Best 4 Bike Platform Rack (2023 Update)

I did hours and hours of research and ended up choosing between what I call "the big three", but compared countless off brands as well. I am now replacing a Saris Thelma 2 bike rack from 2015, and before that a Saris trunk mount rack. So we will refer to Saris, Kuat and Thule for this review. I have Specialized and Gary Fisher mountain bikes(heavy), Trek and Euro hybrids(moderate weight), and most importantly a Litespeed Tuscany road machine(weighs less than a gallon of water). Being able to fit any combination of my five bikes is key. I chose Saris again for three basic reasons-Saris has clamping hooks for BOTH front and rear tires, Saris has wheel wells/cups for BOTH front and rear tires, plus Saris was AVAILABLE and ready for purchase from their website. Thule and Kuat could not be bought from their websites-you had to find a retailer who may or may not have anything in stock, mostly not. These three options were in the same group with features and costs being much the same for comparison. Kuat and Thule both have only one clamping arm per bike, and NO wheel wells/cups but rather slippery, flat platforms with maybe an indentation or recession where the wheels sit. But there is much more to talk about: Saris does some advertisments for the SuperClamp in two short videos using a supercute redhead with the most amazing green eyes. The first video sells the function and features. The second video expalins assembly and use. They boast about the "single rail", small footprint and being lightweight. She hoists this rack up in the air over her shoulder in the first video! Do not try this at home, you'll get a hernia. So the only difference between the EX and HD is a dedicated 2" hitch receiver bar with the HD, rather than the 1 1/4" on the EX. I plan to upgrade my EX by replacing my 1 1/4 " with a 2" bar when they become available again. That being said these are my findings with the SuperClamp. I recieved the rack in the mail 2 or 3 days after my purchase online. There were some minor shipping damage issues but nothing to stop it from being used, and I was able to repair these with some moderate effort. A few small pieces were rolling around in the box as well. So shipping and delivery were very fast. Assembly was a breeze and easiest to do with the receiver bar mounted in the hitch, there's a hitch lock here too. Basically two bolts and nuts for installation. But if a thief was hip-this is also the only weakness against theft. (So let's keep it on the lowdown). Very slight play or wobble when in use but nothing to complain about, I've used much worse. Do take the time to register your new rack on the website in case you need repairs in the future. Once assembled let's talk "single rail". This is essential to the smaller footprint but I find that the rail is somewhat crowded. The bikes sit on the rail close to eachother and the pedals and handlebars need to be adjusted to fit without contact. I would have manufactured the wheel cups so that they were sitting a few more inches off of center to allow for some more space between the bikes. The locking swing arms with the clamping hooks only open to about 10 and 2 on the clock instead of 9 and 3 where it should be. So you must lift the heaviest bike over these arms to load it into the inner rail closest to your vehicle. The second video shows the cutie lifting a bike into this spot but cuts away just before it is actually in place, (she must be so strong). So lifting is just something to consider. Using the tire tie down straps on the inside rail is a little clumsy but are a MUST when using the rack, on both sides. Better safe than sorry. The rail offers cable locks at both ends. The length is debateable but serviceable and should not be the only way your bikes are secured. Pro Tip: The keys for both the hitch bar and cable locks must be used for proper function and whatever you do do not lose or misplace these keys or you will be screwed. The smaller footprint lists a fold away feature of this rack but I feel like when it's closed all the way and folded in there is not much difference in the space it takes up. You can travel safely with the rack in either setting. The issue here for me is that the Kuat and the Thule both button up and fold away nicely with a tucked in and finished aesthetic appearance where the Saris is a jumble of cups and hooks. That polished look is missed by me. But again, function over beauty. I am the organizer and leader of a bicycle club in Fort Lauderdale with over 800 members. My peeps always look to me for advice, I like to lead by example and many will follow just what I do-so choosing Saris is an important decision. I may have picked this rack apart with issues I might make changes in but I still chose this rack over many others, that should say something! There are also other features of this rack that were not mentioned here. There is a link on the website to leave a note for someone in manufacturing and design, maybe I'll leave my JesseJames

