whether or not you may tilt the rack whereas the bikes are nonetheless on it. It may be a ache to take the bikes off when that you must get into your automotive. Additionally, contemplate how far it tilts away. This can make an enormous distinction in the event you’re pulling out one thing unwieldy, like a cooler.

“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 selection. These attachments might be costly and add to each the worth and weight of an already costly and heavy rack, however the comfort might 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 choice for these with camper vans or who use their vehicles for tenting.

Wheel Dimension, Tire Width, and Bike Size Compatibility

A motorcycle rack is ineffective if it could possibly’t maintain your bike, so make sure that your bike will match. Essential issues to think about 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 spread 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 vital to make it possible for your bike’s tire width, wheel dimension, and wheelbase all fall inside the rack’s parameters. When searching for a platform rack, examine the technical specs listed on the rack model’s web site. Most corporations will record a spread of wheelbases, tire widths, and wheel sizes that match that rack’s specs. In some circumstances, manufacturers may also promote adapters or kits to accommodate fatter tires.

Since hanging racks assist bikes by the body, their tire width, wheel dimension, and wheelbase are usually not a problem. The larger concern with hanging racks is exclusive body varieties like BMX bikes, step-through frames, and full-suspension mountain bikes. These can show a ache (or inconceivable) 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 record and make it possible for the one you’re contemplating will work along with your bike.

Hitch Receiver Dimension

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

The bigger, 2-inch hitch receiver is usually most popular as a result of it could possibly deal with heavier hundreds, which is nice in the event you plan to hold a number of heavy e-bikes. It’s additionally price 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 dwelling in the event you’re keen or in a position to do it your self. In any other case, try an area U-haul or car mechanic who will in all probability be capable of maintain it for you.

Safety

Bike racks have two details of vulnerability in relation to theft: the bikes might be stolen off the rack, and the rack itself might be eliminated. This isn’t simply a problem if bikes are on it; the racks themselves might 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 dwelling, it solely takes just a few seconds for a thief to tug 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 complete rack. This is usually a enormous concern in the event you don’t have a storage to park in, significantly in the event you don’t need to placed on or take off your rack each time you trip.

Thankfully, many racks include a locking hitch mount, which makes it inconceivable 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 obtainable 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 provide this. The lock is built-in into the rack itself, retracting into the rack when not in use. Whenever 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 may 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 all the time suggest including an aftermarket lock as one other layer of safety.

Ease of Use

Should you’ve ever needed to wrestle a full-suspension mountain bike onto a dangling rack or discover a strategy to Tetris 4 bikes onto a poorly designed rack, you realize that ease of use is a big consider choosing the proper bike rack.

For a historically formed body — triangular in form — hanging racks present a easy choice. Elevate 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 trip).

Nonetheless, in the event you’ve bought a heavier bike or one with a singular body type, a platform rack would be the higher choice 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 vital to think about different elements like tilt-release and swing-away options that will impression your expertise, in addition to the bike attachment programs themselves.

Sturdiness

Sturdiness is a big consideration in relation to hitch racks. The one attachment level places a whole lot of strain on racks as they carry hundreds over tough roads. As a result of they’re normally created from sturdy materials like metal, breaks very not often 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 commonest failure is the least disastrous and best to repair — the straps. Elastic straps are likely to dry out, particularly if uncovered to the solar, which results in cracking and ultimately snapping.

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

Shepherd’s hook breaks, in the meantime, are very uncommon. These programs use one hook per wheel, so if one breaks, you’ll be dragging your bike to your vacation spot. Alternative shepherd’s hooks are rather more costly and extra difficult to exchange. They’re additionally a lot larger than a strap, so it’s unlikely you’ll have a spare sitting in your automotive.

Probably the most sturdy racks usually have extra steel of their building. Racks made by 1UP-USA are famend for his or her sturdiness, largely as a consequence of their all-metal constructions. And, if one thing ought to break, they promote each half you possibly can ever want to exchange it.

When searching for a motorcycle rack, do your analysis. Take a look at the consumer critiques or discuss to your native store professional to see what experiences others have had.

Worth & Worth

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

Funds

Within the hitch bike rack market, something underneath round $400 is within the finances class. Usually, 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 practical for rare customers and even frequent customers, assuming you aren’t too involved about your bike body contacting the rack or the bikes probably coming into contact with one another.

The least costly rack we’ve examined is the Allen Sports activities Deluxe Hitch Bike Rack ($130) which may carry 4 bikes as much as 35 kilos every. Should you’re on a good finances, there’s no extra reasonably priced 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 nicely, and is straightforward to load.

Mid-Tier

Between $400 and $800 is the candy spot for many customers. The rack high quality and ease of use are vastly enhanced in comparison with the finances choices. These are largely tray-style or platform racks which are simple 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 finest values on the market. It will possibly carry all the things from highway 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 shouldn’t be solely simple to make use of, but it surely has wheels to roll it and a tool-free system for set up and elimination.

Premium

As you method 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 directly every other manner. The per-bike price is definitely fairly cheap, and it could possibly carry just about any bike you may 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 every other rack we’ve examined. That doesn’t imply everybody ought to exit and purchase it, however in the event you’re keen and in a position to afford it, we extremely doubt you’ll be disenchanted.

Whereas cheaper than these racks, the 1Up Tremendous Obligation ($900-950) nonetheless isn’t low-cost. Nonetheless, this bombproof rack is overbuilt and intensely sturdy. Not solely is it product of all steel elements, however each half is replaceable. So, whereas the worth of entry could also be excessive, the sturdiness of this rack signifies that you’ll nonetheless in all probability be utilizing it in 10 to twenty years.

Often Requested Questions

One of the best hitch bike rack varies from individual to individual. With so many variables between every rider, it’s practically inconceivable to decide on one bike rack for each state of affairs.

The best choice is to determine what your wants are and choose a rack that works greatest for you. In case your precedence is discovering a very good, cost-effective rack, and you may choose up your bike and transfer it round with out wrestle, you may get a practical hanging rack for $100-200.

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

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

When selecting a rack, contemplate the options you’re keen to do with out and which of them you want. Stability these wants with how a lot you’re keen to spend, and also you’ll discover the proper rack for you.

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

Fewer bikes might be spaced out, which minimizes the danger. However area is proscribed 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 very good 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 support, they price a bit extra, however we really feel it’s normally price it.

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 automotive. This decreases any rubbing towards the paint. It additionally usually retains the rack away from something on the physique that it could possibly dent or shatter.

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

This will trigger denting and scratching to the rack or the automotive. Make certain the rack is out of the way in which once you entry the rear of your car.

Bikes may also contact your car in the event you’re not cautious. Platform racks typically carry the bike near a car’s again window. This will enhance the chances of the handlebar going by that window on an particularly bumpy highway.

You may 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 may result in bumping and grinding up towards your automotive.

It’s not as dire a problem as breaking a window, however it could possibly harm the end over time. It’s a straightforward repair, although. Safe the wheel with a strap or bungee twine to unravel the issue.

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

Total, 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 simplest to make use of, but it surely’s additionally the costliest.

In case your car has the aptitude, hitch racks are arguably the best choice. Having the mount connect to your hitch receiver versus trunk racks or roof racks not solely protects your automotive’s end from harm, but it surely’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 big perk for individuals who don’t need a rack on their automotive daily. 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 find yourself going out for a trip, and one step to take away it once you’re completed.

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