Best Bike Rack For Rav4 (2024 Update)

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

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

Having fenders is no problem, Just drop the arm just in front of the Fender. My E-Bike is 55 lbs & this rack has no problem supporting the weight. Loading my bike is very fast & easy.The front cradle holds the front tire securely & the rear tire sits in a shallow channel. Kuat does offer a ramp witch would make this process even easier. The integrated cable locks are a good way to lock your bike during transport. The Rack over all fills heavy duty & solidly built. Cosmetically it’s very beautifully painted too. Cons, The key hole to the Cable locks has a little spring loaded cover in the hole. So you have to put the key in at a angle to push it out of the way. It took me a Minet to figure that out.Mike

Ok, I love my biking and hate my bike racks. To say that most are put together with string and bailing wire is an understatement. I had one brand that was so top heavy that I honestly thought I would lose my bikes along the highway somewhere. That is until I bought the Kuat from REI. Expensive!!!! I bought the NV and then the doubler so I could have 4 bikes at once. I have been beyond impressed with this rack. Solid, stable, easy to use and very secure. Every part of this rack has been thought out and engineered to perfection. I know this sounds kind of over the top for a review but as a dentist, I look for details and precision in everything. This delivers in spades. I cannot say enough good things about it. So just suck up the price and appreciate the incredible quality that you are going to get for the money.DrKK

Trek Farley 5.0 (large frame) with 27.5 x 4.5 tires (Bontrager Gnarwhal Fat Bike Tire). Kuat phat bike kit installed. Cradles in lowest position. The ratchet arm will not come over the top of the tire without leaning the bike, swinging the arm up, then centering the bike/tire under the arm. Attached is the video Kuat sent me. This metjod is fine for one bike, but with 2+ bikes that need to be leaned, the other bikes get in the way. Kuat support says "Unfortunately at this time we do not have a solution". It seems like a nice rack otherwise, but Kuat's specs are misleading.Stephen K

The positives: The unit is very lightweight, so doesn’t add a lot of drag to the back of the car, and it is easy to put on and off the car. It is also easy to load and unload the bike and secure/release the straps. Not much wobble on the bike, and it keeps it in a position that I still can see out the back window (I have a 2010 CRV, and had a 1.5 in. hitch installed.). The only negative: I opened the box and saw all the pieces and the instructions were all pictures. It was overwhelming (I work better with worded instructions!). Thankfully the guys at the local bike shop were happy to put it together for me and instruct me on loading and unloading the device and my bike. The other challenges are figuring out how to set the additional strap so the front wheel doesn’t turn and rotate, and how to store the carrier when not connected to the car. These would probably be issues with any of the hanging carriers. It’s a learning curve for sure. One of the best things about having the carrier is I can leave my hiking gear in it’s place in the back of the car, and still tote my bike. (The carrier’s swing-down feature is useful for accessing said gear, though it is heavy with the bike loaded). I am glad I purchased this unit!Just getting into it

I had a 10 year old Thule hitch rack which was far less sophisticated, but easier to assemble and use. This unit…not so much. Pieces are not well designed and craftmanship seems inferior to older models. For starters "Piece 1" (pieces not given names) came apart. While attempting to bolt in the main rack to the Piece 1, the plastic hinge top with hook separated from the internal metal rod that enables the rack to swing down when the level is moved. Why is the hinge top and hook plastic? I was unable to reassemble these pieces after attempting a dozen times. I just gave up and am going back to REI. Also, the fastening bolt that pushes through the unit is difficult to push through in order to screw on the fastener and tighten. It all takes real muscle. Overall, this is just a poorly designed unit with poorly designed pieces and instructions. The old stretch rubber straps with holes were less sophisticated but far superior. The anti-sway pieces on the older units were far more substantial and functional than this unit's. The instruction images are useful, but language is the key and too many products these days feel words are not necessary.bluesboy

