# 1
Thule Passage Trunk Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - Hanging Style
Ordered online, it shipped the same day. Received it 3 days later. There is a little assembly, but, pretty simple. It took me less than 15 minutes to install and no tools were needed. It is adjustable to be used on many different auto types, but, the instructions were very clear about how to adjust it to fit my 2011 Ford Edge. I have used it twice so far to transport my bike. There are a couple of items that are inherent in the design, not a flaw, but, you need to be aware of them. First, you can't use rear window wipers. Second, the back-up alarm goes nuts because it registers a bike less than 6 inches behind you (I tolerate it for the few seconds it takes to back out of my driveway or out of a parking lot). Third, there is a little flexibility, it is held on with straps and clamps, not bolts, so, it bounces a little when you go over bumps or make sharp turns, however, it holds the bike fast to the frame and stays on the car. I use mine to transport my bike on short trips around town to bike trails. On a long trip I would suggest checking that the straps remain tight from time to time during the drive.
Positive: The product is well thought out and works for a wide range of automotive vehicles. It comes with interesting dampers that i think work. Instructions seem to be translated from another language, but are quite good, accompanying pictures make installation straightforward. A test drive over speed bumps shows that the rack will support the bike for all travel needs. It can be disassembled , collapsed and stored in the trunk. Downside: The rack is made for the classic triangular shaped frame: horizontal cross bar, "male" bike. For bikes without the horizontal bar, mounting is a little less satisfactory. Such a bike can only be mounted on the outside mounts. Cannot use the damper on one side. Picture shows the mounting. as to a design solution, maybe brackets could be replaced with smaller profile, some adjustability? however, as it is, vibration control is good and adjustability with smaller profile would have vibration concerns.
# 2
Thule Hitching Post Pro Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches
Super sturdy and easy to use/install. Love the bolt hitch attachment, keeps the rack from swaying/wobbling. Attachment points are very solid and the anti swing clips keep your bikes from smashing into each other and the rack during fast starts and stops. I use for all types of bikes, road, mountain, cruiser, children's, etc.
The good: I like the way the bikes are held in and the ability to add the upright adapters to the bike frame holders. The straps are quality too. For a jeep with a spare tire, this is the perfect length to clear it. This rack is 5 stars from the bike holders to the base of it. The bad: the 2"receiver adapter and bolt are insufficient. I wish they made this in a solid 2" hitch. The entire setup is held into the receiver by a very short bolt. It only goes about half way into the receiver tube. So your hitch is only "secured" on one side. A hitch pin or bolt should go through the receiver tube completely imo so it can be secured on the other end with a retaining clip or nut. Because this only goes in the one side, the entire weight of the rack plus bikes are held tight to one side of the receiver by the undersized bolt and washer. A few bumps down the road and that bolt loosens. Now instead of distibuting the weight of the rack and bikes on the receiver and post, it's completely up to the bolt to keep you from losing the rack. The bolt threads get damaged too. I took this down a dirt road and nearly lost everything. I had to buy my own bolt with hd fender washers and lock washers to correct this. Thule should've provided this from the start. The current short bolt design where only one side of the receiver secures the rack is unacceptable. This rack is 1 star at best for the connection to the receiver.
# 3
Thule Passage 3 Bike Carrier - Trunk Mount
The side / bottom straps are seriously lacking. It has those straps you would find on a backpack, making it difficult to securely tighten down because of the angle. I'd usually have to pre-tighten them to a certain length, then forcefully shove the whole rack until it clipped onto my car. They really just need to be ratchet straps. Even then, one of the side straps came off while driving after hitting a small pothole and the whole thing dangled to one side - Luckily I was in a parking lot. I've also never been able to fit 3 regular bikes, only 2. It's really only a capacity of 3 if you have 2-3 slim bikes. The rubber is so wide that it makes it nearly impossible to slide certain bikes on. If you have a step thru bike with one of those crossbar adapters, I wouldn't even bother with trying this. Unfortunately I don't use this anymore since I'd be constantly worrying the whole thing will come off whenever I drive.
