Cycling is recognized as one of the people’s most widely shared activities. It has no concern for age, color, or culture. People are enraged about it almost everywhere around the globe. For some, it’s a chance to appreciate the freshness of nature. In contrast, it’s a method to maintain a healthy lifestyle for others.
But this simple and popular kind of pure pleasure needs concentration sometimes. Carrying your bike is one of those problems that often raises concerns. And if you often carry your bike with your car, you understand the need for a hitch bike rack.
Moreover, a good hitch rack for attaching your bike is necessary for road trips or camping trips. Many bikers cannot decide which trailer hitch bike rack is ideal for them. So, they end up purchasing a bike rack that do not suit their car.
In this article, we’ll give you the detailed information about the best trailer hitch bike racks, their pros and cons and also why they are so popular. Therefore, let us proceed. For you folks that would like to read the Buying Guide first, you can do so by CLICKING HERE!
What Is A Hitch Bike Rack?
It’s natural to feel confused when looking at buying a bike rack for the first time. Roof-mounted bike racks, hitch-mounted bike racks, Trunk mount bike racks and even spare tire bike racks are among the various varieties available on the market. Each rack style is unique and has its own pros and cons.
A hitch bike rack is a bike rack that you can mount on the trailer hitch of your car. You can remove the ball mount and insert the rack into the hitch receiver. Common methods of attachment include a hitch pin and clip or hitch lock. The rack’s form may be an L or a straight line depending on your chosen product. Depending on their layout and capacity, they can hold two, three, or even four bikes.
Most bike racks have straps with locking tabs to keep the bikes in place, as well as ones intended to support the frame of each cycle. Some people use Velcro and tension tabs.
There are both simple hitch bike racks and more complex hitch bike racks available. Simple bike racks enable you to carry your bikes securely, but they may restrict access to your car’s tailgate or truck.
More modern and expensive versions have a swivel mechanism that allows you to fold or lay down the rack to reach the vehicle’s tailgate, trunk, or back door.
What Are The Benefits Of The Best Trailer Hitch Bike Racks?
A hitch-mounted bike rack, such as a tray, is the most convenient method to carry your bike from point A to point B in the back of your car, truck, SUV, or van. There are four bike rack mounting systems: trunk mount, roof mount, hitch mount, and spare tire mount.
Make sure that the hitch receiver size on your vehicle is appropriate for the weight of all the bikes you want to carry. Hitch bike racks make carrying your bike(s) easier than ever, eliminating the need to force it into the back of your vehicle.
Consider placing a hitch bike rack on your car if you regularly carry bikes, particularly heavier electric bikes. Hitch bike racks are a form of bike rack attached to a vehicle’s hitch and are used to carry bikes.
Bicycle and bicycle accessory sales have climbed. Hitch bike racks are preferred over roof or trunk racks when there are no crossbars or an appropriate trunk opening for installing the rack.
Trunk racks are generally restricted in carrying capacity (usually two to three bikes) and hinder trunk access once attached. Tray racks do not come into touch with the frame of your bicycle.
Therefore, they will not be scratched or rubbed. They also provide greater space between bikes, making bigger bikes easier to carry. Typically, hitch racks are used to carry two to five bikes.
Most hitch-mounted bike racks include a pair of extending arms from the support beam into which you can slide your fork to suspend your bike vertically. We double the weight of the bikes on the racks and subject them to a simulated round-the-world trip full of bumps.
My Suggested 3 Best Hitch Bike Racks:
1. Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Racks for Two inches Hitch:
The Allen Sports Deluxe Hitch Bike Rack is the best affordable option for group bike transport. Its assembly includes four bolts, and its modest weight (23 pounds) makes it simple to lift and insert into your hitch receiver, so you’ll be ready for adventure in minutes.
Two arms have four cushioned cradles, and Allen’s tie-down mechanism secures the bikes. You may also space or rotate the cradles to accommodate a broad range of bikes, from your carbon fiber roadie to your child’s mountain bike.