I have read online complaints about the newest iteration of this wreck having very flimsy straps holding the bike to the rack. I ignored these concerns, and bought the rack to carry two gravel bikes back-and-forth between my house and local trails (20-30 miles). One short section of interstate. Long story short, the straps did not secure my bike to the rack at highway speeds. One of the straps came undone (20 pound gravel bike), and my bike came halfway off the rack at highway speeds. My bike was dangling by just one strap, as the other strap had somehow come unfastened and had released that side of the bike. The bike was dragging behind my car by the single remaining strap…dragging on the bike tire. The bike would have completely come off the rack had I not happened to look up in the rear view mirror at the moment it happened. If it weren’t for the flimsy strap problem, the rack would be fine. I can’t recommend the rack with these flimsy straps as they are on the new HeliumPro 2 rack.OregonGearGuy

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

Easy to install with the exception of being able to switch from left/right loading. The end cap was almost impossible to remove to make this happen. Fits fairly well on my mini, but needs to go back wheel to the front of the car so I can open my hatch.Amy P

Getting the rack on and off is simple. I wish it came with the locks but those are extra. Getting my bike on and off quickly couldn’t be easier.JohnB

Easy to use however, the accessory locks have to be purchased separately AND Thule can't seem to locate it's own cable and locking mechanism that secures the bike to the rack despite repeated emails to Customer Service. They just keep pointing back to the rack lock (which secures the rack to the roof rack cross bars). Pretty frustrating.Ted

I wish I could have seen a chart of what vehicles this item was best suited to. The chart is on the back of the box, and it indicates that Nissan's Rogue Sport is NOT one of the recommended applications. Therefore I have found it rather challenging to securely install it on my vehicle, but I think I have found a way. As far as the product itself, the construction and material qualities are EXCELLENT. It is thoughtfully well-designed and constructed of powder-coated heavy gauge tubular steel and fittings. As a retired product testing technician I do recommend product.Wayne

I purchased this bike rack this morning to take my bike 60 miles to go on a ride with a friend. The rack was easy to install and worked like a charm. When I got home I started reading reviews on it and couldn't believe the issues I was reading. I had no problems with the hooks or with the feet lifting off while driving. I drove across the Chesapeake bay bridge, down highways at 65+ mph and across multiple speed bumps and down a section of highway that was being repaved so there were some good bumps at highway speed. Now I have only used the rack with 1 bike (hence the 4 stars rather than 5) and have only used it for 1 trip. But, so far so good. My only complaint is that I purchased it in store at Walmart and paid $60, and it wouldn't let me buy online and pickup in store the same day even though there was 3 sitting on the shelf in front of me (but that's a Walmart complaint, not a product compliant)Coco

Beware! I purchased this product based on the picture on Walmart.com of the product. When we brought it home, we took it out of the packaging and quickly looked it over. Unfortunately, we threw away the box and several days later, we went to mount this on the vehicle. It did not have the 2 side straps and was completely unstable and unusable. I wrote to the company to see if I could get the missing straps. I was told to send a receipt and picture of manufacture date. It turns out that it was made in 2015. I bought this in August 2020. The company told me that the side straps were not on there in 2015 and that was it. I now have an unusable product. If you buy this, make sure it has the side straps as pictured before you throw away the box. The first picture is the receipt of what we thought we got, the second picture is what we actually got.Jeffrey

This is practically a 5* item. It fits my 21 Civic Sport Hatchback well and I didn't need to use the spoiler kit since the spoiler has a gap between the window. As installed, the rear wiper works just fine. I thought I was going to have to use the angled rubber bumpers but that was not the case. The flat ones are fine. THIS is where I take a star off. In the step to tighten the cables, it says to crank until you hear 2 clicks. I cannot get to 2 clicks because it pushes so hard on the glass OR the body of the hatch that it literally started to push the glass in away from the seal or create an indentation on the body. So, I settled for to "creaks" of the tightening apparatus. Weird to say but I can confirm it's tight, stable, and is OK. The flexibility to mount the bike(s), move the arms, fit the car, the locking cable (which I didn't even realize was part of it when I purchased), all good stuff. I'm looking forward to many uses of this rack going forward.Peter

