Recommended Hitch Bike Rack for 2012 Chevy Equinox

Question:

I have a 2012 Chevy Equinox and 2 Trek Verve 3 bikes. I am moving from New York to Texas which is a 1600+ mile trip. I have a 2 inch hitch on my vehicle and am looking for the sturdiest and safest bike rack to carry these on. I was wondering what you would recommend since all the reviews that i have seen are confusing to me. I like that the yakima has a 2 inch hitch but sounds like that might not be the best option. Keep in mind construction along my trip and that means constricted lane space. PLEASE HELP!! Thank you.

asked by: Sharon G

Expert Reply:

It seems you are concerned about the width of a hanging bike rack and security for your long road trip. There are a couple of different options I'd like to give you to choose from, all of which are really nice bike racks just with different features. The first two are platform bike racks where the the racks only touch the wheels. The third is a vertical hanging bike rack where the frame is also untouched as the bikes hang by the handle bars.

My strongest recommendation for your application is the Kuat NV 2.0 2-Bike Platform Rack - 2" Hitches - Aluminum - Tilting - Gunmetal Gray, # NV22G. This bike rack is designed specifically for 2 inch hitches so there isn't an adapter for your 2 inch hitch receiver. This will by design limit movement in the hitch and it also has a built in anti-rattle system. The front wheels rest in cradles and the rear wheels have an adjustable sliding cradle with ratcheting straps. This rack will secure your bikes with a ratcheting wheel hook. It has integrated locks to secure your bike to the rack and a locking pin to secure your rack to the hitch receiver. It has a tilt away design that will give you access to your hatch even with bikes loaded and the foot lever leaves both hands free to lower the rack in a controlled manner. I've included a video of this rack on a 2012 Equinox.

The Yakima HoldUp 2 Bike Rack for 2" Hitches - Platform Style - Tilting, # Y02443, is a nice rack as well that has many similar features to the Kuat NV. The most notable difference is the pin to tilt the rack away for cargo access. I have attached a video of this rack on a 2012 Equinox as well. With many similar features, the price point of this rack may be a better option for you especially if the tilt mechanism isn't an issue for you.

A more economical option is a 2 bike rack from Softride. It is the Softride Hang2 2-Bike Rack for 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Tilting, # SR27041. This bike rack carries your bikes vertically so it is a slimmer rack and the adapter for the hitch allows you to use it with a smaller 1-1/4 inch hitch receiver as well. This innovative rack holds your bikes by the handlebars so there is no frame contact at all. It also tilts away from your Equinox for easy loading and unloading, which will also allow you to access your hatch for the long trip without unloading the bikes. It has an anti-rattle hitch bolt that eliminates noise and limits the movement of the rack itself. I also recommend a cable lock like # e98891.

Any of these three bike racks will safely transport your bikes from New York to Texas, but I would recommend the Kuat NV 2.0 rack over these other options because of its tilting features and integrated security.