| Not only do hitch mounted bike racks save the hassle and time of trying
to fit a bike into the back seat or trunk, the racks save valuable space.
Hitch mounted bike racks are also more
aerodynamic than a roof mounted carrier and eliminate the worry of clearing
low overpasses. These bike racks are very easy to use have
a couple of different mounting styles. One style has a shank that simply slides
into the hitch, while the other mounts to the ball hole on the ballmount or
bumper. And if you need extra cargo space when your not
transporting bikes, a cargo carrier may be just what you are looking for.
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The shank style bike racks are made for the
two most popular hitch sizes: 1-1/4" x 1-1/4" and 2" x 2".
Class I trailer hitches, rated for 2,000 lbs, and Class II trailer
hitches, rated for 3,500 lbs, both have the 1-1/4" x 1-1/4" receiver
opening. Class III, Class IV and Class V trailer hitches, which
have a capacity between 3,500 and 10,000 lbs, have the 2" x 2" receiver
opening. Because of the higher weight rating, more bike rack options are available
for the 2" trailer hitches.
As mentioned earlier the shank style bike racks slide easily into the hitch's
square opening and are
held in place with a
pin and clip or
trailer hitch lock. |
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The other, more economical style, will work with both 1-1/4" x
1-1/4" and 2" x 2" trailer hitches or a ball hole in a step bumper.
The rack sits on top of the ballmount or bumper and is held in place with
either a
hitch ball or a bolt. The ball or bolt must have a 3/4" shank
diameter.
While the 1-1/4" x 1-1/4" trailer hitch ballmounts and most bumpers use a
3/4" ball hole, the 2" x 2" trailer hitches typically use ballmounts with a
1" hole for the ball. In this case, a
bushing will have to be used
when installing the bike rack. |
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The last hitch related option for transporting
bikes is using a
cargo carrier with a bike adapter. A couple different
cargo carriers offer optional adapters that will allow for the transport of
bikes. And of course, when not carrying bikes, lots of extra cargo
space is gained for coolers, lawn chairs, gas tanks, barbeque pits, lawnmowers, etc. |
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of the bikes are loaded in to the hitch mounted carriers by the bike
frame's top cross bar. The bike carriers have clamshell type
cradles that wrap around the bike's frame. In most cases, to
load a bike, one would first unscrew the carrier's top plate by
loosening the knobs on top. After loading the bike into a
padded cradle one would just set the top plate back down and tighten
the knobs. Some alternative frame and women's frame bikes will
require a bike adapter (see below).
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Features
Towing
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Towing bike racks allow for a
small trailer to be pulled while transporting bikes. Because the bikes
are exerting a downward force on the hitch along with the trailer, the
tongue weight capacity of the hitch must be closely watched. Also, the
pulling weight capacity of the hitch is reduced when using a towing bike
rack.
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Folding / Tilting
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To have more access to the
rear of the vehicle, manufacturers began to produce a
folding or tilting
bike rack. The upright bar of the rack tilts away from the vehicle
creating more space around the trunk or tailgate. The folding or
tilting mechanism will often allow for van doors, tailgates, or SUV doors to
open. |
Swinging
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The
swinging feature was also
designed to create more space at the rear of the vehicle. The upright
bar of the rack can be pulled and pushed to the side
completely clearing the back of the vehicle. This allows for even the
side hinged SUV doors to open. |
Adapters / Accessories
Ski Rack Adapter
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The
Ski Rack
Adapter converts
a bike rack into a ski and snowboard carrier. The ski adapter can hold
up to six (6) pairs of skis or two (2) snowboards.
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Alternative Frame Adapter
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The
alternative or women's
bike adapter serves a couple of purposes. If a woman's bike with the
angled top frame bar is placed into the carrier, the bike usually sits
crooked with one tire much lower than the other. In this case, the
lower tire could have problems clearing the ground on bumps and hills.
The bike adapter bar also allows for
mountain and other alternative bike frames to be carried by the bike racks.
Some of these bikes have a larger diameter frame and will not fit into the
cradles of the bike rack. The bike adapter connects to the seat at one
end and the handle bars at the other while providing a smaller diameter bar
that will fit into the rack's cradles. Some bike racks do have
cradles that can rotate and adjust to where an adapter is not necessary.
Using a cable lock to accommodate the
adapter may also be beneficial. The adapter can be locked to the bike
rack, but the bike could still be removed. |
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Anti-Rattles
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Anti-wobble or
ant-rattle
devices reduce, and in most cases eliminate, the noise and vibration caused
by the bike rack. Due to necessary part clearance issues between the
trailer hitch and the shank of the bike rack, vibrations and noise often
result when transporting bikes. Different styles of anti-rattles work
in different ways, but all reduce the movement of the bike rack. The
anti-rattles that work the best are the ones that pull or push the shank of
the bike rack into the sidewall of trailer hitch. |
Hitch Locks
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Most bike racks provide an
easy way to lock the bikes to the rack, however, the the rack will still
need to be secured to the vehicle.
Trailer hitch locks come in many different styles for the two different hitch sizes
(1-1/4"
&
2") and are very easy to use.
A couple of these will even work as an anti-rattle device. |
Cable Locks
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Used as an added security
measure when attaching the bikes to the bike rack.
Cable locks may also be necessary when attaching bikes to the rack with the bike
adapter bar. |
Hitch Adapters
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Hitch adapters are used to
convert an 1-1/4" x 1-1/4" trailer hitch receiver tube opening into a 2" x
2" trailer hitch receiver tube opening or vice versa. When converting
the 1-1/4" opening to the 2", it is again important to watch the hitch's
tongue weight capacity. |
Hitch Extenders
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Hitch extenders are used to
move the bike rack further away from the vehicle. The extra space is
particularly useful when the vehicle has a spare tire mounted on the rear
door. |
Best Sellers
Swagman "XP" Bike Carriers
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The
Swagman "XP" bike rack
models are great for a few reasons. The bike rack has a locking tilt
mechanism to create more space at the rear of the vehicle, heavily cushioned
cradles that rotate to accept women's bikes and expand to accept alternative
bikes with larger frames. Also included with the "XP" rack is a
locking knob to prevent theft. This sturdy rack is also available in a
5 bike model so no one will be left behind. |
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