Without a hitch mount, I chose this so that it could stay mounted on our hatch and still be able to raise it (something that could not be done with Raceway model). Once mounted, it's sturdy and should work well (I just installed it). My only complaint is with the stabilizer blocks. Thule should include a short block so that the bike can be secured while hanging vertically and not out at an angle. On our SUV the bike hangs close to the rack.alex19

Compact, solid and hold firmly the bike as intended. Do feel the clearance between bike for a two way carrier is tight even if you have spacers between provided. The cable torque that holds the carriage for some reason does not completely lock in place as recommended with a click sound. Instructions as everyone mentioned is completely not helpful at all. You either go through YouTube for a guide and the added harness for the spoiler support is nowhere to figure how it is placed. Also, the packaging of the items with all the moving parts is not well thought off. The boxes inside don't really make any sense to secure the items inside. By the time you receive the big box its either broken or you can hear the parts banging to each other. Thule should have placed this on a rigid foam instead of boxes. Or either put dampers of foam inside so that the parts will be secured in shipping and moving. They cut down on packaging cheaply and price products very expensively steep. Way too steep as if they hold the bars in terms of carriage in the market. Hope this makes sense for the company to make better consumer experience not just for the money.JyCruizer

Purchased our matt black Kuat NV Base 2.0 bike rack to transport our two Gazelle Ultimate T10 HHMB eBikes. The bikes weigh 51 pounds each so we were looking for a rack that would easily support that weight. After doing our research, talking to several bike store owners and reading reviews, it was quite clear the Kuat rack was the right choice. Additional factors that influenced our choice, the integrated cable lock – hitch lock system and the Kuat bike ramp accessory. My wife and I are in our 60's and the bike ramp makes rolling the 51 lb. bikes into the rack quite easy rather than lifting them up and into the rack. Installation was very easy, taking about 15 minutes to assemble. Instructions are very clear and all of the tools you need are provided with the rack. Our rack is attached to a Nissan Frontier pickup truck with a factory installed 2" trailer hitch. The truck tailgate can be folded down completely when the rack is down and no bikes in the carriers and the rack can be folded out of the way with a simple lever. We are very impressed with the fit/finish/quality of this rack. We could not be more pleased with our purchase.NWA Steve

Just received, assembled, and installed it, but can already tell how well built it is. With the exception of the rear wheel strap ratchets, which feel a little flimsy, everything else is super solid. I've read some negative comments that it is hard to assemble, but that was not my experience. I got it together on my own in about 20 minutes or so, and that included unpacking and then breaking down the box for recycling after. It's literally just 5 bolts required to put it together. Yes it would be easier to assemble with two people, but if you can't do it by yourself, you'd have no chance with a piece of furniture from IKEA! Literally, just read the instructions (or use common sense) to figure out that putting it together upside down is easier. And no, all of the parts will not lie flat even when it is upside down, but a few rolled up towels, or riding shoes, or whatever else you have lying around the garage strategically placed under the base and rails will line everything up without a second pair of hands. Oh, and note that the adapters for fat tire bikes and small wheels are included in the box, so there is no need to contact Kuat for them after purchase. This is a seriously solid and nice rack. Looking forward to lots of adventures with it.Ruben A

Incredible build quality. You are definitely getting what you pay for. Hold bikes solid. Every part and piece during install feels premium. The only difference between this and the normal NV (not base model) is that one you can get in orange or silver, and has a built in work stand you can use when the rack is up. But you can buy that separately and add it to this rack as well for nearly the same as the price difference between that model and this base one. The black on black looks great. I wouldn't want any other rack after getting this one. Worth the higher price for sure. Built in locks are cool, but could be longer.CoffeeDrinker

