This EXO system is perfect for your biking adventure. Bike rack secures your bikes by the wheels, and cargo carrier holds coolers, luggage, firewood, and other large, bulky gear. System swings away to provide cargo area access.
Features:
Specs:
Notes:
This modular system includes everything you need for your biking adventure. The DoubleUp bike rack carries 2 bikes by the wheels, and the GearWarrior cargo carrier is perfect for hauling coolers and other bulky gear. The two-tier base system swings away, while fully loaded, for rear cargo area access, and the top tier can be removed if you only need to carry 1 accessory. Using the cargo carrier on the lower level, without utilizing the top tier, increases the weight capacity to 250 lbs.
Because the Yakima EXO system is modular it lets you transform your hitch into the ultimate gear-carrying rig. You can outfit the system with various accessories (sold separately) to carry all your biking, camping, and skiing gear. The system is compatible with a bike rack, ski rack, cargo carrier, and an enclosed cargo carrier, and you can easily swap them out to match any outdoor activity. You can also add base camp accessories, like a camping table. Lastly, because you can carry two accessories on the back of your vehicle, it frees up space on your roof to carry even more gear.
The DoubleUp bike rack has ratcheting hooks that grab your bikes firmly by the front wheel - not the frame. It's perfect for carrying nearly any bike, including bikes with carbon frames, disc brakes, thru axles, or full suspensions. To load a bike, simply place your front wheel in the cradle, rotate the arm up and over the wheel, and press down firmly on the ratcheting hook. The hooks also fold down when not in use.
Large rear-wheel holders accommodate bikes with a wide variety of tire widths, including fat bikes. They pivot front to back, automatically adjusting to your wheelbase - no need for sliding and tightening. The wheels secure in place with the ratcheting straps built into each holder.
The GearWarrior cargo carrier lets you carry coolers, luggage, firewood, and other large, bulky gear. It's easy to detach the carrier from the base unit, making it convenient for two people to tote all your gear to the campsite in one trip. You can also attach it to a wheel kit (Y97VR - sold separately) to convert the carrier into a wagon.
The hinged arm on the base lets you swing the base away from your vehicle. This provides full access to your vehicle's rear cargo area and eliminates the need to remove your bikes or the cargo carrier when you're unloading your vehicle or letting your dog hop in or out of the back.
To open the hinged arm, simply rotate the release knob counterclockwise until it's unscrewed from the arm, pull out on the spring pin, and swing the rack away from the rear of your vehicle. The arm will lock in place when it's fully extended, so your hands are free to open your hatch and remove cargo.
In addition to allowing access to your vehicle's cargo area, the EXO can also provide access to your gear stored in the cargo carrier. Once the base unit is fully extended, you can swing the top tier back 180 degrees, with your bikes and the bike rack still attached. This will provide unfettered access to your gear on the lower level.
To close the base unit, just pull the release lever at the hinge and swing the extended arm back into position. Once you hear the spring pin lock into place, rotate the knob clockwise until it's tight.
If you leave the base swung open for an extended period of time, you'll need to install the included jack stand to help stabilize the arm. Turn the rod on the jack to fine tune the height so the system stays level.
To install the EXO system, simply slide the shank on the base unit into your 2" hitch receiver, insert the threaded hitch pin, and tighten it down with the included 24-mm wrench. The threaded hitch pin also reduces noise and movement in your hitch. The second tier bolts to the base to provide the second level of storage.
Dual arms on each tier have tracks with cleats and SpeedKnobs that secure EXO accessories. To swap the bike rack or cargo carrier for a different accessory, undo the latches on the sides of the arms, rotate the SpeedKnobs to allow the cleats inside the tracks to free the rack or carrier, and remove it. Next, put the new accessory in the tracks, rotate the SpeedKnobs so the cleats secure it, then close each latch.
This EXO system includes 10 SKS locks to secure the system, carriers, and your bikes. The two tiers have locks that secure them to each other and to your vehicle's hitch receiver. Both tiers also have locks in the arms to secure the DoubleUp bike rack and the GearWarrior. Finally, the bike rack has 2 cable locks to secure your bikes. Because the GearWarrior doesn't use any, this EXO configuration will come with 2 extra lock cores.
The SKS locks for the system come with the 2 base units - 5 with each. Because they are packaged separately, the locks for the top tier and bottom tier probably won't be keyed alike. However, they can be swapped out to match each other and even your other Yakima gear.
Because the EXO System is modular you can add accessories for whatever adventure you have planned, or swap them out for other activities.
The BackDeck camping table (Y84VR - sold separately) is perfect for use at the campsite. It lets you prep meals, lay out your gear, and even mix drinks at the end of the day. Simply remove the bike rack and install the table.
The SnowBank (Y57VR - sold separately) is perfect for your ski trip. It carries up to 5 pairs of skis or 4 snowboards. It has an expanding hinge that accommodates thick skis and large buttons that let you access your skis even if you're wearing gloves. Simply remove the bike rack and install this carrier in its place.
