There are numerous methods to move bikes along with your car, however hitch bike racks are arguably the very best. With so many fashions and kinds to select from, nonetheless, discovering the right hitch rack on your wants and price range could be a problem. At Bikerumor, we’ve examined dozens of the very best hitch racks available on the market to seek out the very best methods to conveniently and safely transport your valuable bikes wherever you go.

Whether or not you’re doing mountain bike shuttles with a giant crew, heading out on an informal experience or to a race, or loading up the household for a weekend trip, we’ve discovered the very best choices obtainable in 2023. Our workforce assessed every mannequin’s ease of use, weight limits, versatility, safety features, and meeting, to give you the main points it’s good to make a extra knowledgeable buy resolution. 

Right here you’ll discover our high suggestions adopted by the very best of the remaining that are all additionally nice merchandise worthy of consideration. For those who’d like to match product specs you’ll want to try our comparability chart and confer with our complete purchaser’s information and FAQ to assist reply any questions.

Editor’s Observe: This evaluate was up to date on Nov. 17, 2023, with the addition of the Thule Epos and 1Up Recon Rack to our product choice, make some adjustments to our award winners, and to make sure the accuracy of the knowledge supplied.

The Greatest Hitch Bike Racks of 2023

Better of the Relaxation

Hitch Bike Racks Comparability Chart

Why Ought to You Belief Bikerumor?

The workforce at Bikerumor is obsessive about all issues biking. We experience for work, enjoyable, health, coaching, racing, and commuting. We don’t simply write about bikes, they’re a driving pressure in our on a regular basis lives. Such as you, we frequently use our automobiles to move ourselves and our valuable bicycles, and hitch-mounted bike racks are our most well-liked method to take action. 

For over a decade, we’ve been testing the newest bikes, applied sciences, elements, and equipment, together with bike racks. In that point, we’ve gotten our fingers on just about each bike rack available on the market whether or not for testing and evaluate or private use. We’re at all times looking for the very best, most secure, and most safe option to transport our bikes to the trailhead, for a weekend getaway, or to the subsequent race. According to maintaining bikes protected and safe, we’ve additionally totally examined and reviewed the very best bike locks. We additionally worth our private security, which is why we’ve examined the greatest mountain bike helmets and the greatest highway bike helmets too.

Our editors have been testing biking gear for years and have developed a eager sense of what makes an important product. Every rack featured right here has been totally used and examined by one, or a number of members, of our employees to tease out the usually delicate efficiency variations that separate the great from the very best. In actual fact, many of those fashions are our private racks which have seen a number of years of heavy use and abuse. Relaxation assured, we have now our fingers on the heartbeat, and as new fashions hit the market, we’ll check these too, and preserve this evaluate as up-to-date as attainable. We’re dedicated to serving to you discover the right rack to fulfill your wants and price range.

Shopping for Recommendation: Learn how to Select a Hitch Bike Rack

There are a lot of kinds of motorbike racks available on the market, however we really feel that hitch-mount racks are one of the simplest ways to move your bikes. Hitch racks are available a number of kinds, nonetheless, so that you’ll want to find out which is the best choice for the bikes you personal and the car you’ll apply it to. Right here we break down the principle variations between tray racks, vertical carry racks, and high tube hanging racks, in addition to different essential issues to think about when buying a hitch rack. 

Sorts of Hitch Mount Bike Racks

There are benefits and downsides to every kind of rack. Right here we’ll clarify the variations together with the professionals and cons related to every type.

Tray or Platform Hitch Bike Racks

Most of the time, we select the tray or platform type rack over the others as a result of their ease of use and bike attachment strategies. The bike’s tires relaxation on a tray or platform with arms that usually clamp down on the entrance wheel whereas the rear wheel is strapped into place. Some fashions use arms to seize each the entrance and rear wheels. Tray racks are probably the most secure and safe. Some fashions enable for left-right changes so you may keep away from handlebar-to-seat interference between bikes. Critical cyclists usually select tray racks as a result of most designs maintain the bike with none body contact, serving to to maintain your experience in pristine situation.