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

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

Overall I am content with the function of this rack, but several things could and should be improved. The good: loading and unloading the bikes is fast and easy. The rack fits into my 2” receiver with minimal play and locks down with the supplied bolt. Low profile and folding feature works as expected. The not-so-good: their is play in both pivot points with no way of tightening, so the rack bounces a little when loaded. Also, the release mechanism rattles inside the rack. This rattle is loud enough to hear inside the vehicle, when all windows and doors are closed and driving down the road. So while the rack feels safe and secure, the design allows for excess play and noise that are mildly annoying. So far these issues do not affect the safety or performance of the rack in any way.MNSwede

I bought this bike rack this week and installed this morning. The installation to the hitch mount was pretty easy to do. The only thing that isn't great with the initial part is that the bolt that came with the rack does not go all the way through to the other side of the hitch receiver. Luckily, I preemptively order a hitch lock on amazon, so hopefully that will solve that part. The other issue is that the bolts for the mast are difficult to tighten without a wrench to hold it in place so you can tighten the bolt. If you plan on driving and hitting bumps at speeds higher than 35mph you will see some movement with the bikes on the rack but the rack seems to be sturdy enough on the first trial run with bikes loaded. All in all, I think it's a good rack for the money, but only time will tell. I think if you can get the next level Thule products it may be worth the investment for more peace of mind when driving.Cfosse

The rack is a much better solution than stuffing my bike into a Subaru hatch. The rack made my cycling life much better. However, the hard plastic anti-sway stablizer and band, scratched the paint off my mountain bike where contact was made. Being a mountain bike, I wasn't too concerned, but the bike was newish and clean. The rack also gets loose in the hitch after riding around some short distances, and I have to tighten bolt all the time now. I got a hitch stablizer coming that I hope makes things better. Alas every bike rack solution seems to have a built-in flaw. A shelf rack is probably better than a hanging rack but the shelf racks stick-out pretty far, and they could get lose as wellJohnse0

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

as a solution for people who don't want the risk or inefficiency of a roof rack, the hitch rack is where it's at! There are few racks that can do as much as this rack at this cost! I can throw my bike on the rack and secure it in less than 5 seconds and be on my way. I love how quick and easy it is to use. The securement mechanism is very secure (driven it through some pretty rough terrain and smacked it on stuff and it keeps on kickin') and fits pretty much anything but fatbikes. The rack folds up quite easily and quickly when not in use with a couple quick release pins. The arms fold down and lock themselves into place which is really cool, and keeps the arms from swinging out and hitting your car. You can also easily lock your bikes to the rack using a cable lock that pops out of the top of the securement wheel hook, but the cable is pretty thin and not long enough to secure more than the frame only. I wouldn't trust it alone for too long in bad areas. Minor quibbles are the redundant safety pin that reinforces the "rack folding mechanism" can work free on its own if it isn't inserted entirely, and has a weird little cable that ties it onto the rack, that also can fall off altogether since it's held in by a plastic plug that can just be pulled out. While the loss of this part doesn't really affect the rack's performance and isn't a structural component, it does cut down on some of the sway of the rack so I do like to have it. It just isn't all that secure. I lost that original pin but Yakima sent me a new one that I ziptied on. The other problem is that the cable securing this pin gets pinched into the hole that the pin goes into and eventually frays the cable. This is just dumb engineering, but again, pretty minor. Other thing is that the rack does make some noise on the back of the car from swaying and bounching over stuff. It can't really be helped too much since it is a hitch rack after all but some more stiffness built into the design would have been appreciated. All in all, great rack for the cash! PROS: Durable, Stable, Lightweight, Easy to Install, Easy to Use BEST USES: Mountain Bikes, Road Bikes, Small CarsAaron

I live on Vancouver Island where we receive a fair amount of precipitation and the bike is on the car all year round. I bought this rack a few years ago. The arms rusted very quickly and wrecked the plastic at the arms joints. Yakima was good about the warranty claim and replaced the first set of arms, but the second set quickly followed in the same footsteps as the first. 4 years later and I'm in the market for a new rack. It rusted very quickly and is now super wobbly. If you can take good care of this rack, it'll last a long time. If you're like me and this thing is a year-round necessity, look for something a little more rugged.ilikebsikes

