Best Hitch Bike Rack For Electric Bikes (2024 Update)

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I 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

Very easy to operate. Holds our 2 emtbs no problem. Really like the way it folds up and down as needed. The latch mechanism is really positive and easy to operate. There was one plastic piece that is really an aesthetic piece. It was poorly formed when manufactured and a simple phone call got it replaced.Don W

Super sold build. I like that it is a full 2” post to the receiver hitch. Easy load and unload of bikes. Two full suspension bikes are solid as a rock on this rack. . Locking cable is okay but could be beefed up in my opinion. Rack does not tilt down which might be a problem for some people, but I prefer less complexity and think this rack is more robust compared to similar racks with the tilt down feature. All and all I would highly recommend this rack.Phillip

For the price, this rack is extremely well built, and has some great features. I love the easily accessible tilt handle and the solid way it "clicks" into place. I added a $10 hitch tightener to help stabilize the up/down movement, and have full confidence in this rack for long trips. So far I haven't scraped it on anything, and am happy with the high positioning of the bikes. The lock mechanism is a little finicky, but seems as secure as what the other brands offer. The black finish and appearance of this rack looks great for the price point. Overall, I'm super pleased and highly recommend.Andrew A

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 was recently involved in an auto collision where my car was rear ended by an inattentive driver. On the back of my car was the T2 and on the T2 was my beloved C60. The impact of the collision was severe enough to deploy all of my car's interval safety devices. After I had settled down I went to check up on my bike; fearing the worst I was prepared to see a mangled up bike. I was not prepared for what I saw. The T2 was bent at a severe angle, the unused carrier trays were disloged and badly damaged BUT the trays where my bike sat were nearly intact. Except for some cosmetic damage, a mangled rear wheel and a broken rear derailleur hanger (my shop is currently inspecting the bike just to be sure) the bike appears to have escaped largely unscathed. Moreover, the body repair shop person told me that with the T2 absorbing the brunt of the impact, my car avoided more severe damage. So thank you Thule for making such a great product and thank you T2 for giving up your "life" to protect me, my car AND my bike.Just another cyclist

I recently bought the T2 Classic pre assembled from my local bike shop. My friends have the same rack on their trucks. I've used them many times. I love the fitment of the bikes. My wheelbase is 47" with 26" tires. After installing the rack on my truck, I found that my bike wouldn't fit. The back tire was sticking way off the back of the rack and the locking arm was nearly vertical. I checked the manual and it said that it will fit up to 48" bikes. I again checked the manual for fitment and noticed that the front wheel support cup was reversed for both bikes. So I promptly removed them and reversed them. My bike fits great now BUT one of the holes was stripped out during initial installation of the front tire cup by the dealer. Bolting into plastic isn't really the strongest support system. So now I need to either get a replacement piece or try to repair the one I've got. A simple solution would be to manufacture a third mounting hole which is not equal spacing from the other two holes. Then this problem would never happen. The wheel cup could never be reversed. But since this product has been manufactured for years, it's not really an option to change it. If the front wheel cup had a better mounting system, I would give this rack 5 stars. Easily adjustable rack. Such a nice addition to my truck.Colin

I recently bought the T2 Classic pre-assembled from my local bike shop. My friends have the same rack on their trucks. I've used them many times. I love the fitment of the bikes. My wheelbase is 47" with 26" tires. After installing the rack on my truck, I found that my bike wouldn't fit. The back tire was sticking way off the back of the rack and the locking arm was nearly vertical. I checked the manual and it said that it will fit up to 48" bikes. I again checked the manual for fitment and noticed that the front wheel support cup was reversed for both bikes. So I promptly removed them and reversed them. My bike fits great now BUT one of the holes was stripped out during initial installation of the front tire cup by the dealer. Bolting into plastic isn't really the strongest support system. So now I need to either get a replacement piece or try to repair the one I've got. A simple solution would be to manufacture a third mounting hole which is not equal spacing from the other two holes. Then this problem would never happen. The wheel cup could never be reversed. But since this product has been manufactured for years, it's not really an option to change it. If the front wheel cup had a better mounting system, I would give this rack 5 stars. Easily adjustable rack. Such a nice addition to my truck.Colin