Fits perfectly on our Lexus CT200h. Only on the old LS400, the side straps have to be fastened to the wheel arch edge, since the upper trunklid gap is to narrow for inserting the strap hooks. Mounting of two bikes is (with some routine) quickly done, and they stay safe even for longer and faster routes. For transporting three (mountain) bikes, though, the design doesn't seem big and robust enough. Nevertheless, the price-benefit-fun ratios are way better than reasonable.
# 4
Swagman XTC2 Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
First-time rack buyer / owner / installer. The rack arrived in a timely fashion, maybe a day or 2 ahead of schedule. It was well packaged. I’m LOVING this bike rack. It was easy to put together and to mount on my new Honda Passport. Thus far, no squeaks in my 2” receiver. Hardest part of initial set-up is figuring out the best way to position two bikes. Trial & error and some patience. The directions weren’t clear as to where the 2 left-over screws went. I found the answer in another review and have posted a pic in case others have the same problem (photo with pen pointing at screw). These screws go in the underneath side of both of the folding arms. They appear to keep the wheel wells from sliding off in case in you drive with an empty, un-folded rack, and forgot to tighten down the wheel wells. The folding arm push / pull pins can be difficult at times. I coated the tips with some lube. That and a little jiggling seems to solve that issue. I guess it’s better for the pins to be snug vs popping right out. I added a small Master lock to the hitch pin (in lieu of the provided cotter pin) as a theft deterrent. I read that a 3/16 shackle lock will fit into the bike clamp down arms to also act as a deterrent. I had an old 3/16 lock that did snugly fit and appeared to be locked. HOWEVER, I yanked on the lock and it came open as there isn’t quite enough clearance for the shackle to lock. I discovered that longer 3/16 shackle locks are hard to find. Have attached a photo of the lock that actually fits and works (Ace Hardware). One lock on the upper clamp down arm will secure both arms as the lower arm can’t be removed without removing the upper arm. The clamp down arms appear to be coated to prevent damage to your bike. I’ve tried a simple rag and ultimately settled on pool noodle pieces as a precautionary measure. I CAN NOT open my tailgate (regardless of whether or not the rack is fold up and in the bike carry position). If that’s a concern for you, then spring for the more costly titling version. My back-up camera still functions.
The Swagman XTC-2 platform bike carrier arrived very quickly from etrailer and in good shape, the actual carrier box is inside another shipper box, which I'm sure helped with its condition. Assembly was relatively quick and painless, even though the instructions could be a little more thorough. Installing the carrier on the back of our Jeep Patriot also was quick, it helps to have an extra ratchet & 3/4" socket laying around for just this purpose. Installing the bikes takes a little patience and trial and error the first time you try and put them on the carrier. It's easy enough to adjust the wheel holders to fit the wheelbase of your bikes, but for us at least, the challenge was trying to swing the vertical support bar up into position after putting on the first bike (closest to the Jeep). We couldn't angle the bike enough toward the Jeep to have the bar clear the bike. We learned that the easiest way to secure the first bike was to remove the ratcheting frame hooks altogether, put the bike in the carrier, swing up the vertical support bar, put in the pin, and then slide one of the frame hooks down on the bar. The outside bike is much easier because you can set the bike in the carrier at whatever angle you need, not being limited by the back of the vehicle. One thing we did to protect the bike frames was to use some foam pipe insulation as cushion between the frame hook and the frame (see pictures). Once you get a system for installing the bikes, it is very quick to load/unload them. The rack seems to be well made and doesn't wiggle excessively when traveling. All in all a good product for a good price, would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a platform bike carrier.
