The Greatest Hitch Bike Racks of 2023

There are numerous methods to move bikes together with your automobile, however hitch bike racks are arguably the very best. With so many fashions and kinds to select from, nonetheless, discovering the proper hitch rack to your wants and funds generally is a problem. At Bikerumor, we’ve examined dozens of the very best hitch racks available on the market to search 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 off-the-cuff 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 group assessed every mannequin’s ease of use, weight limits, versatility, safety features, and meeting, to offer you the main points you’ll want to make the appropriate buy resolution. 

Right here you’ll discover our prime suggestions organized by type so you possibly can rapidly discover what you’re searching for. When you’d like to match product specs remember to try our comparability chart and consult with our complete purchaser’s information and FAQ to assist reply any questions.

The Greatest Hitch Bike Racks of 2023

Hitch Bike Racks Comparability Chart

Why Ought to You Belief Bikerumor?

The group 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 drive in our on a regular basis lives. Such as you, we frequently use our autos to move ourselves and our valuable bicycles, and hitch-mounted bike racks are our favourite manner to take action. 

For over a decade, we’ve been testing the newest bikes, applied sciences, parts, and equipment, together with bike racks. In that point, we’ve gotten our arms on nearly each bike rack available on the market whether or not for testing and assessment or private use. We’re at all times looking for the very best, most secure, and most safe approach to transport our bikes to the trailhead, for a weekend getaway, or to the subsequent race.

Our editors have been testing biking gear for years and have developed a eager sense of what makes an amazing product. Every rack featured right here has been completely used and examined by one or a number of members of our employees to tease out the customarily refined efficiency variations that separate the nice from the very best. In reality, many of those fashions are our private racks which have seen a number of years of heavy use and abuse. Relaxation assured, we’ve got our fingers on the heartbeat, and as new fashions hit the market, we’ll take a look at these too, and hold this assessment as up-to-date as potential. We’re dedicated to serving to you discover the proper rack to fulfill your wants and funds.

Hitch Bike Rack Purchaser’s Information

There are lots of kinds of motorbike racks available on the market, however we really feel that hitch-mount racks are one of the best 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 automobile you’ll apply it to. Right here we break down the principle variations between tray racks, vertical hanging racks, and prime tube hanging racks, in addition to different vital issues to contemplate when buying a hitch rack. 

Kinds of Hitch Mount Bike Racks

There are benefits and drawbacks to every sort 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

As a rule, we select the tray or platform type rack over the others on account of their ease of use and bike attachment strategies. The bike’s tires relaxation on a tray or platform with arms that sometimes 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 essentially the most secure and safe. Some fashions permit for left-right changes so you possibly can keep away from handlebar-to-seat interference between bikes. Severe cyclists sometimes 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 sometimes maintain bikes with no body contact in order that they received’t scratch or rub on the paint. Additionally they are likely 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 need to raise your bikes that top 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 fee much more. Tray racks are sometimes massive and heavy, making storage more durable in case you don’t simply go away them in your automobile.

Vertical Hanging 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 hold the bikes vertically. Historically, vertical hanging hitch racks have been generally used for shuttling mountain bikes. Earlier fashions held bikes by the crown of a suspension fork. Extra lately, this type of rack has turn into extra versatile. Some new fashions characteristic angled wheel baskets/trays that seize the entrance wheel whereas others help them by the handlebar. Vertical hanging racks might be among the best to load, though it should be executed in a particular order. Most fashions are provided in a number of variations with carrying capacities sometimes various between 4 to six bikes. 

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

CONS: Cumbersome and really heavy. Troublesome to maneuver round and retailer when not in use. Bikes should 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.

High Tube Hanging Hitch Bike Racks

High tube hanging bike racks sometimes maintain your bike’s body by hanging the highest tube throughout two arms that stretch 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 technique of stopping your bikes from swaying forwards and backwards. 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 approach to transport bikes because of the inherent downsides of the highest tube hold design.

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

CONS: Helps the bikes by the body and may harm 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 might be arduous to suit, correctly safe, or require an adapter. Hanging racks are nowhere close to as secure or safe as a tray rack. Decrease weight limits.

Product Concerns

Tray vs. Vertical Hold vs. High Tube Hold: Which is the very best?

Selecting the best type of rack will rely upon a number of elements together with what number of and what sort of bikes you’ll want to carry, how usually you propose to make use of it, and the way a lot you’re prepared to spend. As a rule, we go for tray racks or vertical hanging racks as they’re the simplest to load, most secure and safe, and are much less more likely to harm the paint in your body. These are usually the costliest choices, nonetheless, so they might not make monetary sense for these on a funds or much less frequent rack customers. High tube hanging racks is perhaps a greater choice for many who solely use a motorbike rack often or are much less involved with the looks of their bike’s body. 

How Many Bikes Do You Want To Carry?

It could appear apparent, however the variety of bikes you propose to hold when purchasing for a motorbike rack. Many racks might be bought in various sizes/carrying capacities or extensions might 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 broaden capability by one or two bikes. Tray rack add-ons can add considerably to the price of your rack system.

Vertical hanging racks are sometimes 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 probably the most cost-effective methods to move 4 to six bikes (some manufacturers go as much as 7) aside from a tailgate pad. 

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

How A lot Do Your Bikes Weigh?

