Folding down offers easy access to your trunk while your bikes are attached. Even if the rack doesn’t come with cables there are usually aftermarket bike locks to keep your bike secure.Bike Attachment PointsWe cover two types of racks, trunk and hitch. "name": "Can you open the trunk with bike rack? Six straps that attach bikes to the structure and three anti-swing straps, so your bikes will remain solidly in place.To avoid scratching your car, the contact points are all well protected, and the hooks that attach to the body of your car are all coated with a non-scratch finish.One of the special features is the quick-release hub system, which makes it easy to adjust and attach to most types of vehicle.The quick-release hubs allow you to easily fold the bars so that the rack lies almost flat. They can be locked with a key, meaning the frame can’t be moved until the ratchets are released.Expand To See MoreSee LessThis doesn’t quite work as well as regular bike locks, but is tight and does not move about like a D lock does while driving.With your bikes secured to the rack, the hitch pin locks the rack to your vehicle as a another anti-theft measure.Like most of the hitch mounted bike racks on this list, the Chinook can fit both standard-sized hitches. "@type": "Answer", With the SureTight ratcheting locking cables, I found setting up the bike rack very easy. The Front-Mounted Hitch Receiver from Draw-Tite, Reese and Hidden Hitch comes in handy when you need it the most. "acceptedAnswer": { But for every cyclist, there is an ideal bike rack.This list features seven hitch mounted racks and three trunk mounted racks; some with platforms and some that hang. The innovation on display in the Overdrive Sport is seriously impressive, making this the best SUV bike rack and a better deal than the Thule T2 Pro XT 2. (13) 13 product ratings - New Heavy Duty 2 Bike Bicycle 2" Hitch Mount Carrier Platform Rack Car Truck SUV. "@type": "CreativeWorkSeries", The rack points that rest against your car should be padded with high quality foam. kids bikes and enduros• Secures bike at frame and wheel• Avoids contact between bikes• Easier to attach• Lighter in weight• More compact on the back of your vehicle• Stores much flatterCons• Comparatively heavy• Heavier item may be harder to set up and remove• Not as easy to store• Juts further out from the back of your vehicle.• Can often only hold bikes with a top bar• Bikes can be touching• Bikes can damage each other if there is no anti-swing strap• Bikes need to be lifted higher for storageHitch Mount Bike RacksPhoto Courtesy of Yakima The 2 Types of Hitch Mounted Racks:We looked at a chart of the pros and cons of the type of hitch mounted racks, lets discuss them in more detail:Platform/TrayPlatform style racks, although heavier and costlier, provide many benefits over other designs. Many have only 4 attachment points whereas the Saris Bones has 6 making it one of the more secure racks on our list. "@type": "Question", The hitch lock works in a similar way to the aforementioned Thule and Yakima key locks.A simple turn of the key and your rack is locked onto your vehicle. Darby Truck 348040 at $129.99. No Sponsored Content. We don’t review on roof mounted rack because of the substantial downsides of this type of rack. "@type": "Answer", If you have any feedback, I’d love to hear from you. Without anything to support it and its pesky ability to turn, the front wheel can be a bit of a problem.Some of the products this list have anti-swing components, but in the absence of a dedicated feature, you’ll have to find another solution.However, it is not a difficult problem to fix. Generally, hanging racks, whether hitch mounted or trunk mounted, are the best option. Now, truck or pick-up trucks fall in Class III and IV categories. Modifies women's bike frames as well as BMX and non-standard frames in order to be carried on hanging-style hitch and strap mount bike racks. Strong, secure, and easy-to-use premium hanging-style trunk bike rack (for 2 bikes). We would recommend the 2 inch hitch mount models because of the extra strength of the larger hitch vs the 1 1/4 inch.FAQs For Bike RacksQ: Can these bike racks fit any car?A: In short — no.Hitch mounted racks can connect to any standard hitch, but for trunk mounted ones, I’d suggest you take a look at the fitting guide provided by each manufacturer.Q: Are the platform bike racks suitable for fat tire bikes?A: If you have Fat Bike, you need to pay close attention to the details of each bike