# 5
Swagman XC2 Bike Rack for 2 bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount
I own a 2005 Jeep Wrangler X with 31x10.5x15 oversized tires and wheels. I installed B6196001 HighRock 4x4 Oversize Tire Carrier by Bestop to carry larger spare tire. I needed a bike carrier that would carry our two crusier bikes and clear my spare tire. After measuring, I ordered: -> S64650 - Swagman 2-bike carrier -> 80300 - 7" Hitch Adapter 2" to 1-1/4" Trailer Hitch Receiver -> RM-061 - Roadmaster Quiet Hitch for 2" Trailer Hitches Our order arrived very quickly, etrailer.com upgraded the shipping. All these products arrived well packaged and without damage. In 15 minutes I had every thing assembled, installed on my Jeep and bikes loaded. The bike carrier is very well constructed, finish is excellent and easy to adjust. When adjusting wheel loops and loading bikes, make sure you pay attention to bike pedal position. I chose this extension because I did not want to use the adapter that comes with the bike carrier, I wanted as few parts as possible to keep rattles to a minimum and gives me more options for towing. The anti-rattle bolt/pin firmly secures the bike carrier to the extension and the Roadmaster Quiet Hitch keeps the extension adapter from rattling in the receiver. Road tested approximately 25 miles over rough city roads ( including railroad tracks ), county roads and highway. Bikes traveled very well without any rattles. I can remove my complete setup quickly, fold and put in rear of Jeep if desired. I am very well pleased with my purchase. Note to etrailer: Please consider offering Roadmaster Quiet Hitch in black to match receiver and accessories. Paul In the Land of Oz . . . Just South of the Yellow Brick Road!
It works great! Easy, quick, you know. One needs to screw in the hitch bolt, for some reason, before latching it. Other than that, it makes going bike riding way easier.
# 6
Rhino-Rack Hybrid Roof Bike Rack - Wheel Mount - Clamp On - Aluminum
Great bike carrier! Etrailer always provides me with high quality products with fast deliveries.
I just put my bike on my new bike rack carrier. Excellent product excellent customer service I recommend this product to anybody!
# 7
Yakima HoldUp Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount
Works well for transporting two 29" wheeled mountain bikes. However, after one year it's starting to rust in several areas (see attached photos), and the front wheel arms are becoming increasingly difficult to raise and lower. Finally the locking cable is extremely rusty as you can see in the attached photo. I'm not sure how durable this rack will be long term.
First-time buyer, can't complain about anything. Another first, my first hitch-type bike carrier as well...did a lot of research and came upon etrailer. The website was easy to navigate with plenty of detail and customer reviews. I took advantage of a nice holiday sale they are running, the unit was out-of-stock, which I wasn't aware of at the time of order. However, I was notified quickly and provided a new ship date which was very reasonable. Shipping was free as well, another reason why I went etrailer. Everything went well, I'm very happy with the Yakima HoldUp rack...easy to assemble, very well constructed, heavy-duty, hold our two bikes nicely, easy to put on and take off, very please with my decision.
# 8
RockyMounts TomaHawk Roof Bike Rack for Fat Bikes - Wheel Mount - Clamp On - Aluminum
Great product. Worked as advertised . Used to be able to take 4 wheeler and bike. etrailer did a great job helping me find an item that would work for my application 10 out of 10 on etrailer. Thanks Vanessa
This rack is great. I've traveled about 2,500 miles with the bike loaded up and it has been rock solid. Well designed. I bring a little folding step ladder with me that I use to load/unload the bike. When I'm not using the rack, it lays down nicely and you never even know it's up there. Highly recommended product.
# 9
Kuat Beta Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 1-1/4" Hitches - Tilting
This is a great bike rake. Company stands by its products also.
I was looking for a light weight bike rack for my 2015 Honda Accord. Your videos stated that the Kuat Beta was light and easy to install. You were right. I opened the box, read the instructions, and had it installed in about 10 minutes. I don't use a rack lock. It is so easy to pop on and off the hitch that I keep the rack in my car trunk.
# 10
Swagman Trailhead Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Tilting
Quick and reliable shipping and was able to take to my mechanic to get it installed and it works perfectly with my bike rack!
This is a very solid product! I have used it for over a year now and love it! I have had up to 3 bikes on this without a problem and have traveled over 8 hours in the car one way with absolutely no issues. Many other bike racks like this one that I see on other cars look unstable this is not unstable in anyway. I did have to file some of the paint off of the rack to get it to fit in my 1 and 1/4" hitch but once that was done it has been perfect. I also bought the locking hitch bolt which is awesome too.
