One of the easiest ways to transport your bike without actually riding it is to use a bike hitch rack. But, since not much is known about this invention outside of the biking community, we saw it fitting that we compile this helpful guide to the best bike hitch racks.
What makes them so effective and convenient is the fact that they can be attached straight onto your vehicle’s receiver.
Best Bicycle Hitch Rack Reviews
In the following section, we’re presenting you with our review of the best bike hitch racks, based on hours and hours of painstaking research and testing.
We’ve got options for all budgets and lifestyle needs.
1. Swagman XC2 Hitch Mount Rack
First up, we have the Swagman XC2 Rack, which comes with a stable threaded hitch pin, safe ratcheting arms, and a flexible tray system.
This rack only weighs about 32 pounds. It’s pretty lightweight, which makes it portable and easy to install and remove. Although it doesn’t have the wide variety of features that you’ll come across from other options, it’s still a very solid option that’s guaranteed to get your bike from point A to point B.
Of course, because this is a budget-friendly option, you do have to make a few concessions, such as making it difficult to load more than one bike, due to the difficult ratcheting arm. Also, it doesn’t come with any locks. So, there’s no clear way for you to secure your bike using this and you’d have to purchase a lock separately.
2. Saris Superclamp Hitch Car Rack
If bike hitch rack reviews are to be believed, the Saris Superclamp EX is the best hitch bicycle rack for the money. Why? Because it’s a platform-style model with wheels clamps that are located on either side for reliable mounting.
Although it only weighs a lightweight 35 pounds, this rack has the ability to handle two bikes of up to 60 pounds each.
You can tilt this bicycle rack for hitch down in order to enable easy access to the back of your vehicle. You can even fold it up when not in use. This includes the wheels which can be folded and locked into place for ease of assembly. Also included with the rack are reflectors that help to keep you safe and easy to see in low light conditions.
3. RockyMounts MonoRail Bike Rack
The RockyMounts MonoRail is one of the best bike hitch racks for many reasons. First of all, instead of tilting down, it’s designed to swing out so that you can effortlessly access the back of your car.
In addition to being easy to use, this platform hitch bike rack is incredibly durable and can handle a bicycle capacity of up to 120 pounds. This translates to two bikes that weigh up to 60 pounds each, which should be mounted evenly to avoid potential damage.
This rack has also been designed to ensure that there’s more than enough space between the two mounted bikes. It’s great news for electric and fat bike riders. The lightweight chrome alloy hitch tube is great for reducing corrosion and ensuring prolonged durability.
4. Kuat Racks Sherpa 2.0-2 Bike Rack
Next, we have the lightweight Kuat Racks Sherpa 2.0-2 Bike Rack. Constructed from durable aluminum, it weighs about 45 pounds and comes with a variety of features.
The best part is that it’s so easy to install that almost everyone can assemble it in a matter of minutes. It’s certainly made with the end-user in mind, as evidenced by its new and improved design.
This includes a foot-assisted pivot lever that can be operated without the use of your hands, and you can lower it using this tool without putting your stuff down.
5. Swagman XTC2 Hitch Mount Rack
The Swagman XTC bike rack is a great way to travel with up to two bikes at the same time without worrying about it potentially falling off.
It’s budget-friendly and easy to install and use. All you have to do is follow the provided instructions and you’re good to go.
After you’ve installed this bike rack, you can easily install and uninstall your bike. This bike rack is also quite durable and versatile and can handle bikes of different styles, shapes, and sizes, from 20 inches to 29-inch wheel sizes. But, it’s limited to hitches of 1.25-inch to 2 inches.
6. Allen Sports 2-Bike Hitch Racks
Next up in our list of the best two bike bike hitch rack is this 2-bike model from Allen Sports. Not only is it accessible, but it’s great to take with when going through those heavy trails. It’s compatible with 1.25-inch and 2-inch receivers. This means you can carry two to five bikes at a time. That’s enough for the whole gang!
This is the perfect bicycle hitch rack to get if you plan on enjoying outdoor adventures with your family or a group of friends. It has the capacity to keep your bike safe even when going through bumpy and rough terrain, due to its tie-down cradle system design. This means each bike is individually attached for maximum security.
You can even tilt this rack backward to allow you to access your trunk without disassembling the entire racks and all of your bikes.
7. Tyger Auto TG-RK4B102B Carrier Rack
With built-in inversions that accommodate up to four bikes at once, this rack from Tyger is the best platform bike rack for a multitude of applications. It can hold two mountain bikes or three road bikes for city-slickers.