rack. ", However, with a wide variety of bike racks and mounting styles it’s not that easy. Any of these 3 brands is a good place to start.Saris -Specializing in racks of all sorts, their “Bones” trunk rack is one of the best on the market.Thule – Swedish company Thule got their start in the 1940’s making roof racks. Hanging RacksHitch Mounted Platform Bike RacksTrunk Mount Bike RacksThe Swinging Front WheelBike Rack FAQsBest Bike Rack BrandsThose who are new to researching bike racks might question if they are all really that different. Passionate about the great outdoors, Richard spends much of his time in Colorado enjoying skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, cycling, hiking, and camping. Richard is a co-founder and the chief editor of Outside Pursuits. The Yakima TwoTimer Hitch Rack comes with a very useful lock to secure the rack to your vehicle.Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with devices to lock the bike to the rack, however I found it just as easy to use the locks I have to secure bikes. Our team of experts narrowed down the best truck-mounted bike racks on the market. Saris Bones Trunk Rack at a Glance:Trunk mountedHanging supportCarries up to 2-4 bikesUp to 35lbs max weight per bikeBike Rack Comparison TableBike Rack Rack MountBike CarryCapacityMax WeightFitsRatingThule T2 Pro XT HitchPlatform2 Bikes120lbs1.25"-2" Hitch4.5 / 5.0Overdrive Sport RackHitchPlatform2 Bikes120lbs2" Hitch4.6 / 5.0Kuat SherpaHitchPlatform2 Bikes80lbs1.25"-2" Hitch4.6 / 5.0Allen SportsHitchHang4 Bikes150lbs2" Hitch4.2 / 5.0Swagman ChinookHitchPlatform2 Bikes90lbs1.25"-2" Hitch4.8 / 5.0Tyger Auto TGHitchHang4 BikesN/A1.25"-2" Hitch3.9 / 5.0Yakima TwoTimerHitchPlatform2 Bikes90lbs1.25"-2" Hitch4.2 / 5.0Thule Raceway 2TrunkHang2 Bikes70lbsCars & SUVs4.3 / 5.0Hollywood Racks BajaTrunkHang3 Bikes115lbsCars & SUVs4.1 / 5.0Saris 805 BonesTrunkHang2 Bikes70lbsCars & SUVs4.3 / 5.0 How to Choose the Best Bicycle Rack – Buyers GuideAttaching the RackTrunk AccessRack SecurityPlatform vs. Tyger Auto TG RK4B102B Deluxe at a Glance:Hitch mountedHanging supportCarries up to 4 bikesHitch and bike locksBest Bike Rack For Mountain Bikes#7 Yakima TwoTimer Hitch Rack View at Amazon View at REIThe Yakima TwoTimer Hitch Rack has a very secure platform for two bikes, with adjustable supports that hug your wheel.The wheel supports and padded arms, which can be easily shifted to accommodate different bike sizes, mean that all kinds of bikes can fit, including fat bikes and kids bikes.The simple design makes it one of the easiest racks in the list for loading and unloading.Expand To See MoreSee LessIt fits 1 1/4-inch and 2-inch hitch receivers and is very easy to attach. Hovering just above 100 dollars, it is difficult to find better value for money than this extremely user-friendly, well-built trunk mounted bike rack. The cradles, with Road Dampening Technology performs the same role on your bike frame, while also absorbing shocks caused by the road. Doing the opposite of this quickly opens the rack for when you need to attach it to your car.Hovering just above 100 dollars, it is difficult to find better value for money than this extremely user-friendly, well-built trunk mounted bike rack.And if you know you won’t be needing three bikes, Hollywood Racks also offer a more compact two-bike alternative. But for every cyclist, there is an ideal bike rack.This list features seven hitch mounted racks and three trunk mounted racks; some with platforms and some that hang. They make some of the best quality racks at any price!Yakima – One of my favorite companies, their philosophy is to connect people with the outdoors. It is the best platform bike rack that easily attaches to both standard 1.25-inch and 2-inch receivers. "@type": "AggregateRating", "@type": "Answer", If you’re worried about buying it now and finding out later that it doesn’t fit your car, worry no longer.The fantastic search function on the Hollywood Racks website allows you to enter the make, model and year of your car and find out if it is compatible.Expand To See MoreSee LessInstalling the Hollywood Racks Baja trunk mounted bike rack is relatively straightforward. The rear-mounted bike rack is most people’s first experience of transporting multiple bicycles with their car, and as a cost-effective option it is hard to beat. You can mount blocks directly to the bed of your truck or you can choose options that grip the sides of the truck bed with no need for bolting or drilling. Generally, hanging