Last year, as I was in my local bike shop (Cycle Loft, Burlington, MA – go see them) I ended up talking to them about bike racks. I was not in the market at the time for a new bike but had just purchased a used Mazda CX5 and had installed a trailer hitch. My old Yakima rack was (circa 2001) was OK for my old Specialized Crosstrail but I was curious what they would recommend if I bought a carbon bike. They said SuperClamp was the way to go. Fast forward to 2021 and after an 8 week Covid 19 wait, my new Specialized Sirrus 4 arrived. I placed an order on the Saris Website for the SuperClamp and it arrived. There were a couple of manufacturing issues, but the Saris customer service team treated me like their only customer and resolved everything (they are awesome!) The rack is so easy to use and nothing touches the frame so there is no wear and tear on the carbon fiber. I drive an hour or two every week to bike with friends and it has been great to have the SuperClamp. Best rack in the business!OldBostonBiker

PROs – Solid rack. Once bikes are in, they are part of the rack! Nice and tight. Easy to operate. Built in locks are nice. Tilt feature is nice. Cons – Like others say, the rack bounces around and sways. A lot with 2 heavy bikes. Will give you "rack anxiety." So far no issues, but wow. Fenders and rear kickstands can be a problem. Otherwise, really like the rack. Using it on a 2017 Prius Prime. Rack stays on the car, hauls bikes 3x a week or more. 1 bike no worries, 2 bikes, the bouncing is a little more noticeable, and the Prius can feel the sway. Both eBikes, under 60lbs each. Highway hauling doing 75mph is fine. Slow riding to trail head on dirt road is fine, a little anxiety from the bouncing. I suppose a little play is good, it will take some getting used to the bouncing.Rumrunner

Extremely well built and we purchased direct from Home Essentials Direct and onsale for 200 bucks. If I was paying close to it's regular price at almost $400 bucks I'd want the following features; locking hooks and more compact storage. My buddy has a very similar rack, but his top hook on each post has a lock. Its definitely not "thief proof", but it would deter them the same way a cable does. These don't lock with a key, but they include a cable. The size when storing is huge. And by huge, I mean HUGE. There is no place to stash this thing. It breaks down by folding the vertical posts over to lay flat with the tire holders. It would be much more compact if the tire holders "V'd" up to meet the vertical post. It would also be nice if it broke down into 2, 2 bike carriers like the more expensive racks. Overall I'm happy and it is WAY more sturdy than the hanging thule rack we just got rid of. It trashed the bikes because there was really no way to keep them apart and they bounced like crazy. This rack did the trick.T.

This is the only bike rack we have found that actually fits 4 bikes! Once you get it all set up its super simple to add and remove bikes. The bikes are secure and the rack doesnt move much while driving. Very happy with this purchase.Jamie

I did a LOT of research before purchasing this rack. If you watch the assembly video on the manufacturer's website (https://www.swagman.net/product/xtc4/) before attempting assembly, you will only need about 20 minutes to put this rack together. Add another 30min or so to figure out the best way to organize 4 bikes without conflicts (this is mostly a process of adjusting the bike wheel trays into alternating offsets). Once you get this sorted the first time, you will now be able to get the bikes on and off in no time. Look at all the reviews on major online retailer websites: the only major complaints people have against the XTC-4 are its weight and the hooks rubbing against the bikes' top bars. I checked the figures: the weight of this rack is no worse than any comparable-strength rack. The rubbing problem, also common to any platform rack with top-bar hooks, is solved with an 89-cent length of foam pipe insulation cut into four and placed over each bikes' top bars before cinching down the rack's hooks. This rack is solid, easy to use and will bring you as much joy as racks costing twice as much.AMcKie

I was looking at racks for twice the price, but someone recommended this to me. It's a great, solid rack for the money. It fits 4 bikes easily and there is a lot of flexibility for adjustment if you have any smaller (i.e. 18-20") bikes. The build quality is excellent, packaged very well and super easy to assemble. The only thing it doesn't do is tilt down for cargo access. For my usage, this is not important to me and can deal with it if it means less parts to break and less weight. Many of the other 4-bike racks are pushing 60-80 lbs. This one is like 40lbs and you can move it around for storage really easily where it doesn't take up much space. Highly recommend this rack!Markos

I saw this bike rack mounted on someone's car and decided to buy it. I like that the rack is lightweight, comes with a hitch lock and folds up when not in use. I would have like it if the rack came with a way to secure the bikes, but can use a regular bike lock if needed. Great price too!Olga Cotto

