The one thing that is a necessity for any cyclist who rides in groups with his or her bicycle in the back of his or her pickup truck, as well as anyone who goes camping with his or her bicycle on the back of your truck, is a truck hitch bike rack.
The rack is one of those things that attaches your bike to your truck and holds it into place. It’s no surprise that no matter how much you enjoy cycling, wriggling your bike onto the rack has to be the least favorite part of the whole trip for you.
There are people I have seen putting bikes on top or on the side of their pickups. The best they could do is tie all of them together with a long rope. Imagine what would happen when the truck jerked on the road. Worse yet, what if the harness came loose and the bikes fell off? Then we will be in trouble, aren’t we?
Fortunately, there are a few ways in which you can make this happen. For example, you can use a truck hitch bike rack to get your bike onto your truck.
Then again, what is the best bike rack for truck hitch? What are the options that are currently available in the market? What are the factors that should be considered when buying one of these? Hold on! I’ll be answering all these questions, and more, in this article.
Reviews of the top-rated truck hitch bike racks
There are many bike racks that can be attached to a truck hitch. There are a lot of products out there that claim to be the best of the best. However, you and I both know this isn’t the case here. These products are marketed as being the best, but people have to consider different aspects of them in order to determine whether they fit their needs or not. Once that is done, they’ll click or tap “Buy.”
I know that sorting through this many products isn’t easy. It might take several trips to the store or hundreds of hours of research on the internet, but not for you! You have… “Me!”
It is my intention to offer you the top-of-the-line products that WILL meet your expectations and price range at the same time. Let’s get the gibber jabber out of the way and look at the short reviews of bicycle racks for truck hitches.
1. IKURAM Hitch Mount Double Foldable 4-Bike Rack
IKURAM is a brand that truly focuses on sophiscations and satisfaction more so than its competitors. The slogan they use is literally “Enjoy your happy, we’ll make it easy”, and they do their best to live up to that. Take this bike rack as an example of that.
The Double Folding Bike Rack is one of the best products on the market when it comes to the convenience factor. Essentially, it has a foldable backward swing that allows you to access the vehicle’s rear for things like taking something out of the boot with ease.
Once the trailer is flattened, it can simply pop back into its original position with the locking pins and it remains quite firm as well. That is what I really like about it. When you are not using it, you can fold its fold-down arms up and save the extra space on the back of the trailer.
Currently, this particular product is able to hold up to four bikes at once. Don’t worry, you’ll be able to stack them easily, and you’ll be able to secure them with the straps (we’ll talk about them in more detail later).
Informing you of something that you need to keep in mind is the fact that this bike rack works best with receivers that are two inches wide. If you have a receiver that is longer, you won’t be able to use it. You can call it a Class III or IV bike rack because of its size.
Here’s a closer look at the design of this rack. As you can see from the image, the rack itself appears to be very simple, minimalistic, and it appears to be made this way on purpose so that it looks like that.
The brand IKURAM is known for the belief and endorsement of simplicity, which is why they designed it in such a way that it only requires a single assembly process in order to use it.
There are only three bolts needed to install the whole thing before you head out on your journey, and it takes about a few minutes to set it up. Once it has been set up, you will be good to go for the rest of the product’s lifecycle. As well as being fully reversible, it also ensures that the hitch is held in place in an anti-wobble manner.
This bike rack comes with a wide array of other cool features, as well. For example, it has a fully adjustable tie-down cradle system that is perfect for a wide range of bicycle models, making it a truly unique rack.
Besides being durable and UV-resistant, the bike cradle is fastened with protective rubber cradle straps, which also help maintain its shape and will prevent your bike from rolling down the back of your truck if you keep looking in the rear-view mirror.
Aside from being durable, IKURAM is one of the most elegant bike racks I have ever seen. It is made entirely of steel and coated with a black finish. It is one of the sleekest bike racks I have ever seen. Although lightweight, it can carry loads of up to 140 lbs. So, it is useful as well.
This cradle strap shall not be broken by the sun’s rays, because its unique UV-resistant rubber material will not be affected by the sun’s rays, and its strength has also been enhanced by the powder coat finish that will also protect it from rust. Jokes aside, this thing really works well.
