Best Bike Rack For 4Runner (2024 Update)

User friendly and very well built. I would suggest this product for anyone who doesn't want hitch style system. Thank you for another good product.Jimbo

Just used it for the first time yesterday and it was exactly what I was looking for. One thing that drove me away from 5 stars was two days after the purchase Thule had it $50.00 cheaper online for a Memorial Day special. I called and asked if they would honor it, I got a no from customer service and they said maybe a bike store will honor it and you can buy it from them and send back the one you are receiving which was very unfortunate. Lastly, one thing I would have liked to see is maybe rubber pieces on the bottom of the product.Luke21

I finally got to use my Thule insta Gator bike rack and it worked like a dream. I have Chevy Colorado and had to secure the rear wheel in the bike rack with the front wheel turned to the side. Had no problem with bike fitting in the truck bed. I will put a strap across the bike frame next putting just for extra stability.Tone

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

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

It took about 10 minutes to put together. Adjusting left, right, turn the bikes around, adjusting again and again took some time to get them to fit without touching. This is not the fault of the bike rack, it's the bicycles. Save some time and put the rear tire of the inner bike to the far left. Then the rear tire of the outer bike to the far right and adjust. One 6 mm lock nut was missing on the underside of the tire restraint. This is my only reason for the 4 star rating. Believe it or not I found one at Lowes. Saris should check these before shipping! The rack is not super tight but does the job. It holds the bikes in place, no scratches or damage to the bikes. I set the center restraints on the bottom side of the down tube. This makes for very easy loading. I set the bikes in and they hold the bikes it in place while I set the straps. I really like the design of this rack with the center adjusting restraints. Very well engineered!!!RWild

I bought the Freedom 2-Bike hitch rack in October 2020 after researching other hitch rack options for fat tire bikes. I am very pleased with this purchase! The rack is lightweight, easy to install, and very easy to get the bikes on and off. You can't access your hatchback/truck while the bikes are on it, but that's not a big deal for me. However once you unload your bikes you can fold down the rack so you can access the trunk without having to remove it from the hitch! I ordered the hitch pin lock to go with it which works great and provides more security. I ordered the Freedom Fat Tire Wheel Trays and swapped them out on the bike rack. It came with just the standard wheel trays. The Fat Tire trays are wide enough to hold my fat tire bikes securely. I have two Trek Farley 5 bikes and they fit great on this rack. I drive a Subaru Forester. The price is very reasonable compared to other hitch racks on the market, plus it's made in the USA.Alaska Fat Biker

One annoying thing is the vertical bar does not hold vertical position when you are setting bikes on the rack. There is a spring loaded pin that is supposed to keep it in place but that pin does not penetrate the hole enough to hold so its not a great design and its non functional. It looks pretty sloppy when not full of bikes but I cant imagine what would be a remedy for that. I did have a bag custom made to cover it up when not in use and it helps clean it up. To its credit it holds my fat and my wifes electric bikes securely even on the 1 1/4 inch hitch, I lost a $2k bike off the back of my car last year with a cheap rack, and decided to get something more secure and this fits the bill.Mike

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

Bought this a couple months ago, one of the parts (the lock for the hitch) was not machined properly, so I had to call Thule to sort it out. After a short phone call, a week or so wait, I got the part and was able to use it on a regular basis. Good customer service. This works well, some parts seems cheap due to the plasticy nature, but it is holding up well. I put this on a Ford Ranger, which is what they recommended, but when I open the tailgate it hits the rack, even when I have the rack at the lowest setting where it should be out of the way. I also like that Thule gave me time to use the carrier before asking me to review. So many companies ask for a review the day you receive it.Zappafeld