The GearLocker enclosed cargo carrier has 10 cu ft of storage space for carrying helmets, clothes, and other gear. It keeps your gear secure, dry, and away from prying eyes. The GearLocker can be installed on either the top or bottom tier and can be paired with the GearWarrior cargo carrier to maximize cargo space, if you don't need to carry your bikes.
Alternate Instructions
Average Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (306 Customer Reviews)
This EXO system is perfect for your biking adventure. Bike rack secures your bikes by the wheels, and cargo carrier holds coolers, luggage, firewood, and other large, bulky gear. System swings away to provide cargo area access.
Perfect for my needs, 2 bikes load easy and are secure. Gear tray is perfect dimensions for cooler and gear bags.
This thing is well built and Heavy! should work well for my needs. definitely have to load heavier things on the driver's side as it is off center and tilts to the passenger side when not loaded with gear. I also got the tabletop which now I realize is useless for my application. I am using this on my truck with a truck camper in the bed. this makes the table attachment shoulder high. wheels for the wheel kit at pneumatic and flat so I guess I will have to add air every time I intend on using them, I thought the description said they were solid wheels, but I must have read something wrong cause they are definitely phonematic.
Great customer service! Definitely recommend etrailer.
Great transaction. Fast shipping and good follow up! I would definitely order from you guys again!
We use this for extra storage in our class B campervan. I'm able to store all the bulky items that don't fit inside the van like chairs, mats, and our grill. I like that it doesn't block the license plate or taillights and still allows access to the Thule bike rack. The SwingBase allows both doors to open for full access into the rear of the van.
Very interesting! I am pleased with this purchase. All of this equipment is well built and was designed with ease of use and security in mind. The hitch part is surprisingly pretty heavy, but once it is connected this weight gives the hitch a sturdy feel. The lockers are pretty big and the material though light weight feels like it will hold up to some rough miles and a few bruises. It is so nice to have this much dry secure and easy to access storage outside of our vehicle. Customer service was excellent and delivery times were surprisingly short.
Very easy to install. Total installation time (not counting taking photos and opening boxes) was approximately 15 minutes. The only issue I encountered was the left handle on the lower rack had a broken piece inside the locking pin assembly. Other than that, everything was quick and smooth for a single person job. This will greatly assist my business by allowing more room for passenger comfort on long trips to and from airports with a large party. Looking forward to putting this to use.
Product meets all expectations. etrailer quickly replaced a broken Knob Assembly which was damaged during shipping. Vehicle is an Airstream Interstate 24GT. The swing assembly does restrict the Sprinter's right barn door from opening completely, but not a significant issue. We did add our own rear turn signal lights and license plate holder since the factory rear lights restricted ground clearance.
Installed on 2017 Transit 350HD.
First order on etrailer and the experience was great; really fast shipping and great communication. I was surprised to see it picked and shipped so quick so late in the day, especially for how big this is. It comes in 4 boxes; one giant one and 3 moderately huge ones.
The Yakima EXO system is top notch, great construction. Excellent fit and finish, and pretty easy to assemble. Read the instructions and follow each step and you'll have no issues. I have a bad back and was able to assemble myself, the heaviest part is the swing away hitch - if you can lift about 40-50 pounds it is going to be easy to assemble without any help. I went slow and it only took me about 30-45 minutes.
Tips - the bike rack portion it's not super clear that the rails should not be tight when you put the upper bike rack on. Just set everything in place and it will make getting the bolts through easier.
Pros - it's as advertised. Super sturdy, no shaking/rocking, easy to use. The people who designed this system should be high fiving themselves, it's great.
Cons - none really other than one minor customer experience gripe - you're given enough lock centers to re-key multiple Yakima EXO accessories, I think 4 are included...but it does not come with a master key for removing the lock center. You'll need to buy this separately or do like I did and make your own. Considering they put the effort into including replacement lock centers and give you every tool you'd need, it's a weird oversight.
That being said once you replace the lock center on the cargo carrier you only need 1 key for all of the locks on the system which is awesome.
Ford Transit specific issue I ran into:
When the swing away is open there is a safety latch that holds it open so it will not fall closed on you. This gets in the way of the passenger door opening. But if you remove this (at your risk) you can open the passenger door fully and if you rotate the upper shelf you can even open the door entirely against the side of the van. Also it will 100% block your camera and license plate if it's door mounted.
Absolutely stoked on this system. The cargo box is awesome with internal tie downs and taking it apart to store it in the garage only takes a minute or two. I love how easy the cargo box indexes in place. Every aspect of it has been super satisfying to play with.
We have owned our Yakima swing away cargo carrier for a year and it has been a wonderful addition to our Rubicon. It gives us all the room for our 2 large dogs while carrying our luggage to visit our family. It has been so helpful; it stays on the Rubicon all the time! The way the carrier swings out of the way was critical for the dogs to get access to the rear of the Rubicon. Can't live without our Yakima carrier!
This is the perfect setup for family road trips when you need a little extra dry storage. I mounted this on my Rivian R1S and saw no change in range, as opposed to a roof mount system. I only wish Yakima would incorporate a full-size spare mount for the EXO. Also had a favorable experience with etrailer customer service, as one of the locking pins arrived damaged. They were quick to get a replacement part to me at no cost. I couldn't be happier with the EXO or etrailer. I know that sounds corny, but it's true.