The pin-locking tilt mechanism swings the rack down, allowing you to access your back door in the rear without removing the whole system as long as you remove your bikes first. While not in use, its folding carry arms keep the rack in a low profile.
There are no locks or security mechanisms, and the front tires are not secured. Therefore, elastic cords or straps and a robust cable lock are useful extras.
When you invest in the cost of the rack, straps, and cable lock, this system costs less than half the price of the higher-end four-bike carriers on the market. Even with the suggested additional purchases, this is an outstanding hitch rack for the price.
Specs:
• Weight: 23 lbs.
• Number of bikes: 4
• Carry capacity: 35 lbs. per bike
• Hitch receiver options: 1.25″, 2″
• Locks: None
• Type: Hanging
Pros:
• When not used, the rack carry arms may be folded down.
• Allen’s separate tie-down mechanism keeps bikes secure.
• The No-Wobble Bolt fully tightens the rack.
• The carry arm’s tie-downs are simple to twist.
Cons:
• The bolt is a little narrower than a standard bolt.
2. RockyMounts BackStage 2″ Receiver hitch 2 bicycle rack:
Most good bike racks will tilt or swing out from the car to offer you access to the back. Yet, nearly all of them swing away far enough for you to collect a few items. The RockyMounts BackStage series is the only one we’ve seen that will swing away 180 degrees to give you unlimited access to the back of your bike.
It’s ideal for transporting larger items, camping after a thrilling ride, or spending the night in your Outback before returning home.
Apart from this game-changing innovation, the BackStage Swing Away Platform 2-Bike Hitch Rack has all the features you’d expect from a high-end rack. It contains a hitch lock, a cable lock, and a wheel lock to prevent your bikes from being stolen. It also has tire arms that can hold a variety of bikes, from road cycles to fat bikes.
It can carry bikes weighing up to 60 pounds per tray, with wheels 20 to 29 inches in diameter, 5 inches broad, and a wheelbase of up to 49 inches. In its folded state, it may be stored flat against the car.
If you don’t require full access to the back of your vehicle, it includes a useful tilt-away option (30 degrees) that allows you to grab your pack and helmet or anything else before your ride.
Specs:
• Weight: 63 lbs.
• Number of bikes: 2
• Carry capacity: 60 lbs. per bike
• Hitch receiver options: 2″
• Locks: Integrated hitch lock and bike cable lock
• Type: Platform
Pros:
• Swing-away style
• One-handed tilt mechanism at the back of the rack
• 3″ of lateral tray adjustability
• Locks are provided.
Cons:
• A Bit Heavy
• Expensive
3. Hollywood Racks, Destination, Hitch Mount Rack, 2”, Bikes: 4
This rack may be mounted on cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, and crossovers and can carry four bicycles. Bicycles will be transported securely with the help of a ratcheting strap and a locking threaded hitch pin. This product may be folded when not in use, so it is flat against the car. Moreover, this rack has separate wheel trays, making loading and unloading bikes much easier and faster.
The frame holders on this bike rack may rotate around 360 degrees, making it suitable for carrying the frames of most children’s, E-bike, road, and mountain bikes.
Additionally, the ratchet hooks on the central pole are an extra anchoring point, preventing instability and rattling of your bikes. But it would be preferable if this rack featured a bicycle lock so that you could feel safer while storing bikes in different areas.
Specs:
• Color: Black
• Vehicle Service Type: Bicycle
• Material: Alloy Steel, Plastic
• Item Dimensions LxWxH: 47 x 44 x 34 inches
• Item Weight: 42 Pounds
• Load Capacity: 35 Pounds
Pros:
• It comes with a threaded hitch pin that may be secured.
• It can rotate 360 degrees to accommodate all bike frames.
• Ratchet wheel holders keep your bike from spinning while driving.
• For mobility, this bike rack folds vertically.
Cons:
• There is no lock on it.