I was going to do a car top bike holder on my Thule roof rack but with an SUV, that just seemed like it would be tough with a large bike. Went with this instead. Fairly simple to put together and holds the bikes really well. As someone else said in a video, the locking mechanisms for the bikes themselves could be removed (while locked) by someone with an Allen wrench, but it’s a deterrent, not a fail safe. Don’t leave bikes unattended for long. The locking mechanism for the rack to the hitch, however, is solid. No easy way to get past that so I don’t worry about the rack disappearing overnight, even parked on the street. One negative with Thule, though, is their utterly abysmal customer support. I lost my keys on the first ride. That meant I couldn’t even remove the rack from the hitch. There was no way for me to be sure what kind of key I needed because the Spare parts page doesn’t list it. I emailed and waited. And waited. 8 days later, I got an email response. REI had already helped me out, thankfully, with their set of master keys and advice how to order a new set. But if you need help, CALL Thule. Don’t bother emailing unless you want ti feel ignored for over a week.Dando

Bought it for a move across country, and it held up through all the bumps and curves. It did the job, although it is one of the cheaper racks – so you get what you pay for. Has some plastic components and the way the arms work sometimes gets frustrating. The plastic ratchet straps are a bit long for road bike tires and feel a little cheap, but otherwise it has all the features you need. Locks, hitch lock, etc.emilyrockies

I needed a hitch rack for my 2012 Prius V ants after much searching and blog reading I decided to find the Beta-2. Luck would be on my side and I found the rack at a great price at OutdoorPlay. Shipped free and got it quickly. The Beta-2 works great , easy to use,store, and solid. Never knew of Kuat before this but I would recommend them to anyone looking for this type of bike rack.Tracy

Well built, nicely coated, no wiggle! Drove two bikes from NJ to NC with zero concern. I would strongly suggest other buying this bike rack – read a robust review from switch back travel and trusted other purchases based on their reviews and am incredibly pleased. Please note this bike mount has a hitch stabilizer so the whole rack keeps secure.Kelly

The rack was easy to assemble and the bikes went on easy as well. The rack looks great and is lightweight. I have not taken the bikes for a drive yet but look forward to doing so.Bryan

I purchased this rack, and after assembling it, I discovered that I can’t insert my locking pin into the receiver. Kuat offset the hole so the rack can fit into either a 1-1/4” or 2” receiver. You have to use the pin that comes with the rack, but you can’t lock the rack into the receiver. They give you a cable lock to lock your bike to the rack, but without a way to lock the rack to the receiver, a thief can just remove the rack, and a bike if it’s on the rack. What an idiotic system. I’m not a big fan of Yakima because their overpriced and the quality has gone downhill, but at least their adapter collar allows their 1-1/4 rack to properly fit into a 2” receiver so you can lock the bike rack into the receiver. You’re better off buying a Yakima.RadBean

I drove 200 miles to pick up my Transfer V2 two bike rack for my Prius, so I needed the 1.25-2" shank. There was one left, being held for me which was good service by REI. Upon returning home and assembling the rack (the instructions are good so it is easy, though takes time) I discovered that the shank, which is the male end that slides into the receiver hitch, was 2" and not what the box said. I called Kuat and explained the problem to Angela in customer service. She's sharp and grasped the problem, saying that somehow the incorrect rack was put in the box and she would have the correct shank sent overnight, not the usual "you should receive the package in two to three weeks" from too many companies, while you do without whatever it is. This was astoundingly great service from Kuat and by Angela. She is obviously a 'people person', as had been other customer service reps at Kuat when I had called for rack advice previously. Not just polite, but happily volunteering information and advice, no doubt reflecting management and owners. I chose the Transfer V2 on the advice of a Kuat rep and am very happy with it. The build quality is good, it is easy to use, and the built-in system to stabilize the rack in the hitch works solidly. I once owned a bike shop and have had numerous racks over the years, so have experience. I highly recommend this rack for a person who doesn't, for some reason, need the features of one of the other Kuat racks, but if they do choose another model I'm sure they will be just as happy.LouisG

