Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. Best Hitch Bike Rack for the Money. It takes the guesswork out of the process by listing the appropriate dial measurements for almost all vehicle models. Whether you're hauling around carbon fiber road bikes or downhill mountain bikes, this rack gets it done in a hassle-free and safe manner. The fork cradles are strong, and the rope rear-wheel fasteners are simple and far more durable than rubber or plastic ratchet systems. He is also skilled in the art of breaking things, which makes him a great at evaluating durability. Best Road Trip Bike Rack: Yakima SwingDaddy at Amazon The Thule UpRide also scored perfectly. The rack is made with a unique approach which has the bike hanging from the saddle. In the case of roof-mounted racks, manufacturers assume that you're less likely to be remove them on a regular basis. Keep reading for a full explanation of roof racks, boot or trunk-mounted racks, and hitch or towbar-mounted racks, with reviews of those that scored highest when rated by our expert team of testers. The Raceway Pro 2 suffers from the same drawbacks of all trunk-mounted racks. It works best with bikes that have traditional frame shapes. Yes, this rack functions well, but its design is inherently hard to use. Back to the suction cups, the SeaSucker can be mounted to all sorts of vehicles and in a variety of ways: on the roof, half on the rear hatch glass, half on the trunk. Just like the bike you ride, lots of thought and engineering has gone into the racks designed to carry your bikes on your vehicle. Heavier bikes can be problematic as well. Roof-mounted racks are, as the name suggests, mounted on the roof of your vehicle. It's ready to handle your 9mm, 15mm, or 20mm size axles. Otherwise, we feel this is the best hitch-mount rack you can buy. The latter is better if you (or your other half!) North Shore did an excellent job designing this product to eliminate virtually all interference between bicycles. Looking to carry a lot of bikes? Products Features; EDITOR’S PICK. The only pitfalls are its size which means storage can be an issue and its rather cumbersome weight that can make it hard to lift around. No assembly required. A note for our Australian readers: if your hitch mount rack obscures the view of your number plate you’ll also need an illuminated accessory number plate. While it requires a little more assembly than some other models, your efforts are rewarded with a solid, tray-style mount and an easy-to-use tilt release that's complete with locks. Thule broke the mold by being the only trunk-mount rack in our test group to utilize rubber-coated steel cables for mounting instead of the nylon straps found on most other models. If your bike-hauling duties run the gamut from time-trial aero machines to full-squish fatties with all stops in between, but there’s only one bike rack on your car’s roof, this is a great choice. That said, we do feel that it is worthy of your attention. Other models we tested like the 1 Up Quick Rack require a more choreographed approach to bike loading to ensure there are no awkward moments when the bike is teetering, but you've run out of hands. The HangOver 6 is overall a little less user-friendly, although the tilt mechanism is better. GearLab is reader-supported. The Bikehand is the best bike storage rack that is inexpensive and easy to setup. Fancy versions have hook and loop tie downs to keep bikes separated and secure, while homemade versions, such as old blankets or a couple of bike boxes folded over, are a bit less sophisticated. The tray clearance from the vehicle is somewhat cramped, so bikes with 800mm bars need to be placed in the outside tray, and the rack itself can be cumbersome due to its weight and size. When mounted on your vehicle, it also limits access to the trunk, especially when loaded with bikes. This rack has held onto top honors in this review for a few years because it effectively blends a supremely high level of versatility with a tremendous level of user-friendliness. Loading bikes on the T2 Pro XT couldn't be easier with its low loading height and well-designed front wheel clamps that help take the awkwardness out of balancing a bike while trying to place it in the rack. Pros: Trunk bike racks are typically the most inexpensive. Check price. If you will be taking your bike rack off your vehicle with any frequency, this is a fantastic choice. It is also quite heavy and relatively large, so moving it around and storing it when not is use can be a bit of a bear. The Yakima High Road knocked it out of the park. Two bikes will fit best on the rack if you hang them facing in opposite directions. What’s so good about Allen Sports Deluxe is that it’s designed to fit 2-inch and 1-1/4-inch receiver hitches. https://www.mensjournal.com › gear › the-five-best-hitch-mounted-bike-racks Of the hitch mounts, we believe the RockyMounts MonoRail is the most outstanding value. Some updates have been made to this product since we tested it, which reportedly address the issues we had with tray length and sticky release mechanism. Basically, any big, bulky item is fair game for a roof rack, even ladders, lumber and other non-sports items. Thule Xpress Pro 970 towbar-mounted bike rack. The North Shore rack tips the scales at a whopping 70 pounds while the Dr. Tray is closer to 80 pounds. This is the most affordable style of rack, but relies heavily on it being fitted properly, and the hooks that hold the straps to the vehicle can sometimes damage paintwork. The installation process requires no tools and is as simple as flipping a lever, tightening or loosening a thumb roller, and reclamping. It also has support arms that are laterally adjustable to let you dial in the fit to your bike's frame. The sturdy construction is all metal, and it feels like it's built-to-last. Raising and lowering the rack to load bikes, or to simply access the rear of the vehicle, occurs almost daily, which means having an easy-to-use handle for tilting the rack can be a make or break deal. Make no mistake, this isn't an updated version of Yakima's HoldUp rack. The 1 Up USA Heavy Duty Quick Rack, proved to be our highest scorer in this metric. Best bike rack for a VW Tiguan. $89.99 #5. 3.1 1. If you're carrying bikes with different wheel sizes, you need to adjust the rack to the appropriate wheel size before loading. Rubber frame cradles support the bikes by the frame and secure with nylon straps and plastic buckles. Fortunately, RockyMounts has you in mind, with a well-designed platform hitch rack that can swing out of the way and is made to meet the specific needs of the modern van-dwelling nomad. It will accommodate most 20-29” wheel bikes with tires as much as 3 inches in diameter. This rack comes in two- and three-bike variations, each of which can handle up to 35 lbs per bike: 70 lbs for the two-bike model, and 105 lbs in three-bike form. So figure out what your needs are and what style best suits your lifestyle, and transport your bikes easier and faster than ever. In order to choose the best bike rack for you, consider the pros and cons of each different type. The NSR-6 is constructed entirely of metal. Although we don't score products based on price, we know value is important. Bike’s front wheel on or off? Like other roof rack bike carriers, the Mini Bomber rack holds bikes through the bike’s front fork. The hand knob on the Yakima FrontLoader makes for easy removal and installation. 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