Platform Hitch Rack Recommendations

[Hancockbs]

I know several people who are very pleased with the Kuat racks. Next time I need one, that’s likely what I’ll go to. Currently have the Saris Freedom and have been pleased with it. However, it does not fold, where the Kaut does. Both come with a mechanism to stiffen the connection between the hitch and the rack, which creates a much more stable platform for your bike(s).

[Emm]

@sjclaeys 190751 wrote:

I’m looking into getting a platform hitch rack. The Thule T2 Pro XT seems to get the best ratings, but I’m also interested in the Saris SuperClamp EX. Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks

I have the prior version of the super clamp. The version I have doesn’t have the tilt function, but it is otherwise identical.

Given the option, I’d buy it again. It’s light enough I can take it on and off my car easily (about 15 lbs lighter than the Thule rack), it’s VERY easy to load my bikes onto, and it works fine with racks, fenders, and bikes of vastly different sizes. The cable it comes with is also a nice feature. I wont really keep your bikes safe in an city parking garage, but it keeps the bikes secure when you run into a highway rest stop, or if you take other short periods away from your bikes.

If/when I look for a new rack I may also consider the 1up racks, but since my car is a small ford focus, I can only use the options with smaller hitch sizes.

[drevil]

@sjclaeys 190751 wrote:

I’m looking into getting a platform hitch rack. The Thule T2 Pro XT seems to get the best ratings, but I’m also interested in the Saris SuperClamp EX. Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks

I’ve been using the 1UpUSA since August 2009 on my Honda Fit. It’s made primarily of aluminum so it withstands weather well, has never failed me, and is dead simple to use even if you have two vastly different size bikes (I’m a foot taller than my wife).

I also got one of the heavier duty ones about 4 years ago for my Subie Forester that is built with two bike holders and can fitted with two more to carry 4 max. That’s another thing I love about this rack, how you can easily add extra carriers, or just have 1 attached (depending on the model).

Asheville, NC Trip 2016 by ricky d, on Flickr

When I started using it, I only knew 1 other person that had one, but now I see them everywhere and a lot of my friends have them. I always recommend them despite the cost.

[PeteD]

Kuat Sherpa 2.0 works pretty well for me.

[sjclaeys]

Thanks for all of the recommendations so far and please keep them coming. To help winnow things down, I’m not interested in Kuat or Yakima for broader reasons.

[Sunyata]

I have a Kuat NV 2.0 (the rack you saw in my NBD photo). I actually really like it, but I am selling it in the next few weeks (already have a buyer, or I would offer it up here) and buying a 1up due to the positioning of the backup camera on my new bike carrier. The 1up has a slimmer profile when folded and will cause less interference (and hopefully stop that godawful beeping) when backing up.

[creadinger]

I have the Thule T2 platform rack. It’s been great! When I was researching I was deciding between Thule and Kuat.

[AFHokie]

I’m looking at a platform hitch rack and the 1up is a front runner. Does anyone have experience with their rak attach? I want to have the ability to open the tailgate of my truck without having to remove the bikes.

https://www.1up-usa.com/product/rakattach/

[AFHokie]

@drevil 190760 wrote:

I’ve been using the 1UpUSA since August 2009 on my Honda Fit. It’s made primarily of aluminum so it withstands weather well, has never failed me, and is dead simple to use even if you have two vastly different size bikes (I’m a foot taller than my wife).

I also got one of the heavier duty ones about 4 years ago for my Subie Forester that is built with two bike holders and can fitted with two more to carry 4 max. That’s another thing I love about this rack, how you can easily add extra carriers, or just have 1 attached (depending on the model).

When I started using it, I only knew 1 other person that had one, but now I see them everywhere and a lot of my friends have them. I always recommend them despite the cost.

Do you know if you can fit a recumbent bike along with regular bikes on the 1Up rack? A few of my friends ride bents and Ideally, the rack I get will be able to fit one along with my bike.

[drevil]

@AFHokie 192755 wrote:

Do you know if you can fit a recumbent bike along with regular bikes on the 1Up rack? A few of my friends ride bents and Ideally, the rack I get will be able to fit one along with my bike.

I don’t own a bent so I can’t say for sure, but I have used my 1Up to transport my tandem bike occasionally. I use a few extra straps (a Voile strap on each wheel, in addition to the rack’s arms) and a ratcheting strap the stabilizes the center. I’m pretty sure the manufacturer would never recommend doing it since the wheelbase is a little long — and I’m not recommending it either. It’s just another data point

If I can find an old pic or have time to put the tandem on the rack and snap a new pic, I’ll edit this post with it.

[bentbike33]

@AFHokie 192755 wrote:

Do you know if you can fit a recumbent bike along with regular bikes on the 1Up rack? A few of my friends ride bents and Ideally, the rack I get will be able to fit one along with my bike.

It really depends on the style of recumbent, most so-called “short wheelbase” recumbents (those where the pedals hang in front of the front wheel) will fit in standard bike carriers. I use a fork-mount roof rack.

The thing to keep in mind with recumbents is that very often their center of gravity is above any horizontal frame members, so they will not play well with any kind of frame-hanger rack.

[drevil]

I just googled “recumbent bicycle 1upusa rack”:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]20335[/ATTACH]

https://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/showpost.php?p=1521035&postcount=5
https://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/showthread.php?t=8185
https://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/showthread.php?t=64081

That looks like a yes, dawg.

[Steve O]

@bentbike33 192766 wrote:

The thing to keep in mind with recumbents is that very often their center of gravity is above any horizontal frame members, so they will not play well with any kind of frame-hanger rack.

Unless you hang them upside down. 😎

[drewguy]

Not sure if OP is still evaluating, but adding 1UP is really solid rack. Heavy, though, so bear that in mind if you plan to mount/dismount it often.

[chuxtr]

I have a Kuat Transfer 2, which is their “entry level” hitch mount rack. Got it for my wife’s car. Besides it being a Kuat, one of the reasons I got it was because it’s not intended to be permanently mounted and it’s relatively light (for a bike rack) so pretty easy to take on/off. Not a true “”platform” rack in that the bike holder isn’t a single continuous piece. Rather, separate pieces for the front and rear wheels. Not quite as elegant as the more expensive Kuat racks. And uses more plastic rather than alloy. But still does the job (for me, at least). Holds bike rock steady.

Note that these pics are from when I first installed and tested the rack. I subsequently adjusted the front wheel holders so that the bikes sit “level.”

[ATTACH=CONFIG]20447[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]20448[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]20449[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]20451[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]20450[/ATTACH]

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