The 12 Best Hitch Bike Racks

Gone are the days when bikes were carried around on cars and trucks without hitch bike racks. It was difficult to load and unload the bikes and problems with doors and bridges were the order of the day with overhead luggage.

The introduction of hitch bike racks is the solution to your problem if you are still struggling with the overhead transportation method. The hitch bike rack safely carries your bike when you fit it at the receiver of the trailer hitch of your car or truck. It will guarantee an easy time when loading and unloading your bike while also ensuring that it is safe and secure at all times.

Proseries 63134 Mounted Bike CarrierProseries 63134 Mounted Bike Carrier

The Proseries bike carrier is a great choice for your bike due to its padded contact points, which prevent damage to your bike parts during transportation, thus contributing to the durability of your bikes’ frames. The 2 inch shank adaptor contained on the bike rack aids greatly in stabilizing the hitch bike rack during transportation.

Additionally, to accommodate all wheel sizes, the wheel slots of the Proseries Mounted Bike Carrier are fully adjustable, with the center tube able to tilt for purposes of rear bike access. To ensure that your bike is protected from contact with the road, you can raise the shank of the bike carrier.

The Proseries bike carrier is rust resistant, making it durable and safe to use in all weather conditions. It weighs 34.6 pounds.

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Allen Sports Easy Load Deluxe 2-Bike Hitch RackAllen Sports Easy Load Deluxe 2-Bike Hitch Rack

The Allen Sports 2-Bike Hitch Rack is suitable for cars and trucks with a 1.25 inch to 2-inch hitch. The rack has adjustable wheel trays which, apart from being suitable for different sizes of wheels, can also fit tires that are up to 3 inches wide.

During transportation, your bike is secured due to the padded connector to the upper frame of your bike. The strap connected to the rack also ensures that your bike does not wobble during transportation and it can be used to support a wide range of bike tube sizes and shapes. The buckle also helps protect the bike due to its TPR housing.

Due to its design and the way the bike is mounted, the Allen Sports hitch rack does not require an adaptor bar. When not in use, the Easy Load Deluxe folds in, minimizing the storage space needed in your garage. You can also leave it mounted and folded against the vehicle, making it convenient and easy to store without having to detach it. The hitch bike rack weighs approximately 30 pounds.

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Swagman XC Cross-Country 2-Bike Hitch RackSwagman XC Cross-Country 2-Bike Hitch Rack

The Swagman XC 2-Bike Hitch Rack, a unique and convenient bike hitch rack model, has the capacity to carry two bikes. The hitch is 1.25 to 2 inches which is its maximum loading capacity, meaning that the hitch bike can only support specific types and sizes of bikes.

The Swagman hitch bike rack is uniquely designed in a way that if you want to gain access to the trunk of your car, the arm of the hitch rack folds down so that you do not have to remove the rack. The arms are also adjustable in order to support bikes of other frame sizes.

Fortunately, this bike hitch rack does not wobble at all, due to the built-in anti-wobble hitch device, which supports the bike during transportation. If you want to have the complete versatility of the Swagman bike hitch rack, you have to purchase the fat tire wheel trays separately. This includes a locking hitch pin and a 10mm security cable.

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BV Hitch Mount RackBV Hitch Mount Rack

The BV Hitch Mount Rack is uniquely designed in a manner that allows you to open the rear part of your car without having to detach the rack. Your bike is very secure with this rack as it is hitched through a three-point connection system, which includes one vertical arm and two horizontal tray-styled arms. With this three-point support, your bike will not sway or shift at all while traveling.

Apart from securing your bike, these arms do not risk its durability. They are padded to ensure that the bike is protected from scratches. The 2-way anti-wobble system on your rack prevents wobbling between the rack and the hitch, which keeps your bike firmly supported by this rack. With the safety reflector on the hitch rack, the bicycle at the back is visible even at night, ensuring safety during travel.

When not using the rack, simply fold it up to save space in your storage area. The maximum load that this rack can carry is 35 pounds per bike.

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Critical Cycles Lenox Hitch Mount Tray RackCritical Cycles Lenox Hitch Mount Tray Rack

The Critical Cycles hitch bike rack can also be used to transport two bikes at a time, making it very convenient. The mount tray rack has a 2-bike hitch, which fits a 1.25 to 2-inch trailer hitch. That means that in order to use this rack, vehicles must have a class III or IV hitch.

It is made of thick steel, making it durable and therefore quite reliable. It is also a good choice because it can carry bikes of different types of frames and tires. The platform of this rack has the sliding wheel design, which enables it to carry bikes with wheels between 20 and 29 inches.

It has a fold-out design that allows you to access your trunk without having to move your bike, making it an easy way to full advantage of your vehicle’s storage area and rack at the same time. During transportation, your bikes are safely protected with straps and cradles, ensuring that they do not sway.