I bought the HoldUp 2 rather than the Thule equivalent partly on price, partly on bulk (the Thule takes up more space on and off the car) and partly because I wanted to be able to add the Plus 2 extension to the Yakima so I could take four bikes. Overall it has been a good purchase, although I mainly use it for two bikes at a time – one of which is an E-MTB. The rack goes on and off the hitch-mount easily (once you've mastered the art and as long as you're strong enough to lift it). I like the fact that it locks onto the hitch-mount too, and the 'wobbling' problems that some people have mentioned when driving can be avoided if you wiggle the rack around a bit as you're tightening it onto the hitch-mount. On the downside it does have a couple of weak points in its design/construction. First, if you have 29 inch wheels you need to be very careful to position the front wheel clamp as close to the forks as possible (ie well over the arch of the wheel) to avoid the front wheel bouncing out of the wheel holder. Before I realised this I once got home to find one bike hanging off the rack and held on only by the rear wheel strap and the fact that its handlebars had become entangled in the bike next to it when it moved. User-error probably, but something to be aware of. More problematic for me has been that although the rack is advertised as taking the weight of an e-bike, the plastic bolts built into the rear wheel clamps don't seem strong enough. I've had two of those break in the year that I've had the rack, and I've ended up replacing them both with a stainless steel bolt which I bought from Bunnings. This has only been a problem when I've been carrying my E-MTB, not the standard bike. It's not an expensive fix, and perhaps something the factory should consider. Another problem I've had has been the built-in lock cable jamming in its housing so I was unable to use/move it. Living in Brisbane I was able to take the rack into the Yakima supplier and they fixed it for me, but it was irritating nevertheless. I should say that the customer service I've had from Yakima with these problems has been great, both in replacing broken parts and in fixing the lock when I went in to see them. However, given the price of the rack it would have been good if the design was such that the problems didn't occur in the first place. I would give this a 5 for its overall usability but marked down to a 4 because of the niggles I mention above.Jonathan W

My mistake – I didn't worry excessively about the quoted weight of the Thule T2, until I assembled it. At 23Kg, it is just too big and heavy for the back of my Tesla Model 3. I believe it is very capable of carrying my two e-bikes very securely, but I have replaced it with a lesser alternative at 16Kg. The T2 appears to be very solidly constructed, and would be ideal for a larger vehicle, especially a larger SUV or ute. For $868 delivered, I was disappointed to find I needed to spend a further $150 on a Thule number plate/light bar, to enable safe, legal carriage of my $40 Aux. Number Plate, with the T2 either folded, or carrying. Ideal for a differing Use Case!Peter G.

