Hitch mounted bike rack...
- Thread starter Jin
- Start date
Not sure what this thread is about but it gives me the excuse to throw a pic of my Yakima hitch mounted rack carrying both a 24 and 29er.
I went with Yakima over 1UP due to a significant bike sponsor deal. Sadly, my legs are washed up (read fat and happy) and no longer compete on the road or trail but I still enjoy a leisurely ride thru some single track.
I went with Yakima over 1UP due to a significant bike sponsor deal. Sadly, my legs are washed up (read fat and happy) and no longer compete on the road or trail but I still enjoy a leisurely ride thru some single track.
Thule 916XT T2
Paid $220 because I had $175 GC total was $400 shipped from Amazon. Been using it for over a year now still works very well. I ride 3x a week after work. Even on rough offroad the bikes flex a bit but since it's held by the wheels it's solid. The only sketchy times I've had are on the freeway going 80mph, there are sections where it's like a washboard and it resonates to make the rack bounce up and down uncontrollably. Bikes never fell off but it looks nerve racking in the rear view mirror I just have to slow down a bit and it goes away.
Paid $220 because I had $175 GC total was $400 shipped from Amazon. Been using it for over a year now still works very well. I ride 3x a week after work. Even on rough offroad the bikes flex a bit but since it's held by the wheels it's solid. The only sketchy times I've had are on the freeway going 80mph, there are sections where it's like a washboard and it resonates to make the rack bounce up and down uncontrollably. Bikes never fell off but it looks nerve racking in the rear view mirror I just have to slow down a bit and it goes away.
habanero
Senior Member
Modified a swing-out hitch, got being able to open the hatch fairly easily and not knocking the wheels on the ground figured out but departure angle is still an issue.
Got my cake, but the ground is eating it too.
Receiver in bumper. Lowest point 22" from the ground, distance of mast from bumper 21".
Planning on modifying my Thule Parkway to lengthen the mast 1'. Not as easy to get into the hatch but the swing-out arm can't handle the beating as well as the Parkway can. Will also reinforce the cradle the mast sits in, another weak spot. That one will do the vacation runs, the swing-out hitch is for every day and mild to moderate stuff.
Got my cake, but the ground is eating it too.
Receiver in bumper. Lowest point 22" from the ground, distance of mast from bumper 21".
Planning on modifying my Thule Parkway to lengthen the mast 1'. Not as easy to get into the hatch but the swing-out arm can't handle the beating as well as the Parkway can. Will also reinforce the cradle the mast sits in, another weak spot. That one will do the vacation runs, the swing-out hitch is for every day and mild to moderate stuff.
Brandon_Reed
Member
I can't say enough good things about the 1UP hitch rack. I've owned mine for 4 years and have the add on. I've had it in 2 cars. Our Mazda CX-5 and now the 4Runner. I like that it's made in the USA and the utilitarian look and functionality. It's more expensive then the other choices but you do get what you pay for.
My second choice would be the Kuat NV.
My second choice would be the Kuat NV.
DangerousCrew
Junior Member
Hitch mounted bike rack
I would recommend the Thule T2 4 bike rack. I use the crap out of mine on and off road, while loaded with Downhill bikes. It has held up well, I have been through a couple of them and there's a few tweaks to make them hold up longer. They have a great warranty, minimal contact with the bike, and the price is comparable to other 4 bike racks out there.
I would recommend the Thule T2 4 bike rack. I use the crap out of mine on and off road, while loaded with Downhill bikes. It has held up well, I have been through a couple of them and there's a few tweaks to make them hold up longer. They have a great warranty, minimal contact with the bike, and the price is comparable to other 4 bike racks out there.
Attachments
Liquidmantis
New member
I'm thrilled with my 1Up, but I would have gone with a Recon Rack if he supported fat bikes and had a swing arm. The swing arm is coming but fat bikes aren't any time soon.
Brandonium
Member
I just ordered the 1Up 2" super duty double. I had been eyeing the Kuat NV but it was hard to resist the 1Up.
I'll post pics once it arrives.