We got this 4 place rack because it would hold the weight the ebikes we bought. Once we figured out where to set everything for the 2 ebikes it works. The limiting factor is you can't strap around the battery so it was a process. It's not the easiest to get things in and out of except for the end one but it works and is a great price. And it's local (ish). #sweepstakesKrista B

Our purchase of the Freedom 4-Bike was timed to coincide with a family cycling trip. We received it a few days before the trip, and decided to practice. Good call! Putting four bikes on the rack for the first time took more than an hour of trial and error and tinkering. Lining up the parts of the rack and the pedals, handlebars, seats and racks of four adult-sized bikes was definitely a three-dimensional puzzle. The rack was great, though, for carrying the bikes securely and steadily on an 850-mile round-trip journey. We ended up getting very good at getting the bikes on and off of the rack in, probably, 5-10 minutes at a go. One person can load four bikes, but it's better to have a second person around to help.Rich

I bought the Saris Freedom 4 Bike rack about a month ago and I am quite impressed with it. I am not very mechanically inclined but I was able to figure out the installation fairly easily, the online videos do help. Once you establish a particular spot for each bike that you carry, the future setup is quite easy. Some previous reviews questioned the use of plastic parts which I thought were quite well made while also keeping the weight down on the rack. Vehicle rides much better by keeping the bikes as close to the bumper/rear of car as possible. Highly recommend it so far!Edward

I have recently purchased this product. More than I wanted to spend on a Hitch rack, but it has proved worth the price. I am very happy with the sturdy construction and the hitch tongue locking mechanism. The Pro's strong well put together, thoughtful design and easy swing away to open the hatch. Straps work well, as with anything you have a learning curve with putting them on and taking them off. When you have them on, they hold very well. I'm not sure about some of the things I have read about the straps, but they are a far better design than most racks in this range and they seem strong enough. The rack itself is built like a brick, very little sway as long as you have the bikes secure on the rack. Easy to utilize once you have put the straps on which is another learning curve. I typically hold two cruisers and I use the straight rods to secure on the rack. I would not be afraid to carry my bikes long distances and I will be doing this very soon. Cons, heavier than you think. Straps are a little tricky to put on and to secure bikes to (again learning curve) Caution when putting bikes on the first position as you have to get the frame through the latches. Can scratch up frames, but each carrier I have owned has lead to some scratches.Mack

I bought this rack in April 2020. There were four of us in lockdown, we all had bikes, and we needed a way to transport them if we wanted a change of scenery. The rack has been a mainstay ever since. Works just like advertised. The swing function is great. Installation is straightforward. Love the locking cable for added security when out and about with the bike on the rack. I read through many of the 1 star reviews as I am recommending this to a neighbor who asked me for the model. The only conclusions I can come up with for the poor reviews are (in order of decreasing likelihood): 1. User error 2. Newer ones are not made as well 3. I lucked out and got a peach instead of a lemon. Obviously, my vote is user error. It does take some effort to lock the stem into the trailer hitch but it is solid for me. Make sure you buy the correct sized product for your hitch. You do have to turn a couple of handle bars 90 degrees when loading up 4 adult mountain bikes. Have never had a problem with the straps. They are easy to use and keep the bike secure. Bottom line: my expectations were exceeded and I have over two years of regular usage with the utmost satisfaction.swmbkrn63

I got the product shortly after I ordered from Thule. Assembly is not very difficult, although there is a step missing as they don't tell you to use the flat key the first time that you need to insert the locks. Functionality is a mixed bag for two reasons: 1. the straps that keep the bikes on the rack are SUPER HARD to operate. You kind of need to choose between leaving them half loose at the risk of the bike falling on the highway or tightening the straps and being stuck as you will not be able to undo them later. I am considering throwing the straps in the garbage and replacing them with bungee cords. 2. The big feature of this "swing away" feature is that you can open the full trunk, unobstructed. This is true, except that when you are done and need to connect the arm back on the hitch, the sheer weight of the bicycles is pushing the arm down and not allowing the main bolt to go back in. You need to be fairly strong and push up the arm + bikes and wiggle with the bolt until you are lucky to find the threaded hole. It takes a ew tries and is a bit exhausting. So paying the extra money to have the swing away feature does not pay off. I would no buy this product again. The positive is that once you are done the bikes stay in place and the thing does not seem to move much.ddgzz

