Best Bike Rack For Heavy Electric Bikes (2024 Update)

These are good for bikes that don't have pannier fittings (like my cannondale bad boy). This is my second one. The first one failed at the weld between the seat post connector and the beam, which resulted in the pannier falling into my back wheel and me coming to a sudden unplanned stop. I do load up my bags, but only with clothes and food so it wouldn't have exceeded its weight limit. They also have a tendency to rotate on the seat post unless your have them done up very tight. Despite their flaws, when rack mounts are not available on your bike frame, these are pretty good and the topeak bags that slide into them are excellent.Tom N.

This item was purchased in good faith based on an image and based on advice from a Pushy’s store that did not have stock. The item was completely unsuitable for the Giant bike I had previously purchased from the same store. The easy returns claim is misleading. I could not return the item physically to the Canberra store and was told I’d have to freight it to Brisbane. The cost to do so was approaching 50% of the purchase price. So I can’t return the brand new packaged item. My fault in all this was accepting Pushy’s staff advice on product selection. Why I couldn’t surrender this item physically I don’t know. The cost penalty for returning an item to Pushy’s is just ridiculous. I just cannot recommend Pushy’s online ordering and won’t be using Pushy’s online ordering ever again. The product itself is great. It just won’t work on my softail Giant frame I was told it would. This is a good example of why online ordering is too risky – $100 + thrown away.Stephen S.

I recently bought a new carbon framed hybrid bike to commute to work. Being carbon framed it lacks the usual pannier rack mount points of the alloy framed bikes, however I needed some way to carry lunch and cloths to and from work (I did not like the idea of a ruck sack on my back as I sweat a lot when cycling). My previous bike had a seat post mounted pannier rack which doubled up as a D loop bike lock, so I was on the hunt for something similar. I failed to find such a lock-come-pannier rack so went into Evans to see what they had as finding a usable solution was the final go-no-go for the carbon bike purchase. While there I was pointed towards the Topeak Quick Release Beam Rack (E type for medium frames). The rack looked sturdy and well made and had a neat quick release for a Topeak bag. As it happens I did not buy the Topeak bag as it was very expensive and in my opinion not as good as the FWE Top Rack Pack I bought instead. Fitting the rack on my bike was simple. All you need to do is see which combination of rubber packers to use for your seat post diameter. It is worth noting that although my frame is carbon the seat post is alloy and so there is no issue clamping this rack to the post. I would not personally recommend using this with a carbon post as the clamping method is inevitably going to squeeze the tube with most force applied to the front and back, which may cause it to crush in the long run. In use the rack is excellent. It seems light but strong, easily supporting the FWE Top Rack Pack bag I bought. The FWE bag does not feature the quick release slider which the rack uses, but this is not a problem as the Velcro straps it does have fit easily around the Topeak rack which is wide enough to secure the bag without wobbling. The rack also has a luggage strap but I have not tried that yet. The rack features a reflector at the back which can be removed and replaced for a bike light clip, which is what I have done for my Smart Lunar R2 rear light. This is much more secure than the loops which most bags tend to have. If I had to find any cons, and this is being a little picky and probably not really the racks fault, but I do notice that when my bag is loaded up and so relatively heavy, you can feel a little resonance through the bike when going over rough roads, presumably as the rack and bag vibrate up and down, their momentum being enough to affect the otherwise light frame of the bike. This only occurs on one short stretch of road and for the vast majority of my journey I would not even know the rack and bag was there. Definitely recommended for frames without pannier mounts, though I would not necessarily recommend buying the matching Topeak bag.MikeTheTv

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.