There is also a cherry on top for those who prefer not to take their bikes for granted. The tie-down straps of this bike rack come with a soft cradle bed so that your bike stays firm and protected at all times. It seems like the makers of this rack understand the value of your precious bike and empathize with it.
Having said that, my only complaint with this product is that the rubber strips are somewhat stiff, but this will eventually go away once people begin using it.
2. Hollywood Racks Destination Truck Hitch Platform Bike Rack
In my opinion, this is the best hitch bike rack for pickup truck that you can find and this is the Hollywood Racks Destination 4 Bikes Platform Hitch Mount Bike Rack that I personally think is one of the best.
There’s no need to worry about taking your bike to the edge of the city, or riding it through bumpy roads, because this bad boy has all of that covered. Yes… you can get this thing to carry four bikes at the same time. As long as the weight of each bike is within 35lbs, you will be fine.
In addition to the front and rear sections of the bike rack, the body of the rack consists of both alloy steel and plastic. This makes the rack both sturdy and durable, on one hand, and on the other hand, ensures a confident grip for your bicycles.
On the topic of grip, there are also ratcheting hooks on the front mast of the rack that give you a way to secure your bike more firmly on the rack when the road is bumpy and the bike wobbles and shakes due to the bumps.
In addition to that, there is so much more to talk about when it comes to the features and design of this thing too. It has curved wheel trays with adjustable wheel straps so you can easily adjust it to fit bikes with various wheelbases.
In addition to the security of the grip that I mentioned before, it is also able to be folded vertically, which means it is also easily accessible from the back of your truck. When you are not using it, you can simply remove all the clips and pins and fold them back into a small, portable unit that you can carry around at the back of your truck.
Furthermore, there is a hitch lock that works almost like a key to guarantee that the rack is securely attached to the truck hitch as well as vice versa. Now that you have this, you can drive around with your bike on the back of your truck without ever looking back through the rear-view mirror even once while you are driving.
You can also boast about the capacity of this bike rack because it is capable of carrying up to four bikes with some help from the vehicle’s receiver. Yes, you read that right. That’s not a joke! I and my homies would be able to just attach this bike rack to the rear of our truck, mount our bikes on it, and then we’re good to go. However, it is important to know that Hollywood hitch bike racks only work with hitch receivers that are 2.25 inches wide.
Lastly, and by no means least, comes the question of compatibility. Well, if you ask me, I haven’t seen many bike stands that are very much open to the various types of bicycles and vehicles out there.
The rack is able to be mounted on any type of vehicle that has a hitch. This includes cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, and even mobile homes and travel trailers. You name it! It can be attached to anything that has a hitch. I don’t have to worry about vehicle compatibility since I acquired the rack.
There were a few things that I had trouble with when I was using the hitch bike rack. First of all, you cannot order additional locks (except those that are included with it), and Lowe won’t fabricate duplicates for you. You should take your hitch bike rack to a locksmith instead.
It is also worth noting that I noticed a scratch on the front of the hitch because I lowered it a bit too much. Apparently, you can only lower it to a height of 4.75 inches above the ground. If you do that, scratches won’t be an issue.
In fairness, I must admit that this product has a couple of connotations. However, when it comes to the bicycle, this bad boy makes no exceptions. It can accommodate kids’ bikes, ladies’ frames, hybrids, road bikes, and even mountain bikes. It is truly your bike’s best friend when you’re traveling.
3. MAXXHAUL 50027 Hitch Mount Platform Bike Rack
There’s a kind of bike rack out there that’s a bit off the ordinary for those who like to experiment with things. Yes, you read it right! The MAXXHAUL 50027 is definitely not your ‘everyday’ bike rack. In my opinion, the design of this thing is just amazing. It not only looks like a futuristic mechanical contraption, but it also works like one.
There’s just something about this thing that makes me feel like I’m in a sci-fi movie, doesn’t it? Look at that thing. Doesn’t it look like something straight out of a mad scientist’s lab? On a visual scale, I’d give it a 10 on 10. I’m usually drawn to things that make me feel as if I’m in a sci-fi movie.