Easy to install. Easy to get four bikes on including two kids bikes. Have to spend a few minutes adjusting wheel supports the first time I loaded the bikes, but now that is set, it takes seconds to load a bike. Very sturdy, yet not too heavy. Very secure No bouncing while driving. No sagging. I appreciate the hitch pin key lock so I don't have to worry about the rack getting stolen from the car. Zip bands to secure the wheels to the rack are very convenient. The screw that kept the removable locking pin attached to the rack when the pin was not engaged (via a thin metal cable) may have been plastic and broke after two uses of the rack. It's okay because it isn't needed to operate the rack, and just forces me to put it back in after changing the rack position (folded up or extended out for use), which is a good thing to not forget to so anyways.Nirav

I recently bought my Yakima rack and took a 300 miles trip. PROS: The bikes stay in place through all the bumps in the road. Easy to adjust from 4 bikes to 2 bikes set up. Easy to put together. CONS: Very very heavy, over 70 lbs. The design is off, difficult to load/unload the bike by yourself. The middle poles that hold the bikes are in the way when loading and unloading. No lock or cable, have to provide your own (at this price point, should come with it). Attaching to the hitch requires a wrench. Black screw that holds wire to the pin came off before I even assembled it. Screw needs to be a metal one, not plastic. I contact customer support and they said it's not an option. They gave me the screw size and said to go buy your own.Noi K

We just used this for our first road trip with our bikes and it held up great! Bikes were snug. Able to fit kids bikes 16” and 24” and 2 adult mountain bikes. So easy to adjust to for different wheel sizes and heights. I was disappointed that one of the pins is attached by a cable with a plastic washer. That washer busted day 1 of using the rack. I expected considering the price and brand’s reputation that they would use better quality parts to put this bike rack together. Overall we are happy with our purchase.steph025

This bike rack is built strong and sturdy. I was looking for one that odd shaped bikes would fit, and be easy for my wife to use on the back of our car. This unit is really sturdy, and fits the bill perfectly. Good quality. Only negative is how far it sticks out from the back of the car, but what do you expect in a 4 bike carrier. I wish it had an accessory number plate holder. I wish it had the option for LED lights/indicators to plug into trailer plug. (as an accessory if people want/not).adamran74

Great quality! easy to put together!! Strong and sturdy. Super impressed!! folds down so you can open the boot. Easy to chuck bike on and go!! great value too!! LOVE IT!!kobehc04

Very solid rack. Very strong. Holds the bikes very still in the rack. The rack doesnt move around in the hitch receiver and has fantastic ground clearance with its gooseneck mount. Best quality and priced 4 bike rack around. Would definitely recommend.isa13b

Item came with rust on it. Several areas had chips out of the paint and the metal had rusted. I had to then sand and paint the item. Walmart would only give me $60. Bad quality by the manufacturer and bad customer service by Walmart.BEF

The product seems to be made with good material and assembly is easy. Unfortunately that's where my good experience ends. I have got a defective part. Right out of the box I notice that paint had chipped from some of the parts. That was disappointing but I thought I would live with it. Sadly there were more issues. Attached images show that the base triangular plates for the long assembly are defective. There is slot for a hexagon nut and from the other side a knob used to tighten it. This hexagon nut must be installed from inside out as per manual and should get locked in the hexagonal slot. However the assembly I got the hexagonal slot is on the wrong side. So I tried to install it from outside and hoped would be okay as long as I can tighten it but the knob now does not have room to move and cannot be tighten. Rendering the whole assembly useless. I am very disappointed because I got the for the holidays so my family could take our bikes for our vacation. Now with this defective piece all the plans are ruined. We were looking forward for this vacation after the stressful year due to covid-19 and my family not being able to any vacation during the year. Updated: 1/2/21: Changed my rating from 1 star to 4 stars only because of the response I got from manufacturer. I informed them about the defective part. Their response was that although they were not responsible to address the issue since I didn't purchase it from them, they said they will . I got a replacement part within 2 weeks. Now the assembly is good. I have not really got a chance to use it. Does seems to be good quality as I noted earlier. Only issue I think is the length the rack sticks out compared to my old bike rack. I have standard mountain bikes which aren't necessarily light so, bit concerned about the weight.R.

