In the end, this feature can have a huge impact on overall convenience, and we call it out whenever possible in the write-ups above. Hanging racks are much lighter and more compact, which is a plus for those that plan to remove the rack with some regularity. The design includes two independent folding arms that contact only the tires, leaving the rest of the bike completely untoucheda task that other racks struggle to accomplish. RockyMounts WestSlope 3 combines a user-friendly tray design and generous three-bike capacity at a reasonable cost. That makes it a solid choice for fat bikers and fans of e-bikes. Yakima HoldUp 2 Bike Rack $ 569.00. Finally, everything about the Thule has a high-end look and feel to it, from the easy-to-use tilt lever to the metal trays and built-in cable locks. And on the road, weve noticed theyre more prone to wobbling while driving than more solidly built competitors like the Kuat NV 2.0. Type: HangingWeight: 14 lbs.Number of bikes: 2Weight capacity per bike: 40 lbs.What we like: Smart mix of weight, strength, and features.What we dont: Only offered in a two-bike capacity. My bikes would shake all over the place at highway speed on my Transfer. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support. Best Hitch Rack for Rear Cargo Access: RockyMounts BackStage Best Hitch Rack for E-Bikes: Thule EasyFold XT 2 Best Vertical Hanging Rack: 1UP Recon Rack 6 Best Overall Hitch Bike Rack 1. What sets the design apart is its versatility and ease of use: Unlike the North Shore Racks below, the HangTight is compatible with drop bar bikes, which is a great feature for those that mix disciplines (note: a max of three drop bar bikes can be loaded at a time on the HangTight 4). Among platform-style racks, its best to choose one of two basic designs: a ratcheting arm that locks in over the front wheel and a strap through the rear wheel (featured on the Thule T2 Pro XTR, Kuat Transfer v2, Kuat NV 2.0, and others) or a dual-arm design like 1Ups Heavy Duty that tightens over the front and rear tires. We independently buy, test, and rate all the products we review. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. Without a doubt, their Heavy Duty Double's sleek aluminum build and attention to detail are a cut above the rest. And compared with traditional hanging models, you dont have to worry about issues with a bikes top tube. We much prefer the lighter weight racks anytime we have to move them by hand as they are far less cumbersome than heavier models like the Thule T2 Pro at 51 lbs, or the Kuat NV 2.0 which weighs a whopping 57 lbs 10 oz. A forum community dedicated to Mountain Bike owners and enthusiasts. Zero buyer's remorse with it. We understand that sacrifices are necessary to trim weight, but it feels like Yakima took it a little too far in this case Read in-depth reviewSee the Yakima Dr.Tray. Forgot the price but it was reasonable after all the comparisons with good rated carriers. They've been steadily improving their designs and product offerings, and the MonoRail is one of several hitch mount platform racks in their line. The trays are also designed to have about 2 inches of side to side adjustment, so be sure to take the time to position them so your bikes don't conflict in transit. As expected, 2-inch receivers can handle more weight, which is a consideration if youre planning on hauling a heavy platform rack with some 50+ pound e-bikes aboard. You help support OutdoorGearLab's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners. Hanging hitch racks are a popular way to transport road or lightweight bikes without the need to lift them overhead and onto the roof of your vehicle. When the RockyMounts BackStage was released, the rack created quite a stir in the industry. Note: The Helium is discounted at the time of publishing, as an updated Helium Platform XT has been released. If neither of those options work, youll need to do some digging. In addition, Kuat included extras like integrated cable and receiver locks and a unique bike stand for quick repairs at the trailhead (note: this piece is not locked to the rest of the rack, so we often stored the stand inside our vehicle). Another quibble we have is that the lock is not integrated into the rack, which is a handy feature that we appreciate on the Thule T2 Pro above and Yakima Dr.Tray below. As the name indicates, tilting racks can be leaned over by pulling a lever that moves the rack far enough down to allow you to open the rear hatch or tailgate of your vehicle. Sitting atop Kuats hitch rack collection is their top-end NV 2.0. A final scenario is where a specific rack simply cant fit a certain wheel or tire size. Kuat Transfer Universal 2 Bike Hitch Mount, CURT