This is a great bike rack. Its sturdy, easily mounted on my roof rack(Thule style rectangular cross bars). It was about $50 including shipping. Its for an older bike without quick disconnect wheels or brakes so putting the bike inside the truck was ridiculous. I installed it in about 25 minutes including assembly. It did require a wrench to make sure the lock nuts were tight but mounting it didnt require any tools, its a great deal!skynrd.ds2

It does actually work! It definitely looks and kinda feels cheap but for like 40 bucks, it will do! I was a bit confused on installing it but after I figured out what I was really doing it was a piece of cake! I kinda was hoping it was going to be easy on easy off but I probably won’t be removing it off the car unless I absolutely have to. As for putting my bike on there it’s actually pretty easy, the lock for the bottom bar of the bike is a bit tricky/ flimsy But it does work and keeps the bike in place. I have a 2019 27.5 giant mountain bike so it barely fits on the rack and the front tire I can not lock down with the added straps. The back one straps down but not the front. It was an easy fix to correct that, I just found a long strap that will work for now. So far it works well and keeps the bike mostly in place, I’m a bit paranoid about it since I have had a kayak fall from the top roof of the car when I was driving once. The last thing I wanna say is that I’m afraid of going super fast with it but so far I have reached speeds up to 50-55mph and it doesn’t feel any different from just driving the car without the bike on top! Just did like 80-90 mph with the bike on since I went to a bike park at a ski resort. So I say money well spent!!!G.

Fairly simple to assemble and install. One critical point is that the center support device comes with a 7 x 5/16th inch bolt that limits the width of the down tube of the bike which, in turn, limits its ability to accommodate some bikes. That is easily remedied buy replacing it was an 8 x 5/16th inch bolt found at any hardware store.Keith

The bike rack itself is perfectly fine. Im using it on a long road trip now, and its very sturdy and stable, very easy to attach to the hitch and mount bikes. Mine came slightly used, though, as the box clearly had been opened and then taped shut. The rack had slight indications of usage, like some rubbed off paint on the cradles, minor scratches on the cradle arms, and a couple of small gouges on the back of the main body of the rack where the hitch arm folds up. Because I was leaving on a trip soon after the rack arrived and needed it, I didnt have time to return it and wait for a new one. It really didnt warrant me returning the rack anyway, and its worked out great so far. Rack Attack should have informed me they were sending a slightly used rack, though, and asked me if I was ok with it. I would have been, but I would have expected a little bit of a discount. They didnt give me that option.CuteChipmunk-83748

Purchased this 4-bike rack from local store after spending few days reading reviews on REI and Amazon. PROS: Bike Rack comes fully assembled (1) and plastic straps holding bikes really well (2). CONS: Very Heavy rack, My wife could not deal it. Even for me that wan no fun to deal with (1). When installed and locked with the key, it wobbles pretty bad in the hitch, that didn't make me feel safe at all (2). While unlocking was easy, lock hitch assembly fell out as it get disconnected from the hitch insert. Also, when I pull the rack out of the hitch, bottom plastic handle just fell off (1). Nor sure if my rack was a lemon, but it is going back to the store.Alex

I purchased this rack to help with bike outings with friends and to facilitate moving. I like most parts such as the tool-less locking and folding concepts, but wish there were locking points for a cable to secure bikes. Fitting the bikes just right is a pain, once you figure it out you have to remember the order and orientation of bikes or you'll re-do that process… If there was some play in the contact points to gain space between frames that could improve everything, but I heard it was designed out to avoid slip. Because of the folding design tolerances, there are a few inches of play at highway speeds that you have to learn to be okay with. Ultimately I had issues with clearance (protective shark fin constantly bottoming out) and the threaded wedge system being unable to loosen, so I returned the unit and would consider a similar style. This works best if you need the possibility of 4 bikes, but probably use 2-3, and you also want to remove the rack from your car often.David

Good: Looks stylish (my opinion, subjective) Holds the bike very well if used correctly. Fast bike install ONCE you get used to it. Bad: If you don't have a Thule set of cross bars you need to buy T Bolts for your model unless you use the over clamps. The over clamps can and probably will scratch your cross bars. The T bolts for my car that Thule recommended had to come from a dealer in Europe and could not be shipped to the US. I will keep looking and hope to find them. I am using the over clamps at the moment that are all metal, for a metal on metal fit. I am not sure why the insides are not lined with a non marring material like rubber. It is possible for the two bars to not click together which could lead to a less secure holding of the front wheel. I double checked and found this condition and reinstalled. Very important to listen for the click. If a person is in a hurry or in a loud area its possible to install the bike incorrectly. Best to visually check to assure the pin is in the groove/ Takes a little getting used to. Not intuitive. Easy once you get used to it. Not the easiest to get your bike into but to be fair This is my first roof rack. My SUV is not tall but I need a step ladder. The lock for the bike to the rack needs to be purchased separately. The lock for rack to the cross bar needs to be purchased separately.By Pat