Components are well made and the rack is easy to connect to the hitch. Bike is also simple to rack. However the basket for the front wheel is way too flimsy resulting in the front tire easily coming out of the basket by bending over the basket side. (Particularly when hitting bumps. To a point where the front of the bike then comes out of the hold down arm. NOT GOOD! The fix for me was to add an additional strap around the tire rim (where it sits in the basket) and wrap it around the entire basket. Cinch it tight to prevent the sides of the basket from folding over.greg

This bike rack was perfect for what I needed. I bought a 2008 Subaru Impreza last summer and always struggled to slide my bike into the trunk and had to use a bungee cord strapped to my passenger seat to keep it from falling out when accelerating up a hill. (I never had this problem with my 1999 VW Golf as I was able to slide my bike into the hatchback completely and close the hatch.) Finally rolled up my sleeves and installed a hitch and the T1 bike rack on the weekend. Everything went smoothly for the most part. This bike rack feels remarkably strong, is rugged, and looks like it will maintain good appearance for many years with its thick black coating. Securing my bike was quick and easy. The rack didn't wiggle much when I took it for a test drive with the bike attached. I tried sudden panic stops and maneuvers as if to avoid a dangerous pothole and the bike rack held the bike just fine. My only complaint was steps 4 and 5 in the instructions. For someone such as myself who has never owned or installed a hitch mounted bike rack before, I had trouble figuring out exactly how and where to mount the assembly onto the rotating arm. There is a label indicating ideal horizontal placement, but nothing for vertical placement. The instructions only have a drawing indicating that you should stay above the THULE label. Well I wasn't sure how far above, so I left it loose at first, and in trying to figure out the ideal height, the assembly slid down and, without me realizing at first, scraped off half of the T in THULE. I only noticed once I rotated the arm up. After this, I determined that the ideal height for my car (so that nothing will touch the rear bumper) is to put the assembly as high as possible, flush with the handle. I have a professional label machine so I can print another label that says THULE, but it was annoying not to have a minimum vertical placement notch in the metal that could have prevented me from scuffing up THULE in the first place.EM FGC11336

Product preforms as advertised. Solid rack.. ..but… Assembly directions are poor, but found advise on line. (should have Ikea help with that) The bolt that hods the rack to the hitch is very difficult to access and needs to be constantly tightened. (Socket is the best option) Getting rack on/off hitch is not a simple process, because of this bolt. Few options out there for a 1 bike carrier. It is what it is.Sarah T

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

Rack is wonderful, but as important, customer service is awesome! I was informed every step of the way once I placed my order. My only wish is that they had the add on rack since now I have a need for that.Kathleen J.

Ok. Solid rack. Really the only option for Variety of e bikes. Should come standard with $30 extra fat bike option, standard straps are very short and hard to grasp and pull down. Quality of threads is poor and they are not aligned well, makes build frustrating at times worrying about threading screws. Building takes a long time, but is fairly intuitive. Ramp option ($100 extra) helps, I rock 67 lb. e bikes and the rack holds up well. The hitch receiver part does well to secure snugly and has little to no play while driving. This is a solid rack, and was the only product available that fit all my needs, from e fat bikes to small 20in wheel city cruisers with frame welded rear racks. Hope Yakima can update this in the next year with some quality control improvements. Bike Sales Rep.Wez71

Took almost 4 hrs to install. Bolts provided were not easy to thread. Tool provided was not adequate – should have tool that can use with a drill. Tried to center rack, but tried to free bolts, but would not budge to move. Have had many Yakima racks in past and never had an issue. Concerns now are needing to center bike trays, but might be an issue removing / installing bolts (12) Most likely will have to return – concerns are getting replacement with same issue – see recent feedback comments from another member. Would like to see REI address this issue123567