Manufacturing 13316 Class 3 Trailer Hitch. That said, just because a rack is made up of a lot of plastic doesnt necessarily mean that its not durable. And finally, the RockyMounts is a little limited in bike compatibility, with a max weight of 40 pounds and tire width of 3 inches. It should be noted, however, that this cable lock system is far from theft-proof and is more of a theft deterrent than anything else. If youre able to spend up, we recommend the $449 Kuat Transfer v2 2 above, which addresses most of these issues.See the Swagman XC2. Code: RKY10004 234 reviews Our Price: $499.95 Quantity: Product Specs: Hitch Bike Racks Platform Rack Tilt-Away Rack Fold-Up Rack Carbon Fiber Bikes Heavy Bikes Fits 2 Inch Hitch This euro-cool design puts an emphasis on everyday simplicity with easy-to-secure From smooth and flowy post-work rides to rough and rowdy all-day backcountry epics, the trail mountain biking category covers a wide range. 1 color . HoldUp Bike Rack - 2in. Wisconsin-based 1Up may not be a household name like Thule or Yakima, but the company has a dedicated following among hardcore cyclists. Despite the complaints, the HangTights ability to carry various bike stylesas well as its all-around solid buildearn it a spot on our list Read in-depth reviewSee the Yakima HangTight 4. The listings for each design will specify the maximum carrying capability per bike. If you want to transport your bikes efficiently and securely on a hitch mount platform rack, then we suggest checking out the Monorail. Our favorite lever style on a platform rack is found on Thules T2 Pro XTR, which has a large handle conveniently located at the end of the rack. For those planning on hauling heavier downhill mountain bikes, e-bikes, fat bikes, or cruiser models, its a good idea to verify the bike weight capacity of a given rack. Our biggest complaint with the Beta is that Kuat doesnt offer a higher-capacity version. One of the main reasons to get a hanging-style rack is for occasional family outings, and a four- or five-bike model is often ideal for those trips. RockyMounts 1.25" MonoRail Bike Rack, new, unopened, returned. Priced at a reasonable $469 for the four-bike version, the RidgeBack offers double the capacity of the Thule T2 Pro above for hundreds less. Others, like the Kuat NV 2.0, require two separate adapters to fit bikes with wheels between 20 to 24 inches and tires larger than 2.75 inches. Choosing the Right Bike Rack for Your Car, the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews, Reasonably priced, highly versatile, solid construction, user-friendly tilt release, comes with locks, Very secure hold, no frame or fork contact, Secure hold, easy rack installation/removal, no bike frame contact, More security features than other trunk racks, comes in 2 and 3 bike versions, lightweight, folds small for transport or storage, more stable than other trunk racks, Very inexpensive, no assembly required, lightweight, folds small for storage, Sits slightly closer to vehicle than some, some assembly required, Design seems a little over-complicated, limited to vehicles with low roof height, you have to lift bike to height of roof to load, Works best on lower vehicles, harder to load bike, lock cores not included for integrated lock, Some assembly required, 33 lbs per bike weight limit, may not be compatible with all frames styles and shapes, Not adjustable, support arms may not work with all frame shapes/styles, no security features, A roof-mount rack with an exceptionally sturdy and secure hold of your bicycle with no frame contact, A quality roof-mount bike rack that is particularly easy to install and remove and works best with lower vehicles and lighter-weight bikes, A quality trunk mount rack that stands out for its security features, stability, and adjustability, A very affordable, bare-bones trunk rack for the infrequent rack user on a tight budget, Yes, 1.25" reciever, single bike add-on sold separately, T-slot compatibility with additional SmarT-Slot Kit. If your bike will not fit on your hanging rack due to a heavily angled or swooping top tube, purchasing a separate top tube adapter is your best bet. The good news is that Kuat provided a replacement with their excellent warranty, but this experience leads us to think its worth upgrading to the burlier NV 2.0 if youll be leaving the rack on the back of your car most of the year.See the Kuat Sherpa 2.0. In addition, the tilt lever is hidden away and essentially unreachable if you have bikes already loaded up (its far easier to access without bikes). Rooftop racks have a lower maximum capacity (usually two bikes), are more of a pain to load and unload, and can impact gas mileage or create a whistling sound on the