I ordered it and it was on backorder. they kept bumping it back and eventually said it was no longer available. bad part was it was the height of camping season and I waited over a month to find this out.Chuck

I bought this for the back of my subaru because i didnt want to buy a really expensive rack but didnt want those cheap thin gauge tubular steel bike racks that collapse with more than 1.5 bikes on them. This thing is rock solid. Ive put 1 adult and 2 older childrens mountain bikes on this at the same time and feel confident it will not crumple on the first hard bump like some other inexpensive racks. It has a anti rattle hitch bolt that screws into the rack and works very well. Sadly it has no security features, so i may end up drilling another hole for a locking bolt. There is also no security up top, but found i was able to route a sturdy bike cable around everything to make it secure. The knob and plate design works pretty well for bigger than normal and oddly shaped cross bars and holds bikes well. This rack does not fold down like some others but i didnt need it to personally. For anyone interested though I am not able to open the rear hatch on my subaru forester. This is a strong recommendation from me if you can live without certain features.I.n.h.

4 Stars for Sturdiness 5 Stars for Value 3 Star for Security It has been very sturdy, it’s been on the back of our RV for well over 4000 miles this year, traveling from the NW to central CA then back to Ohio. Certainly a good value for the money. No security features. Yes there are screw knobs to hold the bikes down, if these locked it would provide more security, however that would come at an additional cost as well, value for the money… I bought a cable “chain” and lock and put it through the bikes and around the rear bumper on our trailer.T.T.L.

If you value your bike then this is probably not for you. For starters this product is very heavy and probably not suited for a camper bumper unless it’s heavily reinforced. Also it bent the top bars on the frames of 2 of our bikes. After twisting the bumper almost completely off of our camper and dragging the front tires off two of the bikes I and getting a different bike rack and rebuilding my camper bumper. This rack is best suited for a receiver hitch…H.c.8.

I wanted to love this bike rack. In the end, I returned it for a platform style rack. Specially the Kuat with extension piece. The platform rack can sit on my car the entire riding season. Where-as the Hangover is really big and gets in the way for daily activities. I drive an outback for reference for others.TahoeJake

Great, solid bike rack. Easy to install and at a good price. It does well on the highway and does not rattle or move. Highly recommendAnthony

Easy to mount and use. The tilt feature makes it very easy to open the tailgate when the rack is mounted. The clip system is also easy to use and the anti-sway feature for each bike keeps them quite secure.Mitchell W.

Bought this rack after I saw the killer deal compared to other racks. I was skeptical that I would get what I paid for but this rack has been terrific. High quality, easy to put together and it secures each bike at 3 points making it secure for highway and basic off-road travel. Holds 3 bikes easily, haven' tried 4 yet but it may be a bit difficult. Overall a really great rack!Fluffhead520

I've just used this just once but it worked very well with two bikes. There's plenty room for three bikes but four might be pushing it unless one of bikes is child size. Great product, great brand and the price was right!dbavoth1992

I was torn between the Yakima and the Thule, and based on reviews decided to try the Yakima. This bike rack is solidly built with no shake when mounted, looks great, and holds four bikes securely. Highly recommended.sgbwade

Dad purchased this about six months ago for the family bikes. At first it seemed great and appeared to hold the bikes well but just for a precaution we would lock a cable around the bikes Incase the rack were to fail the wouldn’t fly into someone’s windshield. Now looking back I am glad we did that. Yesterday while transporting my sisters bike($600 Brand new bike) about 5 miles to the local bike shop to get a tune up. about one mile in the bike fell off at 50mph. We noticed right away and stopped as soon as we could but we probably drug the bike 500 feet. Luckily we can out with about $100 in damage. In our case the wheel trays appeared to have slipped on a sharp turn causing the bike to fall about 1000 feet later while accelerating. This wasn’t operator error the bolts were right and the parts could slide freely. I would encourage you to spend more to get a rack that does what it claims. The bike is currently in the shop getting new grips, duralier hanger, duralier, and an extensive tune up. If an of our other bikes were on the rack we would have been spending a lot more money.ZachRL

