Forget rooftop carriers that make travelling with bikes a misery and welcome the Allen Premium 5 hitch mount rack. This bicycle carrier can fit vehicles with a 2-inch trailer hitch and features the Quick Carry Arm Release which is one of the newest features of this type of equipment. This bike rack is not only easy to operate but it provides you with a safe and secure way to carry your bikes. It is made from durable steel and coated in a black powder coat finish which ensures longevity. Along with that there is a lifetime warranty that comes with your purchase.
There are three major types of bike racks for SUVs that are popular: trunk mount racks, hitch mount racks and rooftop racks. All of them have their pros and cons, and there are a few things you should consider before you decide to buy one.
- Does the bike rack fit the make and model of your vehicle? Usually, you can check this on the website of the manufacturer of the bike rack.
- How many bikes do you intend to transport?
- How often will you use it?
- Will you use it for long or short trips, or maybe both?
Trunk Mount Racks
Trunk mount racks are usually the cheapest of the three. They are secured to the car by straps, which some might find a bit of a hassle to properly set up. Trunk mount racks are easy to store and don’t take up much place when not in use. One thing to look out for before you set up the rack is that there should be absolutely no dirt on the surface of the car under the rack feet, or it might ruin the paint.
Some of the disadvantages of trunk mount racks are: they don’t offer any protection against theft; once you install the rack, it might make it impossible for you to access the trunk; they are considered to be less secure than the other two alternatives and you might have to check the straps a few times on a longer trip.
This is the ideal choice for you if you don’t have much to spend on a bike rack; if you’re only going to use it occasionally; or if you plan to use the rack on just short trips.
Hitch Mount Racks
Receiver hitch bike racks are easy to operate and install. Most of the hitch racks were designed for 2-inch receivers, but some of them fit 1.25-inch receivers as well. They fit any vehicle that has the right size receiver. The good thing about the hitch mount rack is that the bikes are kept away from the car, so that they can’t damage the paint. Also, you can buy a locking hitch pin to lock the rack to the car, so that it cannot be stolen, and some models also allow you to lock the bikes to the rack.
Hitch mount racks are great for both long and short trips, and some of them are quite reasonably priced as well, though still a bit more expensive than trunk racks. For frequent use, this is one of the best types of bike racks for SUVs and you should definitely consider investing in a hitch mount rack, granted that your car does have a hitch receiver.
Roof Racks
Rooftop bike carriers attach to your car’s already existing roofrack and crossbars. If your vehicle doesn’t have them, then you have to have them installed first, and so the cost will be much higher. There are two types of rooftop bike racks for SUVs: fork-mount and upright carriers. A fork-mount carrier clamps onto the bike’s front-wheel fork, which means that you have to remove the front wheel and store it elsewhere. The upside is that this type of carrier can accomodate unique frame shapes. Upright carriers hold the bicycle by the frame, therefore you don’t have to remove the front wheel. The downside is that some unique frame shapes might not fit.
With the Allen Deluxe 4 you can carry your bikes securely while not having to bother with rooftop mounts and piled bikes. If you have a 2 inch trailer hitch then this bike rack is suitable for you. The bike rack is made with the best material and thus will last a long time. Added to that, it comes with a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer.
The Allen Deluxe 3-Bike Hitch Mount Rack fits on vehicles with a 1.25 or 2-inch trailer hitch. It is made out of steel with a black powder finish to protect the bikes that are transported with this rack. It also features Allen’s patented tie downs the prevent bikes from bumping. This product also has a lifetime warranty. It is easy to install and the rack tilts up for easy access to the life gate.
The Hollywood F4 Heavy Duty Trunk Rack is a sturdy bike rack that custom mounts on most sedans, SUVs, and minivans with an exclusive dual-positioning trunk/bumper system. It offers extra heavy-duty steel tubing and hardware and transports up to 4 bikes. It comes with motorcycle tie down buckles and also includes extra side straps to secure heavier loads.
The Swagman XC 2-Bike Rack accommodates a variety of bike sizes and styles without the need for removing the wheels. The XC slides into a two-inch receiver and transports 2 bikes. You can also add another module, which is sold separately that can carry an additional two bikes. The Swagman XC bike rack folds up for easy storage when not in use and offers a soft, frame coating that will protect the finish of your bike.
The Saris Bones 2-Bike trunk mount rack is a unique design for a trunk rack but its benefit is that it can fit over spoilers. The other cool thing is that is can separate bikes on different levels, which can help prevent bikes from coming into contact with each other. This is a green trunk rack as well since it is made out of recyclable materials.
The Thule 914XT is among those with the largest carrying capacity in the Roadway product line from Thule. Don’t worry about all those bikes banging into each other or your vehicle thanks to the stay put cradles and the anti-sway cages that the carrier is equipped with. It can carry 5 bikes up to a total weight of 150 lbs. and attaches to a two inch hitch receiver. Carrier arms have the ability to easily fold down when not in use and gives unobstructed access to openings at the back of vehicles.
The Saris Bones 3-Bike trunk mount rack is a lightweight and easy to install bike rack for those on the go. Its arched design will fit over a variety of vehicles including those with spoilers. Saris also has great customer service and offers a lifetime warranty on this bike rack. It is constructed from 100% recyclable materials that are a huge advantage over other racks made out of metals since this one can be used in any type of weather situation.
The Swagman XC-4 Cross Country 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack is designed to transport four bikes that includes a set of adjustable quick-release tire hoops and a ratcheting top arm that will help it fit a wide range of bike frames. It also has a folding center arm when not in use that makes it easier to access the rear of the vehicle without having to remove the rack. This model is also designed to give more ground clearance than other racks.