# 11
Saris SuperClamp EX Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount
Thanks to etrailer’s excellent information, I managed to find a bike rack that would carry 2 e-bikes and work with my existing class I 1-1/4 in receiver. I had the added challenge that I carry the bikes on a car that I tow behind my RV, so it needed to be rated for a tow vehicle. The Saris Superclamp EX met all my criteria, and for a reasonable price. I was also happy to find that it’s made in the USA. Install was fairly easy, couple of minor hiccup’s as I figured out the drawings, which, to be honest, weren’t entirely clear. But it’s pretty intuitive, so just added an extra minute or two, and probably wouldn’t phase the more mechanically minded. I’m a somewhat out of shape 50’s female, and I don’t have any trouble moving the rack around, it’s a nice weight and fairly compact when collapsed. It’s very easy to access the hatch when the bikes are not mounted. Haven’t tried it with bikes on yet. Once installed, it is rock solid. Loading my 45ish lb bike (with battery removed) is doable. In a perfect world it would have a ramp, but given my other criteria were met, I’m happy to do without the ramp. The rack seems like it holds the bike firmly during transport so overall, I’m extremely happy with my purchase. Also, there wasn’t a ton of unnecessary packaging to get rid of, but things were well protected in shipment. Customer service from etrailer is stellar as well, they helped quickly with a minor issue. Happy customer here!
At the age of 70, I needed a “friendlier” mounting and bike access rack. A platform rack seemed to be the solution. I had one caveat. My Subaru Forester had a 1and 1/4” receiver (with a non-standard 3/4” length mounting hole). My Volvo had a tuck away 2” receiver. After some research I gravitated toward Thule only to find out they had no solution for my above conundrum. In fact their customer service offered no interest in solving my problem which others also must have had. More research…enter Saris! An American made company with an innovative solution. I quickly received my SuperClamp EX-2 from ETrailer along with excellent customer service support. The ease of constructing the unit for use and the obvious structural integrity was immediately apparent. My wife couldn’t believe how easy it was to use and to stow away on my garage wall after use. Thank you Saris and ETrailer for a wonderful product and experience. I guess American made is still alive and well. I highly recommend this product and the associated companies.
# 12
Kuat NV 2.0 Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount - Metallic Black
EVERY BRAND HAS ITS PROS AND CONS. THE PROS ON THIS RACK IS THE HIGH QUALITY OF MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION AND THE INNOVATIVE FEATURES. THE RACK IS EASY TO USE AND EASY TO INSTALL. I ESPECIALLY LIKE THE INTEGRATED BIKE STAND. IT IS EASY TO USE, UNOBTRUSIVE, AND COMES IN VERY HANDY WHEN YOU WANT TO MAKE A TWEEK ON YOUR BIKE WHILE AT THE TRAIL HEAD OR IN THE PARKING LOT. I KNOW THERE MUST BE A NEGATIVE TO THIS RACK, BUT AFTER A YEAR OF USE I HAVEN’T FOUND IT YET. IT IS A BIT PRICEY, AND IF YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT DURABILITY, QUALITY OF CONSTRUCTION, OR ADDED FEATURES, THEN A LESS EXPENSIVE BRAND MAY WORK FOR YOU AND YOU WILL SAVE A FEW BUCKS. ALSO, IT IS A BIT HEAVIER THAN SOME OTHER RACKS, BUT I AM IN MY 70’S AND I CAN HANDLE IT FINE.
Fantastic bike rack!! After getting fed up with loading my bike up repeatedly in the back of my 2003 GMC Sierra pickup (with a hard top cover) I decided to purchase this kuat rack. I wish I would’ve sooner. Assembly was easy and straight forward however I would use a magnetic parts bowl if I had it to do over. Kuat doesn’t included any extra nuts so I had to contact them to get another after I dropped and lost one (they were very polite and shipped one right away.) As far as function goes this rack is really easy to use. Just slide it into the receiver and put the lock pin it. Just like in the video you then tighten the knob at the back to secure the hitch so there is no movement. Load your bikes up and secure them and you’re ready to go. I did utilize the retractable cable locks after my ride when stopping to eat and they are very easy to use. No worries at all about a stolen bike. And the tilting feature is great too. It does allows you to access your truck bed with the tailgate down just as in the video. As an added bonus this rack fits perfect in my standard size truck bed even with the hard top cover closed (my truck is too long to fit in the garage with the rack folded up installed in the hitch.) Michael H. was outstanding providing schematic drawings with the dimensions so I would know this before my purchase (they’re on the Q&A page.) The free shipping was very fast so that made the purchase even better. I will definitely be a repeat customer as eTrailer is the one of the best companies out there with great customer service and timely communication. Great job!!
