Bike Rack Hitch
The Best Hitch Bike Rack For You?
Welcome to our article on The Best Hitch Bike Rack.
Cycling was never an indoor sport and most of the time rides through town, at the park, or around your home sound fun, but sometimes everyone needs a little weekend getaway. When it comes to transporting bikes, we all want them to be safe and sturdy when traveling long distances.
A simple search online will tell you about the hundreds of bike racks available, and on top of every list, you’ll probably find a hitch bike rack. When compared to roof mounted bike racks or trunk mount bike rack, hitch racks can be a great alternative. Hitch racks are safe, easy to install, and keep not only your bike but also your car protected when traveling on the highway or off-road. With so many hitch-mount bike rack options, it’s natural to need a little analysis paralysis. Luckily, we’ve tried and tested some of the best hitch bike racks for you.
Thule T2 Pro XTR Hitch Mount Bike Rack
Thule T2 Pro XTR was launched almost 2 years ago, but this 2 bike rack is here to stay for a long time. That fact alone is a mark of quality. The rack is packed with features that bring it to the top of our list, starting with versatility. Thule T2 Pro can fit wheels as large as 29” and has no trouble carrying 5” wide fat tire bikes. It can fit mountain bikes, kids’ bikes, and supports the large weight of e-bikes.
This platform hitch bike rack holds your bike from the wheels and a ratcheting clamp tightens the grip. There’s no frame contact, so you don’t have to worry about damaging your carbon frame.
Worried about the bikes scuffling together? There’s more than 12” of space separating the bikes and it has an integrated lock to secure the bikes from theft. The most underrated feature is the tilting of the rack. With this bike rack installed, you can access the trunk of your vehicle easily.
Pros
- Heavy-duty construction and sturdy
- Tilts to provide rear hatch access
- Easy installation and the rack has wheels to move around
- No frame contact
- Built-in cable lock that goes around the front forks of the bikes
Cons
- Blocks the rearview camera
- There’s cheap plastic covering the rack that will break over time
- Expensive for a 2-bike capacity rack
Swagman XTC2 Hitch Mount Bike Rack
Image from Swagman
This Swagman bike rack is one of the best hitch bike racks for you. It functions like any good 2-bike hitch mount bike rack and has a solid construction. The Swagman XTC 2 attaches to the hitch receiver of your car and can fit ¼” hitch and a 2” hitch without any tools.
It has all the important features of the Thule bike rack but lacks the fancy touch and extra load capacity we saw on the Thule T2. It has a maximum weight capacity of 35 lbs. but that doesn’t stop it from carrying mountain bikes. The platform has extendable wheel trays for 29” wheels and holds the front and rear wheels using straps. There’s a clamping arm that goes over the top tube of your bike and keeps it from moving around. It’s a great budget bike rack and included in the price are a locking mechanism and a tilting feature.
Pros
- Easy to set up the bike rack
- Tilting and locking mechanism
- The rack feels sturdy and has a steel construction
- Best value for money
- Trunk space access
Cons
- Blocks the rear camera
- Cannot support heavy e-bikes
- The clamp holds the frame and can damage expensive frames
- Rubber straps will break over time
- A lot of wobbling when driving
Allen Sports Deluxe 4 Bike Hitch Rack
For a hanging hitch rack, the Allen Sports Deluxe 4 bike rack feels sturdy and has no wobble room. It can tilt away from the trunk and you can easily access the rear of your vehicle. The rack has a built-in locking mechanism for the hitch and needs a key to dismount the rack.
Pros
- Steel construction with no wiggle room
- Bike rack locks to the receiver hitch
- Carry arms fold when not in use
- Easy to install on the vehicle
Cons
- Requires tools to assemble the bike rack
- Blocks rearview camera
- Not ideal for heavy e-bikes or kids’ bikes
- Bikes with slanted tubes need separate tube top adapters
- No locking feature to lock the bikes to the rack.
Platform or Hanging Style Hitch Rack?
Platform hitch bike racks have a single tray or two loops on which the bike’s wheels are placed. The bike is held either by straps or a clamping arm that holds the frame. They offer convenience to accessing your bikes and easily load them on without lifting them all the way. Because you are securing the bike from the wheels, the bike’s frame does not make any contact with the hitch mount rack and you can load any type of bike on this rack.
Hanging hitch mount bike racks hold the bike from the frame. The bikes need to be lifted all the way on top of the carrying arms, where the built-in cradles hold the bike and secure it using straps. They are usually cheaper, but the biggest problem is when carrying multiple bikes, it can be difficult to adjust the handlebars in a tight space. There’s also the risk of damaging the bikes or the paint of your car.
Final Verdict:
How to choose the best Hitch Mount Bike Rack for You? ….It often comes down to price. Hitch-mount bike racks start from at least $150 and can cost a few hundred dollars. It’s better to spend a little extra on a platform rack and ensure the safety of your bikes. If you plan on carrying just two bikes, then a hanging hitch mount bike rack is just as safe as a platform hitch rack.
You’ll be using the bike rack you buy for your more expensive bikes. So, it’s better to invest once in a good quality bike rack, like ones from our list. These racks were tried and tested to bring in-depth analysis and help choose the best hitch bike rack for you.