I'll post pics once it arrives.
fish0281
New member
Maybe it has already been said, I didn't read the entire thread, but I have shopped around a lot on hitch racks and the new Thule T2 Pro is exactly what I'll be getting this spring. It's the first rack design I've seen where the tilt feature was designed with the user in mind - it has a handle and release mechanism on the front of the rack. So, you can tilt the damn thing from where it makes the most sense and you don't have to worry about a rack full of bikes coming crashing down on you (most racks just have a release pin right at the pivot point, which is under the bikes by the hitch). EDIT: Oh, and it holds all bikes from fatties to road bikes.
Otherwise, Kuat makes nice racks too, but again, they don't have the tilt feature. They look really sharp though. I personally can't justify the cost of the 1up rack - they're nice, but not nice enough for that kinda dough.
Otherwise, Kuat makes nice racks too, but again, they don't have the tilt feature. They look really sharp though. I personally can't justify the cost of the 1up rack - they're nice, but not nice enough for that kinda dough.
Last edited:
Liquidmantis
New member
You're going to love it. It's a fantastic rack. I've taken mine on some mild wheeling, like Yankee Boy Basin, and even without a lift it was fine.
Brandonium
Member
Did you get silver or black? I went with black and also spend the big bucks on the 1up bottle opener. :hippie:
Liquidmantis
New member
Black, but I don't think I knew about the bottle opener.
The black is nice but up close the ano on the arms is turning more of a purple color, and that's just over the course of one season and not even mounted all the time. A lot of the time, but not all the time.
Brandonium
Member
slide531
New member
I just added hitch racks to my 4runner and my wife's Prius. I've had a ton of Yakima stuff, so I ordered the Yakima Holdup and Holdup +2 for the 4 Runner.
I got the 1Up for my wife's car and really looking forward to it as it looked perfect. I got the single tray with 2 add ons and was really psyched for her to be able to open the hatch without dropping the rack, and also to be able to use her backup camera. Unfortunately it just didn't work. We have 700c, 20, 26, 27.5, and 29 inch wheels in my house. The 1up doesn't fit all the wheel sizes and needs tools to adjust. That was the deal breaker. I also didn't like that you seem to need to have 3 hands to load a bike.
I returned the 1up for a Thule T2 Pro. This is actually my favorite of the 3. I like being able to release the rack with one hand and it doesn't have a lot of play. It also has a better lock.
The Yakima needs two hands to release and has quite a bit of play. The hitch lock is a joke. It also is incredibly stupid in that it doesn't stop at vertical, so if you don't catch it it can slam into your hatch door. This could be especially bad if you've got the plus 2 installed as it would smash into the rear window. Other than that though it's ok, would be fine with it if I wasn't jealous of my wife's Thule
The Kuat looks cool. I didn't try that because it also doesn't work with < 24 inch wheels and the work stand thing seems like an expensive gimmick. I can only see it being useful on camp/bike trips a couple times a year when I'm happy to just throw a work stand in the back of the truck.
-slide
I got the 1Up for my wife's car and really looking forward to it as it looked perfect. I got the single tray with 2 add ons and was really psyched for her to be able to open the hatch without dropping the rack, and also to be able to use her backup camera. Unfortunately it just didn't work. We have 700c, 20, 26, 27.5, and 29 inch wheels in my house. The 1up doesn't fit all the wheel sizes and needs tools to adjust. That was the deal breaker. I also didn't like that you seem to need to have 3 hands to load a bike.
I returned the 1up for a Thule T2 Pro. This is actually my favorite of the 3. I like being able to release the rack with one hand and it doesn't have a lot of play. It also has a better lock.
The Yakima needs two hands to release and has quite a bit of play. The hitch lock is a joke. It also is incredibly stupid in that it doesn't stop at vertical, so if you don't catch it it can slam into your hatch door. This could be especially bad if you've got the plus 2 installed as it would smash into the rear window. Other than that though it's ok, would be fine with it if I wasn't jealous of my wife's Thule
The Kuat looks cool. I didn't try that because it also doesn't work with < 24 inch wheels and the work stand thing seems like an expensive gimmick. I can only see it being useful on camp/bike trips a couple times a year when I'm happy to just throw a work stand in the back of the truck.
-slide