Let me tell you a little bit about the solid stuff. I was impressed with the ergonomics of this bike rack more than how it makes it look, but I was also impressed with the fact that this bike rack offers a universal fit. With a hitch bar measuring 2″ x 2″, you will be able to use it on all standard 2″ Class III or IV hitch receivers.
There are a number of things you should keep in mind, and one of them is that you should never exceed the maximum weight capacity of this product, which is a total of 80 lbs distributed in total. That’s the maximum weight capacity of the rack and exceeding it might be harmful to either your bike or pickup truck.
As any good bike rack should, this one also comes with adjustable rubber straps on the bike cradle to ensure that your bike will stay firmly in place while you are cruising down the road, just like any good bike rack should.
Aside from its durability, it’s also made of steel that has been powder coated black. The brand’s motto is “For the long haul”, and they work very hard to ensure that their products are up to that promise.
Designed to fit a wide range of users, and the compatibility of this bike rack is the biggest testimony to that fact. It’s compatible with all types of cars, trucks, SUVs, and it’s even compatible with your cozy family sedan if that’s what you’re looking for.
This rack can be mounted to any car that has a 2″ hitch, so no matter what vehicle you drive, you don’t have to think twice before mounting your bike to it.
It is almost impossible for me to forget how easy it is to set this rack up. The vertical post of this rack can be removed quickly and almost without effort. It comes with the quick hitch pins that come with it. It is so easy to assemble and disassemble that even the most beginner can do so in no time at all.
For more than a decade, MAXXHAUL has been a brand that people have come to trust since it first entered the industry as a manufacturer. There are many in-house designers and quality inspectors on their team, so that you always get the best product and service, no matter where you are in the world. Yes, their company has overseas facilities as well.
4. KAC Overdrive Sports K2 Hitch Mounted Platform Bike Rack
You may want to consider this rack if you ride a sports bike. The K2 bike rack has been specifically designed to use with sports bikes. It has a variety of features that sports bikers will find useful. From the size to the materials, the K2 bike rack is the ultimate companion for travelers and cyclists.
For the sake of getting the specifications out of the way now, it is obvious that people can carry up to two bikes with this. Of course, as long as they keep the combined weight limit of 120 lbs, they should be fine.
It is a platform-style truck hitch rack that can be attached to two-inch receivers. Well, believe me, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Taking a closer look at the design of the rack, it is designed not only to protect your bike from damage, but also to give you the peace of mind that your bike is held securely into place at the back of your vehicle with tire straps as well as a safety strap.
Don’t forget to use the safety strap as well as the tire straps at all times. This is particularly important when you are traveling. Trust me, you’ll never have to worry about your bike’s safety ever again.
There’s a safety key provided with the bike rack with the aim of locking your bike securely in place using the top hook arm of the rack. I think the makers have gone above and beyond in terms of safety and protection.
Finally, it’s important to note that the bike gets a smooth and sturdy escort thanks to the anti-wobble mechanism which ensures a smooth and stable ride no matter how bumpy the road may be.
The guys from K2 rack seem to be no exceptions to this rule. It looks like they’ve equipped their rack with foam padded hook arms. These will provide you with a more secure grip on your bike compared to anything else you’ve ever tried.
It only makes sense that K2 would take the time to protect your bike’s paint job with these items. It seems like the company has a soft spot for bikes, after all.
As a supplement to the hook arms, there are also adjustable wheel holders that comfortably fit tires that are up to 5 inches wide. Since they are heavy-duty, you can hook up bikes of any style to them and they will stand together like sushi rolls on a tray.
You can easily adjust the wheel holders to make them wider or narrower according to the width of the bike’s base, and when you are done using the rack you can fold it up to make room for other stuff in the back of your truck when you are not using it.
The rack lets you peek at your bike at any time you want, so even if you’re still not sure whether your bike is safe, you can always look back at it with the rear reflector. If you have a step-through bicycle with a low frame, you can use an adapter to fit the bike properly to the rack.
The fact that this thing is safe doesn’t mean that it will be difficult to set up or take off. With its patented lever, you’ll be able to easily take the rack out of your vehicle whenever you need to make space for putting or taking things from there, just like a cargo ship. It has an easy-to-use quick-release lever that allows you to lower the rack away from the back of your vehicle.