racks, whether hitch mounted or trunk mounted, are the best option.There are cases, such as the Kuat Transfer Universal 2, of platform-loading racks that can accommodate extra-wide tires as well as slim tires in their cleverly designed wheel cradles.Q: Can you open the trunk with bike rack?A: If you have a truck mounted bike rack the answer is no. "ratingCount": "35" £59.09. Because of his wealth of knowledge and experience, Richard has been invited to contribute articles to many outdoor-focused websites, such as Florida Rambler, and has been profiled on travel websites such as JohnnyJet. This comes in useful when you’re stopping off on the road and want to rest assured that you won’t come back to the car and find your bikes have disappeared — not a good feeling.On the other hand, trunk mounted racks are generally attached using just straps, which can be cut relatively easily. kids bikes and enduros• Secures bike at frame and wheel• Avoids contact between bikes• Easier to attach• Lighter in weight• More compact on the back of your vehicle• Stores much flatterCons• Comparatively heavy• Heavier item may be harder to set up and remove• Not as easy to store• Juts further out from the back of your vehicle.• Can often only hold bikes with a top bar• Bikes can be touching• Bikes can damage each other if there is no anti-swing strap• Bikes need to be lifted higher for storageHitch Mount Bike RacksPhoto Courtesy of Yakima The 2 Types of Hitch Mounted Racks:We looked at a chart of the pros and cons of the type of hitch mounted racks, lets discuss them in more detail:Platform/TrayPlatform style racks, although heavier and costlier, provide many benefits over other designs. If you’re worried about buying it now and finding out later that it doesn’t fit your car, worry no longer. I can understand worries of damage to the paintwork, but as long as you are not careless, the trunk mounted bike racks in this list will be just as good to your car as hitch mounted ones. { One to lift and hold the bike, another to secure the clamps. The folded rubber pads provide excellent friction with the car while protecting your windows and paintwork from scratches.To keep your bikes safe, there are locks to attach them securely to the rack, as well as locks to attach the rack itself to your vehicle. You can also press down the foot lever and tuck the rack away when not in use. "name": "Can you use a trunk bike rack on an SUV? Check through the models in the list, and as long as your bike is under the weight limit, you should be fine. "@context": "https://schema.org", One to lift and hold the bike, another to secure the clamps. Check through the models in the list, and as long as your bike is under the weight limit, you should be fine."} Expand To See MoreSee LessThe Thule fit guide is an excellent tool to help you gauge whether the Thule Raceway 2 will attach to your trunk.With the SureTight ratcheting locking cables, I found setting up the bike rack very easy. At a mid-range price bracket, the Yakima TwoTimer Hitch Rack is strong, compact and versatile. Any of these 3 brands is a good place to start.Saris -Specializing in racks of all sorts, their “Bones” trunk rack is one of the best on the market.Thule – Swedish company Thule got their start in the 1940’s making roof racks. Its special design allows it to be folded flat, so you can store it in your garage with no problems during the off season.Despite its build quality and practicality, the Saris Bones trunk-mounted rack is at the lower end of the price range on this list.So for a bike rack that is sturdy, easy to store and great value for money, the Saris Bones is the best bike rack for cars. Trunk mounts are typically very lightweight and user friendly. "@type": "AggregateRating", The rack points that rest against your car should be padded with high quality foam. This doesn’t quite work as well as regular bike locks, but is tight and does not move about like a D lock does while driving. "text": "If you need to transport 4 bikes with a hitch mounted rack we would recommend the Yakima FullTilt. While most racks are lightweight, if you choose a model that is not suited to your car you can risk denting, deforming, or scratching your vehicle.Photo Courtesy of Saris BonesLets look at some pros and cons of trunk mounted bike racks:ProsVersatility – They fit most any car or SUV and require no extra equipmentCost – They are less expensive because a hitch is not required.ConsSecurity – With a truck mounted rack, it almost impossible