Hitch bike racks...

[Danimal]

Need some advice on a good 4 bike hitch rack (2" reciever). I refuse to pay $300-$450 on a top end one because that's just nuts. Anyone have any ideas on a good brand that doesn't cost a fortune and works well?

Here's what I am looking for in order of preference...

1. Lockable, both to bikes and hitch.
2. Sturdiness.
3. Anti-sway for the bikes.
4. Looks.

Anyone have suggestions or if someone has one to sell let me know. I would like to purchase before I have to haul patrollers around for the season :)

Thanks in advance.

[soupboy]

Dan - I would strongly encourage you to reconsider spending the $ upfront on the Thule T2 which is best in class (formerly Sportworks). Best/easiest mounting system, excellent quality and agnostic as to frame type or wheel size (Pugs don't count). You'd be lucky to find one used as their owners are usually very loyal. If you ever need to sell it the secondary market is very strong.

When you think about how much money you'd have hanging out back on 4 bike rack the cost becomes relatively small. Even if the bikes were $1k each that's $4k you're putting at risk.

[Danimal]

Good point Soup, the reason I was thinking inexpensive is I have to get the hitch installed on the SUV too. Trying to keep the cost for the whole thing low for the wifey. :)

Isn't the T2 a two bike rack though? I need a 4.

[MisterClaw]

Good point Soup, the reason I was thinking inexpensive is I have to get the hitch installed on the SUV too.

On most cars, it's not much work to install a hitch yourself. I was quoted over $600 for a rigid hitch on my volvo s60, but I was able to buy it for ~$180 and install it myself with minor difficulty. With a another set of hands it'd be very easy to install on most cars.

[transplant]

Dan, I have a Performance 4 bike hauler that I'm pretty pleased with. It doesn't have the locking features you want, but I'm sure something can be rigged. It beleive it was under $120.00. It's pretty stable with bikes on it. The only drawback is you have to get an adapter for bikes with funky top tubes or kids bikes.

Let me know if you want to see it sometime.

[MrBatzloff]

More on the hitch side of things, but I was quoted a pretty high number for getting a hitch on my subaru...3 or 400, I think. Found a website called etrailer.com and got a drawtite for 150 to my door (free shipping), including wiring and tow bar. After the 12 pack of Big Sky I used to bribe my buddy total cost was about 165 and it took about an hour and a half.

**I was just looking at etrailer.com 's website and they sell bike racks, too. freee shipping over 150

[Danimal]

Found the hitch for $119 at the Eagan U-haul. Pretty cheap, no wiring though, don't need it since I will never own a boat, just to haul bikes.

Still on the fence for bike racks now. Thinking of the Softride version's anyone have one of these?

[RLLove]

I have three different receiver hitch racks. For around $200 you can get a well made rack with an antisway, a cable lock, and a receiver lock. The receiver and cable lock also use the same key...which is nice. I would look into the Hollywood brand. I bought the Hollywood at Eau Claire Bike and Sport........http://www.bikeandsport.com/

[Magic]

Dan, talk to me on Monday when we see each other on this rack issue. I can show you what I have and talk to you about installing a hitch on your SUV.

[Danimal]

Dan, talk to me on Monday when we see each other on this rack issue. I can show you what I have and talk to you about installing a hitch on your SUV.

Let's meet after work then vs lunch. I'll call you when I find out what time I get outta there. I'm guessing 5pm. Thanks Troy.

[Magic]

Sounds good.

Let's meet after work then vs lunch. I'll call you when I find out what time I get outta there. I'm guessing 5pm. Thanks Troy.

[tmenssen]

Hi Dan,

Take a look at Swagman bike racks. Very durable and they are priced right.

http://www.swagmanbikeracks.com/shopnew/home.php

[Cars-R-Coffins]

Found this on nashbar
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=600071&subcategory=60001019&brand=&sku=21069&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Hitch%20Racks

[jeffgude]

The T2 can be converted to 4 bikes, but gets pretty expensive at that point. Its a great piece of equipment, though.

[soupboy]

eTrailer.com FTW - purchased receiver hitches for both the Odysseus and the rice rocket. <$120 each. I had the 1.25" receiver cut off and a 2" receiver installed (can't buy a 2" receiver hitch for an Impreza) on the one for my s00baru so that I could more easily transfer the rack between vehicles without messing with funky adapters. A welding shop in B'ville did the work for $20.

Most hitches install easily in pre-drilled holes on late model cars. You may want to inspect the drillings first and get a tap to clear corrosion and some l00bricant to make it easier.

[lostboy]

too lock the hitch to your rig you can easily just buy a locking hitch pin. If your rack doesn't have a lock on it you can use a bike lock to run the bikes together and too the rack. Thats what I do and no way you could get them off.

[Standard]

The new Yakima racks are pretty awesome. About $230 for a DoubleDown 4 will get you all the features you want.

http://www.yakima.com/Product.aspx?id=215

[ninjanick]

Maybe these are more in your price range...

http://www.hollywoodracks.com/hitchRacks.html

I got a two place one branded though performance as Xsport, I think. I got it on sale for like 130 or so. Same rack. I'm very happy with it. I did buy a locking hitch pin from hollywood, but haven't been able to use it becase of clearence issues with my hitch's construction. The stupid safety chain brackets interfears with the lock.

[soupboy]

Forgot about those. Their Sport Rider model is nice but it holds at the frame, not the wheels. If you have a FS bike the suspension can be compressed potentially allowing a thief to snag it off the rack. The same can be said for the T2 Bob Ratchet but you can lower your PSI in the tires to mitigate this.

Thule bought Sportworks for a reason - the T2 is thee bombastic.

http://www.hollywoodracks.com/hitchRacks.html

[berrywise]

eTrailer.com FTW - purchased receiver hitches for both the Odysseus and the rice rocket. <$120 each. I had the 1.25" receiver cut off and a 2" receiver installed (can't buy a 2" receiver hitch for an Impreza) on the one for my s00baru so that I could more easily transfer the rack between vehicles without messing with funky adapters. A welding shop in B'ville did the work for $20.

Most hitches install easily in pre-drilled holes on late model cars. You may want to inspect the drillings first and get a tap to clear corrosion and some l00bricant to make it easier.

I think I might have to have this done as I can't find a hitch for my '03 Mazda Protege 5 that is a 2". The car is not made for hauling but I'd rather have the 2" on there anyway.

[ninjanick]

Forgot about those. Their Sport Rider model is nice but it holds at the frame, not the wheels. If you have a FS bike the suspension can be compressed potentially allowing a thief to snag it off the rack.

The frame clamp is not loackable, you use a wire rope lock and run it through a safety chain mount.

[SKullman]

New Local (MN) startup...

http://rosemeierdesign.com/products.htm

[flashmcduff]

Have a Thule T4 in a 2" reciever on a Jeep Liberty. Unfortunately, that requires a reciever extention because of the spare tire out back. That, in turn, makes the whole thing wobble back and forth cuz though it fits securely, it ain't quite perfect. I also installed the reciever myself and had to use a tap to clear the holes - as mentioned above. That saved quite a bit of cash on the install.

The Thule has performed admirably, btw.

[rihaha]

Make one yourself. Inexpensive and fits the way you want it to plus it has all the bells and whistles you want. The other nice thing is that you can be the only one who knows how to get bikes off so you have less of a chance of someone taking yours;)

[Danimal]

Update, just picked up a hitch for $119 and a Thule 4 bike fold away rack for $100 from Craigslist. Not too shabby.

[Pandl]

Cool! Not shabby at all.:banana: