Looking for suggestions on hitch mount bike carrier

They all do roughly the same. The more you pay the better it works (in general). I recommend a platform style rack as it's cleaner and easier to use with less touching. They cost more though.

Swagman offers a lot of functional low price options. I use a Kust Sherpa which is fantastic bit it's $500+ to hold 2 bikes.

I'd consider $500+ bike carrier if my bikes cost $500+. I'll check out Swagman, thanks!

I had a Thule Parkway 957SS and it was VERY solid, but the arms didn't fold out, so I ended up selling it for a Yakima something that does have folding arms.

Comparing the two I can say:

The Thule straps are slightly better than the Yakima
My Yakima uses THREE straps per bike instead of - two at the front of the bike that strap to the top tube and down tube, and one at the back to strap the top tube near the seat - so it holds the bikes a little more securely


In the end, if you are going for a "rack" instead of a platform carrier, make sure that you:

Get a double arm rack instead of a single arm type rack
Get the kind of bike rack that uses straps instead of "clamps"
Get the folding feature(s) that you need

Costco. Hitch mount, folds down to access hatch and hold up to 4 bikes. Usually under $100.

We picked up a Thule at CT a couple summers ago that flips down, but have it mounted on our camping trailer. Works very well, holds 4 bikes. We wanted a flip down as we have a rear slide, and when we stop for a quick stop to sleep or whatever, we just have to flip it down and not remove the bikes.

Very happy with it

OP says "1/2"" which I think means a class 1/2 or 1-1/4" hitch. These do not have the strength for 4 bikes, so they're limited to 2 bike carriers.

Or does he mean he's getting one 2" hitch? Obv there's no 1/2" hitch so I don't know what size?

I have a swagman platform style. Used it on the hitch on my wife's Yaris. Works great. It was just the perfect size that the hatch could clear the post if there was a bike on the outside. If there was a bike on the inside, the hatch wouldn't open. The post folds down if needed so any hatch will clear.

Have the Thule Helium for 3 bikes. Works well and very light weight.
Will work for 1.25 or 2 inch hitches. No rattling at all. Comes with 2 locks.

i6s1 wrote: ↑OP says "1/2"" which I think means a class 1/2 or 1-1/4" hitch. These do not have the strength for 4 bikes, so they're limited to 2 bike carriers.

Or does he mean he's getting one 2" hitch? Obv there's no 1/2" hitch so I don't know what size?

I have a swagman platform style. Used it on the hitch on my wife's Yaris. Works great. It was just the perfect size that the hatch could clear the post if there was a bike on the outside. If there was a bike on the inside, the hatch wouldn't open. The post folds down if needed so any hatch will clear.

The Thule we got goes down to a 1/4", which we use on our trailer. And we have 4 bikes. Havent had problems using it camping that last two summers.

It says not to use on trailers becaue you cant see it, but to me, then why have a hitch on the back of a trailer made to carry bikes. In fact there are tons of bike racks on back of trailers with the same setup

Costco has them in store right now for $70. I'm thinking of getting one.

i6s1 wrote: ↑OP says "1/2"" which I think means a class 1/2 or 1-1/4" hitch. These do not have the strength for 4 bikes, so they're limited to 2 bike carriers.

Or does he mean he's getting one 2" hitch? Obv there's no 1/2" hitch so I don't know what size?

I have a swagman platform style. Used it on the hitch on my wife's Yaris. Works great. It was just the perfect size that the hatch could clear the post if there was a bike on the outside. If there was a bike on the inside, the hatch wouldn't open. The post folds down if needed so any hatch will clear.

Sorry, typo. I meant 2" hitch. Fixed now.

CraigLee wrote: ↑Costco has them in store right now for $70. I'm thinking of getting one.

Do you recall which model they have in the store right now?

i6s1 wrote: ↑OP says "1/2"" which I think means a class 1/2 or 1-1/4" hitch. These do not have the strength for 4 bikes, so they're limited to 2 bike carriers.

I put 4 bikes on my old Thule 1-1/4" rack no problem... it was an ~25 pound rack, so strength is obviously not an issue on a well made rack.

My new Yakima is also running in 1-1/4" mode and will be hauling 4 bikes over the May 24 in a couple weeks.

conix67 wrote: ↑Do you recall which model they have in the store right now?

Sorry I don't. It was an unfamiliar brand. It is a 2" model that has a 1.25" adapter.

Viperoni wrote: ↑I put 4 bikes on my old Thule 1-1/4" rack no problem... it was an ~25 pound rack, so strength is obviously not an issue on a well made rack.

My new Yakima is also running in 1-1/4" mode and will be hauling 4 bikes over the May 24 in a couple weeks.

It's not the rack, it's the hitch. Class 2 hitches are usually rated to 350max, class 1 even lower. And that assumes that the center of mass is far closer than it is with a bike rack. The center of mass on the rack is far further back than it is with a trailer ball. If you double the distance, you halve the carrying capacity. 4 average adult bikes is probably borderline, 4 downhill bikes is probably over.

i6s1 wrote: ↑It's not the rack, it's the hitch. Class 2 hitches are usually rated to 350max, class 1 even lower. And that assumes that the center of mass is far closer than it is with a bike rack. The center of mass on the rack is far further back than it is with a trailer ball. If you double the distance, you halve the carrying capacity. 4 average adult bikes is probably borderline, 4 downhill bikes is probably over.

Class 1 hitches are rated for 2000lbs trailer weight and 200lbs tongue weight - http://www.reese-hitches.com/learning_c ... ng-classes
So a 4 bike rack that weighs ~30lbs (like my old Thule...) and 4 downhill bikes at 40lbs each would be borderline.

I don't disagree that the bike rack would put the weight further away from the hitch compared to a hitch ball, but looking at how heavy the class 1 hitches are, and how wide the contact area is with the car, it's obvious that there is a safety factor built into that 200lb figure.

conix67 wrote: ↑I'd consider $500+ bike carrier if my bikes cost $500+. I'll check out Swagman, thanks!

I'm using Swagman Dual Receiver Hitch Rack for my two Trek X-Caliber 5 bikes.
[IMG]http://www.rackattack.com/dynamicimages ... ck-2ez.jpg[/IMG]

These are expensive but I've had one for several years. They will last a lifetime, incredibly easy to assemble, full access to trunk.

https://www.1upusa.com/bicycleracks.html

Thanks everyone for suggestions!

fredf wrote: ↑These are expensive but I've had one for several years. They will last a lifetime, incredibly easy to assemble, full access to trunk.

https://www.1upusa.com/bicycleracks.html

Holy crap, somebody on RFD has a 1up!