5. Leader Accessories Hitch Mounted Bike Rack
Since the first day of Leader Accessories, they have been dedicated to teat outdoor activity enthusiasts with their amazing products. They have been making accessories for not just biking, but they also do camping, fishing, watersports, and powersports as well. This bike rack is an excellent example of their quality and durability.
When it comes to fashion ramp walks or gala shows, the show stopper always comes at the end and makes everyone forget everything that they have seen and experienced up until now.
The following truck hitch bike rack definitely stands out from the rest on my list of the top truck hitch bike racks, if not the show-stopper. Take a closer look at it, and you’ll see what I mean, when it comes to the best truck hitch bike racks.
There is no doubt that this bike rack is made of high quality materials. It has a carry arm tube that has a thickness of about 2.5mm and can carry a load of up to 80 lbs at a time.
With the toner coating with abrasion-resistant technology, it not only protects your bike, but it also protects itself from rust by preventing it from chipping, scratching, fading, and wearing out due to the high-quality material.
I mean it literally when I say that this thing has been designed for your convenience.
The clearance between the exit of the hitch and the vertical bar of the rack is exactly 7.87″, which is the standard maximum width of any tire that can fit on the back of your vehicle while mounting your bike on this rack, so you can have a spare tire on the back of your vehicle while mounting your bike on this rack.
Why don’t you measure it for yourself if you don’t believe me?
When the bike rack is not in use, it can be easily folded up when it’s not in use by simply folding into the smallest of items when it’s not in use or rolled up if it’s not in use. The hitch and fold design makes it quick and easy to mount the rack into any 2″ hitch receiver. This is suitable for accommodating any bicycle.
The bike rack itself has something that makes it stand out…wheel hoops! It has wheel hoops that hold your bike in place, and due to the fact that they are adjustable, they are suitable for almost any bike you want to mount it on. Also, the hitch pins ensure that you can attach the rack easily to your vehicle.
In addition to that, there are also easy-to-use knobs that you can use to adjust it to the bike cradle with ease while making it easy for you to get into the bike cradle like a glove. Its tray-style carrier helps you to easily transport your bikes while offering optimal stability and support.
In order to keep the dual compound bike cradle from wobbling around too much, there are rubber straps which are adjustable and are capable of keeping it from moving too much. In addition, the hooks of the cradle also have cushions in order to protect the paint job of your bike from scratches and slips.
Here’s what you need to know about Hitch Bike Racks
It is a good idea to buy a couple of bike racks for your truck if you are passionate about your bike, because every accessory you buy is an investment. In the long run, everything comes down to how it would benefit your bike.
It is because of this reason that it is important for you to do some research before buying a bike rack for your pickup truck. Here are some of the factors you ought to consider when you are out to buy a bike rack for your pickup truck.
You should be concerned about your budget at all times
There is a very good reason why your budget should be the first and foremost thing you consider when purchasing a bike rack for your truck. There is a very good reason behind this, of course. Your budget will determine what category of bike rack you’re going to buy and what range you’ll be exploring.
In spite of the fact that you may not be running short on money at the moment, you’ve got to ask yourself if the price you’re paying for the product is worth the overall benefit you’ll be receiving from it in the future.
By sticking to your budget, you will also be able to find the right product for you in less time, since the range of price already narrows down the range of options from the wide range of options available to you.
The Kind of Usability You’re Getting Out of It
It is also important for you to keep in mind that your budget also plays a part in this point. If you intend to use the pickup bike rack for a single trip or if you are going to purchase it as a one-time purchase, then you would want to get the lowest priced option you can get your hands on. Even if that is not an option for you, you could consider renting or borrowing one.
It is important to note that if you intend to use the rack for some time to come, and if you plan to use it frequently, you will have to invest a little bit more money to get one that has the best durability. Durability comes at a cost, so you have to bear that in mind.
Number of Bikes You’re Carrying with Your Truck
In order to get all technical, it’s important to keep in mind the number of bikes that you will be carrying while choosing a bike rack for your truck hitch. For the sake of convenience, it’s a good idea to get one that is capable of carrying at least a couple of bikes. In case one of your friends wants to join you on your trip, they will all have their bikes with them.