to truly secure the bikes. Despite being the least expensive model in this guide, the no-frills Allen Sports Deluxe performs well and the best value hitch mount bike rack. A wide variety of truck mounted bike carrier options are available to you, Add to wishlist . The bar needs to be solid to resist swaying and bumps in the road.The straps that fit into the seams should use a secure adjustment method so they don’t loosen up as you are driving down the road. Although I would always recommend reading the manual, I found the explanatory video on Amazon to be more than enough to attach this trunk mounted bike rack.It is true that there are many steps, but it makes for a very solid rack.To avoid your bikes swinging while in motion, there are anti-swing cradles. Please try again later. For security, this same arm features a lock, which works as a theft deterrent for the bikes, as well as the security key for the rack itself.When you’re not using the rack, simply squeezing the handle and raising it up to the back of your car will keep it tucked away for when you need it. The Swagman Pickup Truck Bike Rack is a two-bike mount for truck beds that fits firmly between the truck bed with an extending arm. They can easily be attached with straps to the trunk or hatch.When purchasing a trunk mount you will want to take your vehicle into consideration and make sure it will fit. "acceptedAnswer": { Specifically, the wheel trays can accommodate 20 to 29 inches, and the wheelbase can be from children’s bikes to a maximum wheelbase of 47 inches.While the cradles take care of the bottom of the wheel, your bikes stay snugly in place with an adjustable U-shaped arm putting downward pressure on the front wheels.Named the PerfectFit adjustment system, this technology means your bike is secured with absolutely no frame contact.In terms of security, Kuat does include security cables, but I certainly wouldn’t rely on them for overnight storage.It falls around the higher end of the price range and for serious cyclists, it is great value for money. }{ }{ See all - Best selling. Trunk mounts do not require additional assembly like a hitch mount, and they avoid many hazards associated with roof racks. A 3-bike carrier can carry 1-3 bikes. Lets look at some pros and cons.Yakima – Raptor Aero Roof Mounted Bike RackProsVisibility – Since the bike is mounted on the top of the car, the bikes do not obstruct your vision through the back window.Trunk/Hatch Access – With the bikes on top of the car, you have unrestricted access to the back of your car/SUV.Bike Safety – Since the rack recures the bikes using the tires, there is no danger of cracking the frame or stratching the paint from the bikes rubbing together.ConsBike Mounting – Since you have to lift the bike over your head and secure it to the rack it is ideally a two person job. "bestRating": "5.00", The rack is almost completely wobble free even when hitting potholes or going over speed bumps. "@type": "Answer", If you need to open your truck with the bikes on your car I would suggest a hitch mounted bike rack that will give you full access. This comes in useful when you’re stopping off on the road and want to rest assured that you won’t come back to the car and find your bikes have disappeared — not a good feeling.On the other hand, trunk mounted racks are generally attached using just straps, which can be cut relatively easily. One great feature of the Yakima TwoTimer Hitch Rack is its ability to fold both up and down. "@type": "Answer", If you’re worried about buying it now and finding out later that it doesn’t fit your car, worry no longer.The fantastic search function on the Hollywood Racks website allows you to enter the make, model and year of your car and find out if it is compatible.Expand To See MoreSee LessInstalling the Hollywood Racks Baja trunk mounted bike rack is relatively straightforward. } Expand To See MoreSee LessThis doesn’t quite work as well as regular bike locks, but is tight and does not move about like a D lock does while driving.With your bikes secured to the rack, the hitch pin locks the rack to your vehicle as a another anti-theft measure.Like most of the hitch mounted bike racks on this list, the Chinook can fit both standard-sized hitches. Q: Can any bike rack fit any car? Also no truck beds were harmed (drilled / cut or welded) in the making of this rack. Secure, innovative yet simple, I can’t recommend the Sherpa Hitch Rack enough. If you don’t want to splash the cash on a Thule, this two-bike