Since, we have Aeroblade/Wingbar Evo bars for our vehicles already, we didn't want to go to a hitch rack. We were originally looking at the drop wheel roof racks, but we ended up choosing this one instead, since we don't have quick release axles on our bikes. It was really easy to install the bike racks onto the bars – they slide onto the bars with the T-nuts and then put back on the end caps. We found them really quick & efficient to load/unload bikes onto the Upride racks & locking them to the rack. We drove almost 2000 kms in sun, rain, and headwind with 2 Upride racks and 2 gravel bikes attached on this trip on a sedan.JoL99

We have two fatties (a Motobecane and a Farley 5) and I'd been using hitch rack from which the bikes hang. The problem was that the bikes would swing and sometimes work their way out of the top clamp. That's a problem on a highway. This new rack is fantastic. The hitch mount includes a screw-in hitch pin that locks the rack firmly in place. The wheel cradles include velcro bands to secure the tires in place, and the clamps on the vertical pole have pins to stop them from coming loose. The two bikes are held incredibly well. I can even back out of the driveway without dragging the rack or the bikes on the ground. That was another problem with my old hanging rack – the bikes hit the ground when I drove up an incline. For about $150 this is a steal – get it before they are gone.StayAtHomeBob

This bike carrier uses an unlockable M16-2 bolt to secure the rack to the receiver hitch. To prevent theft I found a matching locking bolt at etrailers. The other vulnerability of this carrier is the M16 bolt that secures the two-part main frame together and I am substituting an M16x70mm shoulder bolt with an M12-1.75 thread end and an M12-1.75 locking wheel nut to secure it. Otherwise, the rack is fine for the member price.ralphm

This bike carrier is designed so it can be assembled as a single bike carrier or a 2 bike carrier. I began with it as a single bike carrier and the square tube plugs directly into the receiver without the extension pieces and all that extra weight. also, as a single is several inches lower. I'm pulling a trailer so I need a bifurcator in the receiver . The Lower hole is for an extension and the hitch ball and the upper hole is for the bike rack. I had done this before with the Allen 4 bike carrier. This design supports the wheels rather than hanging the bikes by the frame top tube. with a heavy fat tire , or worse an ebike this is much easier to load the bike on. Lift the front wheel into its wheel support loop, then lift the back wheel onto it support loop. with the frame hanging design the entire bike weight has to be lifted at once. Also my ebike is a step through, so there is no upper tube to hang it from. tThis carrier is rated for 200# so that is enough to carry two 70# ebikes with capacity to spare. This carrier is 55% the cost of the Amazon versions and has more weight capacity. The one down side is the plastic topped "wing bolts". cannot be tightened enough by hand to secure the wheel support loops in place or the inverted "vee" frame holder. This 71 year old had to put a wrench on to wing to tighten them adequately, and the plastic wing was obviously distressed. It didn't break. Might have been better to just leave the hex bolt heads exposed.rway227

Unless it's a classic men's ten speed style frame, the closest bike in will rub on the pivot mechanism. First two bikes I tried would have been horribly scratched up first use. Not listed on the box, but at the end of the manual, is there is nothing to support the bottom and keep it from swinging. They tell you to use a strap, which could be done effectively, but don't include one. The anti-wobble feature is more wishful thinking than real help. If you used it for two bikes it would be decent, but you didn't buy a two bike carrier. Disappointing as this is a very well built unit with a great powder coat paint job.John

I absolutely love this bike rack. Its great to just leave on your hitch and not have to deal with the constant putting it on and taking it off. One pin allows you to pull the rack back and open your teunk in seconds. I’ve been carrying 3 bikes on it for two years and no sign of deterioriating. Light rust that i could easily sand and spray paint. I had one of the pins break off, bit thats likely my fault for not leaving it installed. The ONE issue I have with the rack is that it only has one bolt for install and it moves just a smidge andcmakes a noise whenever your driving ove bumps and such. Make a new version with TWO bolts and tje bike rack is perfectly sound:)ChitownChef