PROS: Good tray racks usually maintain bikes with no body contact so that they gained’t scratch or rub on the paint. In addition they are inclined to have more room between bikes, making it simpler to load larger bikes and fatter tires. They’re very versatile and most can maintain a variety of wheel sizes, tire widths, and kinds of bikes. Some have excessive weight limits making them appropriate for transporting heavy e-bikes. Low loading heights imply you don’t should elevate your bikes that prime to get them on the rack.

CONS: Most tray racks can solely match 2 bikes (some can max out at 4 with add-ons). They’re usually fairly costly, and including a 2-bike extension to a 2-bike rack will increase the associated fee much more. Tray racks are sometimes massive and heavy, making storage more durable in case you don’t simply depart them in your car.

Vertical Carry Hitch Bike Racks

What was as soon as a really area of interest type of rack is changing into extra widespread as extra manufacturers have began making racks that cling the bikes vertically. Historically, vertical carry hitch racks had been generally used for shuttling mountain bikes. Earlier fashions held bikes by the crown of a suspension fork. Extra just lately, this type of rack has turn into extra versatile. Some new fashions function angled wheel baskets/trays that seize the entrance wheel whereas others help them by the handlebar. Vertical carry racks may be among the best to load, though it should be carried out in a particular order. Most fashions are provided in a number of variations with carrying capacities usually various between 4 to six bikes. 

PROS: Able to carrying plenty of bikes. Comparatively fast and straightforward to load bikes. Usually no body contact. 

CONS: Cumbersome and really heavy. Tough to maneuver round and retailer when not in use. Bikes must be loaded and unloaded so as. Some designs are solely able to carrying mountain bikes with suspension forks. Most solely are available a 2” receiver dimension.

Prime Tube Hanging Hitch Bike Racks

Prime tube hanging bike racks usually maintain your bike’s body by hanging the highest tube throughout two arms that reach out from its help beam. You merely slide your bike over these arms, relaxation it on them, then strap it into place. Higher fashions have cradles and rubber or ratcheting ladder straps in addition to some methodology of stopping your bikes from swaying backwards and forwards. These racks are available varied sizes with carrying capacities ranging between 2 and 5 bikes. At Bikerumor, we personal and experience bikes that we care about, so that is our least favourite option to transport bikes as a result of inherent downsides of the highest tube cling design.

PROS: Inexpensive, simpler to retailer (particularly if the arms fold down), lighter weight.

CONS: Helps the bikes by the body and might injury the paint. Bikes usually make contact with one another. Non-traditional body shapes (like step-through frames), actually small (child’s) bikes, or full suspension mountain bikes may be onerous to suit, correctly safe, or require an adapter. Hanging racks are nowhere close to as secure or safe as tray racks. Decrease weight limits.

Product Issues

Tray vs. Vertical Carry vs. Prime Tube Grasp: Which is the very best?

Choosing the proper type of rack will rely on a number of elements together with what number of and what kind of bikes it’s good to carry, how usually you propose to make use of it, and the way a lot you’re prepared to spend. Most of the time, we go for tray racks or vertical hanging racks as they’re the simplest to load, most secure and safe, and are much less prone to injury the paint in your body. These are usually the costliest choices, nonetheless, so they might not make monetary sense for these on a price range or much less frequent rack customers. Prime tube hanging racks could be a greater choice for individuals who solely use a motorbike rack sometimes or are much less involved with the looks of their bike’s body. 

How Many Bikes Do You Want To Carry?

It might appear apparent, however the variety of bikes you propose to hold when purchasing for a motorbike rack. Many racks may be bought in various sizes/carrying capacities or extensions may be added on to deal with extra bikes. 

Most tray racks include area for 2 bikes, though some are provided in single or three-bike configurations. Many producers supply add-ons for tray racks (relying on the mannequin) that may increase capability by one or two bikes. Tray rack add-ons can add considerably to the price of your rack system.