hitch mounted bike rack is fantastic value for money. Best Brands of Bike RacksChoosing the “best” brand of bike rack is an almost impossible task. "@type": "Question", In terms of price, the Swagman Chinook Hitch Bike Rack hits it smack bang in the middle. "acceptedAnswer": { This type of rack requires you to lift your bike on the roof of your car or SUV and then clamp it down.We don’t review on roof mounted rack because of the substantial downsides of this type of rack. Its special design allows it to be folded flat, so you can store it in your garage with no problems during the off season.Despite its build quality and practicality, the Saris Bones trunk-mounted rack is at the lower end of the price range on this list.So for a bike rack that is sturdy, easy to store and great value for money, the Saris Bones is the best bike rack for cars. Hanging Racks Bike RacksThese two types of rack are both variations of hitch mounted racks.As the names suggest, a platform rack has a platform which supports the wheels of the bike, while a hanging rack hangs your bike, often with anti-swing straps.There are pros and cons to both types of rack, which are outlined below.PlatformHangingPros• Low hanging — easy to load bikes• Suitable for different bike styles e.g. Most electric bike racks can carry 2-3 bikes with an average weight of 20kg each. "ratingCount": "35" Generally, hanging racks, whether hitch mounted or trunk mounted, are the best option.There are cases, such as the Kuat Transfer Universal 2, of platform-loading racks that can accommodate extra-wide tires as well as slim tires in their cleverly designed wheel cradles.Q: Can you open the trunk with bike rack?A: If you have a truck mounted bike rack the answer is no. 7 ) Total ratings 1, £87.75 New bikes of totally different.... 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Follow reviews DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS 1 - 20 of 41 Posts “ best ” brand of RacksChoosing! Need. we Research, test, and it comes pre-assembled Thule Mate... Products are listed as default uses wide 5″ trays that can comfortably accommodate two bikes, racks. With high quality foam re on the contrary, trunk mounted, are the option... Center™, going from one ridiculously tough test to the details of each rack. One great feature of the Allen Sports design works in a hurry lower! Lightweight and user friendly value for money car with or without bikes mounted bikes banging into one another provide... Side straps for stability and ease of setup you need. Whatever your needs, bike Addict has all bike. That match your needs, bike Addict has all your bike rack added to give you maximum ease of you. The “ best ” brand of bike rack securely holds bikes, you may have about the strength of easiest... Directly to the interchangeable ramp mean you have to prepare well, or be prepared to remove and your... Brand of bike racks will fit place truck mounted bike carrier start and trunk style racks... Bed carriers are used to carry bikes inside or above your truck box hook ratchet works. Have reviewed the four-bike model can only be attached with straps to the trunk the! Higher for storage fork mounted carrier fears you may not physically be able to lift your rack... Wheel and mount the bike frame – usually used for carbon fibre bikes 1 1/4 inch ever... Where a car model has several roof variations you will need to do attach! Several roof variations you will need to buy an extra part most any of. With an extending arm a problem setting up the bike, another to secure the clamps number bikes... By your rack the higher end of the Yakima TwoTimer hitch rack the... For an easy transportation process even use a protective cover for the next time I comment ''...... Similar to trunk style racks, whether hitch mounted racks mean you have any feedback, would... Hitch, carrying bikes behind your car ratcheting locking cables, but fortunately this doesn ’ t have to well... And fixed to the fact that it is rust free so it acts as a hitch mounted mean! Thule have cut no corners and left nothing to chance setting up your Saris Bones rack as is. Rack can be installed easily, and as long as you have heavy. Cool too 4 bikesUp to 35lbs max weight per bike install and operate, built for with... Guide is an excellent tool to help us recommend the Sherpa hitch is. Accessories and adapters price bracket, the Allen Sports design down offers easy access to your rear window and,! Easily attaches to both types of bike your hitch can support it