I bought this in July 2020 and was hoping for something economical and sturdy. I definitely got what I wanted. The rack is only rated at 100 pounds, but I was able to fit three adult bikes with no problems. There are alot of comments here about the hitch being wobbly, but mine is sturdy with minimal movement. Tighten the bolts folks! I thoroughly inspected the rack after our trips and found no crack in the welds or bending of any parts. Someone else mentioned that the rack had no straps, but the rack I purchased had all three straps that had plenty of length to secure the adult bikes. We are happy with our purchase and would recommend it for the price alone.dpat3537

This is the improved version and Yakima has solved the bike movement problem and improved the stiff handle release. Totally enjoying it as this platform bike rack do not scratch the paint on our bikes and is easy to load on and off the car with its lightweight aluminium structure. No regrets!jolenechan

After researching hitch racks I decided to purchase the Yakima DrTray over the Thule that has been rated #1. The thing I was concerned about is the weight of the racks when removing from the vehicle and the ease of changing the positions of the rack when on the vehicle and when the bikes are on the rack. All my other roof rack items are Yakima and they have worked flawlessly over the years. I can only say that the DrTray met all the concerns with its ease on loading, positioning and removing from the vehicle. I would highly recommend the Yakima DrTray to anyone who is looking to purchase a quality hitch rack.Telemanvt

Solid hitch rack. The only issue I have is the rear wheel movement. If you have a long wheelbase the bike tends to move back when vehicle is moving over bumps. They have a updated revised version to alleviate those issues. I wish I would have known and waited. The remote release to tilt bikes is difficult at times but you must move the handle while squeezing the release to move it. The integrated cables are nice but not theft proof.Awkward Geek Cyclist

Rockymounts Backstage Swingaway by David George (09 Dec 2021) This bike rack was exactly what I needed and it works brilliantly on my Prado and Sprinter van. Easy to fit, operate and swingaway to access the rear doors easily. We carry two 20+kg e-bikes and it handles it just fine. Well built, designed and robust, with a nice locking feature. We use a cheap trailer lightboard but probably should have just got a purpose made one from the online store. Great service from the Roof Rack Store; ordered online and it arrived in record time and at the best price I could find anywhere. Very satisfied.David G

I was looking for a way to bring bicycles along when traveling with my pickup bed camper. The issue is being able to open the rear camper door. As far as I can tell this rack is the only really good solution. I've tried many other ways of making this work, but all had major issues. Just putting on extensions worked but made the rig much too long. Putting the bikes on the front lowers both visibility and clearance. With the Rocky Mounts BackStage tilting the bikes down works for a quick way to squeeze in when you are short on time or space and swinging the bikes takes about 10 seconds and gets the bikes out of the way completely. I installed a small piece of rubber where the bikes would touch the camper jack. Two points. This rack has a lot of adjustment flexibility that may not be apparent at first glance. You can install the runners the opposite direction (as I have in the photos) to change the left/right orientation of the handle bars of the bikes. Additionally, if you (like me) want a bit more confidence in the connection between the bike and the rack (what if the front tire goes flat?) I found nice orange quick buckle straps at my local discount hardware store for less that $3 for a pair. I've included a photo of that setup also. It's not that hard to put together, easier than most things. The bolt that holds the rack to the receiver has an ingenious ball bearing an pin setup that tightens things (no wiggles) up better than anything else I've ever used. Finally, IT'S A BEAST. While it's not that heavy, it is super heavy duty. You can stand on it while fully expanded without any noticeable flex.Old topologist

I have yet to leave on an extensive road trip but I will say this wasn't at all a difficult Bike Rack to assemble. I did however add Cargo extension taillights to the Rack as it does stick out a bit. Some other manufacturers have racks with built-in lights that you just hook right up to your 4 prong plug under the rear bumper. This is by far an excellent double Swing Away Rack and would highly recommend it to others that own a Van and need to have access to the rear doors without removing the rack itself.David D