Vertical hanging racks are usually provided in a number of sizes, often between 4 and 6 bikes. Whereas the upfront price of vertical hanging racks is substantial, it finally ends up being one of the crucial cost-effective methods to move 4 to six bikes (some manufacturers go as much as 7) apart from a tailgate pad. 

Prime tube hanging racks are provided in varied sizes ranging between 2 and 5 bikes. 

How A lot Do Your Bikes Weigh?

The arrival of and proliferation of electrical bikes has made weight capability a typical concern for these wanting into a brand new bike rack buy. Not all racks are created equal on this regard, so weight limits ought to be thought-about based mostly on the bikes you propose to hold. With many e-MTBs and electrical bikes weighing within the neighborhood of fifty to 60 lbs, and generally extra, rack producers have been designing racks to deal with this new breed of bicycles. If you’re planning to move heavy e-bikes, it is very important get a rack that meets or exceeds the burden of your bikes for security. The Thule Epos has the best weight per bike capability of all of the fashions we examined at 75 lbs, adopted intently by the Yakima StageTwo at 70 lbs. It ought to be famous that some racks are rated for RV and off-road use, though the burden limits usually drop down barely in these functions.

Loading Heavy Bikes

Heavyweight electrical bikes are tougher to load, so some producers have responded with rack designs and equipment to assist make it simpler. Lifting a 60 lb bike up and into place on a tray rack is awkward and will even be unattainable for these with restricted energy or mobility. Many manufacturers now supply loading ramps that may be bought to permit customers to roll bikes up onto the trays of sure racks. A choose few racks even include this accent included, just like the Yakima OnRamp. Different racks, just like the Thule Epos, Yakima StageTwo, and the Kuat Piston Professional X, are appropriate with aftermarket ramps, and the racks themselves have excessive weight limits to deal with these heavyweight rigs.

Bike Attachment Issues

Relying on the kind of bikes you will have and the way a lot you care about your body’s end, the best way a rack secures the bike could also be an essential consideration. Fashionable carbon fiber and aluminum bikes may be very costly, so the very last thing most individuals wish to do is injury the paint or body materials whereas transporting their valuable rides. Because of this, high tube hanging racks ought to usually be averted by these with costly carbon bikes since they carry bikes by the body. Restricted area between bikes additionally makes bike-on-bike contact troublesome to keep away from.

Tray Racks

Most tray racks, however not all, keep away from body contact by securing the bike with both a entrance wheel clamp and rear wheel ladder strap, or with twin clamp arms that sandwich the bike from each ends. Entrance wheel clamping fashions such because the Thule T2 Professional XTR, Rocky Mounts MonoRail, Kuat NV 2.0, and Yakima StageTwo have hook-shaped ratcheting arms that lock the entrance wheel down and a strap that holds the rear wheel tight in opposition to the tray. These fashions keep away from body contact, however it ought to be famous that the entrance wheel hook can doubtlessly make contact with the fork and depart abrasion marks over time, and the rear wheel strap can depart some minor scuffing in your rear rim. Twin clamp fashions just like the 1Up-USA Heavy Obligation Double, Kuat Piston Professional X, and Rocky Mounts GuideRail, maintain bikes by the tires, making it straightforward to keep away from any undesirable body, fork, and even rim contact.

Vertical Carry Racks

Vertical carry racks differ in the best way they maintain bikes, with choices that help bikes by the fork’s crown, entrance wheel, or handlebar. Fashions with entrance wheel baskets/cradles, just like the VelociRAX and the 1Up Recon, make the least quantity of contact with the bike as they typically solely contact the entrance tire and have straps that maintain the rear wheels in place. Racks that carry bikes by the fork crown, just like the North Shore Racks and Yakima HangOver, have padded cradles that make direct contact with each the crown of your suspension fork and the underside of the top tube and have the potential to trigger abrasion marks in these areas. Vertical racks that help bikes by the handlebar are somewhat extra versatile than the fork-carry fashions, however additionally they have the potential to trigger minor abrasion injury to your handlebar’s end.