Unfortunately we can’t open rear of 2018 expedition with the top box in place. One of the knob locking pins is/was broken in shipping. I also wish all of the items were keyed the same. This whole setup is 5 keys. I’ll probably call a locksmith and have them all re-keyed if possible.
Good design with minor flaws. After 12 months of using main frame and one level container I have found rusting pin in the swing hinge and box perforation,probably caused by a small rock picked by the rear tire. This year I purchased the frame for the upper tier and a 2nd container. The upper rotaing frame is loosely fitted and requires some gymnastics to fit in the stabilizing screw. It is especially difficult with the upper container loaded. The securing screw should have a butterfly handle and a pilot point, like the one in the lower level.
The lights work very well with the hitch box assembly.It is mounted on a Ford Transit camper. High visibility and easy to attach. The wire hold plastic clips have not held up after a few uses so I use some zip ties. The Transit blis system deactivates when a trailer is attached. You can use the Yakima box with lights and have blis active by setting trailer length to shortest setting in the controls. I believe it us longer than box and rack.
Couldn’t love this more, adds all of the extra space needed. Locks integrated throughout make very easy to secure. Love that the cargo boxes can be removed individually, packed and returned to brackets. Two improvements which we would improve, locks are all keyed differently and would be a bit easier for us if they were keyed alike. Also, has a significant wobble once affixed to the hitch. We were able to fix temporarily with shims, and will be ordering a hitch tightener for future use. Not sure if this is a universal issue or specific to our vehicle type.
I think this is a great product except for the locking pin in the full swing out position doesn’t allow the right rear door to open fully. (Check photo included). If Yakima made a 1/2” shorter pin then it would allow the door to open correctly.
I'm always impressed with the speed of getting shipments from etrailer. Of course the Yakima product quality is great, I think the service at etailer is what keeps me coming back.
Great bike rack and cargo carrier. I use it on my camper van and it is very functional and creates a ton of extra storage. Swing away rack works extremely well!
Very heavy duty (which means quite heavy in weight too). Manipulates well to get into one or the other storage bin. Lots of room! Overall love it!
Major flaw in the design. When using the box mounted on the bottom rack, You have to rotate the upper board/box rack 180° entirely in order to open the box… this isn’t super difficult but you actually have to swing the entire rack (upper & lower) out to the side to rotate the upper rack. This is extremely annoying if you just need to get something out of the box in a hurry. Additionally the turn knob/handle where you release the rack to swing out to the side, is right where your wheels throw all the mud, snow, dirt etc. so this makes for a messy event if you just simply want to get into box as stated earlier or in the back of an SUV after driving through any type of in-climate conditions. Another flaw was the clip rings should have been made with lanyard as we lost ours day one. Do your self a favor and by extra clips from the hardware store and keep in the box.
Aside from the flaws, the structural integrity is excellent, the mounting pin through the hitch is more than safe and secure, again a bit annoying if you want you remove the entire rack system quickly or even just after a trip. We ended up just leaving ours attached all winter due to the inconvenience. The box is made well, the rack holder’s are also made well. Quality of the product is high, just wish Yakima would have put a little more thought into the ease and accessibility of the rack in the way that THULE typically does. A simple 30° tilt up feature on the upper rack would have been perfect, additionally a 30° tilt down on the hitch mounting point for the entire rack to tilt would have given so much more ease to accessing the back of the vehicle.
We like the overall product and after spending so much money on it we have no choice but to keep it for years to come. Just might have to weld my own tilting brackets to ease the painful transitions.
Got everything but the keys for the Cargo Carrier, no instructions in the box or keys. All the other items had instuctions, hardware etc. included but not the cargo carrier. It was the only piece that did not come in a Yakima labeled box.
I LOVE my EXO system
Thanks etrailer
The unit arrived as projected,, 4 components all well packaged.
The instructions were easily followed and accurate
The quality of the construction was good with clean welds and good coating
One issue was no keys for the pin locks could be located
The design of the attachment is very easy to attach and detachment.
You can see the various coolers utilized, couple reasons
1. Larger coolers can’t be accessed, the smaller size allows for open top
Access, additionally these can be locked with cable thru handle to
Reduce possible theft.
I did find the upper tightening knob to be not as secure, as I felt better,
In putting a thru bolt and lock but in lue of
All in all pleased , we’ll see how it holds up under highway use
We bought this set of back of the car storage carriers a year ago so we wouldn't have to rent a U-Haul trailer for vacation. Just finished our second month long trip.
We love it. Sturdy, well engineered. Would recommend it to anyone.
Do you have a question about this Hitch Bike Rack?
Info for this part was:
At etrailer.com we provide the best information available about the products we sell. We take the quality of our information seriously so that you can get the right part the first time. Let us know if anything is missing or if you have any questions.
Thank you! Your comment has been submitted successfully. You should be able to view your question/comment here within a few days.
Error submitting comment. Please try again momentarily.