Hitch mounted bike rack...

[Tengu]

Dude! Look at the Softride Dura.

It is a great system. Rolds up to 4 bikes on the hitch mounted system. It pivots so you can get into the back/ fully open the liftgate without taking the bikes off the rack OR them ever touching the ground. It has an internal cable so the bikes lock to it, and a hitch lock. (these are usually additional costs) I got mine on amazon for $250, and it is well worth it.

This picture really doen't show how beefy it is, but you may be able to see the pivot points; although, it probably would be best to just go to their website.

I rode around with it on my gen 4 without taking it off once for over a year and a half. No rattle, no problem. I love the thing and plan on posting a write up on it in the near future with a bunch of pics.

here is their site
Softride, Inc. || Hitch mounted bike rack || Dura 4 Bike Rack
(I'm not associated with them, just like quality products)

 

[wxxiong]

I have been using Yakima double down 4 (holds up to 4 bikes) for almost a year now. It is very stable.
One advantage of the double down style mounting is that I can manage to put my two kids bikes on it.
I do not think I can do that on those type that holds the bike wheels from bottom. Those type are most easy to load and unload. But I think it hold one bike on on slot. But double down can hold bikes on the two parallel bars in various ways to allow me put kids bike on.

 

[Jin]

thanks for the pics all!

I have been using Yakima double down 4 (holds up to 4 bikes) for almost a year now. It is very stable.
One advantage of the double down style mounting is that I can manage to put my two kids bikes on it.
I do not think I can do that on those type that holds the bike wheels from bottom. Those type are most easy to load and unload. But I think it hold one bike on on slot. But double down can hold bikes on the two parallel bars in various ways to allow me put kids bike on.

yup, i was also thinking what would be better for kids bikes in my near future...

 

[deekoi]

Dude! Look at the Softride Dura.

I rode around with it on my gen 4 without taking it off once for over a year and a half. No rattle, no problem. I love the thing and plan on posting a write up on it in the near future with a bunch of pics.

Thanks! I'd be interested in looking into this one, Kuat looks great but a bit out of price range to hold 4 bikes! $500 + $350 to hold 4 bikes?! :wow: yikes! But looks solid.

This one looks to be more in price range. Can you post some pictures with the bikes on? is there much contact with pedals?

Thanks!

 

[Tengu]

This one looks to be more in price range. Can you post some pictures with the bikes on? is there much contact with pedals?

Thanks!

Looks like I'm gonna have to bump up my write up and pictures and such.
If I don't do it in the next few days, I'll do it this weekend.

In the mean time amazon has a few pics

Amazon.com: Softride Access Dura 4-Bike Hitch Rack: Automotive

As for pedals and such, I usually bungee them so they don't do much moving. I just figure it's good practice.

 

[Jin]

the softride looks great...it was a toss up between that and the thule 915XT roadway (5 bike). i went with the thule though...bicyle_outlet had them on sale for $228 shipped on their ebay store.

thanks for the help all. i will try to post some pics as soon as i can find another free web hosting site.

 

[gotpakalolo]

Looks like I'm gonna have to bump up my write up and pictures and such.
If I don't do it in the next few days, I'll do it this weekend.

In the mean time amazon has a few pics

Amazon.com: Softride Access Dura 4-Bike Hitch Rack: Automotive

As for pedals and such, I usually bungee them so they don't do much moving. I just figure it's good practice.

just wanted to see if you were able to do a write up on this product. I am in the market for one and am torn between the yakima doubledown, hollywood Amazon.com: Hollywood Racks HR8000 Traveler 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack (2-Inch Receiver): Sports & Outdoors, OR thule doubletrack Amazon.com: Thule Doubletrack 2 Bike Hitch Carrier with STL2 Lock: Sports & Outdoors.

 

[Co4runnin]

Kuat Sherpa

I snapped some pics of the Kuat sherpa on my 4runner with two 30+ lb. Trail bikes on it. It been an awesome rack so far.

 

[deekoi]

I have the Kuat NV2 with the additional 2. Yup... I spent the $$$ but it's worth it. The 2 addition was actually a gift. This bike rack is awesome. You can load or unload a bike in less than a minute. Often times about 30 seconds a bike. Very very quick and easy. It's stable and secure. Clarence from the ground is very high so you won't have to worry about it too much on the dips or driveways.