Trailer Hitch Bike Rack Buying Guide:
Types Of Hitch Bike Racks:
- Platform-Style Bike Racks:
Bikes are fixed on trays, reducing swinging and the possibility of bike-to-bike contact during transport. They typically hold two bikes, although extensions allow them to carry up to four.
They are more expensive than the hanging variant. They can accommodate a wider variety of bike sizes and shapes, and some can even carry hefty electric bikes.
- Hanging (Mast-Style) Bike Racks:
A mast supports the frame of these racks with arms. They are less costly and smaller than platform bike racks. Some individuals can carry numerous bicycles, even four or five at once. Nevertheless, unlike platform-style racks, they only support so many varied bike shapes and sizes.
Bike Rack Capacity:
The typical number of bikes you transport is important when choosing a bike rack. Racks can accommodate two to six bikes, so you’ll have many options.
Always remember that you can transport fewer bikes than a rack’s capacity but never more than a rack’s capacity. And you never know when you’ll run across some new riding buddies.
Choose Between A Tilt Or Swing-Away Adjustment:
In terms of rack accessibility and adjustability, you may choose between “tilting” and “swinging away,” each have their individual set of pros and cons.
Compatibility With Wheel Size And Width:
Always choose a bike rack that is compatible with the size and width of your bike’s wheels. Hanging racks are best for this. The key benefit of hanging racks is that they hold the bikes by the frame and not by their wheelbase or wheels.
Bikes with unusual frames, such as full-suspension mountain bikes, BMX bikes, step-through frames, and others, might be difficult to hang from this rack due to the frame locks.
FAQs:
How Can I Attach A Hitch To A Bike Rack?
Ensure the hitch tube is properly inserted into the car’s hitch receiver. The supporting arms and tire trays may then be adjusted.
You may now load the bikes onto the rack. While riding long distances, it is important to periodically stop and inspect the bikes to ensure that the connection points remain intact.
How Can I Remove A Hitch Bike Rack?
You may unlock your unit using a key. Finding the locking pin that secure the bike rack to the hitch receiver and removing it is the first step in removing the rack. It will release the anti-rattle knob and allow you to remove the bike rack from the hitch receiver.
How Do You Maintain A Bike Rack In Good Condition?
The maintenance of a bike rack is relatively easy. If there is dust, dirt, or other microscopic particles that need to be removed, wipe the contact points of the rack.
In addition, inspect your bike rack for damage regularly. If you see a flaw, contact your manufacturer immediately and ask for the best repair solution. Most hitch bike racks are constructed to handle lots and can easily deal with daily use.
What Is The Maximum Weight Capacity Of A Hitch Bike Carrier?
It is particularly popular for cars already equipped with a tow bar. A typical hitch bike rack may accommodate 2-4 bikes; some can take up to 100 pounds. For further information about your model, always refer to the supplied instructions.
Will The Bike Rack Sway?
Even the best-fitting bike rack may sometimes wobble on the road, particularly when fully laden with all the bikes. The best option is to get an anti-sway pin kit.
Additional Resources
If you are looking for more tutorials, walkthroughs and troubleshooting about camping and enjoying the outdoors, here are some additional posts to check out:
Conclusion:
If you’re searching for the best trailer hitch bike rack to carry and secure your bikes, you can consider any of the options above. The 3 trailer hitch bike racks mentioned above have been chosen and tested to provide you with the best quality and the safety you need!
Bike racks need to be attached to the hitch receiver and don’t need any more attachments. Attaching tilting hanging bike racks to the hitch might offer extra stability to the bike racks and prevent your car and bike from striking while driving.
Avoid putting too much strain on the hitch. Since it is not only the hitch that must withstand the weight but also your car. To prevent any unpleasant surprises, it’s a good idea to read the car instructions and its capacity before pulling or supporting anything with the hitch receiver. Thanks for reading, If you think I forgot something or if you simply want to share a story or some advice, feel free to leave your comment below, but for now… be safe and happy riding.!