Do You Recommend the Saris Freedom 4 or the Hollywood Racks Destination 4 for My 2018 Atlas?

Question:

I have a low entry specialized roll bike with 2.3inch tires. I am looking for a rack to carry this and three small adult mountain bikes. I drive a 2018 VW Atlas. Would this be a good choice? Im also considering the Hollywood Destination platform, but thought this might be better with wide tires. Thank you!!

asked by: Liz

Helpful Expert Reply:

If you are trying to choose between the Saris Freedom 4 Bike Platform Rack # SA4414B and the Hollywood Racks Destination Bike Rack for 4 Bikes # HR4000 for your 2019 Vokswagen Atlas, I recommend the Saris Freedom 4 if you are planning to transport heavier bikes. With the Freedom 4, the front 2 positions of the rack have a per-bike capacity of 60 pounds, which is beneficial for bikes that might outweigh the 35 pound per-bike weight capacity of the Destination. If you want extra rack security with the Freedom 4, I recommend the Hitch Tite Anti-Rattle Hitch Lock for Saris Bike Racks # SA3022 along with the Saris Cable Lock # SA981.

However, if you are looking for a more economical rack and are not worried about weight capacity of your bikes, I recommend the Destination. Both the Destination and the Saris Freedom 4 will allow you to use the your step-through style frame without the need of a bike adapter bar. In addition, both the Destination and the Saris Freedom 4 include tire cradles that will accommodate tires up to 3 inches wide. Since the Destination already comes with a locking hitch pin, I recommend the Saris Cable Lock # SA981 for extra security of your bikes.

If you need a hitch receiver that is required for either of these racks, I recommend the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver # C13366. Since the measurement from the center of the pinhole of the Curt hitch to the outside of the rear bumper is 5-1/2 inches, you will not have any clearance problems with the Destination or the Saris Freedom 4. The Curt hitch comes with all hardware included for a bolt-on installation.