I was torn between getting this or one of the big name platform racks for a lot more money, and I ended up giving this one a try. So far, I have put it through several hundred miles of use in Oregon in various conditions (low/high-speed road, gravel, speed bumps, twisty roads/gravel, hilly roads/gravel). Overall: + I really like this rack and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a platform rack. It has most of the features of the high-end racks for a great price. I think this is the best bang for your buck rack at the moment. Pros: + Assembly is simple + Comes with locks (one to secure the rack to the hitch by preventing the removal of the hitch pin, and one to secure the cable lock to the rack) + The tilt-down feature to access the trunk works (2016 Mazda CX-5) + Looks great (the pics show it as all black but it actually has blue trim, which looks great; check out the Rocky Mounts website for accurate pics) + Uses a lockable threaded hitch pin, which prevents most side-to-side sway + The racheting strap for the rear wheels grabs the wheel tightly (vs. the Rocky Mounts SplitRail in which the wheel can bounce around because it is sitting in a giant channel that is designed to hold large wheels; check out pics of the SplitRail to see what I mean) + Each bike platform can be shifted left-to-right to accommodate bikes that hit each other Neutral: * The latch to activate the tilt-down/up feature is located on the bottom of the rack farthest away from bumper (easier to reach). This is better than the racks that have the latch situated between the bumper and the rack because it is easier to get to, but it is a little awkward because it puts you in a position where you're bent over to pull the latch and the bikes swing down towards you. Cons: – While the threaded hitch pin helps prevent side-to-side sway, I think the wedge-style type of the high-end Yakima/Thule brands are better because they prevent side-to-side as well as up-and-down sway. That said, I didn't really notice much sway in my use of the rack but I wanted to list this for someone that might care – The security element of the rack is a separate short cable that you thread through your bikes and then secure to the rack using a lock located between the bumper and the rack. The lock is the same type as the one used to secure the hitch pin. The gauge of the cable is similar to a standard bike cable lock, which is fine for deterrence but I wouldn't trust it in high-theft locations since pretty much all cables are easily cut using bolt cutters. The biggest downside to the cable is that it is too short to thread through both wheels + frame of both bikes. I can only manage to thread it through the frame and one wheel. – Requires a wrench to attach to the hitch. It comes with the wrench but it is something that can get lost. It would be great if Rocky Mounts could use a hand twist system similar to what Yakima/Thule do on their high-end mounts (this would also address any up-and-down sway). That said, this is a small price to pay for a much more affordable rack. – When folding up the rack against the bumper, the rack can actually travel beyond it's locked vertical position and hit your car. This can happen if you pull the latch and lift the rack quickly; the rack won't lock into the vertical position and hit your car). As long as you're careful to make sure the rack locks into its vertical position, you should be fine but it would have been nice if Rocky Mounts put in a metal stopper to prevent accidentsAllister

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

I'd been stuffing my bike into the back of my FJ Cruiser and driving to trails, so a friend recommended I try his Thule T2 Pro XT bike rack. I used it June & July and knew it was the right model for me… I was ready to buy! Unfortunately, this was during the time of high-pandemic and I hit a wall: every retailer/distributor was out of stock on the T2 Pro XT model in August & September. I kept checking back but mid-October was the availability date across the board -and I didn't want to wait. At end of September, Rack Attack was the first to have it available. I purchased it on a Saturday and it shipped out Monday. Seamless transaction. Would highly recommend.And it looks great on the back of my FJ Cruiser 😉OpenShark-85797

Best option to carry bikes on a car, particularly those with 1.25 inch class I hitches. The ability to raise/lower the rack one-handed while holding the bike in the other is a game-changer. Saves a ton of time/hassle. Installation is simple if you watch a video on YouTube. Plenty of clearance to the rear bumper on my Fiesta ST.Anonymous

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

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

The Thule Raceway 2 boot bike carrier is the best product you can buy. It is expensive, but you have to pay for quality. This bike carriere is very reliable, quick to install and very stable on the rear of my hatchback car. It also fits sedans. Before you buy, you must check car compatibility first.alfredbuatti

Well constructed and easy to put on and take off of full sized suv. The amount of rubber in contact with rear window and bumper on this model is far superior to less expensive Thule models. Happy with the built in locking of the rack to the veichle and bike(s) to the rack. I did have one sway holder fall off while not in use, but easily replaced.Kef118

I bought this to replace an old trunk mounted bike rack I've had for many years that was difficult to work with and somewhat flimsy…and was skeptical about whether or not I really needed to buy another bike rack at all. I am very pleased with this Thule carrier because it is significantly more stable especially at high speeds while driving and is quick and easy to get the bikes and off quickly. The anti-sway mounts are very handy and keep the bikes firmly in place so that they do not make contact with each other or the car. Also, fitting the Thule to the car is very easy with the cleverly designed cable lock system that also doubles as a security feature so that it won't be stolen off your car. The only con is that it is a bit heavy and Bulky making it a little difficult to mount and unmount from the car and store. But, it can be folded flat for storage. There is also a cool feature allowing you to set the angle of adjustment specifically to your car so that when unfolding it from storage, you can set it up quickly to the exact fitting for your car. Overall, I'm very pleased with my purchase and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a trunk mounted 3-bike carrier system that is sturdy and well made.MTB dude