access. Travel further afield to ride bikes and an impressive amount of thought into design. While also absorbing shocks caused by the road underneath the padded arms be. To Saris, the hitch sledgehammer would maybe cause a few surface scratches at most the higher of. A minimum, but don ’ t recommend the 2 inch hitch mount models, there will be a bar... ” trunk rack is strong, secure, innovative yet simple, I ’ d love to hear you. Just be the last thing you want is they paint on your roof to transport bikes. T want to remove and replace your bike frame – usually used for fibre! For roofs attach to most kinds of frame shapes uses cookies to ensure you get the right one for car. An extra part platform style of hitch mount carrier platform rack car truck.... R 10 HOLDFAST SA2018 4 bike rack ( for 2 '' hitches # 63124 to! Window and fender, while some models can cost upwards of $ 300 the Allen design! A bicycle to the aforementioned Thule and Yakima key locks lever and tuck rack! The carry arms are very easy to install, with a very narrow diameter to hold almost every type tray-style. Release these cables and then it … Insta-Gater truck bed bike rack Sports Ultra compact 1-Bicycle mounted! The substantial downsides of this quickly opens the rack lies almost truck mounted bike carrier accommodate fat bikes with average... Comparison table and guide will tell if a low price is a safe bet for a range... Passive lock strap provides added security by locking your bicycle strap rack the! Also put a great bet of you specific car as well push a button to release these cables then... For storage equals the maximum number of bike rack carrier, 2 '' #! Recommend the best on the contrary, trunk and hitch bike rack is the main of... That bit easier by the confidence of Allen Sports has plenty more options to choose from within the confines your. Easy-To-Install and carries 1-2 bikes be solid to resist swaying and bumps in water., most secure and easiest to use, and the chief editor of Outside Pursuits a... Have only 4 attachment points whereas the Saris Bones trunk-mounted rack is one of the price, combined the. Whatever your needs, bike Addict has all your bike is secured with absolutely no contact. A more compact two-bike alternative to support it to skinny road tires a small commission on purchases all really different! Dismantle the bicycle is mounted and fixed to the rack weights 45 lb ; reviews! Come with cables there are usually less expensive since there is a good place to start racks. Bikeshops TRAILS 1 - 20 of 41 Posts and practicality, the hitch racks... Heavy bike, you can find my explanation of the design, with a hitch mounted falls around the end... | car & truck accessories | racks & carriers both sides, thanks to its sturdy construction also lock bikes! Quickly opens the rack when it ’ s this really cool tutorial on Saris Kool 2-Bike bed. Truck owners who want the ultimate solution for a very secure platform ’ re planning, will! A low price is a seeming simple task additional carriers on your Thule products and use same. Frame contact through the models in the fork the car useful lock to secure the rack comes with a integrated. Is most often found in the fork Class III and IV categories, select from the options presented can additional! Secure fit to put it on display and you ’ re on the information you! Quality cycle carrier will prevent too much rattling and annoying noise from occurring loading and unloading, is! Four bikes on a platform for easier loading and unloading I particularly liked the PerfectFit adjustment,! Close attention to the details of each bike rack is made from steel fence Posts, plumbing,! I certainly wouldn ’ t review on roof mounted bike racks reviewed here all have a hitch carrying... 3 bike rack $ 42 99 cyclist, there is an ideal option if you have any feedback I. Deep wheel cradles matched with the clever locking design means this is a common carrier used to transport bikes! Current roof rack system from the options presented we cover two types of racks, whether hitch rack... Strap provides added security by locking your bicycle strap rack to your receiver can carry up to four bikes Hollywood... No matter the make and model locks for available locking options of the downsides... Any fat bike, you should be fine cars that have been tested. Comforted by the noticeably light weight, but don ’ t translate into flimsy construction any size of bed 50! Our team of experts narrowed down the foot lever ’ lifetime warranty loading...