The appearance 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 primarily based 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. In case you are planning to move heavy e-bikes, you will need to get a rack that meets or exceeds the burden of your bikes for security. It ought to be famous that some racks are rated for RV and off-road use, though the burden limits sometimes 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 inconceivable for these with restricted power 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.

Bike Attachment Concerns

Relying on the kind of bikes you may have and the way a lot you care about your body’s end, the way in which a rack secures the bike could also be an vital consideration. Fashionable carbon fiber and aluminum bikes might be very costly, so the very last thing most individuals wish to do is harm the paint or body materials whereas transporting their valuable rides. For that reason, prime tube hanging racks ought to typically 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, but it surely ought to be famous that the entrance wheel hook can probably make contact with the fork and go away abrasion marks over time, and the rear wheel strap can go away 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 simple to keep away from any undesirable body, fork, and even rim contact.

Vertical Hanging Racks

Vertical hanging racks fluctuate in the way in which 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, make the least quantity of contact with the bike as they often solely contact the entrance tire and have straps that maintain each the entrance and 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 a bit extra versatile than the fork-carry fashions, however additionally they have the potential to trigger minor abrasion harm to your handlebar’s end.

What Form of Bikes Do You Have?

Together with the quantity and weight of the bikes you’ll want to transport is the kinds of bikes you may have. Whereas hitch racks are extremely versatile when it comes to bike match, not all will work with each bike. Some racks are designed to work with nearly any bike on the market and may help an enormous vary of wheel sizes, tire widths, and wheelbase lengths, whereas others are extra restricted. It is very important contemplate 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 when it comes to 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 extensive 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 hanging racks fluctuate 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 hold the bike by the handlebars work with a better number of bikes, together with these with inflexible forks or drop handlebars.

High tube hanging racks are the least versatile because of the manner by which they help the bikes. Grownup dimension frames with straight prime tubes work the very best. Curved tubes, small frames, or full suspension bikes could also be troublesome or inconceivable to place correctly over the help arms. Most manufacturers make adapters to hold non-compatible frames.

What Dimension Is Your Hitch Receiver?

When ordering a motorbike rack, it’s essential to get one which matches the scale of the receiver in your automobile. Many autos, however definitely not all, include hitch receivers put in, so remember 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 search out the scale. When you don’t have already got one, it’s potential to get one put in on most autos. Native auto outlets or U-haul areas can sometimes maintain it for you. In lots of circumstances, it is usually potential to do it your self, and trailer hitch kits can sometimes be discovered on-line to suit your yr, make, and mannequin of auto.

If getting a trailer hitch put in, the two” dimension is our advice as it’s typically stronger and may 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 properly sufficient, however the weight score is mostly a bit 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 possibly can fold it up when not in use, flat for transporting bikes, and tilt it down and away to entry the rear of the automobile. Some racks have handy tilt-release handles or foot pedals and might be tilted down even with bikes on the rack. Others have much less user-friendly launch mechanisms that require you to succeed in underneath or round loaded bikes to tilt the rack. Most vertical and prime tube hanging racks even have tilt options for simpler entry to the rear of the automobile.

Individuals who have camper vans, cabover campers, or just need extensive open entry to the again of the automobile ought to contemplate racks that swing away or including a swing away/pivoting attachment to the rack of your alternative. This permits the whole 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 characteristic constructed into the design, however most main producers additionally make swing-away attachments. These attachments are sometimes 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 automobile is worthy of consideration. No one desires to have their rear window damaged by their handlebar whereas in transit or have to loosen and switch their handlebar each time they load a motorbike on the within tray. Some trailer hitches are mounted additional beneath the automobile, 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 automobile 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 autos 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 offer you an thought of whether or not or not a rack will match. Nonetheless, that doesn’t at all times clear up the handlebar clearance concern, though that’s typically most prevalent with vertical rear doorways. In some circumstances, it might be essential to get a hitch extension to attain the correct clearance to your automobile. Fortuitously, most manufacturers supply hitch extensions as an aftermarket accent, a few of which additionally elevate and decrease the peak of the rack. Vertical hanging racks often have fewer clearance points as they sometimes have an angle adjustment to place it correctly to keep away from any interference with the rear of the automobile.

Safety

Bikes might be very costly, so protecting them secure 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 sometimes 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.

Racks are additionally pretty costly, so protecting them secure and safe can be essential. Fortuitously, most hitch racks include hitch pin locks or locking knobs to safe them to the automobile. Some require using particular safety allen keys to tighten or loosen them on the hitch. Hitch pin locks are pretty cheap, and an amazing 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 sometimes assemble the rack for you and probably even show you how to set up it in your automobile. Once you buy a rack on-line, it often arrives at your private home in a big field with some meeting required to organize it to be used. The meeting course of varies between fashions and a few are extra concerned than others, however typically, it isn’t too troublesome. Most fashions include detailed directions and the instruments wanted to finish the steps within the course of. Typically you’ll find an educational meeting video (or scan a QR code) in case you favor to see it executed. 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 autos 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. High 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 prime $1,000. Except you’re rolling in disposable revenue, that’s a tricky capsule to swallow for most individuals. Positive, costlier racks sometimes 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 executed.

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. After all, the value of some racks goes manner up when you’ll want to add capability. Tray racks get way more costly while you issue add-ons into the equation. These needing to hold many bikes without delay could be sensible 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