highway. Compare RockyMounts MonoRail vs Yakima HoldUp Bike | etrailer.com Select Year Select Make Select Model RockyMounts MonoRail Bike Rack for 3 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount Mouseover to zoom. At the very top of Yakima's expansive hitch rack line-up is the Dr.Tray. RockyMounts GuideRail FROM: $849.95 Pick a Style Compare 4 Options By Kuat Kuat NV 2 Bike Rack FROM: $849.00 Pick a Style Compare By Yakima Yakima FullSwing Bike Rack $698.95 $699.00 Add To Cart Compare 2 Options By Thule Thule Helium Pro Bike Rack (Member Deal Available) FROM: $424.96 $499.95 Pick a Style Compare By Thule Monorail doesn't have this issue behind the same car, it was fairly unnerving. As long as youre hauling regular road or mountain bikes (the rack maxes out at 40 pounds per bike and 3-inch-wide tires), the Sherpa 2.0 has a lot going for it. During testing we found the MonoRail to be a highly versatile rack. Free shipping. And finally, at 73 pounds all in, its a bear to haul around. If you plan on removing your hitch rack with any regularity, youll want to pay attention to weight, and many leading options tip the scales at 50 pounds or more. Dont expect the same easy loading or wobble-free experience as a platform-style rack, but the FullSwing 4 is a well-built design that should keep most people happy. If, like most cyclists, you plan to keep your rack on your vehicle for extended periods of time or just want to retain access to your rear cargo area, youll want to get a hitch rack with a tilt feature. One final note: Thule recently released the T2 Pro X ($650), which features a similar construction as the XTR but lacks the built-in wheels, has a lower max bike capacity (50 lbs. This unique hitch-mounted rack takes a different approach to carrying bikes: its baskets hold the front wheel high while the rest of the bike hangs below. As stated above, these wheel size and tire width issues wont be a problem for a lot of ridersits often easier to store a small kids bike inside the vehicle, for examplebut its a good thing to have in mind as youre narrowing your rack search. In addition, there are no add-ons available, so two bikes are the max you can carry (a Helium Platform 1-Bike is also offered for $500). The solo also has the added versatility of allowing for both 1.25" and 2" hitches out of the box. Simply put, this rack does it all. As with any product, there are bound to be compromises. Assembly. One thing the MonoRail has going for it is its moderate weight. To start, platform racks like the Kuat NV 2.0, Thule T2, Yakima Dr.Tray, and 1Up are not impacted by this because they only come in contact with the bikes tires or wheels. The saying you get what you pay for rings very true in the hitch-mounted bike rack world. Ending Jun 30 at 11:33AM PDT 5d 2h. It's long enough to feed it through 2 frames and two wheels, though you can't feed through all 4 wheels if you have 2 bikes on the rack. Type: Vertical hangingWeight: 73 lbs.Number of bikes: 4 (available in a 6-bike version)Weight capacity per bike: 37.5 lbs.What we like: Vertical hanging rack thats user-friendly and compatible with a wide range of bike types.What we dont: Insufficient padding on wheels and bars led to scuffing. Choosing a Hitch Rack for Carbon Fiber Bikes, Back to Our Hitch Bike Rack Comparison Table. That said, for serious riders, the added weight and cost are well worth the security and ease of use of this style. The RockyMounts MonoRail 1.25 Inch Bike Rack is one of the few racks which provides full vehicle rear-access with all your bikes locked and loaded! Our editor described it as "a work of art much like a high-end bike," and there is a lot of truth to that statement. They typically double the racks carrying capacityfrom two to four bikesand are available for many popular designs (including Thules T2 Pro XT Add-On and Kuats NV 2.0 Add-On). per bike for the 2-inch receiver model) and cable locks. Among the options on the market, Yakimas RidgeBack is a long-time favorite: it features a durable build, reasonable price, and anti-sway design that limits bike movement while on the road. The good news is that the majority of road and mountain bikers wont have a problem at allevery platform rack on our list can fit 26- to 29-inch wheels and 3-inch and under tires. A versatile hitch-mount rack that provides a high price to performance ratio, Sits slightly closer to vehicle than some. Perhaps best of all, the low 32-pound weight is easy to remove and install, and the small footprint takes up minimal space when off your vehicle. Its simple to operate, and the rack feels almost weightless even with heavy bikes on the trays. (inner); 35 lbs. 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