The assembly of this hitch bike rack is very simple and user-friendly. It can carry bikes of a maximum weight of 70 pounds.

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TRANSIT Flatbed 20DLX 2-Bike Hitch RackTRANSIT Flatbed 20DLX 2-Bike Hitch Rack

The TRANSIT Flatbed hitch rack is a durable hitch bike rack made of powder-coated steel. The rack transports your bikes by supporting them on their frames. This ensures minimal contact with the rest of the bike so that they stay protected from scratching or dents.

This hitch bike rack is very versatile in that its locking ratchet hooks can hold bikes of different frame sizes. It also has many styles in which you can suspend your bikes.

The TRANSIT bike hitch rack is designed with a tilting base, which allows you to access your trunk without having to remove the bikes. It guarantees quick and easy loading of your bikes. Wheels with bases of between 17 and 58 inches and receiver hitches of 1 and 2 inches are its foot fits.

For storage purposes, simply fold it up to save space.

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Thule Apex Swing Away Bike RackThule Apex Swing Away Bike Rack

The Thule Apex hitch bike rack is the most uniquely designed hitch bile rack we’ve seen. As its name suggests, the loaded rack swings away from the vehicle when you want to access the trunk. This hitch bike rack comfortably carries up to 4 bikes. Its installation does not require any tools. Once the rack is hitched to the vehicle, the receiver automatically locks it down, ensuring that there is no wobbling during transportation.

The arms of the Thule Apex rack have an arc design, which ensures that the bikes are not in contact with each other and that they are also off the ground. Bike to bike contact is also prevented by a patented cage located on the rack. The cradles are designed with a technology known as the Road Dampening Technology, which gives them the ability to absorb shock from the road to provide more protection to your bike while on the go.

For stability, the patented cage has a no-sway mechanism that keeps your bikes fully supported by the hitch bike rack. The rack is also built with a heavy duty cable lock to ensure that the bikes are fully locked to the rack.

When not in use, the arms are folded through the folding high switch. The Thule Apex hitch bike rack also contains a handle that makes carrying and handling the rack very easy. The rack has a weight of 54.3 pounds.

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Swagman XT C2 Hitch Bike RackSwagman XT C2 Hitch Bike Rack

The Swagman XT C2 hitch bike rack is a platform styled rack that carries 2 bikes with wheels between 20 and 29 inches. Its arms are soft and, therefore, protect the frame of your bike. They also hold the bike in place during transportation.

To access the trunk, you do not have to remove the bikes. Simply fold down the center arm to get the bikes out of the way. The rack fits 2 and 1.25-inch receivers and the built-in anti-wobble hitch device keeps the bikes steady during travel.

The rack is adjustable to carry bikes of different wheel sizes. The arms have a push button that makes it easy to adjust for different bike sizes. The wheel hoops of this Swagman rack are adjustable and they contain rubber straps that fully support the bikes during movement.

For additional security of the bikes, the bike hooks located on the rack tightly grip onto the frames. They are made of a soft coat in order to prevent scratching the bikes’ frames.

This Swagman rack is made of powder-coated steel with a premium finish, which makes it resistant to corrosion for increased durability. It is important to note that the locking hitch pin, the 10mm security cable, and the bike tire trays are sold separately. The Swagman hitch bike rack weighs approximately 33lbs.

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Yakima Products Ridge Back Hitch Bike RackYakima Products Ridge Back Hitch Bike Rack

The Yakima Ridge is a unique hitch bike rack that is very easy to install as it does not require any tools to mount or lock in place. This makes it easy to operate. It contains an upper hand lever that allows vehicle trunk access by tilting the rack down without having to remove your two bikes.

The Yakima bike rack is unique as it contains removable zip strips that help secure bikes to the rack. The zip strips work in combination with the rack’s anti-sway cradles to ensure that your bikes do not come into contact with each other.

The Yakima ridge back hitch bike rack is sold with the Yakima tube-top cross bar adapter, the main function of which is to support the bike as you zip through the mountains. The adapter has large molded collars that rest on the seat post and head tube to support the bikes and keep them steadily mounted on the arms of the rack. The collars are made of a soft material to ensures that the bike has a gentle ride and is not scratched, thus ensuring its durability.

For more stability, the adapter has oversized diameter tubing and anti-rotation inserts.

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Allen Sports Premier Quick Release Locking Hitch Mounted Bike RackAllen Sports Premier Quick Release Locking Hitch Mounted Bike Rack

The Allen Sports Quick Release bike rack has a locking hitch that is easy and quick to install. The locking hitch fits receiver hitches ranging from 1.25 to 2 inches. The rack is tightened onto the receiver hitch, ensuring that there is no wobbling as you drive. The locking hitch bike rack consists of two keys.