Bought this today thinking I would be able to use it this weekend. One of the front tire cradle bolts was cross threaded when trying to tighten the puck. Called support and they were very responsive. A replacement cradle assembly and hardware is on its way. Also noticed rust coming out of the non-locking end on the U arm. Quite disturbing considering I’ve paid for a brand new unit in a sealed box. QC must have missed this one completely and wonder about factory’s storage (outdoors?). Non-locking end cap also broke at the screw hole as I tried to make it fit onto the U arm. Extremely tight fit. Not a pleasant assembly experience, and must say I enjoy putting IKEA products together!SignalCPT

Hands down best bike rack out right now. Had the little rinky horizontal models which never lasted. This one is the real deal it is built to last and the pedal brings it to you so if you are shorter it makes it easier to load/unload. Build quality is another talking point this bad boy is tough. I would buy again in a heartbeat great investment.Danny

Built it and tightened everything up but it's still very wobbly. The center mast sags and moves way too much. The holders interfere with my bike frame. Had to return it.Joseph Oshman

We got our T2 Pro X a couple of months ago after getting a carbon frame mountain bike that couldn't be safely put on our old hanging rack. This rack is perfect for both our mountain and road bikes! Features I love: – Locks to hitch – Folds up out of the way when not in use – Easy to remove and stow in the garage – Folds down for rear hatch access with bikes loaded – Option to use the add on for increased capacity Features that need improvement: – Added lock cores to swing arms for bike security, but realized that it would still be really easy to steal a bike off the rack, so always add an extra lock. (only reason for four stars)JMag

I bought this bike rack with the 2-bike add on, and there are some things you should know before you do the same. Unless you're a big fan of Ikea furniture, in which case you'll be fine. 1) It's heavy. Like, really heavy. I ended up buying a wheel to fasten on the bottom so I could roll it around. If I had to do it over I'd spend the extra $250 to get the XTR, which already has a wheel installed. But it was such a pain to put it together I don't want to take it apart to return. If you have the four-bike set up, you need at least another person to move it around. 2) It's poorly engineered. As in, bolts don't line up with pre-drilled holes and key pieces are made of plastic. I stripped a couple of bolts and had to go buy extra because it doesn't come with extra hardware – I mean, for $1450… why would it? 3) The instructions are next-level terrible. I mean, when I finally gave up and Googled a 'how to' video, the first thing the person said was. "The instructions are terrible." Also there isn't an XT video anywhere to be found — just XTR. So prepare to take things apart and put them back together through trial and error. 4) If you're buying this rack because you want the flexibility to go between 2- and 4-bike set-ups… don't. Once it's set up for four bikes, it doesn't go back to two. I'm waiting for the kids to move out then I'll convert it just the one time. Now the positive… 1) The ability to stabilize and lock the rack on the hitch is a nice feature. Although the lock on the hitch also falls into the 'poorly engineered' category. I'm fairly sure it will stop working at one point and it'll be locked onto my vehicle. 2) The bikes are nicely spaced apart. And it's fairly easy to get in and out of the rear door without taking the bikes off. Bottom line, if you're looking for a 4-bike option that you put on your vehicle in the spring and leave it on until the fall, then this is an option for you. However if you're looking for something that installs easily, can go from 2 to 4 bikes, and doesn't take 4 hours to put together (counting buying the extra parts) — then keep looking my friends.MarkB

I've only had this bike rack for a few weeks and it's been perfect for us. Our hitch on an SUV didn't have room for a lock cylinder so the hook lock worked great. The bikes are se ure when mounted and easily moved out of the way to access the back of the vehicle. I bought a big cable to lock the bikes to the rack. Even if the rack came with little locks (it doesn't) I would still use the cable.Doc5605

We’ve used this rack through two seasons of kids MTB racing and family rides. One season on a pickup and one on a mid-size SUV. As mentioned in other reviews, it barely fits 4 bikes, and they really need to be just the right size and frame shape. Probably 4 road bikes with flat top tubes fit best. In the real world, we barely squeeze 3 MTBs (S, M & L) onto it, but must carefully wrap forks and chainstays with homemade pool noodle foam and Velcro to prevent damage from vibration, etc.. And you need to buy Yakima’s top-tube bridge things if you have any kind of funky top-tube or tight frame size. Top-tube/bridge and seat post are held securely in place by Yakima’s provided loose plastic clips which can be easy to misplace. The rack does swing away nicely from even a dropped pickup tailgate, but you must unscrew the swing securing bolt each time you need access to the rear and redo it once closed. Hitch fit is pretty good and seems more dependent on small hitch receiver variations than the rack itself. Some minor fading of the plastic parts after 18 months outside. Metal parts are still glossy and nice. Overall, this is really an OK rack for occasional 3 bike family use, especially if you’re not fussy about your bikes. A 3-4 bike family with higher end bikes will probably want to look elsewhere. I’m probably moving on to a 4-bike tray rack.YetiEvo

This is not a 4 bike rack. I tried to fit 4 mountain bikes on it and there is no way to get all 4 on. I was able to cram 3 bikes on, though I had to remove 2 of the front tires to do so. Also one of the bikes we had would not fit on the rack at all, even by itself. It is a standard Trek mountain bike but I could not get the frame over the rack arms. I thought maybe if I added a top bar to the bike that would work, but it did not. The arms are too thick to fit. Actually it is the holder for the bikes that is too big to fit through the frame. Overall this was a huge disappointment. On the plus side, the swing arm does work well. I did have to get a drop hitch extension to make it work on my Jeep though, because the spare tire would hit the rack. If you are looking for a 4 bike rack, do not buy this one.Gregrm

The rack is strong, and quite heavy, which I hope means it will last long. I bought it for my Silverado 2500 truck which has a 2.5 inch hitch, thinking that I would mount the rack in a reducer sleeve in the hitch. However, the rack is solid, with no hole for a pin and the sleeve requires a pin to stay in place. I solved using a hitch extension/drop inside the sleeve and mounting the rack to the extension/drop. It all works fine, but important to know if you have a hitch receiver larger than 2 inches.Nhaf

Seemed like the perfect solution to being able to load my bike without assistance, but its design flaw proved too big a hurdle, so I returned it.
First, the ramp is too narrow to accommodate my Townie ebike’s wide wheel base comfortably. Second, you must have the space on either side of your car to insert the ramp, which required shuffling cars around in my own driveway and made me realize it may not be possible once I take it to my final destination to ride.

Once I loaded the bike and it was time to unload it, it was discovered it was impossible to roll it forward, as the instructions stated, because the pedal can’t clear the center stabilizer pole, nor can the pole be folded down with a bike in place, again because of the pedal. That means you have to roll the bike backwards.

Then I decided to see if I could lift the bike and load it without the ramp in the event there wasn’t room for the ramp. I’m an older woman with limited strength, which is precisely why this rack appealed to me. I managed to lift it and even reached the inside base of the rack. But once the bike was in place, it was impossible to raise the stabilizer pole. Okay, take two. Removed it, raised the pole, tried to lift it and place it around the pole. While perhaps not impossible for somebody, it was for me because I didn’t have the strength to maneuver around the pole. It was quite awkward. My wife, who is a bike enthusiast and does have adequate strength, wasn’t able to maneuver the bike around the pole either.

A less important but annoying feature is the way you fold the rack down to gain access to the hatch is by pulling a knob out which is located behind and under the rack. I found the location to be awkward compared to other racks I’ve used.

It was determined that this bike rack was inadequate for my needs, and we returned it to the store the very same night that we bought it. I am extremely disappointed. A few modifications to the design could make this rack not only adequate but so unique it would could be a game changer. Instead, it’s a piece of junk, in my opinion.Jennifer Bonfilio

I have a Yakima On-Ramp, and honestly, I'm extremely disappointed with it. I have 3 bikes…2 ebikes, and a Specialized Stumpjumper Mountain Bike (non Electric), and this OnRamp only fits 1 of my 3 bikes. It really does not fit any tire more than 2 inches, its only designed for smaller ebikes, and the ramp width is not long enough to have both tires resting on the ramp. The straps are a joke, and must order longer straps, which are not even available. Any longer straps available from Yakima are not compatible with this terrible product. This product is okay if you are transporting smaller bikes, but medium to large bikes, they simply will not fit. I don't understand how the engineers at Yakima did not think of mountain bike transport or bikes with larger tires. I'm so disappointed with this product and Yakima in general (This is my first Yakima purchase), that after my trip, I plan to sell this and replace it with a better product. On a scale of 1 to 5 stars, sadly, I have to give it 1 star and would never recommend this to any of my friends. Yes, its well built and sturdy, but kinda useless too, but I should not have to use third party rachet straps to secure bikes to this ramp when paying $650 for it. It is very easy to use though if you have the right size bike.Mikefly562

I chose this tray rack for its ability to carry a bike with a 50" wheelbase. It does that, to the millimeter. Competing racks that were any shorter, or did not state wheelbase in their descriptions, were not in the running. The loading tray is nice for heavier bikes like my wife's ebike. Once you've got the bikes strapped on, they are very secure. Cons: The rack is not particularly easy to use. For the bike closest to the car, the pole is in the way of the handlebars if you roll the bike forward onto the tray. Or the pole is in the way of the pedal if you roll the bike backward. If the rack is in its normal driving position, you can't tilt the bike away from the pole because the bars hit the car. If the rack is tilted down, you can't use the loading tray. So I load the bike with the pole down, but another person is required to raise the pole since releasing the locking pin and raising the pole needs two hands. The clevis pin aka "pull pin" that you insert to secure the rack in the up or down position is problematic. Its spring-loaded retaining ball is difficult to start through the hole in the rack. When putting the pin in, it is difficult to know whether it's stuck because the holes in the two parts of the rack are not lined up perfectly or whether you're fighting the ball and need to whack the pin harder. When pulling the pin out, I have to pull it so hard that it comes out suddenly and I can't help jerking it against the little keeper cable that prevents losing it. In fact the first time I pulled the pin out I broke the ridiculous plastic fastener that attached the cable to the hitch. Fortunately I was able to replace the broken plastic thingy with a stainless bolt and nut. A final complaint is while driving, the pin works out of the hole until stopped by the retaining ball. I do not find this reassuring. When the rack is folded up on a car with a tailgate, you can't open the tailgate without lowering the rack. So you have to go through the struggle with the clevis pin to put the rack down and then to put it back up. If you have bikes on the rack and want to lower the rack to access the car, good luck. As the instructions warn, the loaded rack is very heavy. I can only recommend this rack if you absolutely need to carry a bike with a 50" wheelbase.billthebikecat

Just got this rack to give as a gift, but I put it together and have mounted and tested it, and the Transfer V2 reflects all the qualities that I've experienced with Küat products. I already have two Küat racks (NV 2.0 and old-style Sherpa), plus a roof basket (Vagabond X), and even some other Küat stuff like the bottle-cage locks ( a great and handy product, and all of mine still work beautifully). Everything I've ever gotten from them has proven to be the most innovative products on the market, well-designed, and built with the highest degree of quality and durability. I don't even bother to look elsewhere for racks – They're simply the best by every measure. Even on those rare occasions when I've had to seek support for a product, their help has been exactly on target, and the people whom I've talked to have always been super friendly and have gotten whatever I needed to me right away – So in addition to everything else I've mentioned, even their customer service in my experience is unexcelled. The rack I use depends on the bikes I'm carrying. So I use my Küats to carry everything from road bikes to a Stumpjumper 650B fatty to a 29er hardtail to Specialized Jett 20" kids bikes, handsome others in between… My racks are the quickest and simplest to mount and use, the sturdiest, and the most secure under all conditions, from highway to rugged 4WD off-road, for any bikes I want to carry. Period.Richard K

Had this rack for about a month. We use it daily to transport our bikes to safe riding locations. I had been looking for a 3 bike rack and having no luck…till I stumbled on this rack at Moosejaw. This thing is a beast. I love how it folds out of the way, securely holds the bikes and zero play in the hitch. Highly recommend!Travis

Purchased the Transfer V2 in May as i wanted a rack for the back of our Airstream that was rated for RV use that I could transfer to my truck when I got to camping locations. Previously had a rack that the bicycles hung from the crossbar. This rack really locks the bikes down and limits movement while traveling. Also the cam lock works well in that there is no movement in the rack once it is torqued down to 18 ft-lbs. Have traveled over 4000 miles and have had no problems. Well made rack. Highly recommendBy Gerry

So far so good with this rack. I bought it to carry two eBikes. While pricey, it seemed to be the most secure and easy to use heavy-duty rack on the market.Matt M

Nicest rack I have encountered. Superb design and quality. Assembly was first-grader simple. Unfortunately it did not work well with our Lectric XP 2.0 bikes because of the racks and fenders and it was returned. If you have fenders make sure the arms will work on your bikeAlan J

I have owned many bike racks and without a doubt this is best one ever. It is very well designed and manufactured. When I get both bikes on, I feel confident they are firmly attached and I don't find myself always looking in the rear view mirror to see if they have been misaligned by the wind and bumps. The bikes, while close to one another, do not rub or bump into one another which is another great feature. I wish I had learned about this rack years ago. As testimony to how well made and designed it is, I was reinstalling our bikes after a ride when I noticed a fellow rider watching me. He came over when I was done and said he had been watching me and was impressed with how easily I installed both bikes. He looked it over and how firmly they were attached and said "this is what I have been looking for forever!" Yep, I know exactly what you mean I said…j.a.

This item has been reviewed a lot and most of what's out there is true. 1.) It's well made and sold at a reasonable price, especially when compared with the bike shop brands. I checked out all the other similarly priced racks, and this one has the best combination of features: straps to hold bike wheels, anti-wobble pin, ratcheting vertical arms. As others have noted, the raised wheel wells improve ground clearance. There are a few reviews that I think are off base, though. Some have complained about excess sway, and I'm pretty sure that what's really going on there is that the supplied allen screws and lock washers are not being tightened all the way. You're not going to be able to get them tightly fastened using the supplied allen wrench. It's too short to really torque down on it. I found that tightening those down hard (using a pipe or something to get more leverage) and using the anti-wobble pin supplied with the rack does the job very well. Second, there are complaints about the rack not having a locking mechanism. I've been using bike racks for 35 years and have never had one that had a locking mechanism. The things are designed to CARRY bikes, not stop someone from stealing them. Solution? Get a cable lock and lock your bike frames to your trailer hitch. If you're a biker you probably already have a lock anyway. If not, you can get one for about $13. Overall, I'm very happy to own this rack, and am very pleased with the price, too.t.

As an avid cyclist, I wanted to purchase a bike rack that would make me feel good about the securement of my expensive road bike when transporting from one place to the next. It was also important for me to break free from the traditional racks that allow your front wheel to spin free while driving potentially damaging your vehicle or the bike. While the price was fair, some of the things I have noticed that need improvement or should have been included in that price point are as follows: – The two bolts that secure the bottom frame to the upward arm while tightened and secured per the directions still allows for significant play of your bike when hitting bumps. Doesn't exactly give me the "warm and fuzzies" while in transit. – The bars that go into the hole to secure the wheel rests and prevent the arms from moving are sometimes difficult to get in and require wiggling the rack to fit perfectly. They have already started rusting after two months of limited usage which is not acceptable for paying $200 for a rack. -The manufacturer should consider putting some kind of cushion or padding on the elbows that secure the frame of your bike in. Otherwise, you're inviting your expensive carbon bike to get scratched, dented or worse. I was able to remedy this by affixing pipe insulation, although this is not the most attractive thing and I feel should be remedied by the manufacturer. I would welcome hearing from the manufacturer.R.M.B.

I chose this rack primarily for 3 reasons: 1) ability to take bikes of all flavor without adapters; 2) holding bike without touching frame or fork; 3) foldability of trays providing easy trunk access for my dogs. The rack delivers on all three very well, better than any competitor. However, the rack is not perfect (what is?). The construction quality is not up to the standards of Kuat, nor is the tool-free tightening method. The Kuat I could have on and off in less than 30 seconds, with the Saris and the pin tightening approach, it takes much longer. I used to take the Kuat on and off, but with the Saris it's too much of a pain and I just leave it on. Durability of the rack is also not as good as the Kuat. It's a mixture of painted aluminum and painted steel, and the paint is not very durable on either one. Saris has been nice about replacing parts that start to look old, but I'd much rather avoid the waste and the hassle and have a rack that continues to look good without having to resort to such things. I also had an issue in the winter where snow/salt got into one of the mechanisms and prevented the arm from locking in place. Luckily this happened between rides, and not during a drive to ride – I could take it apart in my garage and clean it out, which took 20 minutes, but got it working again – had it happened on a drive to the trailhead, I'm not sure I could have gotten the (second) bike home again.PDSM

I’ve used this a bunch of times and it is easy to load. It went on easily and has remained rock solid in the hitch, virtually no wiggle at all. Every piece of it is engineered well and overbuilt. I feel completely confident hauling bikes around. Love the built in locks as well.ddburke207

We have two KBO e-bikes (about 58 pounds each with batteries removed) and have used the Thule rack for long (500+miles) and short (in-town) hauls. The professional installer of our hitch gave us a hands-on tutorial of how the EasyFold rack works, which was really helpful. We were novices at bike racks, but after just a few uses, we're now confident and proficient. I appreciate the ramps, but generally don't use them because it's simply easier to lift our bikes into place on the rack. We know exactly where to position the arms and place the pedals for easy tie-down. The bikes are really secure when put properly into place with the arm clamps and tire straps. The rack folds easily for storage, either in the back of our Honda CRV or in our small apartment. When folded, the wheels on the rack are a nice touch to use rather than carrying. We love the ability to lock the arms and hitch in place for security when parked. This rack was a great purchase for us.Orange Crush

Bought this because it is rated for the weight of e-bikes and one of the few racks that can handle a heavy bike with fenders. But the rack is awkward. Even though the clamps can move around the inverted-U-shaped mount, the rigid arm of the clamp doesn't offer enough mounting options on the bike frame — especially if your e-bike has a thick down-tube. If you have water bottle holder(s), a pump, or any other accessories mounted in the internal triangle of the bike (e.g., on the downtube or seat tube), it will interfere with positioning the clamps. This difficulty is compounded when trying to carry two bikes that have accessories mounted in the internal triangle. This rack has some cool design features. But it lacks the kind of flexibility that an over-the-tire clamp can offer fender-less bikes. It is the best rack out there I can find for an e-bike. But this is not the nicest rack I've ever used.HelmetHead

I purchased this rack from REI 2 years ago. Rack itself was at least $100 less and believe that I was able to apply a 20% coupon as well. Cannot believe that this thing now costs $800. Have carried multiple mountain bikes (fat bikes as well) on the highway and never had any concerns with safety of bikes. Integrated locks are nice for quick security while car in driveway, use heavier cable when travelling. I'm a fairly strong guy, and carrying this from my garage to car is a bit of a challenge – this thing is awkward to carry and pretty darn heavy. I have some friends with the 1UP rack which used to be a more expensive option, looks like it's actually now less expensive given the price increase of this Thule. I'd check that out instead.joebloe

I bought this rack recently because I was not satisfied with my previous hanging rack. This rack is very solid construction and works very well for ease of loading bikes. I like the locking cable feature and also the fact that all parts are connected and no loose parts to get lost. All articulating connections work well. Cons- this rack is heavy at 53 pounds. It does have wheels to help transport it from car to shed, but the issue is picking it up to align it with the receiver. The tolerances are very tight, and even after filing the edges of my receiver and guessing both ends of receiver and bike hitch, I still have difficulty aligning hitch and pushing it into receiver. Once it is started, it goes okay, but I think this takes above average strength to manipulate this. My wife is not able to do it. Other than this minor inconvenience, I would give it 5 starsChuck 61

If you have 2 bikes, want to get them on and off your vehicle quickly, and also want them to stay secure on your car without the rack jostling around when off-road, then i think that this is the best rack out there. I have not tried other racks, but I have noticed how much otherws move around while people are driving, and that makes me soooo unsettled. I have dirven way too fast on dirt roads, taking corners with aggression, and i look in my rearview, and there is no jiggle. I have a road bike and a mtb. The one piece with multiple molds front tire holder is really well made so i can put road or mtb on either one without any fussing. The rack is also designed to prevent over-tightening, which would hurt the raack and my wheel. Speaking of wheels, it has wheels on it, so when i take the rack out of my garage to bring to my car, I can just roll it which saves my back. To sum it up, the rack is OBSESSIVELY designed. If you are a believer in the "buy once cry once" mantra, and geek out on features then I would recommend. If you just want something for your old hybrid, then maybe consider something cheaper. Cons: when front tire bar is recessed, it sits over the handle to bring the rack up or down. I try to just leave the bar an inch above, and it stays where I put it. This solves the problem, but I am a gear head so I complain 😉 It is also heavy, which I dont notice much, but its the price you pay for a lifelong tool. Lastly, it can be a tad awkward getting the rear wheel situated without putting it on top of the plastic buckle (the thing with the teeth.) I also fear that this piece is just plastic, and gets pulled around pretty hard, so I fear it will break over time. Also, the little pad on itto protect the wheel is awkward to align bc the buckle moves as it gets tighter. Maybe just a a longer protective piece would work better?By Seth

Thule has never let me down and still holds the standard. This rack is solid, stable, and secure. Easy to assemble. Love the locks on the clamps – i don't see how a thief could get my bikes or the whole rack. So much easier loading and securing especially after a long ride when I am already tired. A short lift and clamp it down with no worries about my partner's bike scratching up mine. Since some of my bikes have fenders, I chose the rack that clamps onto the top tube – and these clamps even adjust to slants. Two heavier trail bikes even traveled safely – no wheels spinning in the air or rack bobbing up and down. There is some side to side bobble on rougher roads and I wish Thule would design a support washer/nut for the other side of the hitch bolt. The adapter for a 2" is good but does allow a little play in the movement while traveling. This rack is going to last me for a long time!!Annie M.

Bought this a month ago and love it so far! It was a bit complicated to set up when looking at the included instructions- I recommend looking at the many online tutorials instead. It's a bit bulkier than other platform racks but can hold fat tires. I like that the frame can be locked, and that the rack lock is also included.Skithetrees

used the thule bike rack about 6 times so far. went to nearby bike trails, lanesboro, etc. like the rack very much. easy to put on & take off. same goes for bikes. solid construction. holds bikes very well. no movement or swaying. very easy to work with. would recommend highly.coots

This carrier makes it as easy as possible to get a heavy mountain bike on top of the car, because of the fork mount. Unlike older models or adapters, this mount does not force the user to balance the bike before locking it down. Thanks to the included adapter, I can use one carrier for both the mountain bike and the road bike. Not recommended for carbon frames!Elizabeth