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ipGbEhSS1ei8-oiLI-1xmOxAberC8IVVh7hqnuTI_Iw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Rmnl0bxr-s4/TpeY49wNnKI/AAAAAAAAAxo/Sxuq4Pa41qw/s640/IMAG0878.jpg" height="383" width="640" /></a>
Clearance

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-mCnT4G7l-YbaJO_1yn5XuxAberC8IVVh7hqnuTI_Iw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Y2mv6Jxvxis/TpeY7jFLxNI/AAAAAAAAAxw/Ak5cpmg34x8/s640/IMAG0879.jpg" height="383" width="640" /></a>
Folded up. Buddy's 4th gen behind me

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FUFHGqeiUCXjvJZF_Bsy6OxAberC8IVVh7hqnuTI_Iw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-UYxLdcUagpM/TpeZBPFYXoI/AAAAAAAAAx4/BHs-6fk9XTA/s640/IMAG0880.jpg" height="383" width="640" /></a>
W/ 4 bikes

 

[MarkWalker]

Like mine

Hitch racks, Sport Rider, 4 bike capacity bike racks, bicycle carriers - Hollywood Racks

 

[joneseyyy]

1upUSA specifically made for 2" receivers. Super beefy all anodized aluminum construction. Very pleased with it so far.

 

[NorthGa4R]

I have the double down (4) and it works pretty good.. for $250 and be able to hold four bikes. Not bad. There is a little sway in the carrier, but I chalked it in.

 

[4runner414ers]

Trailer Hitch Bike Rack Spare Tire Issues?

Hello,

Looking at either the Yakima Swing Daddy or the Thule Apex Swing, but this question may apply to any trailer hitch bike rack. Will be putting a 285/70/17 spare underneath which will no doubt take up all the spare space behind the hitch. There have been reviews of these two racks saying they couldn't install them due to the rack going through the hitch and bumping up against the spare. Well if that's the case I'm extra worried about this given a larger spare. I see many of the folks posting on this thread have larger tires (not sure about the spare) and I'm hoping someone can share their experience and if they have any difficulty installing their racks. Thanks in advance!

 

[WaySlowWhitey]

Thule T2. Can't go wrong with the quality and stability.

 

[Ivy Mike]

Thule T2. Can't go wrong with the quality and stability.

I'll second that opinion. I recently purchased the Thule T2 plus the two bike extension so it now holds 4 bikes. Very solid and easy to load. I considered both the Yakima and Thule. The Yakima looks prettier but the Thule seems more stout. I like the Thule lever for releasing the latch to raise and lower it more than I liked the pull-pin in the Yakima. The big plus for the platform style racks is that they don't require an adapter for odd mountain bike frame geometry.

 

[furong7788]

cool

cool

 

[characterzero]

cheapest 4 bike quality rack...

Off-road use approved...check.
4 bikes at under $600...check
No wheel removal required...check
No frame contact...check

North Shore Racks

 

[RyanC]

Hello,

Looking at either the Yakima Swing Daddy or the Thule Apex Swing, but this question may apply to any trailer hitch bike rack. Will be putting a 285/70/17 spare underneath which will no doubt take up all the spare space behind the hitch. There have been reviews of these two racks saying they couldn't install them due to the rack going through the hitch and bumping up against the spare. Well if that's the case I'm extra worried about this given a larger spare. I see many of the folks posting on this thread have larger tires (not sure about the spare) and I'm hoping someone can share their experience and if they have any difficulty installing their racks. Thanks in advance!

Not sure about the Thule or the Yakima racks but I have a 285/70/17 in the spare tire location and my Kuat hitch mount rack works great and doesn't hit the tire.

 

[sigepbiker]

Off-road use approved...check.
4 bikes at under $600...check
No wheel removal required...check
No frame contact...check

North Shore Racks

Your rack holds the bikes at the fork, right? How is that not the frame?

How is getting into the hatch with the rack on the hitch, with or without bikes?

 

[characterzero]

Your rack holds the bikes at the fork, right? How is that not the frame?

Well, the fork is one part of a bike, the frame is another. The fork attaches to the frame. The wheel isn't the frame either, it attaches to the frame. Very similar concept there.

How is getting into the hatch with the rack on the hitch, with or without bikes?

Getting into the hatch thru the window: easy, with or without bikes.

Getting the hatch to open:
w/ bikes: remove tilting pin, lean rack towards the ground. Takes 2 people, just like the Thule T2 does as one lifts/lowers, the other moves the pin.

w/o bikes: the angle that the upright holder is there in that picture allows the hatch to open fully when not loaded with bikes. It has to be this angle to allow the wheels to clear the spoiler when bikes are mounted (um, with 180mm forks at least).

I'd be happy to post more pics/answer questions!