The NV 2.0 is the top of the line for tray-style racks. It's loaded with features and quality-made. I'm extremely happy with this product. The price is about 30% higher than Thule or Yakima products in this category, but it is very difficult to compare other tray-style racks to the NV 2.0. The construction, materials, and finish provide a longer-lasting product. But it's the features that set this rack apart from the competitors including: – Smooth action: All of the parts move with precision. No catching, clunking, sticking, or grinding! – The integrated locks. They're much easier to use being on a cable – The anti-rattle mechanism is the best on the market and by far the easiest to use – The foot-pedal latch to lower or raise the rack – The built-in bike repair stand is neat but not super practical I own a Thule T2 Pro system but we upgraded to the Kuat rack for my wife's vehicle as it is so much easier to operate.Nick F

The Kuatt bike rack is the strongest, steadiest and most stable bike rack I've seen and used. Good instructions for assembling. The team at Al's got it shipped quickly and accurately.Rob

Pop the existing rear cover off your existing Kuat NV Base 2.0, slap this 2-Bike Add-on with two EASILY accessed bolts and in less than 8 minutes you're on the road with the entire family. I greatly dislike driving around with a 4-Bike platform rack when 90% of my riding is solo/double, so this easy on/off solution really sold me. Between me and my friends, I have used nearly every rack brand on the market and Kuat might build the best aftermarket ANYTHING, not just racks, that I have ever purchased for my vehicles. I doubt I'll ever have to exercise my lifetime warranty, but if I do need to call them for any purpose, be prepared for some pretty awesome customer service. Their team is ON IT and even their hold recordings are hilarious.JamKona

Excellent lightweight rack. I bought thinking in functionality and easy to use. It met my expectations. I will add a couple of cons and pros to why you want this bike rack. Pros It fits well: It's versatile. It can be used in 1.25' or 2.00 Easy to carry around: If you do not want to have it installed, it folds excellent to keep in your trunk. I have a small car, and it fits well. Good stability: I tested on the freeway. No issues. My bike is 28 pounds. I did not try for more than one bike or heavier bikes. Cons: It only has one locker key. It could be nice to have two keys.IdaPearl

After reading reviews and watching countless videos on single-bike racks I settled on the Kuat Transfer V2 because of the simple, thoughtful design, compact size, and low profile that doesn't interfere with the backup camera or rear hatch access. The rack was easy and quick to assemble and has excellent fit and finish. Installed into the hitch receiver with the 2" adapter, it is tight and sturdy. Loading and unloading the bike is a cinch, and the tilt away to allow opening the back hatch is perfect. Did I mention thoughtful design? To release the hitch for tilting or folding up there's a foot pedal rather than a hand release – so convenient. With the bike (an aluminum frame hard tail, about 30-35 pounds) loaded and clamped down it is rock solid. There is no sway or wobble and very little bounce even over hard bumps or holes. I'm really impressed with the looks, function, and quality of this rack and recommend giving it serious consideration.Craig

Took it on a 5 hour drive with a 50 lb E-Bike on it. Might have shook the tires loose. Had some locking tire skewers installed at a bike shop. SInce the tires are the only part locked onto the rack, it could have made the tires loose. I'm only minusing a star from bad design on the hitch pin area. they have an adapter that makes its fit into a 2 inch receiver. That causes the hole to be off center and can only use a 1/4 thick locking pin to be used. Also at this price they could supply a locking hitch pin so someone doesn't just walk off with both the bike and the rack.Wilson

Looking for a bike rack made in USA, the Grand Slam 4 caught my attention for its simplicity and price point. I was concerned about using the adapter to fit my 2" receiver, but it's been easy to use and I believe the design prevents swaying or flip flopping around like you may find on lower priced racks. This is fitted onto a Wrangler with a 255/70/18 spare with room to spare….your mileage may vary.Chris

We bought the Grand Slam because it met all the criterai we were looking for: hitch rack, holds four bikes, economical. It was easy to assemble, easy to install/remove from the hitch, and it works like a charm. My only criticism is that there are a couple of pieces of hardware needed for the rack to work with a 2" mount. The rack came with no instructions for that part of the assembly (Saris, please include that in updates.). It was remarkably easy to assemble after watching a YouTube video.Josh

This was a bit challenging to put together, and needs an adapter to keep it from rattling and moving around in the hitch receiver. That was an easy fix. Haven't used it on any long trips or rough roads. Hope it holds up. I like the design.Lauren H.