This Allen Sports model also has UV-resistant rubber cradle straps to hold the bike securely in place during transport. The cradles are soft to prevent damage to the bike parts. With these rubber cradle straps, the hitch bike rack can work on a variety of bikes with different tube sizes.

The Allen Quick Release hitch rack also has tie-down cradles that are dual compound, and the quick set straps secure your bikes. These straps individually protect your bike and prevent it from swaying.

The arms of this bike rack have an easy fold design that enables you to drop them out of the way when you are not using the bike rack. The quick set arms snap into place for use. You can fold them by squeezing two release buttons located on the carrier. This makes storage of the rack very easy, saving a lot of space.

Additionally, if you need access to the trunk of your vehicle, the rack has a tilt-away mechanism that enables you to tilt it without having to unhinge it from the vehicle. The rack weighs 22 pounds.

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Küat-Sherpa-2.0Kuat Sherpa 2.0 Hitch Rack

The Kuat Sherpa 2.0 Hitch Rack has lately been redesigned to ensure better performance. It is much lighter, its security has been enhanced, and it is more user-friendly. It is made of aluminum, ensuring that it is more lightweight, making it possible to adjust the rack using a single hand. It does not require any tools to install.

Another redesigned feature is the pivot lever, which has been fitted with a foot assist to ensure that even when your hands are full, you can lower the rack using your foot. The hitch rack also contains a semi-integrated bike lock that keeps the bike in place during transportation. With the hand-tight hitch, you can be sure that your bike is safe at the back of your car.

The wide spacing of the folding tire cradles makes it impossible for the bikes to rub against each other. The rear tire cradle also consists of a co-molded strap that protects the bike from swaying during transportation. The folding front cradle aids in creating more space between the car and the rack, ensuring that they do not come into close contact so that you don’t have to worry about scratches on either the bike or the car.

The Kuat Sherpa rack is waterproof, meaning that you do not have to take it off the car when you take it to the carwash or have to leave your car outside. The hitch rack has an arched design, which gives it a decorative look on the back of your vehicle. It weighs approximately 45.6 pounds.

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Curt 18065 Premium Hitch Mounted Bike RackCurt 18065 Premium Hitch Mounted Bike Rack

The Curt Premium hitch bike rack is a high performance rack that holds up to 5 bikes with a maximum capacity of 225 pounds. With its tapered arms, the rack is able to accommodate all sizes of bikes. As they extend out, the arms taper inward so that they can fit all bike sizes.

To access the trunk, the rack tilts back and away from the vehicle. This is possible due to its tilt-away frame and a built-in pivot point on the rack’s shank. The shank is anti-wobble model as it is tightly fastened to the hitch receiver by the aid of a threaded pin. This ensures that during transportation, the bikes do not sway. The shank can be replaced and changed, so it’s sold separately.

Other features of the Curt Premium bike rack are the adjustable rubber cradles on the arms of the hitch rack. They have adjustable straps that ensure that all bike sizes are kept secure. The rubber material ensures that the frame of the bike remains unscratched.

For storage purposes, the arms fold down to save your storage space. The rack is very durable with a rust-resistant black powder coat finish. It weighs a little over 40 pounds.

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What Type of Hitch Bike Rack Should I Buy?

If you are worried that your type of bike will not meet a suitable hitch, there are hitch bike racks available for any type of bike. Hitch bike racks come in many styles, including hanging, wheel-only, platform, and specialty bike racks.

The hanging style bike racks support your bike by holding its frame. In this way, you can transport your bike while it hangs from its top tube. If your bike is the type with an alternative frame, you might be worried when it does not hang squarely on the rack. There is a solution to this problem. Using an adapter bar, you can support your bike by clamping the bar on your seat post and your bike’s head tube. With its design, the adapter bar has a support that will rest on the arms of your bike rack. This way, your bike does not wobble.

The wheel-only style mount bike racks hold your bike by its wheels. The racks do not come into any contact with the frames, so you don’t need to worry about dings or scratches. The wheel-only racks can either be v-shaped or vertical racks. The v-shaped racks are used by people with bikes of many designs and sizes. However, straps have to be used with these hitch bike racks to ensure that the bicycle does not swing during transportation. The vertical racks hold bikes by their wheel in a vertical manner. Standard wheel sized bikes are most commonly carried using these racks.

Platform hitch bike racks are also known as wheel-mount racks because bikes are supported on their wheels. The wheels sit on the racks with the tires on the cradles. The major advantage of the platform hitched bike racks is that they can fit bikes of any wheel or frame size. This is due to the adjustable wheel holders included in this type of hitch bike rack.

The specialty bike racks are built differently to hold specific kinds of bikes. For instance, for a tandem bike, the racks have wide-spaced arms to specifically hold the bikes’ long frames. Recumbent bikes have smaller wheels with longer wheel bases, which makes them different from other models. Therefore, racks built for recumbent bikes have smaller wheel hoops with distant spacing to support it.