What Type of Bikes Do You Have?

Together with the quantity and weight of the bikes it’s good to transport is the kinds of bikes you will have. Whereas hitch racks are extremely versatile by way of bike match, not all will work with each bike. Some racks are designed to work with just about any bike on the market and might help an enormous vary of wheel sizes, tire widths, and wheelbase lengths, whereas others are extra restricted. You will need to take into account these elements when looking for the rack that most closely fits your wants and the bikes you’ll be transporting.

The character of tray rack designs means they’re among the many most versatile by way of bike match. Most work with various wheel sizes and tires starting from skinny highway bikes to mountain bike treads. Many fashions can match as much as 5-inch vast fatties, though some require fats bike kits. A limiting issue for some tray racks is wheelbase size, so select correctly in case you have an excellent lengthy downhill or enduro bikes.

Vertical carry racks differ of their versatility relying on how they help the bike. Some fashions maintain the bike by the crown of the fork and solely work with mountain bikes with suspension forks. Fashions that use entrance wheel baskets or cling the bike by the handlebars work with a better number of bikes, together with these with inflexible forks or drop handlebars.

Prime tube hanging racks are the least versatile as a result of method wherein they help the bikes. Grownup-size frames with straight high tubes work the very best. Curved tubes, small frames, or full suspension bikes could also be troublesome or unattainable to place correctly over the help arms. Most manufacturers make adapters to hold non-compatible frames.

What Measurement Is Your Hitch Receiver?

When ordering a motorbike rack, it’s crucial to get one which matches the scale of the receiver in your car. Many automobiles, however definitely not all, include hitch receivers put in, so you’ll want to double-check the scale. Will probably be both the bigger 2” or the smaller 1.25”. Can’t inform simply by wanting? Merely measure the width of the receiver opening to seek out the scale. For those who don’t have already got one, it’s attainable to get one put in on most automobiles. Native auto outlets or U-haul areas can usually deal with it for you. In lots of instances, it’s also attainable to do it your self, and trailer hitch kits can usually be discovered on-line to suit your 12 months, make, and mannequin of auto.

If getting a trailer hitch put in, the two” dimension is our suggestion as it’s usually stronger and might help extra weight. This makes it higher for transporting tray racks with add-ons, racks with swing-away attachments, or vertical hanging racks. The 1.25” dimension additionally works effectively sufficient, however the weight score is usually somewhat decrease and a few racks are solely provided within the 2” dimension. Adapters can be found to go between the 2 sizes, and a few racks even include adjustable receiver ends that may be switched between them.

Swing Away and Tilt Options

Most high quality tray racks have a tilt perform so you may fold it up when not in use, flat for transporting bikes, and tilt it down and away to entry the rear of the car. Some racks have handy tilt-release handles or foot pedals and may be tilted down even with bikes on the rack. Others have much less user-friendly launch mechanisms that require you to achieve underneath or round loaded bikes to tilt the rack. Most vertical and high tube hanging racks even have tilt options for simpler entry to the rear of the car.

Individuals who have camper vans, cabover campers, or just need vast open entry to the again of the car ought to take into account racks that swing away or including a swing away/pivoting attachment to the rack of your selection. This permits all the rack to pivot out and to the aspect, making it simpler to open massive doorways or just take pleasure in unrestricted entry to your trunk (boot), truck mattress, or camper. A choose few racks include this function constructed into the design, just like the Rocky Mounts Backstage, however most main producers additionally make swing-away attachments. These attachments are usually solely obtainable within the 2” receiver dimension for racks that even have 2” receiver ends.

Car Clearance

The clearance between the rack, bikes, and your car is worthy of consideration. No person desires to have their rear window damaged by their handlebar whereas in transit or must loosen and switch their handlebar each time they load a motorbike on the within tray. Some trailer hitches are mounted additional beneath the car, making the rack itself sit nearer to the rear bumper. Further elements just like the type of auto and the design of the bumper and rear door additionally play a job. Some racks play good with nearly any car whereas others can have a tighter match that may trigger contact between handlebars and rear home windows or doorways. That is most typical with tray racks and automobiles with vertical rear doorways like campervans that may be extra problematic on this regard in comparison with these with sloping rear ends like station wagons and hatchbacks.

