Bike Rack Hitch – Top 5 Best Bike Racks That Connect Via Trailer Hitch
I’ve been recently in the market for a Bike Rack to carry my Mongoose Malus to some local bike paths and have come to the conclusion that using your car or SUV’s trailer hitch is the best bet.
Sure they sell bike racks that utilize straps and leverage to secure your bike and some of those options might work for you. However, if you want to avoid scratching your vehicle or causing any other damage, we recommend going with a Bike Rack that connects to the trailer hitch of your vehicle.
Do You Have A Trailer Hitch?
The first thing you have to consider is if your car or SUV even has a trailer hitch. My SUV did NOT have a trailer hitch so I had to get one installed.
Luckily for me, there was a trailer hitch place locally about 5 minutes away and they were able to do the job for a little under $300. That included the trailer hitch and the installation. I’d imagine you could buy a cheaper trailer hitch somewhere and maybe get somebody to install it cheaper elsewhere so do some research. For under $300 and no work required I couldn’t resist.
Some people also are capable of adding their own trailer hitch themselves so please do some research on your make and model.
Ok, assuming you have a trailer hitch on your vehicle at this point, now you need to figure out what you will be using this trailer hitch for.
You can browse all the trailer hitches right here.
How Many Bikes Do You Need To Haul?
The more compact SUV is a huge seller in the US market so many people can’t fit their bike inside their trunk space.
This is especially true if you have a larger bike like a fat tire bike or an electric bike or an e-bike. You also don’t want to risk dirtying the interior of your vehicle along with any possible damage the bike could cause.
So the question at this point is…how many bikes are you going to be hauling?
From what we could tell with our research, there are two typical standards for bike racks:
- 2 Bikes
- 4 Bikes
There are other options to hold just 1 bike but those are often a different style and much more expensive.
Make sure you consider how many bikes you will be hauling typically and get something that accommodates. You also need to consider if you plan on bringing more bikes into your life.
You also need to consider the weight capacity, especially if you are hauling many bikes or bikes that are heavy.
My example earlier of the Mongoose Malus is a 50 pound bike so it isn’t easy to lift or haul by any stretch.
Top 5 Best Bike Racks via Hitch
We decided when picking the Top 5 Best Bike Racks via Hitch to consider the following criteria:
- Price
- Reviews
- Weight Capacity
- How Many Bikes Can It Hold?
- Ability to Fold/Tilt
- Design
The goal isn’t to break the bank, especially if you are just a casual rider like ourselves. We wanted to find a bike rack that gets the job done and gives us the ability to bring our bikes to local paths.
If you are an avid biker who has a very expensive bike, then a budget friendly option likely isn’t for you. You are going to want to spend a little bit more on something since this is your craft.
5.) MaxxHaul 50025 Hitch Mount
The MaxxHaul 50025 Hitch Mount is capable of holding 2 bikes and has a capacity of 100 pounds.
This mount features the following:
- Straps with buckles to secure bike
- High impact plastic adjustable Bike cradles
- Reflector stickers for visibility
- Rubber padding on post to protect vehicle
- Quick release pin to wing rack down to access rear of vehicle
- Steel hitch that fits 1-1/4″ to 2″ (these are standard hitch sizes)
We really like this one because of the price. As of writing this article, this is one of the cheapest bike racks that connect with a trailer hitch we could find.
If you are in the market for a bike rack and want to not break the bank, the MaxxHaul 50025 Hitch Mount is a perfect fit for you.
Learn everything about the MaxxHaul 50025 Hitch Mount Right Here.
4.) MaxxHaul 70210 Hitch Mount
The MaxxHaul 70210 Hitch Mount is capable of holding 4 bikes and has a towing capacity of 150 pounds.
This mount features the following:
- Fits 2″ hitch receivers
- Quick release pins for convenience
- Padded bike cradle
- Hook and loop straps to secure the bike
- Built in reflector for added safety
- Swing down feature allows easy access to rear of vehicle
Similar to the other MaxxHaul mount above, this is a budget friendly option that can hold up to 4 bikes. We couldn’t find a better price on a bike rack that accommodates 4 bikes and up to 150 pounds.
If you have a full family and need to acommodate their 4 bikes, this is the mount for you.
Learn everything about the MaxxHaul 70210 Hitch Mount Right Here.
3.) Allen Sports 2 Bike Hitch Rack
The Allen Sports 2 Bike Hitch Rack is one of our favorites on the list. You can hold up to 2 bikes on this rack and it also can handle up to 70 pounds.
This bike rack features the following:
- 2-bike carrier hitch ideal for road trips and camping excursions
- Fits 1-1/4- and 2-inch receiver hitches, with no-wobble bolt
- Tie-down cradle system individually secures and protects bikes
- Accommodates wide range of frame sizes and designs
- Rack tilts back for easy lift-gate access; black powder-coat finish
There’s one major reason we like this bike rack. You are able to fold the arms down.
Why is this important? Space.
Let’s explain…
The reason you need a bike rack is to move your bike effectively to where you plan on riding it. Simple right?
What if you have a smaller garage and the car barely fits in there as it is? Some people are stuck having to remove the entire bike rack every time they park but because these arms fold, you have way more room to leave it on, especially in a tight garage.
Learn everything about the Allen Sports 2 Bike Hitch Rack Right Here.
2.) Kuat Racks Sherpa Bike Rack
The Kuat Racks Sherpa Bike Rack offers to hold 2 bikes at one time and has a maximum weight capacity of 80 pounds. However, this has to be divided between the two bikes. So 40 pounds per bike.
You’ll notice that this bike rack is much more expensive than the others on this list. We wanted to make sure to include a premium bike rack that can connect with your trailer hitch.
The cool thing about this bike rack is how lightweight it is. If you are traveling long distances and don’t want to destroy your gas mileage, this is a great option.
It’s also a premium built device so this is more-so for the person who is taking long trip and is securing expensive bikes.
Learn everything about the Kuat Racks Sherpa Bike Rack Right Here.
1.) Hollywood Racks Sport Rider Hitch Bike Rack
The Hollywood Racks Sport Rider Hitch Bike Rack is our favorite bike rack presented today. This bike rack offers to hold 2 of your bikes and has a maximum weight capacity of 80 pounds per bike leaving you with 160 pounds total. Wow!
This bike rack is specialized to handle electric bikes or e-bikes, Fat Tire Bikes, Mountain Bikes and your good old fashioned standard bikes too. Basically, whatever bike you have, this bike rack can handle it.
We also love the style of this one because instead of your bike “hanging” from the frame, it sits in place. This is way less stressful for your bike frame and it also keeps each bike safe and secure while riding down the road.
This bike rack features the following:
- Bike rack carries two electric bikes with up to a 60″ wheelbase; Maximum capacity 80lbs per bicycle.
- Universal Wheel Holders fit any bike with up to 5″ Tires.
- Locking bike frame hooks to deter thefts; includes keyed alike locking hitch pin
- Fits 2″ hitches only; Features patented no wobble-no tools hitch tightening system for fast and secure installation
- The rack folds flat against the vehicle when not in use, and tilts down for easy cargo access
The main material this bike rack features is an alloy steel so not only is it lightweight, it’s very strong.
The one thing you have to be careful of is this being sold out when you get to it. It’s often sold out for good reason…it’s one of the best bike racks on the market today.
If you want a promising bike rack that gives you peace of mind on the roads, look no further than the Hollywood Racks Sport Rider Hitch Bike Rack.
Learn everything about the Hollywood Racks Sport Rider Hitch Bike Rack Right Here.