Seems a good rack but can be a bit fiddly to get on & off the car. The rack is nice & compact for storing when not in use.NIALL R.

This saved me about $1000 US. Well worth every penny. So easy to put on and take off it seems like a steal at the price I got it for. Great for transporting two bikes to and fro. Such a novel idea seemed like it would not work. So not the case.phatguy29

I just returned from taking two Bee Cool bikes from Wilmimgton NC to Asheville and back. 10 hours and used the Elevate hitch platform. I used it on the back of my Lexus NX. The bikes are 162lbs together and I was pleasantly surprised how well the ride.Michael

Works great with both e bikes with fat tires and regular tire bikes. HD construction. Only draw back is the hitch bolt is a screw bolt 15/16 head which has to be tightened to car receiver. Could not put a locking slip through one.Luis

This is a solid heavy duty rack. I have 2 step through e-bikes that fit very well. I had to also get cross bars since my frames are step through. I can mount the rack and load the bikes in well under 5 minutes. You need to be able to lift and handle 50lbs to load e-bikes on the rack. There are no locks on this rack. I also purchased a receiver pin lock and a cable pad lock to secure the bikes. All in, I still spent a lot less than some of the high end racks with locks.Ken

Rated for 200lbs, tire mounts BENT holding a single 60lb bike on one 120mile drive from Phoenix to Tucson. Cheap foam coating on frame support ground through entirely and DESTROYED my brand new $2000 bike frame before i even got to ride it. Please please dont buy this product. Its really unstable, 100% not safe for anywhere near what its rated and could destroy your bike like it did mine. The tire mounts are IMPOSSIBLE to tighten safely. They will tip and bend and move. Photos show destruction of the rack. The bike frame is being repaired by a welder to fill the gouge in the frame. Im both upset and angry and am contacting the company for compensation as walmart would only refund the rack itselfKel

Ordered this rack for a bike trip with friends. Sadly i cannot comment of the rack itself. The package delivered to my porch and looked as if it had been shoved out of an airplane from 10,000 feet. The mangled package had a strong pungent Moldy odor coming from it. We tore the soft spongy cardboard open on the end to peer inside. The inside of the box had spots of black nasty goo on it and the bike rack itself was covered with patches of rust. I find it hard to believe that someone at the warehouse actually sent this package out. They must have known this stinky mangled rusty package would be immediately returned. You need to step up the game wally, I will be re ordering this rack, but this time it will be from someone else who's name starts with the letter A.mpbjr57

Went to a local bike shop who normally sells another brand which was sold out because of supply chain problems. For less than $200 who needs China? Buy this made in Wisconsin all steel well designed well priced product that does what the European and Japanese brands do.Rick

Very good bike rack, I’m already using it and I’m happy with it. It was an easy assembly. It was delivered really fast and almost $100 cheaper than sporting merchandise stores for the same bike rack.Diego

I have had this rack a couple of weeks so this review is based on that time frame. I like the versatility of the rack in terms of its ability to carry just about any type of bike including bikes with fenders. It was easy to put together although I would have preferred more words in the directions, they are mainly pictures. It is easy to install in the hitch, folds and adjusts easily and takes up little storage space in the garage when it is not on the vehicle. Hesitant to give 5 stars to an item that I have only had for a short time.Kendog

Assembly was easy. The bikes feel very secured in the carrier. It does wobble a bit in the hitch. The lock for the bolt that holds the rack in the hitch works is great. I wish the bolt wasn't treadled, then it would be easier to remove and install the rack to hitch, as is it, it isn't going anywhere.djoh2239

This rack is a good value. It is simple to assemble out of the box. Give yourself about 1 to 1-1/2 hours to assemble and familiarize yourself with all of the features. Never be in a hurry with any bicycle car carrier. When all is done correctly it is safe. Note that 35lbs. per bike is the maximum allowable weight. I like abundance of caution. So, I added two cargo support straps running from the rack's vertical bar to my vehicle. Reason is to reduce bounce, add stability, and to relieve some pressure on the vehicle hitch. The bicycles simply drop into the adjustable wheel holders, then the upper clamp is slid down to catch top of bicycle frame. On my bicycles, the clamp contacts the bicycle's cables. I position a rag under the cables of my bicycle to prevent scratching the bicycle's paint job. If needed then add a cable/chain with lock to secure your cargo to the rack.Jeff