We were a bit apprehensive at first, not necessarily with the bike trailer, but more or less with the 1.25 hitch that we had to opt for as the dealership misinformed us on the size of hitch compatible with outback.I am happy to report we have had no problems with the sturdiness of this bike trailer as we were afraid the 1.25 would result in a wobbly outcome. As other reviews mentioned the trailer itself was a bit difficult to assemble. However once assembled and loaded it was exactly what we needed. We are comfortably and securely able to load our 2 Trek bikes and have no problem with the arms or straps. The only complaint is the thickness of the pin used to lock the trailer to the hitch. Could use a better pin something a bit thicker and sturdier for it to feel very secure.JAAM

First off, I'll mention that assembly was a bit harder than I thought it would be. The long bolts connecting the two pieces of frame together took a bit of finesse (and a rubber mallet) to get them to slide in and line up properly. It helps if you take the part of the frame where they screw in (on the outer rail) off first and line that up separately. Once I figured that out, the rest was a breeze. I really like the ease of use with this thing – bikes go on and off in just minutes. Way easier than it used to be trying to squeeze them into my car. I also enjoy how light it is, and how quickly it comes on and off the hitch. Although the price is a bit high, it is well-made and worth it. Highly recommend.Nate

There are things I like about this rack, but I think it's quite overpriced for what it is. I found it easy to attach to the hitch and I like the overall design – the arms feel secure, I like being able to fold the rack easily, and it does hold my bike well. I was also able to use the farthest rack position as a makeshift bike stand while I did some work on the chain, which was handy since I don't have my own stand. However, for this price point, I expect more than to have to use my own cheap Velcro strap to secure a mountain bike with average/slightly wide tires. I'm not using some kind of niche fat or cargo bike here – why doesn't the Kuat come with an integrated, high-quality strap for this purpose or better yet, a design that doesn't require that extra step at all? I also find the ratchet strap for securing the rear tire to be poorly placed. You can't get the bike on the rack without crunching the strap down and having to yank it out from under the tire manually, which is definitely increasing wear and tear already. Finally, the lock that comes with the rack for securing the rack to the hitch felt very cheap and online reviews suggest it can be broken very easily (a problem when you live in a high-theft area, which is not Kuat's fault), but it did lead to an extra cost to buy a more secure lock. Long story short, I'm glad I have the rack and it gets the job done, but it's premium pricing for an average/good product. I can't give a 4 or 5 star review when the value is skewed like that. Highly recommend waiting until this goes on major sale.liz4500

Swivel didn't work to raise the rack, had to modify. No support from Discount ramps on matter either. Still going back and forth with manufacture. Spend the extra money and get something nice.Dustin

It takes a couple of second to unscrew the bike rack and swing it away. I don't mind it at all. When it swings open, it does so slowly stays in the open position. Using it in the world I haven't been worried that the arm might travel into the street or into a parked car. ,,,,My 1970's, Canadian, woman's road bike (which is worth less than a fourth of the bike rack) doesn't fit nicely on it. I guess that's to be expected. I flip my bike upside-down and get a fair mount that way.,,,,I have noticed a swing and bounce of the rack but not much. I also like the locking system that goes into the hitch, it gives me peace of mind.Andrew

Nice construction and feel, but it didn't work with our full-suspension mountain bikes. They sell the cross bars but we went with the T2 Pro.Motorcycle Mike

With the built in locks and stabilizers, tilt down features, this rack is beefy and more feature packed than the other popular brand. had to move from a 2 bike rack to a 4 bike for the family and this has been a solid performer.Myself

I have owned this product for less than one year. While I had to apply for two warranty claims during this time period that were both successfully granted, I applied for a third that was rejected rendering my rack unusable. The first claim was because the housing that holds one of the locking cables into the frame would pop out with a simple tug. While this part was replaced, this speaks to the overall quality of Saris' products. A would be bike thief could steal my bike with a simple tug! The second claim was because the central spine holding the bikes horizontal began drooping. Luckily I had the rack on a high clearance vehicle so the lowered height of the 4th bike was not too close to the road, but when there are $20k + worth of bikes "secured" by this rack, you don't want the structural integrity to be damaged and the bikes to be that much closer to the road. Again, the central spine was replaced but this does speak to the overall build quality of Saris' products, or lack thereof. My third claim has to do with the ratcheting mechanism that locks the arms in place at their correct angle so the clamps can secure the bike wheels. My ratchet teeth wore down rapidly (I have owned and used this product for less than 1 year) and no longer hold the arms in place. This means that the arms no longer hold a bike in place, as a side load such as one experience when a vehicle turns will cause the bike to move sideways and the arms will move with it. My warranty claim here has been rejected as the warranty does not cover wear and tear, despite my product lasting less than one year whereas the first line of the warranty reads, "Saris racks are built to last a lifetime, plain and simple". This is plainly, simply not the case.G