# 13
SeaSucker Mini Bomber Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - Fork Mount - Vacuum Cup Mount
I just bought a new car that's a sedan. I didn't want to install a hitch and use the bike rack I had so I started searching for roof racks. I came across this set up from Sea Sucker and started researching. I found some really good reviews and very little negative. I actually thought about this for a year or so before settling. This rack is as advertised that once it is mounted, it's not coming off! It will take a couple times installing to figure to understand balancing the bike and lining the forks up but then it will get easier. Make sure you understand the size thru axle adaptor you might need. It is explained easily for reference to your bike. I also like not having a "permanent" rack on top. Customer service was above and beyond as always with updates and follow up. First class operation! On suggestion, I got the cable and trunk mount anchor for security. Like anything else, if you follow directions and take care of this rack, I see it lasting several years.
I was skeptical about using this on my Model 3, but it works really well. Both bikes attached firmly and did not budge the entire 2 -1/2 hr ride. Even drove through some rain and the seasucker was unaffected. There was some noise generated from the handle that is designed into the main component when driving. However, I just put some gaff tape over it and the noise disappeared. Highly recommend.
Thule Hitch Bike Racks Review - 2016 Subaru Legacy
Today on our 2016 Subaru Legacy, we're doing a test fit of the Thule Roadway hanging style 2-bike rack. That part number is TH912XTR. We already have our bike secured down. We're first going to show you how we do that. We've got 2 cradles in place with 3 straps, 2 on our frame here, and 1 other anti-sway in the back. I'm going to start by releasing those.
Thule Trunk Bike Racks Review - 2015 Subaru Legacy
Today on our 2015 Subaru Legacy we're going to be test fitting a Thule Raceway Pro 2 bike rack, part #TH9001PRO. As you can see, we already have a bike secured to our bike rack. You have two straps on top across the frame and one strap across the vertical part to keep from swaying. You just pop these straps off and your bike will come right off. Now with the bike off, let's go ahead and take some measurements. Overall, you're going to be adding right about 21" to the overall length of the vehicle. Now, the arms do fold down for extra access, for parking or anything else. You just lift up on these tabs, fold them down and lock them into place. There are four straps that secure it to the vehicle.
Thule Passage Trunk Bike Racks Review - 2015 Subaru Legacy
Today on our 2015 Subaru Legacy, we're going to be test fitting a Thule Passage Two Bike Carrier, part number TH910XT. Now we already have our bike secured to the bike rack, and I'm go ahead and show you how we can take it off. We have two straps on the top that go over the frame, and one on the vertical part of the frame that is the anti-sway. Just remove the straps, move take your bike right off. Now with the bike off, let's take some measurements. Overall, it's going to add right about 19 and a half inches to the overall length of the vehicle. Now these arms do fold down.
SportRack EZ Hitch Bike Rack Review - 2011 Subaru Legacy
Alright, today on this 2011 Subaru Legacy we are going to demonstrate the SportRack EZ hitch mounted platform style bike rack, part number A30901. Alright, the hitch on this vehicle is a 2 inch receiver hitch so we will be using the adapter bushing right here. This is our anti-rattle bolts that we are removing. We will go ahead and slide it into the hitch. Line it up with the hitch pin hole and reinstall the bolt. OK, we will tighten down the bolt and install the safety pin. 0:44
RockyMounts TieRod Roof Bike Rack Review - 2008 Subaru Legacy
Today, were working with a 2008 Subaru Legacy GT and well be test fitting the RockyMounts TieRod Roof-Mounted Bike Carrier, part number RKY1014. To mount our carrier on our vehicle, well lay it up on top of our load bars. Well fit the front straps around our front load bar and re-secure them to the head. Then well tighten them down using an Allen Key. At the rear of the carrier, well fit the clamp around our rear load bar and tighten it down with the included wing nuts. With that done, were ready to load up a bike.
What our customers are saying:
"Everyone that bought before me was right! I got my rack in time for my next days off and putting it together was fast too. And I'm a grandma!! Thank you for being fast and honest! You beat anyone in my town hands down!"