Comparing The Swagman Original And Traveler XC2 Bike Racks

Question:

Im considering either the Swagman Original Rack for 3 bikes S64152 or the Swagman Traveler XC2 S64663 to carry 2 bikes on the back of my camping trailer. The rack will be hitch mounted rather than bumper mounted, and the combined weight of the two bikes will be 70 lbs. Is there any benefit in terms of stability for the Traveler rack over the Original rack since the tires fit into holders and the weight is shared by the two holders rather than a single mounting point on the Original rack?

asked by: Richard H

Expert Reply:

Platform racks tend to be a much more stable option compared to hanging racks since there's less movement of the bikes with the wheels being in the holders. Hanging racks tend to have a bit more side-to-side play and have the bikes sit closer to each other so you could run into an issue with one bike rubbing against another and potentially scratching it.

Both the Swagman Original # S64152-2 and Traveler XC2 # S64663 have a 35lb per bike weight capacity so the only benefit the Original really has is that it can hold 3 bikes. I own a platform style rack myself and would never switch to hanging style unless it was the only option available.

expert reply by: Kevin C