This was our first time with a hitch rack and we bought it before going on a cross-country trip this summer, so I was a bit nervous (don't know why). Well, some 6000 miles later I can happily say that I had nothing to be worried about. This is a fantastic rack! It's sturdy, can be assembled pretty easily, and the installation is relatively straightforward. It's not massively heavy, but it might be a bit awkward trying to manoeuver the rack into the receiver yourself. One person and some WD-40 can do it, but two people would make it easier. We had two kids' bikes, in addition to our adult bikes, and the straps for the wheel trays worked very well. As you might expect there is a little bit of time spent in determining the optimum positioning of the bikes and wheel trays, but once it's done, it's done! There are three great features to stress: First, the tilt-down pedal that allows you to tilt the rack down (with four bikes on it!) to gain access to the back of an SUV (we have a 2014 CX-5 with class III hitch); Second, the hitch pin screw and hitch lock are very good; Third, the empty rack can be folded up for storage. This last feature isn't made clear in any of the promotional material, so I was very happy to see that it can fold up for storage. The bike locks included are on the light side, so they're more of a mild deterrent, but they stow away nicely in the body of the rack. So, all in all, the rack is a great product. It is well worth it at the price listed, and it's a steal if you can get it cheaper (we were lucky to get it 20% off). I highly recommend it.GerryD

I can't say enough great things about this rack. I've used many brands at this point and this has been a favorite for a few reasons. 1. Design: The angled design is the easiest to reduce the overall size of the rack while also reducing the handlebar and saddle alignment that has been an issue with other racks. When not in use with bikes it is more compact that other 4 bike racks. 2. Installation: Because of the compact design and that the rack is lightweight made it easy to install and easy to move from vehicle to vehicle. We have 3 different vehicles that we use often and the rack gets used on the truck, the minivan and the Honda Element. 3. Made in USA: Price point is amazing for an made in USA product and is right in line with all the other 4 bike hitch racks on the market. Lower than others even. 4. Ease of adjustments: The tire trays are so easy to use and we love the two wheel capture design. If anything could be improved it would be that the cable locks could be a little longer because it can be difficult to get through the main part of the frame on our mountain bikes. However, I can easily connect it through the rear triangle, which is still secure. It would be rad if the rack was offered as a two bike rack with a two bike add on since there are times that I don't need all four spots. That said, the rack is still quite compact and I still think the 4 bike option is better than the other two bike with the add on feature. The first time I used the rack I was concerned because it was a different design than I was used to so I was a bit cautious. I was pleasantly surprised by how well this rack performed, especially after my initial concern. It's definitely been the easiest rack we have owned. We recently took the bikes on a long road trip, a 12 hour drive, and the bikes rode more securely and with the least movement we've ever experienced. The Wyman Cycling Family highly recommends this rack.Wyman Cycling Family

It’s a pain to load and unload more than 1 bike with this style rack. If you use it once a week, then it’s probably fine, but having to run the strap through the wheels and place the bikes so they don’t damage each other just takes too much time. Do your self a favor and just get a platform style rack if you are a frequent user. I finally broke down and did exactly that. Also don’t forget to take the pieces off that prevent the bikes from rocking if you drive with it unloaded or you will be ordering replacements very soon.Jp123

I just purchased a car with a trailer hitch and I was excited to finally use it. This bike rack was so easy to set up and use! Love it! Price was good and the extra space of the 4bike style make for easy usage and fitting our bikes. It is also not too heavy and was easy to install and remove all by myselfRenee

The rubber zips come loose easy and the things they lace through break. Bikes do not hold as securely as we hoped and we have to tie it on with many straps. We are looking for a replacement for our RV.Geof Gelina CLU

ordered his direct from Thule – waited weeks – finally called/emailed and they finally got back to me and said it was on back-order with no inbound date in sight – way to go!!! seems like everyone else has them except Thule themselves – not very smart productionTbellamy