It has the capacity to fit a receiver with dimensions of 1.25 inches or 2 inches. But, you may require an extender if you’re driving a certain vehicle. You should also know that it’s not compatible with Toyota Tacomas. But, it does feature soft cradles to protect your bike’s paint job and components when riding your bike through rough terrain.
Other features include a cable and hitch lock and security locks. All of which are included in order to keep your bike reliably secure. These extras make this bike a great value for money buy, especially when you consider the fact that it even features a tilt-down arm. It allows you to access your truck without affecting the position of the rack.
8. Thule Raceway Pro Trunk Bike Rack
The Thule Raceway PRO is ideal for trunk bike use. It comes with a wide variety of great features to suit different needs and preferences.
It’s incredibly easy to use and install since you don’t need any tools to do so. While it’s great to use as a trunk bike rack, this rack isn’t compatible with all car models. But, you could always check to see if it’s compatible with your car before you buy it just to be on the safe side.
You can fold it up after use and when it is unfolded, you can rest assured that it’ll keep your bikes reliably secured.
How to Get the Best Bike Hitch Rack
Alright, now that we’ve covered what the best hitch bike racks are, it’s time to look at the features that you should consider when making your final choice.
Size
You should definitely keep in mind your car and the hitch rack’s dimensions to make sure that the two are a good fit. Most racks are designed to fit standard-sized SUVs, pick-up trucks, and regular vehicles. Again, you want a rack that’s compatible with your car based on its size and dimensions.
For best results, it’s often recommended to opt for a bicycle hitch rack that has a lightweight and low-profile design. This way it won’t negatively affect your ability to make sharp turns when driving. This is especially the case if you’re going to attach the rack onto a trailer.
Capacity
A lot of hitch bike racks can only accommodate two bikes that are carried side-by-side. But, there are also models that can handle up to four bikes or more at the same time. The heavier the rack’s carrying capacity, the heftier it is in weight.
Four-bike racks often also come with anti-wobble and tilt-down functions which can really come in handy at that level.
For the most part, you should make sure that your budget bike rack hitch s made from high-quality materials, especially if you plan on using it to carry more than two bikes.
Flexible Arms
A lot of racks that are available on the market today come with flexible arms that can handle tires that measure 2 to 4 inches. Most of them can’t handle “fat” tires that measure 5 inches or more.
But, it’s important to ensure that your hitch rack comes with adjustable arms so that it can accommodate different bicycle tire sizes.
Foldability
Another important feature to keep in mind while searching for the best bicycle hitch rack is foldability. This will affect your ability to conveniently use the rack on the road. Ideally, it should be able to stay in place when your car is parked. For that to happen, it needs to be foldable and have a low-profile design.
A smaller foldable bike rack also means that you can always attach it to the hitch. It won’t take up a lot of space in your garage when not in use.
Straps
From here on out, you’re going to notice us going into some of the nice-to-have extras that you can look forward to with a lot of bike hitch racks.
This includes safety straps which as the name implies, are designed to optimize the hitch rack’s safety by stabilizing your bikes and keeping them securely in place through the clamps.
You can tie most safety racks to these straps based on your bike specs. They can really come in handy for when you’re dealing with a bike that’s too small for your clamps or you can use them to hold all of your bikes in place, granted you don’t mind the bikes scratching each other’s paint jobs along the way.
Lock
Next, you want your hitch rack to come with a lock that’s compatible with your specific vehicle hitch size. Most vehicles have a hitch size compatibility that’s between 1.25 to 2 inches in diameter. That’s why it’s recommended to look for hitch racks whose size is optimized for those particular sizes.
A lot of racks on the market are compatible with 2-inch hitches only which limits your options. But then again, there are plenty of other hitch sizes available, some even being adjustable.
Foot Pedals
Foot pedals are great because they enable you to adjust bike rack levers and navigate the tight controls effortlessly. This means that you can make adjustments using your foot only. These adjustments include releasing the bikes or lowering the hitch rack.
Durability
Make sure your bike rack is as durable as they come, by checking its product description to find out what materials it’s made from. Most models are constructed from tough metals like steel, which is a long-lasting and durable material.
In addition to the rack itself, its connecting components such as the screws and pins should also be constructed from durable materials. This way, you don’t find yourself having to replace them every now and then.
Conclusion
So, what’s the best bike hitch rack? After much consideration, we’ve found that the Swagman XC2 Hitch Mount Bicycle Rack ticks all the boxes of what we’re looking for when it comes to this essential bicycle accessory.
Why? Because it’s budget-friendly, easy to install and use, and can proficiently keep two bikes secured to your bike effectively.