What trailer hitch Bike Rack are you using

[KingTaco]

Hey I'm new here but i've been using this forum to help buy stuff for my 2000 4runner LTD. After pouring through this and other threads I have decided on the Kuat NV hitch rack. It retails for about $550 which is definitely on the pricy side, however it is the most bomber rack I've looked at and the most sturdy. It includes a pin lock as well as integrated locking cables for your bikes. There is a screw in adjustment to tighten the hitch so there is no play in the hitch and the rack/bikes don't move or bounce around. As a bonus it has an integrated extendable repair stand. For me, the best part is that I can fold the rack down with two full suspension mountain bikes and still have space to fully open the rear hatch.

I hope this helps someone else!

I have had this same rack for a couple years now, and love it. It gets constant use. I would, however, like to take the opportunity to blame this forum for making me hate chrome, because earlier this year I blacked out the silver portion of the wheel cradles

 

[4rabbit]

Does anyone else use the Kuat NV for road bikes (e.g., size 700x23 tires) as opposed to mountain bikes? It seems like the ratchet arms need to be tight up against the brakes in order to secure bikes with thinner tires, otherwise there will be some play there. Are they supposed to ride snug against the brakes? And wouldn't this adversely affect the brakes over time?

 

[Deuskid]

I need to double back and read through this whole thread when I can. Tagged to be able to relocate it later.

 

[Liquidmantis]

I've put my 1Up rack through the wringer over the last couple of weeks. During our Ouray trip I was on the way to go biking and got a call from my brother that lead to me rerouting to do more off-roading. I figured if it really came down to it I could secure my bike and rack in the cargo area if I folded my seats down. But after doing some spotted clearance checks to get a feel for the limits of the rack everything looked great. I've ended up going through stuff a lot worse than I ever expected to with the rack. It's effectively a "stadium seating" riser (I don't think the older models had the same lift) so it ends up not affecting your linear departure angle much at all. Obviously it's extending way back there so if you roll a ledge you're going to have a bad day, but for simple off-roading and light crawling it works amazingly well.

 

[KingTaco]

Does anyone else use the Kuat NV for road bikes (e.g., size 700x23 tires) as opposed to mountain bikes? It seems like the ratchet arms need to be tight up against the brakes in order to secure bikes with thinner tires, otherwise there will be some play there. Are they supposed to ride snug against the brakes? And wouldn't this adversely affect the brakes over time?

I do. Kuat says to put the clamp close to the caliper, but not touching. I have bikes on there constantly (as recently as 2 hours ago), and it has never moved around and hit the caliper. It's an effective, sturdy system.

 

[Knight-Errant]

I have a rhino rack dual trekker, it is pretty nice, it reclines back if you need clearance for the tailgate in the event you have two bikes on the rack (see photo for example). The front wheel fits into a pretty deep plastic tray to really hold it in place, and a ratcheting arm grips the tire. Really solid, and it includes a lock for the hitch pin (2 keys included) and a security cable too, so you're ready to go out of the box. I have a Cannondale lefty fork so I need a bike carrier that grips the front tire. I'm pretty happy with it.

 

[natkidder]

North Shore.

 

[jmarthsr]

Hey I'm new here but i've been using this forum to help buy stuff for my 2000 4runner LTD. After pouring through this and other threads I have decided on the Kuat NV hitch rack. It retails for about $550 which is definitely on the pricy side, however it is the most bomber rack I've looked at and the most sturdy. It includes a pin lock as well as integrated locking cables for your bikes. There is a screw in adjustment to tighten the hitch so there is no play in the hitch and the rack/bikes don't move or bounce around. As a bonus it has an integrated extendable repair stand. For me, the best part is that I can fold the rack down with two full suspension mountain bikes and still have space to fully open the rear hatch.

I hope this helps someone else!

Is this the Kuat NV or the Kuat NV 2.0. I am interested in this rack and want to know if both models , especially the 2.0 tilts down for access to the hatch with bikes mounted.

 

[4boer2]

+1 for the northshore

 

[1fast_e]

Saris Freedom 2. Lightweight, stable, and inexpensive.

 

[TrkyMfns]

I have had this same rack for a couple years now, and love it. It gets constant use. I would, however, like to take the opportunity to blame this forum for making me hate chrome, because earlier this year I blacked out the silver portion of the wheel cradles

I was thinking of doing the same thing. Did you use plastic dip? Also, :worthless

 

[KingTaco]

I was thinking of doing the same thing. Did you use plastic dip? Also, :worthless

Haha here's a quick one from the parking lot. I used Rustoleum Flexi Dip.

 

[mcarey86]

I've liked my Yakima Hold-up 2 so far.

 

[hstexan]

Is this the Kuat NV or the Kuat NV 2.0. I am interested in this rack and want to know if both models , especially the 2.0 tilts down for access to the hatch with bikes mounted.

Both models of the NV have the tilt down feature to access the hatch. I'd assume the one he was talking about was the original since he said MSRP was $550 vs $630 for the NV 2.0. My buddy has had an original NV for a few years now and loves it (though he just got rear-ended and it's now dead). Convinced me to drop the coin on one myself. My NV 2.0 will be here Wednesday so I'll post some pictures for you once it shows up. If you're in the market keep an eye on coupons--I got mine 20% off with free shipping from Competitive Cyclist which dropped it to $503 out the door...hefty chunk of change to save. There are almost always 15% coupons from various retailers if you spend a few minutes looking.

 

[shrub1]

Wife has the NV, I have the 1UP. Both good, but I think the 1UP edges out the NV due to simplicity.

 

[listo]

Kuat NV Here

I had the Thule T2 for about 6 months and really liked it but the folding mechanism started getting hard to use. I was rear ended and the rack was destroyed. I purchased a Kuat NV with the Ins money and I have to say it's light years ahead of the Thule. I have a few friends and we all have the NV. It holds road bikes, mountain bikes and fat bikes with ease.

NV for the win.

 

[hikenbike]

Thule Apex 4. Great rack.


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[Dragracer_Art]

Bought our bike rack at Northern Tool for around $35.

It's plenty rugged, holds 4 bikes and does everything we need it to do. :reddance:

 

[T4RZAN]

I have the Kuat NV 2.0. Best bike rack I've ever used. My favorite part is the part that reduces wobble inside the hitch. They use a ball on an upper corner. As you tighten the knob it pushes the ball into the corner, securing it side to side and up and down. If I shake my bikes the whole truck moves.

It is also super simple to put a bike in. Not as simple as the 1up, but still pretty easy. I also like that it has a foot lever to help rotate it up and down. Makes it easy when you're holding a bike to rotate it down flat from the upright position.

Only complaints are the colors and that the outer bike isn't raised up for a better departure angle. Otherwise I won't be buying another rack for several years. :thumb:

 

[Xtremluck]

Another vote for the Kuat NV 2.0, About a thousand miles off-road with no issues. The only thing I had to do was add a 10" riser to improve my departure angle. Here it is going up some rock steps on a blue moderate trail in the Sierras a weekend ago.


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