Most rack producers present technical specs or match guides on their web sites for reference. This hyperlink to Kuat’s Piston Professional X Match Information is an efficient instance that offers you all of the measurements you want for that particular rack. Evaluating your measurements to the rack’s specs ought to provide you with an thought of whether or not or not a rack will match. Nonetheless, that doesn’t at all times resolve the handlebar clearance problem, though that’s usually most prevalent with vertical rear doorways. In some instances, it might be essential to get a hitch extension to realize the right clearance on your car. Fortuitously, most manufacturers supply hitch extensions as an aftermarket accent, a few of which additionally increase and decrease the peak of the rack. Vertical hanging racks often have fewer clearance points as they usually have an angle adjustment to place it correctly to keep away from any interference with the rear of the car.

Safety

Bikes may be very costly, so maintaining them protected is a precedence for many customers. The very last thing anybody desires is to cease for a fast errand and discover their bike(s) stolen once they return. Many racks, however not all, include included safety features like cable locks built-in or semi-integrated into their design. Whereas these options are undoubtedly significantly better than nothing, they’re usually little greater than a theft deterrent. We at all times suggest including a beefy aftermarket lock to your rack for an added layer of safety and peace of thoughts. You may be taught extra in our evaluate of the very best bike locks.

Racks are additionally pretty costly, so maintaining them protected and safe can be crucial. Fortuitously, most hitch racks include hitch pin locks or locking knobs to safe them to the car. Some require using particular safety allen keys to tighten or loosen them on the hitch. Hitch pin locks are pretty cheap, and an important addition to any rack that doesn’t already include one.

Meeting

Once you buy a hitch bike rack from a brick-and-mortar retailer, they may usually assemble the rack for you and doubtlessly even enable you to set up it in your car. Once you buy a rack on-line, it often arrives at your house in a big field with some meeting required to arrange it to be used. The meeting course of varies between fashions and a few are extra concerned than others, however usually, it isn’t too troublesome. Most fashions include detailed directions and the instruments wanted to finish the steps within the course of. Typically you could find an educational meeting video (or scan a QR code) in case you choose to see it carried out. We suggest following the directions precisely for the simplest and most streamlined meeting.

Storage

Whereas many individuals will select to go away their hitch rack on their automobiles always, most individuals will take it off seasonally or once they aren’t planning to make use of it for an prolonged interval. You’ll want someplace to maintain it, and most hitch racks are pretty cumbersome and take up a good quantity of area in your storage, shed, or storage location. That is very true of most vertical hanging and tray fashions, though a couple of collapse to a smaller dimension to make storing them extra handy. Some corporations make wall-mountable hitch docks that may maintain your rack up off the bottom to maintain issues tidier. Prime tube hanging racks are usually the simplest to retailer given their narrower collapsed dimensions.

Worth

There’s no denying that hitch bike racks are costly. Costs have been steadily growing and the highest-end fashions now high $1,000. Until you’re rolling in disposable revenue, that’s a tricky tablet to swallow for most individuals. Certain, costlier racks usually have fancy options and high-end finishes, however most individuals don’t want to spend that a lot to get a rack that will get the job carried out.

Realistically, the least costly fashions we examined work practically in addition to the high-priced choices. All of them work higher than no rack in any respect. In fact, the value of some racks goes method up when it’s good to add capability. Tray racks get far more costly once you issue add-ons into the equation. These needing to hold many bikes directly could be clever to take a look at the vertical hanging choices. Whereas the upfront price is pretty excessive, they price lower than some racks with add-ons for carrying 4 or extra bikes at a time.

Steadily Requested Questions About Hitch Bike Racks

Associated Content material