Bike Rack
- Thread starter skyak
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LBeard87
New member
I have a basic Thule 2 bike Hitch Rack and I love it. I've never had any issues with it for either my road bikes or my mountain bikes. Its really well built and holds two 40lb downhill bikes with out a problem. And it was less that $200.
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LBeard87
New member
Thule makes a nice hitch rack that holds by the wheels as well. A few of the guys I ride with have them and love them.
917XTR T2 - Thule - Thule Bike Racks - Rack Bike Hitch
917XTR T2 - Thule - Thule Bike Racks - Rack Bike Hitch
krupnation
New member
peep this, my brother had one of these on his Xterra and it was the dope sickness.
Softride, Inc. || Hitch mounted bike rack || Dura 4 Bike Rack
They allow you to open the hatch even if the bikes are still on it. Came in handy after we went mountain biking and stopped at a store afterward. Super slick design and quiet, no rattling.
Softride, Inc. || Hitch mounted bike rack || Dura 4 Bike Rack
They allow you to open the hatch even if the bikes are still on it. Came in handy after we went mountain biking and stopped at a store afterward. Super slick design and quiet, no rattling.
speeddemon40
New member
I was thinking about a hitch mounted bike rack, but it seems so limited. Have you considered a flat carrier with something like this Amazon.com: Lund 601009 Non-folding Bike Carrier Attachment: Automotive
Canyonlands
New member
Our Mach 429s won't take kindly to your average hitch mount rack that supports bikes by the top tube, as you could imagine.
Looks like I'll be picking up one of the wheel support versions and pretty fast. We have a mtb race to attend in a couple of weeks that's a couple hours away. I'm keeping the roof rack shown on the TDI Sportwagen but hope to not use it on the 4R.
Uneek
Super Moderator
I'm using a Yakima Holdup 2 expandable to four bikes. No regrets, works great with my Specialized SJ FSR.
MICA4R
New member
If you want to fork the cash $600 ++ I'm sure it will outlast your great grandkids. But it seems like a lot of mechanism for 2 bikes.
I like Yakima, American made lifetime warrantee.
Canyonlands
New member
I wouldn't carry any of my bikes on a cargo platform. I wouldn't carry skis, a canoe, etc. on a cargo platform either. Some gear is far better suited to be carried by specialized rack attachments, high quality bicycles included.
I have had the above flat carrier for years, wouldn't hesitate using as needed for bike. No issues. It would be extremely easy to add a removable upright tube as a bike attachment point.
Have a bike rack too, but the flat carrier is extremely versatile. You'll end up using it for everything. Also have a motorcycle carrier that works well too.
All said and done, if I have the room, I carry bike inside to keep bike clean
:I don't know about others, but heads up, due to short depth of 2" tube on hitch due to spare tire, I've had to cut off small forward sections of the attachments on everything. A reciprocating saw with metal blade does it easy peasey.
olsen_karl
New member
I used to own one of these Softride racks, when they were called the "Access" rack, and had an option of a ski rack attachment. I remember mine having the arms spaced wider apart than in the "Dura" rack linked, but otherwise, very similar parallelogram design.
Very sturdy. Too sturdy -- the thing is grossly overweight for being a simple 2-arm hanging bike rack. If you're interested in a 2-arm style rack, look at some of the offerings from Thule and Yakima; they are much lighter. The ability to fold-down the rack with bikes on it, IMHO, is not really that useful in comparison to the weight penalty required by the hefty design Softride uses.
I sold my Softride rack when I needed a rack that held bikes by the wheels only, and switched to a Thule T2. I just sold the T2 and have a Kuat NV on the way. (I needed a hitch-mount rack that fit a 1 1/4" car receiver, and the Thule T2 on a 2"-to-1 1/4" adapter was just too long and low for the car. I'll use a 1 1/4"-to-2" adapter when I need to use the 1 1/4" Kuat on the 4Runner.)
Kuat Racks
I have the Kuat NV, best rack I have ever owned, i still use my yakima for a 4 bike setup but the tilt function that allows you access to the rear hatch whith 2 bikes on the rack (and 4) and the built in work stand are worth the $$, plus the warranty and ease of use...i had the yakima version, but it did not hold up as well...
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Swingdaddy
I have been in the cycling industry for over 15 years and the best hitch style rack that I have seen and used is this:
Yakima › Shop › Bike › Hitch › SwingDaddy (2" receivers only)
It is solid and the only system that allows full access to the rear hatch without all the bikes having to either come off, or be lowered. It's expensive, but it's worth every penny in my humble opinion.
It also supports each bike from swinging by having three support straps, 2 for the top tube and 1 for the seat tube that all sit in nice cradle shaped adjustable parts. I travel with 4 bikes on this rack (each worth over 5,000) and never have had a problem, not even a scratch and the Team drives all over North America.
Cheers,
Mark
I have been in the cycling industry for over 15 years and the best hitch style rack that I have seen and used is this:
Yakima › Shop › Bike › Hitch › SwingDaddy (2" receivers only)
It is solid and the only system that allows full access to the rear hatch without all the bikes having to either come off, or be lowered. It's expensive, but it's worth every penny in my humble opinion.
It also supports each bike from swinging by having three support straps, 2 for the top tube and 1 for the seat tube that all sit in nice cradle shaped adjustable parts. I travel with 4 bikes on this rack (each worth over 5,000) and never have had a problem, not even a scratch and the Team drives all over North America.
Cheers,
Mark
skyak
New member
good to hear the positive feedback on the kuat. i like the locking cables the kuat has aswell...
skyak
New member
Are you holding road bikes or mountain bikes?
Canyonlands
New member
Today I left home and picked up my new (to me) 4Runner at the dealership, then hit the office for a few hours. I then left the office and picked up a Kuat NV.
Tonight some light reading in the owners manual and since I brought the rack home in the box, I'll do some light building as well.
This weekend it's off to someplace with the new bikes, rack and 4R.
:zoom:
Tonight some light reading in the owners manual and since I brought the rack home in the box, I'll do some light building as well.
This weekend it's off to someplace with the new bikes, rack and 4R.
:zoom:
I realize you are looking for a MTB, but your link shows a swing option like what I propose. So you are on the correct path. It's the best option as any other system makes you hold the bikes as they tip down or require them to come off for access into the back of the truck. My experience is with road, but don't see why a MTB could not work on there either. However, your link looks like a very nice setup.