I am pleased with this bike rack. I had a 1.25 inch hitch receiver mounted on my 2011 Honda Fit and this bike rack worked great with that set-up. we took a long trip from Phoenix to the Redwood Coast of California and we took along one bike on this bike rack. The bike was secure on the rack. As the trip went on we became quite confident that the rack was securely holding the bike. We used some velcro straps to make the bike extra secure on the rack when we were on I-5 going 75mph. it was pretty easy to take the bike off and put back on. I am a 63 year old lady. the center post on the rack can be lowered so once the bike is off the rack i can lower the post and open the hatchback no problem. I put orange tape on the outer ends of the rack so we wouldn't hit our shin on it. I got the hitch from eTrailer and had it installed on the Honda Fit at B and M Bumpers in Glendale, Arizona (definitely recommend BJay222

I desperately needed a bike rack for my truck and wanted one to fit into the 2" hitch receiver but I didn't want to spend an exorbitant amount of money for something I won't use all that often. Of course, I really should have followed the old adage "you get what you pay for" because I got exactly that: a cheap, flimsy rack that wobbles in the hitch receiver enough to make people following me honk their horns to tell me it looks like the whole thing is going to fall off of the back of my truck. Instead of having a solid 2" sleeve for the 1" portion of the frame to fit into a 2" hitch receiver, there are two pieces that don't go all the way around, allowing the frame to wobble inside the hitch receiver. I tried removing those pieces to use a different 1" to 2" hitch adapter, but the bolt holding them together is frozen in place. I'm going to have to find someone who can tap and drill the bolt to remove it and it'll probably cost me between $20 and $50 to have that done, but it's better than buying another bike rack.WallyWorldCustomer

This new version it is a lot lighter than the previous version. In the other hand the steel bars that holds the front tires it is a lot weaker. I have my carbon Fuji mountain bike, when for a trip of 30 miles to start point and when arrived the rack was bend, with the wind the bike was side ways and looks like it was going to fall from the rack. Just stop for adding some anchor to be able to keep it straight and safer. Yesterday on my way to the trails my front wheel base break and need to be replaced. With my previous version unit that never happen, not even going to Tampa at 80mph-100mph and bike was completely straight and firm, never bend the rack or bases. Hope they go back to the previous version and keep it as it was, saving 4 pounds it is not worth to lose a bicycle in the road. Thank you.Mr. Ciclyst

A really great bike rack. Carries two bikes (one with 26 inch wheels, one with 700cc wheels) no problem, easy on, easy off, and very stable in transport. I love that no part of the rack touches the frame of the bike, just the wheels. This makes a lot of sense when you consider that the wheels are the only part of the bike that touches the ground when you're riding (hopefully), so the it's only the wheels that take the brunt of the bumps, etc.; there's no stress on the frame when in transport. My only negative comment might be the straps that hold the wheel tight against the rack. They would be easy for someone to make off with, so you really have to be mindful to put them in your vehicle after you take the bike(s) off.Jack

I have had my Thelma 3 for almost 4 years. It has been a great hitch rack, and saved a lot of money than the other similar options that fit a smaller hitch. It does have a few hiccups, that i've always been able to work around, though i sometimes have to rearrange the bikes to do so. Example: if the 1st and 3rd bike loaded are the same wheel size, and especially if they run wide mtn bike bars, the bars can interfere with each other to the point of having to rearrange the bikes. Fatbikes don't technically fit. But they fit if you upgrade the plastic straps with 2' NRS straps. Note: i've had this work for years, and up to 1000+ mile road trips with Pugsleys running 4" tires. I've done local rides with 4.5" tires. 5" is probably pushing it. I bought a roll of Velcro strapping to cut about 4 2' pieces that i use to strap bars-to-seats-to-other-bars of the bikes. This stabilizes the bikes a lot, and keeps them from swaying in my rear view mirror. I would love to see a fat tire tray option, and a way to adjust fore-aft positioning for mtn bikes on the Thelma 3 in the future, but for now i'm happy. And please note: the Thelma 2 would not have the handlebar interference that the Thelma 3 has.DaveDowning