Whenever I am travelling long distances, I often decide to give a lift to a hitchhiker with a bike. It is better to have some extra space rather than running out of them. However, do not purchase a truck bike rack with a lot of bike capacity if you do not really need one. Ultimately, it will just cost you more money and not be of any use.
The Truck Hitch Bike Rack Should Be Secure
The most important feature of top-rated bike racks for truck hitches is the security factor. One of the most important features of a bike rack for truck hitch is its ability to lock into the lock on your truck, this will prevent thieves from stealing the rack as well as your bike.
Then there are those who only lock their bikes to the rack, but this creates the possibility of having a thief steal both the rack as well as the bike itself if they are clever enough.
Some of these that you can choose from have excellent locking features, while others can lock onto your truck and also lock your bikes in place as well.
There is no particular right or wrong answer to this question. It all depends on your preferences and how convenient it would be for you. Your choice is ultimately based on how often you intend to leave your bike unattended. If you leave it unattended frequently, then a hitch rack with a good locking mechanism would be the best option for you.
You can lock your truck with a cable if your truck hitch rack does not have a locking mechanism (which is very unlikely, since all of them have some kind of locking mechanism), in this case, it is better to lock your truck with a cable instead.
Check the Brand Name Next!
When a rack is made by a reputed brand, you can be assured of its quality and service? In buying a product made by a reputed brand, you can be confident that this product will offer you a long period of use and convenience.
Check out expert opinions or search online for more information. By doing this, you will get to know the different manufacturers better before deciding to purchase a rack for your pickup truck from one of them. Make sure you pay attention to the features, the functionality, the receiver size, the rack class, the user reviews, and the ratings. This is when you’ll find out how the product really works.
What Is the Functionality of Your Truck Hitch Bike’s Rack?
The fact is that although some bike racks were originally designed to carry bikes, some of them come with an array of additional options, like the support bar. In spite of the fact that some bike racks are designed mainly to carry bikes, some support bars can also be used to hold other items during transit.
If you are considering buying a bike rack, you should decide if you really need one with a single function or a multi-purpose one. Don’t go after a multi-purpose one if you don’t need it just because it’s bizarre. Decide what functions you really need before buying a bike rack.
Top-pick bike rack according to car model:
- Subaru Forester Bike Rack Reviews
- Toyota RAV4 Bike Rack Reviews
- Honda CRV Bike Rack Reviews
What is the ease of handling of this product?
There is no question that convenience should be the first thing you pay attention to when choosing any product. Most modern-day bike racks are designed with the foldable design, so you can just fold the bike rack and store it in the back of your truck when you are not using it.
There are a few that take up more space than their counterparts. For example, the Apex Rage Powersports TBBC-4 comes with a fixed design, which can take up a lot of space from the back of your truck. You also need to consider where you will store the kit.
What is the effectiveness of your truck hitch bike rack in terms of its functionality?
There is a reason why you are buying it. You are buying it because of its efficiency. You should keep in mind to check how efficient a bike rack is before investing in it. By efficiency, I am referring to how easy it is to set up and take down, how much space it saves, etc.
Choose ones that fit your lifestyle best. To me, that’s the kind of bike I mean, the kind of car I mean, the type of roads I mean, how many people I am riding with, and everything else that you do on your bike. If you choose the right bike rack to go along with all of this, you might just find that it will be the last bike rack you ever buy.
In the end, if you’re going to buy a bike rack, it should be convenient and comfortable for you, since your comfort and convenience are the main factors behind your decision.
It’s game time! Let’s go!
As you know, there are a lot of options when it comes to choosing the best bike rack for truck hitch, which makes finding the right one for your needs a bit overwhelming. But if you keep your priorities straight, then you will be able to get to your desired one without having to look around much either.
I don’t want to dissuade you from buying one just because you see one that your friends are using. Their requirements differ greatly from your own. You should make your own personalized list of the factors that matter most to you, and then find a product that ticks most, if not all of the boxes you need.
As you can see, the sole purpose of this list of truck hitch bike rack was to help you find the bike rack that is best suited for your needs. Now you have to decide which rack is right for you. Good luck, and have a safe trip.
Leave a Reply